Last week I shared with you tips on choosing the right type of gym to suit your lifestyle. This week is all about doing things OUT of the gym. I know not everyone loves going to the gym like I do. Who am I kidding, I don’t enjoy it either, especially when I have to go in the evenings when it’s packed with wannabe body builders. For those who are looking for ways or ideas on how they can get a move on with their fitness regime here are some ideas I came up with from my own life examples.

Out Of Gym Activities

• Find any and every opportunity to MOVE

With my classes sometimes finishing at 5, I really don’t have time to head to the gym at all. So here’s how I try and fit in some exercise. Miss 10 has netball practice every Wednesday, seeing that it’s held at a place where there is a running track, I will be getting there half and hour earlier before I pick her up and do a jog around the track. I have yet to do this as last week I was too tired even to move, but having said that, I did move around a lot around campus. Remember, it’s about MOVING, no matter how small it is.

Mr. C has a skipping rope and that’s another way where I can do some exercise from home. Great form of exercise to keep my heart rate up and great for when the weather isn’t so nice for me to go outside for a jog. Stop making excuses and get off your chair and start moving. Skipping, or if you’ve got stairs, run or walk up and down it for around 20 – 30 minutes in intervals.

If you drive your child to school, why not walk or ride. I did the “walk/ride” to school thing with my kids today, well, with Master 8 because Miss 10 went in earlier with her friends, and it was the best thing ever! I got some one on one time with Master 8 as we had plenty of time to walk – leaving earlier will help too. Then on my way back I got to catch up with one of the mums I haven’t seen in ages!

• Get an exercise buddy

I loved how Jacqui from Common Chaos Chronicle has changed her lifestyle completely by doing her morning walks before she starts her day. She has a buddy that she goes on her walks with. Great way to not just exercise but catch up, let it all out and you know encourage each other.

Mr. C is sort of my exercise buddy. I for one CANNOT work out in a team because I can get a bit competitive – there’s good and bad points to this. So why I love going on my jogs with Mr. C is because he leaves me to it. I can walk or jog and I won’t cramp his style because he’ll run when he wants to and I won’t stop him. We do it at our own pace. He’s my “buddy” in a sense that he makes me get off my bottom and get OUT. When he cycles, I’ll go jog and we’ll meet up at the starting point whenever we’re done. The idea is to work out what sort of buddy you want. If you want someone to keep your pace up with then make sure they feel the same way. If you want someone just so you’ll get out, let them know too. You don’t want to end up hating each other because you’re stopping them or they you, from achieving your goals.

• Use your pet

Got a dog? Well you know it needs to be walked right? Your dog needs some exercise too, so what better way to get YOUR exercise than by walking your dog!

• Check out outdoor exercise groups

There are other exercise groups that practice outdoors and meet once a week. Find out what is available in your area. If you’re a new mum, there are mums and bubs exercise groups. Or check out the personal training centres or community centres around your area, they usually have some sort of group exercise programs.

• Check out sites and apps for exercise ideas

Can’t afford a personal trainer? There are sites and apps that actually gives you ideas on exercises to do. When I’m not training with my trainer, I usually check out fitsugar.com.au for some exercise ideas. These can be done in the comfort of your own home too. If you haven’t got weights and need some, here’s an idea – use whatever that’s available at home! Soup cans, or even books!

Mr. C has this app on his phone that sends him exercises weekly, targeting certain areas and tailored to your fitness level. It helps you think outside of the square of your regular workouts or maybe give you a head start to actually doing something.

Protecting Your Skin

Make sure when you’re working outdoors to keep your skin protected from the sun. I usually wear sunscreen or bb cream, some lip balm to protect from the winds or sun, and have my Uriage thermal water spray handy in my car or within easy reach when I get home.

More Max Factor…

These are just a handful of ideas to keep you moving. They are really inexpensive or in most cases FREE! Yes, people WALKING is a free activity! So get to it!

The post Health & Lifestyle: Out Of Gym Activities appeared first on Baubles, Bubbles and Bags Style File.

Clarisonic was one of the first cleansing brushes I’ve ever heard of. Whether it’s the first one ever to come out on the market, I have no idea. The funny thing is? I’ve never tried that before! I have however tried two other brushes that I have reviewed previously and if you think that was it, guess again. Now there’s quite a few skincare brands that are coming up with their own version of the cleansing brush.

So far I’ve tried another 3 more cleansing brushes. All with their own special properties and all with their own merits and also disadvantages. In this post I’ll be sharing a quick review of the Skinvigorate by Mary Kay, Philips VisaPure and ConAir True Glow Sonic Cleansing Brush.

Skinvigorate by Mary Kay

RRP$65 includes two brush heads and 2 AA batteries.

The Skinvigorate reminds me a lot of the Olay Regenerist Cleansing Brush with it being battery operated and a two speed power brush. Just like the Olay, Skinvigorate is pretty lightweight and doesn’t need to be charged before use. It is slightly bigger than the Olay cleansing brush and the buttons are on the front rather than the back of the gadget

Like the Olay, Skinvigorate also comes with two brushes but I’m not too sure if one is for sensitive and the other for normal or if it’s just an extra brush head. The main difference would have to be the price point and how readily available they are. With Mary Kay’s Skinvigorate, you would need to order online or via a Mary Kay representative, whereas the Olay can easily be bought from Priceline. Price wise Olay costs $32.49 while Skinvigorate sells for $60 – that’s double the price for something that does basically the same thing. Both also didn’t have a timer to indicate when you should move the brush onto another part of your face. The replacement brush heads sells for $18 for a pack of 2.

Philips VisaPure

RRP$199.95 Now $149.95 at the Shaver Shop.

