SHOP YOURSELF CHIC

1,000,000 new blogs are created everyday (ok, I made up that statistic - but you get the idea) - so it is rare that I find new ones that I actually enjoy reading.

I love reading about all my blogging pals lives, ideas, inspiration, children, significant others, style etc etc - but every now and then its nice to escape to a site where you can window shop, but also get the authors hints, tips and suggestions on the product.
Think regular online shopping - with little voice next to each product telling you how to style it, comparing similar products, or how to rock it like the celebs did.

Well its here at Shop Me Chic

"We created Shop Me Chick to keep our readers up to date with current trends or products and to inform them of online bargains and amazing online stores" Melinda (MummaInHeels) co founder

It was created by my twitter gorgeous friend She's Sonic and another fabulous blogger Mumma in Heels - and trust me, if there is one thing these ladies know it is shopping! (They do know more than one thing though - they are both funny, intellegant and stylish women)

"Shop Me Chic brings together Fashion, Beauty and Children in one chic little place. Our readers can click through and buy every single item featured on the website - online" says co founded Sonia.

You can tweet you suggestions, ideas or questions directly to @ShopMeChic - it's like having your own personal stylist/shopper.

I've asked the girls at Shop Me Chic to compile some feirce Winter "girls nigth out" outfits. My hen's night (more on that later) will be in July. I still want to look ah-maz-ing but I think I'll need to wear something more than a little cocktail dress. I can't wait to see what the girls come up with.

Have a great weekend

xoxo

SAVE THE DATE

I've been a little bit MIA lately. Long story short - we are moving out of our place to rent it out and moving in with family. So the last few weeks have been full of cleaning, sorting, packing!!! I gave away soooo many clothes/shoes =( It was nice to have a clean out though!

I did manage to find time to send out (most) of our Save the Date cards. I have received so many calls/text msg's about how much people love them.
Seriously - they were so worth the money.

I found Sabina on Etsy.com who created a cariacture of Adam & I (and the dogs!) for only $60.00. I sent her photos of us and back and forth we created the image I liked. She is amazingly talented and nothing was too much trouble for her.
Then I jsut went onto VistaPrint and printed them off for $40.00!!!
Best.$100.I.Ever.Spent !!!!

My only regret is that I didnt use these as the wedding invitations - they have been such a hit I worry that our invites will be a massive let down! haha!

WHY I WON'T SPEND $1000 ON WEDDING INVITES

It is no secret that our wedding in August is what most people would call a "Budget Wedding". I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I can not justify spending tens of thousands of dollars on ONE DAY.

The thing, I think, will surprise most of our guests (and you guys once I share pics) is that budget doesn't have to mean tacky or classless.
I have been searching high and low for the cheapest options available, yet still put together a stylish and classy wedding.

Our Save the Date cards are in the process of being printed. I sourced an artist off Etsy to draw a cariacture of Adam and I (and our dogs). They are so amazing and fun. I will show you all a pic once they have been posted to our guests.

The next thing on my to do list is invitations. Of course, there is no way I will be spending hundreds of dollars on peice of cardboard that 99% of our guests will just throw out after the day. I considered making them myself - but I have the attention span of a labrador puppy - so I could see that ending badly.

I know I want something simple, neutral and classic. Adam will probably call the wedding off if he sights one single splash of pink, flowers or butterfly's!
Our wedding colors are black & white (in tribute of our dogs, thank you very much!) so I think I will need to find a design that is classic but interesting enough to not look plain if we just have black and white.

inexpensive wedding invitations

For those of you who are married, or getting married, what sort of invites did you look at? Or have you ever received any invites that you loved or hated?

xoxo

YOU CAN'T HIKE IN HIGH HEELS

Never in a million years did I imagine I would be posting about shoes other than stilettos, sandals or over-the-knee boots... but then again, I never in a million years imagined I would be voluntarily waking up at 5.30am to work out

As my general level of fitness increased, I find myself wanting to do the things I never thought I could... like hike and discover some of our beautiful land. I am lucky to live reasonably close to the magnificent Blue Mountains - and the idea of working up a sweat on a crisp morning just being with nature actually does appeal to me. Yes, really!!

Regardless of if I am going to work, going out for a night of dancing or working out - I build my outfit around my shoes! My approach to hiking would be no different! This would mean I need to get my hands on a seriously funky pair of hiking boots (you know I'm not going to wear any daggy beige boots)

I am tosing up between a pair of chunkylicious boots (which would satisfy my desire to wear high tops)

Or a pair of funky patterned boots that look just a little bit dressier

timberland shoes

Of course, after the boots, come the protective clothing, backpacks, hat, gloves... but that is a whole other story!!

