FreezeFrame Haul!

 

Hi guys! It's the first day of Term 1 for my son, so here I am trying to change from carefree holiday mode back to school routine mode. I definitely feel better when I'm organised though, so having structure in my day will do me good. I've been making an effort to fill out my Diary, get on top of my emails and declutter the house, so I'm feeling positive. I don't mind being busy, but I'm fast approaching my collab limit for how many I can take on at once before I get overwhelmed. Going on a short getaway has me enjoying the relaxed life a bit too much and now I have to snap out of it!

Today's post features my recent FreezeFrame haul. I'm a huge fan of Freezeframe, because they make products that address the exact skincare concerns I have, and they work so damn well. They also have some amazing sales from time to time, one of which I took advantage of to purchase this latest round of goodies. This should keep me going for quite some time hopefully! Let's take a look at the products.

Revitaleyes

This is my favourite ever Freezeframe product. It's a multitasking gel that improves deep wrinkles, chronic puffiness and serious dark circles. I have all three of these, so to have found a product that addresses all my issues (instead of having to use three separate creams) and leaves my under eye area looking its best ever... well it's a massive gamechanger. I wrote about my desire to keep using Revitaleyes in my 2022 Beauty Goals post, and I certainly have. I would highly recommend this product to anyone looking to improve wrinkles, eyebags or dark circles. For this purchase it was a bundle deal of Revitaleyes + Eyelid Lift and you could purchase any additional product at 50% off, so naturally I bought another Revitaleyes.

Eyelid Lift

So this is a 'new to me' Freezeframe product that there's been a lot of hype about on social media. I was quite excited when I saw the bundle deal of this plus Revitaleyes, and thought it was the perfect time to try it. I don't really have hooded or droopy lids per se, but I guess things can always be improved and I'd like to see if a bit of an eyelid lift makes a difference. I haven't tried this yet, but I'm hoping it opens up my eyes a bit and makes me look more awake!

Wrinkle Block

This is my second tube of Wrinkle Block, and honestly, it lasts forever. I've had my first one so long most of the label has rubbed off and I still haven't finished it. Maybe I should start using it all over my face to use it up quicker, as currently I only use it under my eyes, and not even every day. It's really good though, if you're looking to improve fine lines, moderate and even deep wrinkles. It also works really well under makeup, providing a nice hydrated base on which to apply concealer or corrector. Also, this was a free Gift With Purchase for the first 200 orders. Score!

Glow Getter

I'm happy to try any Freezeframe product I haven't tried before, so I'm looking forward to using this Glow Getter sample, even though it is quite tiny! I've just tried finding more information about this on their website, including using the search function and nothing comes up, so I don't know if this has been discontinued or is just out of stock. From the tube packaging though, it's a sleeping mask with deep sea repair for deep wrinkles, firming and luminosity.

Pumpkin did not give a stuff about my attempted photoshoot! Luckily this one was just for Stories, haha. I hope you enjoyed my haul!

Holiday Empties

 

Hi guys! Last week we went to Victor Harbor for a short holiday, staying at a Country Club where we relaxed and played golf. It was amazing to get away during the school holidays, especially since our air conditioning at home died and it's been stifling in the house during this super hot Summer weather. It looks like it won't be fixed for another few weeks too, because they have to ship parts in and it's not an easy fix. Swear words! Edit - it now looks like the best solution is to completely replace the air conditioning unit which will be $9000+. Fantastic!

Anyway, I decided to take a few mini-sized products I've been wanting to use up on the trip with me (along with some bigger products). It's part of my never-ending efforts to declutter the house (and my beauty collection). Here are the ones I managed to finish up whilst away, and my brief thoughts on them.

Lancome Tonique Confort Rehydrating Comforting Toner
I love the slightly jelly consistency of this pink rehydrating toner and really enjoyed using it. This came in a Lancome Gift With Purchase. The perfect size product to take away on holiday.

Kiehl's Retinol Skin Renewing Daily Micro Dose Serum
This felt really nice upon application and seems more gentle than other retinol serums. There was no initial stinging effect and my skin looked really good the next morning.

The Body Shop Moringa Body Butter
I adore this scent and it lasts for ages on the skin. A lovely texture that absorbs well and is non-greasy. I really want to try more fragrances from The Body Shop Body Butter range.

Kiehl's Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream
I love this stuff, from the smell of it to the gorgeous light texture, it feels lovely going on and leaves my skin hydrated and supple to the touch.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50+ SPF Lightweight Sunscreen
This tiny little mini was very runny but seemed to work. It's fragrance free and has a non-shiny finish.

Revlon Colorstay Skin Awaken 5-In-1 Concealer
I love this concealer for under my eyes and have already replaced it with another tube. The formula has caffeine and Vitamin C and really helps cover my dark under eye circles. I love it.

So it may not be that many, but I'm happy with what I could finish. It makes it easier to sift through everything, see what I've got and what I want to concentrate on using up next. Do you use any of these products?