Unlike all the other cleansing brushes I’ve tried the one thing that stands out about the VisaPure is the shape of this cleansing brush. It comes in this long conical shape (some might even call it phallic!). The VisaPure needs to be charged fully for 6 hours before use and the charger is designed so that there are vents at the bottom where you place the brush in to allow the brush to dry after use. I however, would much prefer to just detach the brush head from the cleansing gadget and place it back onto the charger.

Like most cleansing brushes, the VisaPure also comes with two brush heads, one for normal and the other sensitive skin – this is marked by the pink at the centre of the brush head. The brush comes with two settings – speed setting 1 for gentle cleansing and speed setting 2 for deep cleansing. This basically means setting 2 has faster oscillations compared to setting 1. Another plus point is the fact that the VisaPure does come with an automatic timer that oscillates for 20 seconds and pauses for a short while for you to move it to a different area of your face. The cleansing brush will stop after 1 minute to prevent over-treatment – a good thing to keep you from going overboard with your cleansing! The replacement brush heads retails at $19.95 each.

ConAir True Glow Sonic Cleansing Brush

RRP$119.90

The mother of all cleansing brushes – ok so I’m calling it that because this particular one has not one, not two but THREE different speeds. It does come with a charger where you would need to have it fully charged before use. I can’t recall how long you would need to charge it for but I would always recommend to have it charged for 24 hours. The shape is similar to that of the Skin Physics Derma Sonic Power but has one less speed setting. The True Glow Sonic brush comes with two brush heads – one for the face (pink) and the other for your body (green). Like the VisaPure, it comes with an automatic timer, but instead of pausing, it beeps after 10 seconds to tell you to move on to another area of your face. The replacement brush heads sell for $17.99 each, which I thought was pretty reasonable.

My Verdict

Now for my verdict of which I think is best. You see, they each have their own merits so I have decided to split the comparisons into the different points.

• Charger VS Batteries

Like the Olay, the Skinvigorate makes a great travel companion as it uses batteries and so you won’t need to worry about the voltage compatibility, plus it’s compact. But if I were to compare between the Olay and the Skinvigorate? I would pick the Olay because of the price. The other two cleansers are best kept for home use as they need to be charged but, I have to admit the VisaPure is pretty easy to pack with its slimline design and the tiny and compact designed charger.

• Oscillations

Out of the three mentioned above, the Skinvigorate has the highest oscilations – 400 oscillations per second, giving you a more thorough clean. The True Glow Sonic brush runs at 300 oscillations per second just like the Skin Physics cleansing brush. I have no idea how many oscillations the VisaPure does but it does say that it cleanse 6 times more than the usual cleansing you do with your hands. Not helpful information, I know. Having said that, the VisaPure does come with dual motion where the brush head rotates AND vibrates to give you an even deeper cleanse.

• Timer Function

I loved the fact that both the VisaPure and the True Glow Sonic have automatic timers that tells us when to move on to the next part of our face. It makes it a lot easier for us not to have to figure out when to move on. The VisaPure goes a step further and stops automatically after a minute of use, which is rather helpful for those who are pedantic over how long they’ve scrubbed their face for.

• Price

Skinvigorate came up tops when it came to price – but that’s just comparing between the three I’ve mentioned here and I think that’s also because of the fact that it lacks the additional functions that the other two models have – automatic timer and charger. Between the two higher end cleansing brushes, the True Glow Sonic came in at $80 cheaper and yet provides similar functions as the VisaPure.

My Pick

If given the choice – as in if I’m forced to pick my favourite – I would have to say, out of all the cleansing brushes I’ve tried, I would pick the Olay Regenerist cleansing brush for travel because of its compact design and size as well as the fact that it runs on batteries and that it’s the cheapest. As for the ones that come with charging stations, my favourite would have to be the Philips VisaPure for its sleek and compact design. The price though is what can push me to go for the True Glow Sonic. But where performance is measured, they both stacked up pretty well. So really it’s a matter of either design or functionality and price.

Have you tried any of these or the previous cleansing brushes I’ve shared? Or are there others out there in the market that I haven’t mentioned? Which is your favourite or which ones would you love to try out in the future?

*I was given the cleansing brushes for consideration in accordance with the site’s Disclosure Policy. All comments are my own. 

The post Battle of the Cleansing Brushes Part II appeared first on Baubles, Bubbles and Bags Style File.

I love a good burger and by good I mean (ok, vegetarians please avert your eyes) you get to taste how juicy the meat is plus the slight charring and the thickness of the patty. With so many burger joints popping up all over Melbourne, it can be quite hard to find a place that serves a simple yet scrumptious burger. There are also joints that try to “glamourise” the humble burger, but for me, it’s the simple, no fuss patties plus cheese and pickles served in between a warm burger bun that makes it.

The first non “fast-food” chain style burger I ever tried was Grill’d. This was when there were only a tiny handful number of joints that were opened. I think there were only two then and I got to try the second outlet. It blew my mind how much tastier their burgers were and their chips were crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Yum! That was just the beginning. I then tried a few places but so far these are the ones that have stood out for me. But then again, it could be also that I haven’t tried that many places!

Clockwise from left: Fries with Aioli from Rockwell & Sons, Cheeseburger from Gramercy Bistro, The Cheeseburger Lunch deal at Beer DeLuxe in Hawthorn, The Hum at Humburger in Hawthorn

Burger Joints

• Rockwell & Sons

I am being biased here, as this is Mr. C’s and mine favourite date night hang out. I’ve done a short review of the place previously, so I won’t go into any detail here. Mr. C tried their  Double Patty Smash Burger ($11.00), which like the name says comes with double patties. The burger looks tiny compared to your Whoppers and Big Macs, and even the ones from Grill’d but thanks to the heartiness of the burger, that one order is more than enough. Have it with a side of hand cut French fries served with some malt vinegar aioli and some old fashioned lemonade, you’ve got your complete meal covered.