Have any of your ladies been on any serious hiking adventures? Any tips on purchasing hiking boots?? I am new to this world of shoes - so if you can offer any advice I'd love to hear it.

xoxo

MOTIVATION WEDNESDAY

source

This is SO important to remember! Why throw away all your hard work in the gym if you are just going to eat like crap.

I never understand people who bother to go to the gym or excerise - just to think they can eat worse than they originally did!

We are on a very tight budget this week (I hate bills!) so I won't have the luxury of eating mainly lean cut meats - but I am going to try and be as clean as possible!

PERFECTLY POACHED EGGS!!!

I am in the middle of writing a post which will show you guys what I eat and how much I train during the week. (Thanks for the idea She's Sonic ) and the main thing I eat for breakfast is poached eggs! So here is my instructions for Perfectly Poached Microwaved Eggs

I saw this online somewhere & thought it sounded too good to be true. But it really works!



Crack egg into a coffee mug or ramekin (careful not to break the yolk)



Pour over 1/3 cup of boiling water



Pierce yolk with tooth pick (this is an important step)



Microwave for 1 minute (may vary depending on your voltage)



The water will be there and still murky looking but just take a spoon and scoop out the egg!



Sooooo quick and easy and the healthiest way to eat your eggs

PRODUCT REVIEW; MIRAS HAND ARGAN OIL

Ok, so you all probably know how much of a Argan/Moroccan oil fanatic I am. If you missed it you can read about it here

I was using a product I got off eBay "One n Only" brand - and that you would probably find in your local hairdresser. Through a 'pro argan oil' post on Twitter - the founded and creator of Mira's Hand tweeted me to let me know about their up and coming range of 100% pure Argan Oil (god bless twitter!)

The product I was using was almost out - so I ordered from Mira's Hand.

The first thing I did was read the bottle. Ingredients: 100% pure Argan oil. 'Hmm, cool'  I thought.
I picked up the almost empty bottle of One n Only Argan Oil I was using to check the ingredients on that! I nearly died when I saw a list of ingredients I didnt even know how to pronounce (Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Fragrance (Parfum), Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Yellow 11 (CI 47000), Red 17 (CI 26100)

So when I have been raving about Argan Oil - it seems I haven't actually been using much Argan Oil at all. I spoke with Jamila from Mira's Hand and she said that some brands use as little as 4% Argan Oil in their ingredients. I try to use as many natural products as I can - so to think I was using all that crap on my hair AND FACE really pissed me off!!!

As soon as I opened the bottle and poured a bit of Mira's Hand Argan Oil into my hand I could immediately see the difference. To start with - the bottle only allows for a few sparce drops at a time... which trust me, is all you need. It wasn't nearly as oily or greasy as the concoction I had been using. It didn't have such a fragant scent too it (which is obviously because it hasn't an additional 'perfume' added to it). And it just seemed to soak into my skin and hair a lot quicker.

I used it both Saturday & Sunday morning before my early morning swims and when I got home and brushed out my swimming cap hair - it still felt pretty good considering all the chlorine. In fact I didn't even use shampoo on Sunday morning - just rinsed my hair, put in some conditioner then some argan oil once I was out of the shower.

Regardless of if you chose to purchase from Mira's Hand or not (although I really think you should support small and local businesses - mind you they are making quite a spalsh on the beauty scene!) please please plesae please make sure you are using 100% pure Argan oil. Otherwise you may as well be using a mixture of cooking oils, perfume & chemicals on your hair. It's simple - check the ingredients - it should be one thing only listed - ARGAN OIL.
All the hype about the benefits of Argan Oil (it is referred to as liquid gold) only apply to products that are 100% pure Argan oil. So the benefits of argan oil don't apply to companies who make Argan/Moroccan oil product with anything other than Argan oil.
The Moroccan woman whom have been using Argan oil for hundreds of years, and reaped the benefits, did not use oils laced with other chemicals and additives.

The only Argan Oil product I have found to be 100% pure is www.mirashand.com.au. Check out their website for other Argan oil products and many more ways to use Argan oil.

** Depsite what it may read like - I did actually purchas this product and have not been paid for this review. I just honestly think anyone who thinks they are using Argan oil should check the ingredients. Don't be fooled into thinking you are using a natural product , when you are more-than-likely using one that has toxins added to it**

xoxo