Violet Box Februrary 2014

Violet Box Surprises

Yesterday I opened my very first Violet Box. I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know the brands they stocked and I didn't cheat and check out what other people got in their box. I was really happy with what I found considering my lack of knowledge on Violet Box. 

I love the simple packaging of Violet Box. The ribbon is a special detail.

This months theme was 'share the love' so we got a cute heart shaped lollipop.

Items in the February Violet box

The detailed version:

So the first thing that was in the box was a couple of sachets of Red Carpet Kolour Body Glow in Medium. Now I'm not the biggest fan of sachets, but who is? RCK Body Glow is a shimmery body lotion that you can apply anywhere on the body for a luminous glow. I don't really use these often anymore. Since having a baby my party ( lets put shimmer all over my body) days have been cut short. I do have a wedding to go to at the end of the year so I may get some use out of this. I think I'll just pop this in my bathroom cabinet for later use.

I was really happy to see a sample of Wotnot Wipes. I have seen these in the cosmetics aisle heaps of time but have never picked them up. I love these little sample packs as well, they are so handy to pop in the car or my handbag if I need a bit of refreshing during the day. The Wotnot Wipes are wonderful for sensitive skin. They contain organic Aloe Vera, Rosehip and Sweet Almond oils, great for removing impurities and they are very nourishing for the skin. I'm liking the sound of these. And they are so soft! 

These two items are interesting. The Aphelia Oasis Acne Solution sample comes with a little roller ball. According to the card this Acne Solution uses breakthrough herbal remedy's to help combat acne. I like this sample because my hubby let me use it on a blemish on his face and that NEVER happens. I'm guessing because the not so fancy packaging is hubby friendly?  I'm not sure. The liquids smell (in my opinion) is not nice at all. However if the husband man comes home and that blemish disappeared then it was all worth it.

When I saw this white tube of Nuxe Crème Nirvanesque I thought 'oh goody a moisturiser. I love little tubes of moisturiser. Then I realised that it was first expression lines cream! I moped around the house for the rest of the day thinking  'where has my 26 year old life gone?' That's not true. But it kind of got me thinking about anti-ageing creams and when is the best time to use them. My opinion is before you start to get lines use an anti-ageing cream. So here I am with my first line cream which I will use around my eyes and mouth. I am curious to see how far I get with this.

The One Stick packaging with a swatch.

A better swatch of 'Girl Crush'

Its always great to get full sized products in subscription boxes. This month I received two things in the Be A Bombshell brand, a The One Stick in Girl Crush and Lip Crayon in Some Beach. The One Stick is an all-in-one stick  that can be used for the lips, eyes and cheeks. I love this colour, it's a dusty pink with a mild shimmer. The consistency is very creamy and blends easily on the skin. I think this product would be great for travel because of the multi-purpose use. I can see myself using this tube up very quickly. 

I also received a full sized Lip Crayon. There were two colours going out, a light pink shimmer and a coral shimmer. I got the coral one. I'm not a fan of orange lip colours but I gave it a shot and yep.. they still look horrible on me. Oh well, that being said , it is still a really nice product with great pigmentation and a really creamy application. There are several ways to apply this lip colour. For a full coverage apply to top and bottom lips. For sheer coverage apply to bottom lip and blot lips together. 

Lip Crayon in Some Beach.

So that's all the items I received in the February Violet Box. I was pleasantly surprised with most of the things I got and I definitely think that it is worth the $22.95 a month that they charge. I mean The One Stick retails at $21.00 alone, I think that's fantastic value! I would recommend Violet Box to any of you ladies who likes to experiment with new cosmetic and skincare brands.

What was your favourite item in your Violet Box?

Have Fun!

Renee x

Violet Box was sent to me for consideration, however my opinions are 100% genuine and honest.

Jurlique for the sensitive ladies.

Jurlique and Bio Oil, a soothing remedy.

Today I feel like a lucky duck because not only did I get my February Violet box in the mail, I also received a couple of bags of goodies from Jurlique.  I'm so excited to try these products so lets delve into these bags of mystery and see what gems await.

What's in these?

Baby's Soothing Moisturising Cream

First thing I picked out was this Baby's Soothing Moisturising Cream. So I'm going to break the seal and give this a whiff. Is that chamomile I smell? Nope wrong, It's Lavender. I really like the smell of this. As you can probably tell from earlier posts, I go crazy over anything that's Lavender scented. It's just sooo delicious. I also noticed with this cream that it has a very thick consistency. Kind of like Bepanthen. I really enjoy using very thick creams on Bub and I think that it's a lot easier to massage her with a thick cream because I don't have to reapply it over and over again like I would with a thin lotion.