• Beer DeLuxe

This was a place that Mr. C and I saw being offered on Groupon…or was it Living Social? But we didn’t end up purchasing the coupons because luckily for me, I was already (coincidentally) going to have lunch there with two of my blogging friends – Tine and LeGeeque (not her real name of course). We hadn’t met up for a few months and thought it was high time we girls got together for a little catch up and a lot of gossip. LeGeeque is a frequent patron of Beer DeLuxe over in Hawthorn and this girl sure as hell knows her beers.

As the name suggests Beer DeLuxe serves a range of specially crafted beers and what goes better with a beer than a good old fashioned burger! While I do love a pint of light beer once in a while, I’m more of a cider girl myself. So for lunch we each had the Burger DeLuxe, which came with a double pattie, lettuce, bacon, onion, cheese and a side of fries for only $12 – this is their lunchtime special, which is available Mondays through to Sundays. How awesome is that! The chips came with some delicious aioli dipping sauce (but of course!).

• Gramercy Bistro at The Cullen 

Set as part of The Cullen hotel over in Prahran, Gramercy Bistro was a place Mr. C and I found by chance. Ok, not really by chance. We were supposed to have dinner over at The Olive Tree for one of our date nights, but no thanks to the lack of parking on the night due to White Night in the city, we had to cancel our plans and decided to find another place to have our dinner. We were starving, and let’s just say I was ‘hangry’. Mr. C remembered the restaurant we went to a few years ago that was situated just downstairs from The Cullen Hotel but we couldn’t remember the name of the place. We knew where it was and we knew that it served some sort of tapas and for dessert; chocolate souffle. When we got there though, we were surprised that it had changed into a place that serves a New York style street menu with a Melbourne twist (I got that from the site ok?).

We were there, we were hungry, so we just thought, why not give this place a try. We kept it simple and opted for the cheeseburger ($20.95), which had Wagyu beef, served with American mustard, relish, bacon, Monterey Jack cheddar and pickles that came with a side of shoe string fries. Good thing we did venture out of our usual routine to try out this place, because the burger was pretty scrumptious! It was bigger than the burgers served at Rockwell & Sons but it was just as juicy and tasty. It was also slightly more expensive, but I think that’s to be expected as it was situated as part of the hotel. When you do compare the amount to the price though, I have to admit, it’s pretty reasonable.

• Humburger

Humburger is a newly opened burger joint down in Hawthorn, where Mr. C took us to yesterday for lunch with the kids. Knowing how I love my burger, Mr. C who went there with his (I call it his “partner”) work colleague thought it was worthy of my time to try this place.

Humburger is a pretty humble place, with 5 different types of burgers but, we went for The Hum ($8.00), which is simply beef patty with cheddar, pickles, mustard, mayo and tomato sauce. The fries that we ordered came seasoned with some sweet smoked paprika and was crispy on the outside and oh so damn soft on the inside. It reminded me of a cross between chips and wedges. I had my meal with a bottle of pear cider, because really, what’s a burger meal without some cider?! Mr. C was spot on and yes, I did love the simplicity yet juiciness of The Hum. Next time, I might give Frenchy a try – imagine having beef patty with potato rosti, Bearnaise sauce with cornichon (a.k.a gherkin) and lettuce. YUM!

Have you tried out any other burger joints that you think are worth sharing with me? Would love to try out other places and seriously, while there’s so many condiments to make that burger “special” or different, I’m really after one that’s got a good tasty, juicy patty cooked to perfection, with the traditional cheese, pickles type of thing. So please feel free to suggest a few other places for Mr. C and I to try out.

The post Monday Eats: Burger Joints appeared first on Baubles, Bubbles and Bags Style File.

It is Friday again, and yes you can hear me sighing a breath of relief as the weekend is only a knock a way. This has been yet another full-on week of learning new things, opening up my mind to absorbing new ideas and managing my time, running around like a headless chicken. Kudos to mums (or dads) who work full-time, run the house and manage their kids – WITHOUT help from their partners! Anyway, on this week’s Love, Like and Loathe, I’d like to open up my Love list sharing the new path I’m definitely enjoying right now.

LOVE

For those of you who have followed my “new” journey of me going back to my studies you would already know that I’m furthering my knowledge to learn to impart knowledge to our future generations. Yes, I’m embarking to teach those growing minds that are eager or maybe some not so eager to learn. While it is full-on in terms of what I’m learning each day and each week, I do love the idealistic notion of teaching our kids to be smarter learners. It is such an eye opening idea to work out how to generate smarter thinkers who can apply what they’ve learnt at school. But, while it is an idealistic notion it is also not an easy task. My respect for teachers have grown tenfold, because of the fact that they have to: 

• think of ways to stimulate the students
• think of ways to make sure they adhere to the curriculum standards
• generate individual thinking yet not isolate the kids

and most importantly…

• dealing with parents who think they know everything

The part that I find hard to grapple with is that I myself am a parent and learning all these new ideas and then facing some issues you find with your own school’s way of teaching or not teaching, and hearing things from other parents who are against or for certain things, and so much other factors that put you in a rather tight position can be a bit complicated at times. Especially when you can stand in both shoes – the parent and the teacher. You sort of have to think both ways, you’re supposed to understand what the teacher is going through and has to go through and yet you also understand where the parents are coming from (OMG I’m OVERTHINKING!). This makes me feel a little bit trapped in a way. But, that’s not to say I don’t love my new path. I do. I’m just nervous I guess because I know in about 2 weeks time I’ll be out there to observe and learn what it’s like in the REAL WORLD!

