insider CLEANSING TIPS

STOP CLEANSING YOUR FACE IN THE SHOWER...

{something I'm guilty of - woops!}

Beauty expert, Natalia Torres Negreira from Chakana Beauty & Wellbeing {and soon-to-be guest blogger right here at bellaMUMMA}, warns the water temperature in your shower will be, more-than-likely, too hot and damaging for your face  ~ especially if you're loving warm-to-hot 

showers this time of the year!

Face washers are out too, they're too rough and can destroy your skin's delicate protective barrier, leaving you prone to both dryness and breakouts. Natalia suggests using a chamois instead!

Stay tuned for more advice from Natalia : )

{Pic: Glamour}

snippet of MY NIGHT

FIRE GOING, RAIN OUTSIDE...
life is good! How is it in your part of the world?

For more snippets, follow me on instagram @ bellaMUMMA 

or bellaMUMMA on Vine!

home inspiration: FIDDLE LEAF FIG

HOW COOL IS THIS INDOOR PLANT?

I found it on Pinterest and tracked it back to and awesome blog, MintSix...

This awesome {hardy} plant is a  Ficus Lyrata or Fiddle Leaf Fig, {as it's more commonly known} and I'm currently searching for one, so stay tuned!

{Pics: MintSix}

gwynnie's almost-normal MORNING routine

MY FASCINATION WITH GYWNNIE'S LIFE CONTINUES...

in an interview with WWD {to promote the new fragrance Boss Jour Pour Femme, which she's the face of}, she revealed her morning routine. 

Her routine seems very normal, apart from hel-lo, the two hours of exercise!
Here's what she said:

 “I wake up at 7 a.m., I get {the kids} fed, and I get them dressed in their uniforms, any bits of homework are finished,” Paltrow explained. “I take them to school. She {Apple, now 9} gets dropped off at 8:25 a.m., and he {Moses, now 7} gets dropped off at 8:45 a.m., so we have a croissant together in his school dining room and we do reading together. Then I go home and I work for one hour on all the e-mails that come in overnight from L.A. Then I exercise from about 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Then I work on Goop pretty much the rest of the day until I pick up my kids and then they have various activities.”

She also said she's a collector of fragrances. “I am one of those people who have a whole closet full of perfume. I love it; I have always loved it and have always had a wardrobe full of scent,” admitting to having at least a hundred in her possession.

Same same! I probably don't own a hundred but I do own quite a few bottles. Love them, comes from being a beauty editor for years!

{Source: WWD / Pic: UK Glamour}

come on GET HAPPY

BURNING ORANGE BLOSSOM OIL...

can help to lift your spirits and calm your nervous system - all because of it's 
amazing anti-depressant powers!

Use it in a burner - or try this insider trick... Sprinkle a few drops orange essential oil onto your light bulbs - when they're on for a while and they heat up and the bulb acts like a burner - {much easier than lighting candles}!

+ how's this... Folklore has it that orange blossom flowers were used in bridal bouquets to calm the before-marriage-jitters!

{Pic: Tumblr}

PS. CLICK HERE to enter our 'happy' Natio Orange Blossom giveaway

bM tries out: ENJO's OVEN GLOVE & MIRACLE

THIS MONTH OUR TRY-IT-OUT TEAM TESTED ENJO's OVEN CLEANER AND MIRACLE... 

they were impressed with the results and MAJORLY impressed they didn't have to use toxic cleaners and deal with headache-causing fumes!

Here's what they had to say:

Helen {left}: "I loved the simplicity and that there were no chemical smells. The glove and miracle we easy to use, even the kids wanted to help. I will definitely recommend these products to my friends. Even though they're initially a little more expensive than regular products, the cost evens out in the end. Helen's rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Leena {right}:  "The oven mitt and miracles were great because I didn't have to use any chemicals and I didn't have to evacuate the house for 12 hours while cleaning. It did take a bit of elbow grease to scrub the racks, but it has been eight months since I cleaned the oven. I was really surprised how effective the mitt was, it just lifted all the grease away. It was a much cleaner process too, and less of a  hassle - no newspaper on the floor and fan on to get rid of the smell. I cleaned the oven while the kids sat in the kitchen doing their homework - and it was quick, the most time taken was allowing it to steam. I also liked that I could use the oven straight after and there was no residual chemical smell, that often gets into food from chemical cleaners.
Leena's rating: 5 out of 5 {I'd like to try the paste too.}

Emma {left}: "I liked that there were no fumes, chemicals or harsh scrubbing needed. They added an amazing shine to the spots that were clean with such ease. I think it's going to take me a few tries to get all the really baked on grime off. It was super-easy though and I loved that all I needed was water (yay) and a few ENJO products. I would definitely buy more Enjo products. My bathroom really needs some ENJO love. Going to recommend these products to my friends. Anything that gets chemicals out of my house is a winner. Emma's rating: 4 out of 5

Bake 'n' Bling SPECIAL
$119 {RRP $147}
Grab ENJO'S new Oven Glove and old trusty partners in grime, Marble Paste and Kitchen Miracle, and get the job done in minutes, without the need for nasty chemicals.