This baby moisturiser contains Calendula which is famous for soothing irritated skin and reducing inflammation. It also contains Glycerin and Honey to leave baby's skin soft. Macadamia, and Shea Butter oils moisturise and protect baby's delicate skin. Also lets not forget that lovely Lavender essential oils to calm baby. Sounds good to me!

Baby's Gentle Shampoo & Body Wash

Wow a Gentle Shampoo and Body Wash! I was glad I received this because I have run out of my previous bath wash for baby.  One thing I noticed very quickly about this bath wash was that it only bubbled a little when immediately poured into water, then the bubbles just faded away. So I'm very curious to see what the ingredients are in this because I'm feeling  lack of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. After a thorough read of the ingredients I am pleased to see that Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is NOT listed here. I am glad that I can use a bath time product with my baby and not worry about her being drenched in a chemical that has been known to irritate sensitive skin. This little beauty smells like lovely Lavender and it also contains Soap Bark Tree which provides gentle cleansing benefits. Hmm haven't heard of that one before. I love the container too, It has a cute flip top lid which I haven't seen on any other brands.

Restorative Treatment Serum and Soothing moisturising Cream

So I have cleansed my skin tonight and now I am looking forward to applying some Restorative Treatment Serum. I have sat around the house for about two hours without a moisturiser on my skin and (being someone with dry/sensitive skin) my face feels really really tight.  I love the frosted glass packaging that the serum comes in. I'm a sucker for anything that comes in glass packaging. It just feels a bit more special. I pumped a bit onto my finger and noticed that the serum is like a light yellow colour. I can't place the scent either, but its a very fresh floral smell. Perhaps its a blend of the Prickly Pear extract (helps calm skin sensitivity) or a combination of Calendula, Chamomile, Echinacea, Self Heal, Spilanthes and Marshmallow extracts  ( defends against sensitised skin)? When I applied this serum onto my face it felt like my skin grabbed it and drank it all up. There is no sticky residue and it dries matte. I can feel my skin relaxing a lot too. I'm very surprised how quickly this serum works! I usually use a moisturising oil after I tone but after using the Restorative Treatment Serum and I will defiantly work this into my regular skincare routine.

When I first applied the Soothing Moisturising Cream I was a tad concerned. I was rubbing it in a circular motion and it seemed to just build on top of itself. I then changed it to outward strokes and the cream spread a lot better and started to sink in very quickly. Still a thickish cream this is no light lotion. I don't mind it that much as long as the cream isn't greasy or feels like an oil slick. When this dried on my skin it had a sheen and gave my skin a natural glow. This cream smells absolutely yummy! It contains Evening Primrose, Macadamia and Avocado oils. Oh! And Rose Hip Oil ! I have seen such a difference on my skin since using Rosehip Oil so I'm excited to see that in the list of ingredients. I am very keen to incorporate this into my skincare regime. I think it will go something like this: Cleanse, tone, moisturise then once a day I'll use the serum. Goody.

Bio Oil

I received a little bonus in my bag; a 125 ml Bio Oil. I used Bio Oil throughout my pregnancy and I practically slathered it all over me at night. When my baby was getting bigger and bigger in my belly the skin would get really itchy because it was stretching. I found that putting this oil on my belly really relived the dry itch. I cant say that I have NO stretch marks because that would be a lie. I am a tiny 5ft and I had a 9.14 pound baby, I was HUGE by nine months. So I have a couple stretch marks near my hip bone but I'm guessing they would have been a lot bigger if I didn't use a moisturising oil. I would definitely recommend this to any pregnant lady out there. Even if its just to sooth that belly itch.

What's your favourite Jurlique product?

http://www.jurlique.com.au/

Have Fun!

Renee x

These products were sent to me for consideration. My opinions of these products are 100% genuine and honest .

Summer Shakin'

Crazy Stupid Smoothie

Hello everybody! Today I am going to share with you my favourite Summer snack. This smoothie is sweet and full of fruit as well as a few added vitamins

Grab some frozen berries. I use Blueberries and Blackberries. Purple berries contain high levels of antioxidants. 

Put the berries in a jug with one banana. I always add bananas to my smoothies because they taste soooo good!

I then add 2-3 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt.