LIKE

I should really put this under my LOVE list seeing that I love reading so much – well it’s my escape from my reality I guess – but seeing that the books aren’t exactly out yet, I have to put them under my LIKE list. Don’t you hate it when the books you read end in a cliffhanger only to have to wait another year for the next installment to be released. Yes, that. Annoying. Well three books from a series or rather the next part for one of them, will be released soon and I am totally excited! I’ve read on of them thanks to being given the review copy but the other two I just have to sit and wait patiently I guess!

• Inviolate by Karen Turner

Due to be released in April, Inviolate is the continuation to the first book Torn. Set in the regency era, the book continues the story of Alex who has been forced to wed another gentleman, which in those days were common, to finalise some sort of a business deal. There is the usual drama and we see how Alex grows from an innocent and naive young woman to a woman who is subjected to lies, threats and debauchery. It opens her eyes to what really goes behind closed doors and some social circles. Will Alex finally get to be with the love of her life, that remains to be seen as we follow her journey – I can’t say much or else I might as well just tell you the story. I do have on criticism of Alex’s character though. While I can see how much stronger she did progress to become, I still found her grovelling for forgiveness a bit hard to stomach. I thought that showed too much desperation from a woman who has gone through so much to have made her that way. Sure love is an important aspect of life and of this story on the whole but the grovelling? That I could not take. Still, worth reading to find out what happens in the end, but another word of warning, I did skim through the parts where they were talking about what happened during the war.

• Right Click by Lisa Becker

Another book that’s due for release in mid May is Right Click from author Lisa Becker of Click and Double Click fame. This is the final installment of the contemporary romance where, in this day an age is centred around the email communication of Renee and her friends. In Click we read about Renee’s foray into online dating, in Double Click, we follow the continuation of Renee’s love story. Right Click follows six months on where relationships are tested and some need to be set “right” before everyone can find their “happily ever after” – well I haven’t read it yet so I’m wondering what will happen next!

• Dreams of Gods and Monsters books by Laini Taylor

The final book I’ve been waiting for is the final (I think it’s the final one!) in the Daughter of Smoke And Bone series by Laini Taylor. This is for fans of “other worlds” where you have talking monsters and flying angels – that sort of book. Yes there’s adventure, mystery and romance and what roped me in was the mysterious Karou – the main character of the book. The second book; Days of Blood and Starlight, follows Karou’s journey after her real identity has been revealed. We learn about the “history” behind the “other world”, the politics that caused the disarray and bam – hit with another bloody cliffhanger that makes us wonder which side will she take in the end – will she fight for the “monsters” or the angels? Or can both co-exist if they overthrow the true liars in this political tug of war. This is where Dreams of Gods and Monsters comes in and I have pre-ordered the e-book version of this final book in the series, which is due out on the 17th April!

LOATHE

Finally the thing that I loathe most this week – my penchant for over-thinking things. Do you do that? Do you often over-think and then make yourself worry over something that you have no control over? Is this a thing that only women do?

I find that I often complicate things that are supposed to be black and white – I tend to think that there’s always shades of greys in EVERYTHING. So much so that I often worry myself silly before the event actually happens. Mr. C often laughs whenever I start worrying over things that I have no control over – which I think is related to my anxiety issues. I worry too much. Take for instance what I’ve shared in my Love list this week – issues surrounding the ways things are taught in my kid’s school. From a teachers point of view, I can see why things are done a certain way and yet I can also understand where parents are coming from when going against what is being done. Then I start to worry – is my child getting the best type of education? And what really is regarded as the best? In what context – so on and so forth. Get what I mean by over-thinking? This is just an example by the way. There’s more over-thinking in this brain of mine unfortunately. Something I need to sort of reign in so that I don’t worry myself silly over things that I shouldn’t even be worried about.

Ok, that was a pretty lame loathe this week. I’m tired. It’s been a rather long week. A whole week of revelations that has also caused me to go a bit flat this week. What are you loving, liking or loathing this week? Maybe you can give me some insight into what’s been going on in your lives?

The post Love, Like & Loathe: My New Path, Upcoming Novels, Overthinking appeared first on Baubles, Bubbles and Bags Style File.

We’ve hit Autumn here in Australia, although, as usual, in Melbourne we seemed to have been teased with the “idea” of Autumn for the first few days and then hit back with the remnants of Summer – again. That’s to be expected I guess, with Melbourne’s weather ALWAYS being so unpredictably predictable.

For those of you wondering which items you should have in your wardrobe this Autumn/Winter, I thought I’d put together the staples that I would definitely be living in most of Autumn and Winter this year.

Your Autumn Wardrobe

• The Moto/Biker Style Jacket

L-R: Sussan Spliced Biker Jacket rrp$149.95, **Glassons Leather Look Biker Jacket rrp$79.99,** Dorothy Perkins Blush Quilted Biker Jacket GBP49.00

I lived in this last Winter and guess what? This jacket will be staying put for the rest of Autumn and Winter. Mine was from Zara, a purchase I made while I was in Singapore about 3 years ago. It’s a mix of wool and faux leather, with a design that can change your look depending on the style you were after. The jacket also goes with almost everything, from a lady like dress right down to a casual jeans ensemble. From the looks of what’s in the stores, this jacket is also here to stay not just because I like the look of it.

• Black Skinnies

L-R: Sussan Lift & Shape Jeans rrp$119.95, **Rusty Hi Spray On Jeans rrp$79.99, Cotton On High Waisted Skinny Jeans rrp$49.95

Why black skinny jeans? Well, in most cases, when it’s jet black, they can give you that exquisitely smart style. I’m not talking about faded black skinnies, I’m talking about those that are so black, it looks like you’re wearing pants. I’ve got about 3 (well one is on its way to me) in my wardrobe – all skinny and stretchable that I can wear casually, tucked into my high cut boots or smarten up a smart casual outfit with a pair of heels. In actual fact, the first pair I ever had were from Sussans and they were called jeggings thanks to the super stretchy material that was used. Now their jeggings look more like leggings in the style of jeans. The ones I currently own is made from actual stretch denim and the pockets are faux pockets because really, why would you want to stuff anything down your pockets of an really fitting pair of pants? My other pair was the one I bought from Forever 21 in New York. A similar style and feel to the one from Sussan. My final pair is a recent purchase from Bohemian Traders, something I just could not resist because first, they’re skinny jeans, secondly, they’re black!