Manicure: Bourjois 1 Seconde Gel in 07 Fuchsia

 

Hi guys! A quick look at my latest Mani today; it's shade 07 Fuchsia from Bourjois, a gorgeous quick drying gel texture nail polish. I actually surprised myself by trying a pale pink/white shade over Christmas, which is not my jam, although it did grow on me. I naturally gravitate towards bright colours, hot pinks, dark shades or reds so I'm proud of myself for stepping outside my comfort zone. Did you know that light coloured nails make your skin appear more tan? I didn't know this! Check out Essence Sugar Blush, from their gel nail colour range on my nails (pictured below).

Anyway, onto my current mani, Bourjois 07 Fuchsia. I am loving this! New year, new shade to shake things up, right? This is so bright and cheerful. A perfect way to start 2023 (although yes, we are already halfway through January lol). I did a massive nail polish declutter last year, so have a lot less shades to choose from, but still more than enough. It's really hard not to buy new nail polish! Click here to read about my huge nail polish declutter.

I used just one coat and didn't use a top coat because I can't currently locate it haha. I probably should buy a new one. Also when it appears this opaque after one coat I usually don't apply a second layer as my tendency to apply thick means the second coat will probably smudge and ruin the mani. I don't know how on earth people apply two coats and a top coat without it smudging! What do you think of this shade? Is it something you'd wear? 

Disclaimer: Essence Sugar Blush was PR gifted.

My Go-To Easy Summer Salad Recipe

 

Hi guys! I thought since absolutely no-one asked, I'd post my go-to Summer Salad recipe. This is super easy to make and doesn't require many ingredients at all. Of course, you can add whatever you like and sometimes I jazz it up with extras, depending on how I'm feeling and what we have on hand. Basically it's a lot of green, a bit of orange and no red, because I don't really like tomatoes in salads. This is not one of those blogs where you have to skip through five paragraphs detailing my family history before getting to the recipe, so let's have a look!

This serves one, adjust ingredient amounts accordingly!

Ingredients

Handful of Iceberg Lettuce
1 Carrot
1 Lebanese Cucumber
Smooth Feta Cheese
Handful of Nuts (cashews, walnuts, etc. You choose!)
Italian Dressing (low-fat if desired)

Equipment needed - cutting board, sharp knife, grater, plastic container or bowl for serving/eating.

Method

1. Shred lettuce and pour into plastic container
2. Cut carrot and cucumber on long slit side of grater. Add to container.
3. Cut 1/4 packet smooth feta cheese into cubes. It will crumble but this is good. Add to container.
4. Roughly chop a handful of nuts and add to container.
5. Toss it to combine, or put on lid and shake it. Remove lid.
6. Add desired amount of Italian Dressing and toss salad.
7. Enjoy!

You can make this quite quickly for a weekday lunch. Or you could serve it with dinner as a side salad. Of course, being a salad, it's totally up to you what you omit, change around or add in. Here are some ideas:

~ use a bag of mixed salad leaves for more variety
~ add halved cherry tomatoes
~ add chopped spring onion
~ add shredded chicken or some ham for a protein hit
~ use tasty cheese instead of fetta
~ experiment with the types of nuts added or omit altogether
~ try French dressing instead of Italian or whatever type you like
~ chopped celery also goes well in this salad

The following shows the salad with the addition of cherry tomatoes...

The possibilities are endless! I hope you enjoyed my go-to Easy Summer Salad recipe. Let me know how you go with it!

Movie: The Fabelmans

 

Hi guys! Happy New Year! I hope you all had a safe and Merry Christmas and are off to good start to 2023. At the end of last year I was lucky enough to attend the Adelaide Preview Screening of THE FABELMANS at Wallis Mitcham Cinemas. I really enjoyed the film, so thought I'd post about it. It opens at movie theatres on January 5, so make sure you get along and check it out!

Cast: Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Judd Hirsch, Gabriel LaBelle
Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Drama
Release Date: 5/1/2023

“Movies are dreams that you never forget.”

A deeply personal portrait of 20th Century American childhood, Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans is a coming-of-age story about a young man’s discovery of a shattering family secret and an exploration of the power of movies to help us see the truth about each other and ourselves. Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see "The Greatest Show on Earth." Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother.

Inspired by Spielberg’s own childhood, The Fabelmans is written by Spielberg and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner, and directed by Steven Spielberg. It is a semi-autobiographical story loosely based on Spielberg's adolescence and first years as a filmmaker, told through an original story of the fictional Sammy Fabelman, a young aspiring filmmaker who explores how the power of films can help him see the truth about his dysfunctional family and those around him.

I loved this film. It was a beautiful, heart-warming experience with a captivating story and an amazing cast. Michelle Williams is outstanding as usual, but really the entire ensemble cast shines here. Not only does the movie look good, it takes you on an emotional journey and is an absolute must-see for film buffs and anyone interested in the filmmaking process. Highly recommended!

The Fabelmans opens in Australia on January 5, make sure you check it out!

Disclaimer - We were invited to attend the Preview Screening. Images courtesy of PR.