One cup of Soy milk. I'm lactose intolerant so I kinda have to drink Soy milk. I prefer the taste of Soy milk to dairy milk anyway.

I take one teaspoon of Spirulina a day, either in a smoothie or in just plain water. I cannot get enough of Spirulina it it really good for you with heaps of minerals like Iron, Potassium, Magnesium Sodium, Phosphorus, Calcium etc. It really boosts my immune system too.

I also add one teaspoon of Chia seeds to my smoothies. I actually started this when I was poking around in the pantry to see what kind of other bits I could add to my drink and found these. I then did a bit of research to find out a bit more about them. They contains calcium, manganese, and phosphorus, and is a great source of healthy omega-3 fats. Also been said to boost energy, stabilise blood sugar and lower cholesterol.

I then whizz it all up and there you go! A really yummy snack with lots of good stuff in there.  Don't be fooled by the icky green colour, that's the spirulina, (I cant taste it. Tastes like banana.)

Whats your favourite Summer smoothie?

Have Fun

Renee x

Attention Mums! A special box for your baby.

A special gift for your baby every month!

I was so excited when I received my Babble Box in the mail today. At first I was like WooHoo! But then I realised I was on my way to put Bub to bed. So we both quickly opened the Babble Box and I let Bub play with the first thing she lunged for ( which happened to be a farm animal ball) for a little while before I put her down for a nap. Now it's my turn to see what Babble Box has thoughtfully popped in the February box for my baby.

Opening the Babble Box together

Pink wrapping for girls and a cute teddy sticker to bind it.

Bub sees a ball and makes a lunge for it

Items in the Babble Box

First thing I picked up was the Heinz Baby Basics Disposable Bibs. These bibs have a cute little bee print on them and are gender neutral. I think these would be really handy for the nappy bag or if you are going away for the weekend or even if your camping. What's worse than having a stinky bag full of bibs that you have to carry around until you can find a washing machine? The neck is adjustable and there is even a spill catcher incorporated into the design. As I have mentioned in an earlier post, Bub is quiet slow with her solids so we will have to save these for later.

Awww! How cute is this happy cow book from Galt? This soft cover book has some kind of foil in the pages so that it makes a crackling noise when Bub touches them, which I am very sure she will love the sound of. Each page has a different farm animal on it and they all have a patch of textured material as part of the animal. For example the sheep has a woollen coat and the horse has a felt mane. The pages are bursting with colour so it will engage your child imagination and there is even a handy hook so it can be attached to Bubs stroller or car seat. No more lost toys!

This 'On the Farm" ball from Haba is my babys favorite find from the box. Soft and bouncy, this colourful ball is great for teaching a baby gross motor skills such as rolling, lifting and throwing. These skills are necessary for a healthy development. After some research I also found that this fun ball is made with Phthalate-free Plastic. Phthalate is a toxic chemical sometimes used in children's toys to create a longer life in the product. As a mother I feel rest assured that this product doesn't have any nasty chemicals in it because my baby puts everything in her mouth and I don't want her swallowing gross chemicals. Yuck. I'm grateful for Babble Box for adding this bonus ball in the February Box. I'm sure it will get thrown, dirty and slobbered on for a very long time.

I'm so glad I received these Olliboo Bamboo Face Washers. Anything organic and I'm all over it like hot sauce! These are absolutely divine! I love everything about these. The colours (white, orange and teddy print), the feel of the fabric and the quality of the make are fantastic. The fabric is free from harsh chemicals and I can tell that even though they are soft they are also hardy. I think these would go down great as a baby shower gift as well as Olliboo Bamboo wraps or clothing. I am drooling a little.

So I'm thinking that I am pretty happy with the box so far. With the book and the farm animals ball could things get any cuter? Yes, yes they can! Look at this little chick! When I saw this Cozy Chicken from Haba I found her sitting snugly in her egg which has foil inside it so it crackles when Bub scrunches it in her hands. The little chick is filled with beans and it has a squeaker that sounds like a little cheep when its shaken. This is my favourite toy in the box, it's just too cute! With the bright colours, crackling egg, squeaker and soft body in sure my Bub will love exploring every facet of this gorgeous chicky.

So that's everything that I found in my February Babble Box and I love every item. I would recommend to any mum to subscribe to this box service for a once a month treat for your tot or for a baby shower present or even a first birthday present.  I'm so excited to see what the other age groups received and I hope that all the bubs out there enjoyed them. Babble Box even donate money to a childrens charity for every box sent out monthly. This month Babble Box have decided to give back to Barnardos. They work to find safe homes for abused children and young people and work with families and the community to prevent abuse in Australian children. What a great cause! 