•  Knitted Jumpers

L-R (top): ASOS Bright Geometric Print Jumper rrp$69.32, ASOS Leather Look Collar Jumper rrp$69.32, **Glassons Long Sleeve Jumper rrp$29.99

L-R (bottom): ASOS Brave Soul Cable Knit Jumper rrp$35.65, **New Look Cable Knit Jumper GBP17.99

I know not everyone likes a knitted jumper, especially when what most do is just engulf you and make you look frumpy. The trick is to find one that’s slightly fitting, to give you a more feminine look. Sarah from Style Unearthed has got this cable knit sweater on her shopping list that I too am coveting for the colder months. The thing with jumpers is, you need to try them out before buying to see if the style and cut fits your body shape. Zara has quite a number of simple plain jumpers that are priced just under the $50 mark. But I have yet to find one that I truly love. I do love some of the more quirky styles that I’ve seen online, but I’m a little bit hesitant as they’re overseas and I’m pretty pedantic when it comes to having a knit jumper that fits. Knitted jumpers are definitely on my wishlist and the ones I’ve shared on top have definitely caught my eye!

The knitted jumper can make or break your outfit and to make it, team it up with a pencil skirt for that sexy silhouette, or cosy it up with a pair of skinny jeans with a crisp shirt underneath for that preppy casual look .

•  Leather Love

L-R: Sussan Coated Ponte Dress rrp$99.95, **Ponte & Leather Look Mix Leggings rrp$47.98, **Atmos&Here Leather Look Sheer Top rrp$49.95, Sussan Panelled Ponte Skirt rrp$79.95

Maybe you don’t have to go all the way and purchase an actual leather skirt or leather pants or leather bag because I know that there are options out there using leather look fabrics that look exceptionally well done. Anything with a leather look panel or with a leather look feel gives your Autumn/Winter outfit that nice edgy feel. Plus a nice, subtle sex appeal too. So keep a look out for tops with a leather look panel, or sleeves that feature some sort of leather panels. Leather look leggings are also great when worn with a long line knitted top and a long line chunky cardigan. The leather look skirt is one sexy wardrobe must-have that can give an otherwise boring look that nice twist.

For Autumn styling inspirations, check out Kim-Marie’s take on her Autumn outfits, or check out Sonia’s neutral for Autumn, or find out what’s on Sarah’s Autumn fashion shopping list and finally, Vanessa’s fashion edit of styling the Autumn basics in 3 different ways.

I’m also linking up with Kim-Marie from Kimba Likes for her Wardrobe Wednesday. Check out what the other ladies have shared on this week’s link up!

**Links marked with ** are affiliate links, sales of which will earn me a small commission that goes to the running of this site. 

The post Fashion Day: Autumn Must Haves 2014 appeared first on Baubles, Bubbles and Bags Style File.

You’re ready to go and really are keen on starting a fitness regime at the gym. Or at least you’re sort of motivated to get a start and just looking for a gym to go to. But, with so many different types of gyms with so many different options, how would you know which gym is the right one for you? You’re not alone when it comes to choosing the “right” gym. And yes, I know “right” can mean a lot of different things for different people.

In this post I’ll share some tips on choosing the gym that will fit your lifestyle.

Tips On Choosing the Right Gym

• Cost

This is always the most important part of the deal. The cost of joining a gym can really put many of us off – well I know it has put me off so many times because while you’re motivated NOW you’re also thinking, “What if I end up paying and not going?”  Well, to answer the commitment part of the question – you just have to kick yourself in the butt and just GO! But seriously, where cost is concerned, look out for special deals the gym might have.

Joining fees can sometimes be a killer and to attract new clients, gyms often waive off their joining fees. If not, ask if they could waive the fee if you sign up for a full year. Some gyms have an “off peak” special membership, where you pay lesser but can only head there during specific times. Great for those who work irregular hours or work from home. You also need to make sure that there are no additional fees attached to your monthly or yearly membership fees. Most gyms would add on an administration fee, so be sure to check that it doesn’t add up to your overall cost.

If you’ve already got a membership, do keep a lookout for when your gym does offer members a chance to upgrade their membership without any additional costs. Great way to experience maximum benefit without forking out too much money.

• Club Facilities 

Find out what is covered in the membership fees that you’ll be paying. Some clubs offer a whole huge range of facilities and programs, while there are other “no frills” type of gyms that offer only equipment. The main idea is to see what YOU are after. If you’re someone who prefers a group workout then yes, choose a gym that offers programs that include group style exercises. Make sure you take a look at the TYPES of group exercises they offer and the times they are on. No point getting excited and joining only to discover you don’t like the classes being offered or that the times just doesn’t suit your lifestyle.

I for one used to love group exercises but now I’m after something that I can fit into my everyday routine and sometimes club group exercises do not have times that suit my lifestyle. Plus because I now only focus on getting a number of set exercises done, in a safe environment with working equipment, I have chosen a gym that practices the “no frills” idea.

If you’re someone that needs child care services, do check out if they have that and how much it will cost you. You have to bear in mind though that the ones with a lot of facilities usually cost way more than the “no frills” type of gyms. You would also need to find out how easily your child can get a spot in on the days you need it.