I would love to hear from other mums out there who subscribed to Babble Box and let me know what their bub received.

Babble Box: http://www.babblebox.com.au/

Chosen charity Barnardos: http://www.barnardos.org.au/

Have Fun!

Renee x

Babble Box was sent to me for consideration, however my opinion on this prodict is 100% genuine and honest

Love that Lush.

An old favourite and experimenting with the new.

I have written about my love of Lush products again and again. This time I'm going to explain why I love the Lush Angels on Bare Skin. When I first went into the store I was after a cleanser that wouldn't foam up and something that was suitable for sensitive skin. The very kind lady explained that the Angels on Bare Skin was very gentle and one of their most popular cleansers. I can see why now. I have been using this cleanser for over a year now and I love it. I saw a dramatic difference to my skin within a week, my spots had disappeared and my skin looked a lot clearer. I have used random face cleansers intermittently which I have liked but I always go back to my Lush.

Angels on Bare Skin is sort of like a putty. Grab a pea-sized blob and mix it with a bit of water and then  rub onto the face. Then wash off. This cleanser smells amazing with Rose oil and Lavender oil. There are even chunks of lavender flower in it. It has a mild exfoliating action as well because there is ground up Almonds in it. Amazing.

This is the Angels Delight soap. I haven't used it yet but the smell is growing on me, at first I thought it was way too sweet. I bought it because I like the look of the fun and festive colours. I'm sure I would rather try it out before I make my mind up about it.

Now this is an interesting purchase. I bought this because my Big Shampoo had run out and I needed another. The Senik Shampoo Bar contains sea salt, protein rich Irish-Moss Seaweed with Jasmine, Mimosa and Orange Blossom. This shampoo is meant to make hair soft and shiny. One drawback, I cant stand the smell. I think it is really offensive, to me it smells like men's cologne, bad cologne. I will try this but if I smell like men's cologne even when my hair has dried I think I might buy something else.

Whats your favourite Lush item? What do you think of the shampoo bar, worth a go?

Have Fun

Renee x

Baby's Summer Favorites.

Mums and Bubs favorites for Summer

In Western Australia it's very warm. For someone who loves the rain and cold, Blimey its a scorcher! The average day is around 35 Degrees Celsius and we have had an unbearable day of 43 Degrees that's 109 degrees Fahrenheit for all you guys who come from that part of the world. Thats super crazy! Remember I love Winter.
Anyway enough of the rant and lets get down to business. The point of this post was to tell you guys what Me and my Bub have been loving these Summer months. 

1. Bonds Tank tops: Bub pretty much lives in these in summer. They are really stretchy and very cool to wear. They come in heaps of colours but we have white, pink and purple.
   
2. Nuk Bottles: When its a really hot day and we are out and about in the car I usually have one of these handy full of water. She's quiet happy to sip on this when she is thirsty. After a few weeks bub kind of refused to take a teat on the bottle so we had to change it to a training bottle which she prefers.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Rafferty Gardens Food Purées: At seven months old bub took her first spoonful of pumpkin purée after being exclusively breastfed.We have had a bit of a rocky start with solids. Somedays she will take it, other days she simply refuses to open her mouth. Thats OK. But I do love the food pouches with no preservatives and just natural ingredients. This means I don't have to purée food myself when there is a high chance she wont eat it. And yeah, I'm a bit lazy too.

                                

• Cardboard books: When a baby is teething, all they want to do is munch. Books are not munch friendly, unless their pages are made out of cardboard. Then they are a bit more sturdy. Her favourites are Spot- By Eric Hill and The Very Hungry Caterpillar- By Eric Carl

So these are the few things that we have been using endlessly during Summer. I hope you enjoyed reading. Don't forget to tell me what your Summer Essentials are.

Have Fun 

Renee x

**Napoleon Perdis Giveaway!**

NP Lip Gloss Set Giveaway!   Competition Closed

Congratulations Amy for being the lucky winner! 


This is my first giveaway and I decided to do it because it seems like a fun idea. And I'm hoping to meet a few more bloggers during the process.

The prize is a Napoleon Perdis Lip Gloss Set! Colours include a deep red, vivid orange, bright pink, deep pink and a nude mini tubes. These lip glosses have skin conditioning Vitamin E and antioxidants Vitamin A and C to help protect against the elements.

How do I enter?