• Gender Specific Gyms

I actually have no idea what to call this, so I’ve termed it “gender specific gyms” for those looking for a “female” only gym or gyms that cater an area where only women can workout in. This can be great for women who feel uncomfortable when working out with men – I understand, I’ve been in that situation ages ago. Now, I don’t really care because…umm…well, the view I get also gives me some motivation to get to the gym

• Location

 A VERY important factor and something you have to work out especially if you’re working outside of the home. You need to decide if you’d rather have a gym that is closer to your workplace or your home. Will you be heading to the gym on the days where you don’t work? If so, then best pick a gym that’s closer to home. That way even if you’re working and choose head there after work, you can go home straight after. Location is always the factor that motivates or stops you from working out – amongst other things, so be sure to take this into consideration.

• Opening Hours

You’ve got a schedule to follow everyday, so knowing when the gym is open is great for when you need to decide to go there before or after work. Nowadays, there are a lot of 24 hour gyms operating, which makes it amazing for those who want to get in early or finish work late – you can work out ANY TIME!! If for instance the gym is located in a shopping centre (like mine is), then be sure to take into account the fact that it might be closed, or have later opening times and earlier closing times during public holidays. Make sure you have an alternative way to workout when this does happen. I normally either change my “rest days”, head to the beach if the weather permits or do some simple workouts at home.

Those are just a few tips to help you choose the right gym for you. Hope it helps to get you on your way to a healthier way of living!

The post Health & Lifestyle: Tips On Choosing The Right Gym appeared first on Baubles, Bubbles and Bags Style File.

Last week I shared a post on when and how you can start a pre-teen and teenager on their skincare regime. As promised, here is a review (as tried and tested by Miss 12) of the products featured last week.

Neutrogena Naturals Range

*Face & Body Bar rrp$4.99

Made from 99% naturally derived ingredients like avocado and olive oil, the bar makes it suitable for daily use without causing tightness to the skin afterwards. Miss 12 uses this on her body and loves how it doesn’t dry out her skin like soap normally does. A proven record from not having her skin itch like crazy after her shower.

Miss 10 discovered some spots on her face, something she thought were pimples, but upon further inspection, I realised they were actually heat rash. The spots do look like tiny pimples but because they only came about every time the weather gets too hot, I knew it had to be heat rash instead. To test it out, I advised her to wash her face with the Neutrogena Naturals face and body bar, and using cool instead of warm water to see if there would be any difference. By the next day, Miss 10 noticed a slight difference proving that they were actually heat rash caused by the obstruction in the sweat glands.

*Fresh Cleaning + Makeup Remover rrp$14.99

With ingredients like Peruvian Tara Seed bionutrients Vitamin A, Vitamin E and complex sugars, this cleanser has been developed for fragile skin around the eyes, making it the perfect solution for when Miss 12 does (very seldom though) have her mascara on. Not much is needed to remove the mascara and it acts like a one-step cleansing solution for those who do wear makeup, without stripping off the skin’s natural oils.

*Purifying Facial Clenaser rrp$14.99

The coconut, corn, willow bark and guar bean in the cleanser ensures that impurities are washed away and it helps to detoxify the skin easily. Miss 12 uses this in the evenings when she has her shower. She loves how light and refreshing the formula is, without causing any tightness cleansing. There is also no scent like the first two products mentioned above.

*Purifying Pore Scrub rrp$14.99

Something Miss 12 uses once a week, as her skin is still too delicate for more than that, Miss 12 did say that it does make her skin feel tingly just after she rinses off the scrub.

*Multivitamin Nourishing Moisturiser & Nourishing Night Cream rrp$14.99 each

Miss 12 uses the nourishing moisturiser during the day and is happy to report that it wasn’t too heavy on her skin. The nourishing night cream is a little bit heavier, so only very little is needed – if any actually.

So far, Miss 12 hasn’t had any allergic reactions, breakouts or drying of the skin, since using the Neutrogena Naturals range. Something we both think gets a huge tick in our books, plus the prices seem pretty reasonable for a teen skincare range as well.

Olay Fresh Effects

*Shine, Shine Go Away Shine Minimising Cleanser & Bead Me Up Exfoliating Cleanser rrp$14.49 each

Unlike the Neutrogena Naturals cleansers, the Fresh Effects Shine Minimising Cleanser and Exfoliating Cleanser both had fragrances in them. The everyday cleanser feels a bit heavier and that could be due to its shine minimising effect – so please be a bit more aware as this could dry out younger skin. Great for those with oily skin but I would suggest those with sensitive or normal skin either to stay away or use VERY LITTLE of the products.

*Angels On Bare Skin rrp$16.95

When Miss 12 first tried this, she found the product a little bit hard to manage as it was crumbly and in her own words, “went everywhere”. There is a pretty strong leafy scent – I’m guessing she meant fresh? Something she didn’t mind. Again, no breakouts but she found the texture a little bit annoying to handle.

Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion rrp$29.95

This was meant for the kids to use on their bodies, but Miss 10′s face was a little bit dry and so I thought to give it a little try on her face. Just a little. The oat milk in the ingredients helped to calm her skin and while the scent was a bit strong for me, she seemed to actually like it! The texture is pretty heavy and creamy but thankfully isn’t too thick and oily for the face. A good all-rounder, even if it was a little bit on the expensive side.
So, the overall verdict would have to be the Neutrogena Naturals range with its gentle formula and naturally derived ingredients. They caused no breakouts, felt lighter on the skin and didn’t leave the skin feeling taut after rinsing them off. The Olay Fresh Effects would have worked better had her skin been a lot oilier and if it wasn’t scented and Lush’s Angels On Bare Skin, even though was made from fully naturally derived ingredients felt a little bit cumbersome for younger hands to manage.

*Those marked with an * were given or provided in gift bags for consideration in accordance with the site’s Disclosure Policy. All comments are our own. 

The post Review: Skincare Products for Younger Skin appeared first on Baubles, Bubbles and Bags Style File.

When we think high tea, food like finger sandwiches, mini pastries and cakes and scones come to mind. In some countries, Singapore and Malaysia being great examples of this – high teas are usually held in hotels and meant a buffet style layout of multinational cuisine. Two words but so many different takes and this is how Om Nom at Adelphi is trying to stand out from the crowd of all high teas.

High Tea at Om Nom Adelphi

Stepping out from the traditional finger sandwiches and scones, head chef Christy Tania, has created a high tea menu reflecting Adelphi’s contemporary design. Thinking out of the box, the menu comprises of vegetable tempura with soba noodles in dashi broth followed by pineapple verrine to cleanse the palette before starting on the next tier.

The second tier from the tiffin tray stars the foie gras macaron, a great treat for those of you who have not had a taste of a savoury macaron. The vol au vent of mushroom and asparagus features a melt in your mouth, buttery pastry base and a shot glass of poached bug tail with sweet and sour sauce, again to cleanse your palette before the final tier of delicious sweets.

For those favouring a less decadent flavour, the Monsieur green tea gateau will definitely pleasure your taste buds. Lovers of peanut butter – like me – will revel in the decadent peanut butter and raspberry gateau. The piece de resistance would have to be the mango and shiso profiterole, which master of food and beverages, Ren Waihi highly recommends each time a patron asks of which dessert to try out.

The high tea also comes with a 120ml of veuve cliquot and tea or coffee, unless you favour something a lot stronger like their lemon meringue pie cocktail or Earls punch – that tea definitely delivers the punch you would need to complete your high tea.

Finally to complete the high tea is a macaron that just melts in your mouth – divine!

The high tea at Om Nom runs on Sundays from midday until 4pm and the cost is at $65 per/person.

Details: Om Nom High Tea – Adelphi Hotel Melbourne

Where: 187 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

For bookings, phone: 8080 8888

*I was invited as a guest to attend the Sunday high tea at Om Nom. All comments are my own. 

The post Monday Eats: High Tea at Om Nom Adelphi appeared first on Baubles, Bubbles and Bags Style File.

I am breathing a sigh of relief each time I write my Love, Like & Loathe post as, yes…FRIDAY!!! It has been a hectic week, which has also caused my brain to go into some sort of information overload as well as anxiety mode as I start thinking of the numerous reading and assignments I have to get right on IMMEDIATELY! ARGH!

So, let’s get to it shall we? On this week’s Love is a product I’ve only tried recently and immediately fell in love with. I’m very particular when it comes my mascara and so far nothing – and I say – NOTHING has ever topped my love for L’Oreal Volume Million Lashes Excess mascara or Benefit’s BadGal Lash mascara, until now. For me, it’s all about volume. I know some might love lengthening their lashes but for me, it has to be something to give my lashes that super duper volume and at the same time “lifts” my lashes. Recently though, I’ve discovered a mascara that gives me volume AND darkens my lashes. That’s a double whammy in my books.

LOVE

*Max Factor New Excess Volume Extreme Impact Mascara rrp$25.95

The newly released mascara comes double ended and even states which side to use first. The side marked with 1, clearly states – Extreme Volume – so that’s what you apply first onto your lashes. This helps to create the volume (duh!) and acts like a base coat to your lashes. The brush on either side is also different. Side no.1 has a rubber brush with shorter bristles to get to your lashes. Then the side no.2 has the usual bristles you would see on a mascara wand but in a tapered conical shape.

The formula on the different sides also features ingredients that would help with the effects you were after. The volumising side has a super thickening formula, while the darkening side has gel based formula with a thinner finishing formula.

The verdict? Loved the fact that the mascara DOES give my lashes the volume I needed PLUS lifts them and yes, stays that for the whole day. Then I applied side no.2, which darkens my lashes even more without clumping them. Ding ding! A WINNER!!

My only peeve is…the thickness of the tube. You see, when you’re so used to holding a longer and slightly slimmer mascara (the cap not the middle part), this took a little getting used to as the part you hold to apply is the middle part of the tube, not the cap. Other than that, this will be my other go-to mascara next to the other two I’ve mentioned above.

LIKE

Who doesn’t like a good boogie right? I know I do and the last (well first after goodness how long) I went to a club was when I turned 35 last year. While the music was awesome – pretty good mix of updated and past tunes that you CAN dance to – I could see that the crowd was well, ok I guess – young but not so young? About 25 and above? But, those kind of clubs are pretty hard to come by nowadays – I mean I really would rather not be dancing to doof doof music (even if I do listen to them on that odd occasion), or surrounded by people way too young or even if it is flattering…get picked up by 20 something year olds – actually getting picked up can be annoying when all you want to do is DANCE!

Here is where something that might rock your boat – Party Parents – devised by the lovely Alli from Motivating Mums came up with the idea of bringing parents and their pals together for a night of dancing and fun – all to tunes they are familiar with! Awesome or what? Oh, and it doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. At only $20 plus $0.30 per/person booking fee, you can dance the night away to songs you love (and know), with people you enjoy being with.

Where: Bobby McGees - Rydges Melbourne
186 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: (03) 9635 1210

When: 22nd March 2014 from 8pm-1am

You can book your tickets now – so hurry! I’ll be going to because we all need some boogie nights to let it loose! I’ve also got 4 tickets up for grabs for you to win! So if you’re in Melbourne on that date (you MUST be in Melbourne) all you have to do to win some tickets is to tell me your favourite song to dance to! Entry closes 15th March 2014. Click here for terms and conditions.