Easy, Just Like my Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/reneehartsthis?fref=ts  and Follow me on BlogLovin' or Google +. I will check.

AND

In the comment box below write the codeword NP Giveaway, with your blog URL or email adress So I know to include you in the random draw.

Hey Lovelies this particular giveaway is just for the Australians, sorry international peeps.( I sure you understand high postage costs) so let your fellow Aussies know. When I reach 100 followers I will do another giveaway so SPREAD THE WORD. And you could have the chance to win another great product.  This Giveaway expires March 5 th 2014 at Midnight Western Australia time and the winner will be contacted within 24 hours via their blog or alternatively leave your email in the comment box with the codeword.. The winner must reply within 48 hours or the prize will be redrawn. No cash alternative given.

Have fun and Good luck!

Renee x

Summer Lovin'

My Summer Faves for 2014

I Haven't written a Summer Faves before but since I see a lot of people doing it I thought I could jump on that ol' bandwagon. During the warmer months my skincare and make-up is  very different to the colder times of year.
This is my list of cosmetics/body care:

• Lush Big Shampoo: I have been using this exclusively to wash my hair. I love the fresh, zesty smell and it makes my hair squeaky clean.
• Lush Soaps: My favourite is the Miranda (smells fruity like oranges) and Bohemian Soap ( this one is a really nice lemon smell)
  
• Rosehip Oil: I use this on my face everyday and I still think it's the best natural moisturiser I have ever found.
• Tinderbox Cacao and Goji Moisturiser: Yum Yum! A very effective moisturiser that makes you want to eat it too.
• Veet Roll on wax kit: This has saved me so much money over the last few months. I dont have to go to a salon and pay up to $60 for a leg wax, I can just do it at home!
  
  
• Maybelline BB Cream: This 8 in 1 cream is so lightweight and the coverage is sheer enough so I don't look like I'm wearing make-up.
• Rimmell Match Perfection Blush: I usually dust a it of this over my BB cream. I love how this blush has three colours in one; light, medium,and dark so you can blend, blend, blend. 
•  
• Napolean Pedris Mascara: I actually got this out of a promo pack with In-Style magazine. The brush is nice and thick and the formula is lovely and creamy. I have been reaching for this one whenever I wear make-up this Summer.
  

Random Summer Favorites:

• Sandals and Denim shorts: I LIVE in these in summer. The best pair of denim shorts I have found are a pair of Big W ones for $6. Score!
• Camera and Laptop: I started blogging a only a few months ago but these two items are a big factor in this blog.
• You tube vloggers: Ooooh, I'm hooked on those make-up channels. My favorites are Rachhloves and Zoella. Check them out now!!
• Cadbury Marvellous Creations: I love the Jelly Popping Candy block.
• Iceblocks: I put iceblocks in everything. Water, cooldrink, juice, smoothies. I just need icy drinks in summer.

Look out for my Mother Dearest thread for my baby summer favourites.

What's on your Summer Favourites list?

Have Fun

Renee x

Mummy's need pampering! From your own kitchen.

No $$$? No Worries!

Feet. We all use our feet. All day, everyday. We are on our feet from dawn to midnight. Chasing after energetic toddlers, rocking a baby to sleep, and making dinner for hubby when he gets home. Our feet are important but they are so easy to forget. I think we should spoil our feet every once in a while and you don't need to go to a salon to do it. Here is a really lovely way to relax and pamper yourself at the end of the day.

1. Make yourself a nice cup of tea/ coffee. ( my drink of choice is Milo)
2. Get a yummy treat
3. Find a comfy spot to sit.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Mix some olive oil, sea salt and vanilla essence in a small bowl. This is your scrub.
5. Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes.
6. Pat dry with a towel.
   
7. Scrub, scrub, scrub.
   
8. Wash off in the bowl of warm water.
9. (This step is optional) Use a foot mask if you have one. I used the Lush Volcano. It smells minty and leaves my skin so soft. Leave on for ten minutes then wash off.
   
10. Use an orange stick to push back the cuticles.
    
11. File your toenails.
12. Put on a base coat and wait to dry. ( I used the Sally Hansen Top and Base Coat.)
13. Apply your favorite nail polish. Two coats should do the trick. (Sinful Colors in Soul Mate 945)
14. Apply top coat.
15. Done! Beautiful, soft feet ready for another full-on day tomorrow.

All of these things I already had in my house so I didn't have to go out and spend any money, already I feel refreshed!

Have Fun!

Renee x