LOATHE

You know, I didn’t have a thing to share on my list of loathes this week until my drive to drop Miss 12 to school this morning. I don’t love driving that much but I do love the freedom that comes with driving. I mean I don’t have to depend on people to take me to places where public transport isn’t available or is a pain to get to. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a list of things I absolutely loathe when it comes to driving. Here’s my list:

• Tailgating – What is up with that?! Why do idiots tailgate others? I hate it when people tailgate those who can’t possible go any faster because hello…there’s another car right in front driving that speed! Or what about this morning when an idiot – yes I’m still reeling from this – tailgate me in a 40km/hr zone – a school zone during school drop off time! Oh, and here’s the kicker – in front of a school! I was driving the correct speed limit 40km/hr and this guy drove so close to me that if I didn’t have my kids in the car I would have slammed on my breaks. Oh yes I would. I would so go there. Not only did he tailgate me but he had the gall to turn and give me the “stinky eye” as he drove past. Well, sorry mate, but I can give a pretty good – no make it bloody amazing stinky eye myself. He was just lucky we were in front of a school or I would’ve have given him the middle finger salute and probably screamed profanities at him. But, had to keep my cool. Had to be chill. Didn’t want to ruin Miss 12′s reputation.
• People who don’t indicate – Again, hello, the indicator is there for a reason – USE IT! Mr. C is known for doing this and unfortunately others that I’ve driven on the road with. I mean really, do you think I have ESP or something? I wished I did or else hey, I would KNOW you were going to make that turn!
• People who drive SLOW in the right hand lane – Seriously? Unless you’re in America, no, the “fast” lane is on the right not left. So please GET OUT of that lane if you’re NOT going to drive the speed limit. I’m not asking you to speed but keep to the limit or keep to the left, thank you very much!

Sigh…that’s it for me this week. The loathe list has now left me reeling. I need to get myself some Froyo to chill out. Have a great weekend everyone!

*Those marked with an * were given for consideration in accordance to the site’s Disclosure Policy. All comments are my own. 

The post Love, Like & Loathe: Double Duty Mascara, Party & Driving appeared first on Baubles, Bubbles and Bags Style File.

I have a confession to make, I DO NOT plan my outfit each time I plan to go out – even when I was working outside of the home. When it comes to events, I usually have in mind what I intend to wear but honestly, it isn’t until I put the said “idea” on that I know if the outfit works or not. Having said that though…and at the same time I might sound a bit smug – I have to say it has always worked out and I don’t usually spend that much time getting dressed. Want to know my secret? BASICS. Yes, that’s right, BASICS!

You see, I’m pretty much a “classic” girl, preferring styles that are timeless while I add a trendy piece here and there. The “on-trend” item could be an accessory, a top, a pair of pants, but usually it can be easily paired up with the basics I’ve already got.

I’ve written previously about basics for work and even essential pieces that you should have in your wardrobe, so why am I writing this again? Basically to reiterate the fact that when you have simple classic and what others might sadly term as “boring” pieces, it helps to get you dressed a lot quicker without someone thinking you didn’t look in the mirror before you head out. Pieces that will always be a definite winner no matter how you mix and match them.

My favourite basics have of course changed over time. Sure, the idea is still the same – a plain top, a pair of perfectly fitting jeans in both dark and light wash, cardigans, blazers and jackets and also the humble shirt. Take for example this week where I had to rush around most of the time. I relied mostly on my loose tees from Cotton On or simple plain tees which highlight my body shape paired with another basic bottom – jeans or skirt.

When it came to “on-trend” items, I know while trackies aren’t really considered an on-trend item in the case of yesterday’s outfit, it was the cut that was more “on-trend” making it look more like a pair of slimline pants than an actual trackie pants. So really, it acted like a “basic” on-trend item.

Below are the outfits that I’ve worn this week to Uni so far:

The Basics Breakdown

• Monday – T-shirt, skirt & cardigan. I added simple accessories to complete my look wearing a long single pendant chain necklace and a simple cluster of bracelets for a delicate arm party.
• Tuesday – Shirt, skirt, tank top. In a rush to get to uni on time as it started at 9am (bearing in mind I had to make sure the 3 kids got to school on time) I relied on my good old simple Bonds skirt and wore it with my Gap shirt giving it a smart casual look. Then as the day grew a hotter, I just had to change from my long sleeved top to my favourite Pull & Bear racer back tank.
• Wednesday – Loose long line tee from Cotton On over a plain purple camisole and a pair of “slouch” pants from Cotton On Body. I wasn’t feeling terribly excited about dressing up. Ok, I admit let’s face it, I was feeling LAZY! So to suit my mood, I wanted something easy, comfy but still made look “presentable”. You know, like I could be bothered? The loose long line tee is the perfect basic item that I teamed with a slimline slouch pants giving me a slightly more “put-together” look.

Then came the time for me to head out for the Bruno Mars concert last night. Once again, I kept to the basics in cuts that worked well for my body shape and personality.

I chose to wear the black skinny jeans I bought from Forever 21 when I was in the U.S, and paired it with a black loose, long line tee, the same as the one I wore to Uni only in a different colour. So I got comfort covered. Keeping to a ONE colour scheme – all black – I created a single unified silhouette. Then I added a soft, light dark brown leather jacket from Narciso Rodriguez – a classic “splurge” piece and added an “on-trend” item with the bold pink jewelled necklace to give my whole look a little colour. Simple, no fuss and pretty quick to put together too!

Really, it’s pretty easy to dress for everyday wear, even if you’re dressing for work, going out, whatever the event provided you’ve got your basic pieces covered. Just put them together, and add some accessories and you’re ready to go!

I’m joining Kim-Marie from Kimba Likes for Wardrobe Wednesday. Do check out what some of the other ladies have shared this week!

The post Fashion Day: Basics That Will Help You Dress Quicker appeared first on Baubles, Bubbles and Bags Style File.