The Bake 'n' Bling Special includes: 
1 x Oven Glove
1 x Kitchen Miracle
1 x Marble Paste
Valid until 31 May 2013.

CLICK HERE to buy online
If online isn’t your thing, please contact 1800 222 540 to contact a personal ENJOpreneur.

{+ CLICK HERE if you'd like to be a part of bellaMUMMA's try-it-out team.}

15 priceless gifts to GIVE YOURSELF

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE & YOU DESERVE THE BEST, YES...

so boost your self-love and gift yourself one or two of the following:

1. The freedom to be unapologetically YOU. Faking it is fatiguing. It’s much wiser to just be yourself – faults and all. Remember, imperfection is beauty; madness is genius. It is better to be ridiculously you, than ridiculously boring by trying to be the same as everyone else.

2. An uninhibited imagination. Life is changing faster and faster with every passing day. The world tomorrow looks nothing like the world today. And the people with big imaginations are the ones not just living it, they are creating it.

3. An open mind. Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t; everyone can teach you something new. The purpose of keeping an open mind isn’t just to change your mind, it’s to expand your mind to understand the true potential in each moment of your life.

4. The commitment to fail forward. Failing is as certain as sunsets and detours. So why exert energy avoiding the unavoidable? Embrace it. Get real comfortable with that uneasy feeling of going against the grain and trying something new. Doing so will always take you to places you never thought you could go.

5. Using encouraging words. Words are powerful. They can create or they can destroy. The simple words you choose, especially when you speak to yourself or about yourself, can offer encouragement and positive thoughts, or they can send you further into despair.
Choose your words wisely.

6. A ‘glass’ filled with the right things. It’s not just whether your glass is half-empty or half-full that matters. It's what you’re filling your glass with. Be sure to fill it with those things that satisfy your soul: good friends and family to love, passions to pursue, dreams to fulfill, and charity for others. 

7. Enjoying what you have. Don't spoil what you have by desiring what you have not. Enjoy your blessings right now. Remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. Celebrate this. Work on being so appreciative and happy that when others look at you, they become a little happier too.

8. Lifelong learning. You are simply the product of what you know, so develop a passion for acquiring knowledge. It begins in the heart and home. Read for pleasure, ask questions, analyse, and exploit your curiosities. In other words, learn to actually love the act of learning.

9. Hope. Remember, it’s always darkest just before the dawn. Your troubles may be too dense and dark right now for you to see the light, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a strong spirit within them, or a beautiful sunrise just beyond the horizon. 

10. Spirituality. Faith elevates your view of the universe, your world, and your life. You are also made of heart, soul, and will. And decisions in your life should be based on more than just what everyone else is doing on the outside. 

11. Stability and love at home. A stable home becomes the foundation on which you build the rest of your success. Subconsciously we all need to know we have a family core who we can trust, and who is going to be there for us through thick and thin.  

12. A positive temper. Take a slow, deep breath, and remind yourself of how much more effective you can be by maintaining a positive approach. Take note of your anger, let it go, redirect your focus on being your best self, and you’ll surely emerge with a smile. 

13. A sense of humour is a major defense against minor troubles – something life is filled with. So laugh as often as you can with those around you, for your sake and theirs. 

14. Doing the best you are capable of. Don’t complain about something you can actually do something about. Take action. Do the best that you’re capable of. Those who get the most from life are those who give the most. Find something you’re passionate about, and keep  interested in it and focused on it. 

15. Being the change you want to see. Happiness, freedom, and peace of mind are always attained by giving them without expectation. Happiness becomes yours when you live it. Everything you need you are already capable of being. So smile from the heart and fulfill the destiny that is yours.

{Source: Marc and Angel Pic: Impossibly Blonde}

how to find YOUR PERFECT PART

YOUR PART IS ONE OF THOSE SIMPLE THINGS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR WHOLE LOOK...

 a deep side part can make a low ponytail sophisticated, while a middle part can 
give a hippie chic vibe. 

The right part is also crucial to choosing a flattering style ~ so here are a few

 easy rules for finding your best part: 

Side parts look best on narrow faces. If you sweep your hair to the left side, more of the right side of your face will show, creating the illusion that your face is a tad wider. 

Middle parts are well suited to wide faces. Framing both sides of your face symmetrically will help define your cheekbones, and elongate the nose and chin. 

Here's one more cool tip on face-flattering hairstyles: If you're wearing summer's trendy side ponytail or bun, take a look at your nose, says Parker. If your nose angles to one side—no matter how subtle the curve—position your hair over the opposite shoulder.

{Source: Allure}

method NEW hand wash & body wash GIVEAWAY

ONE OF THE PERKS OF BEING A BLOGGER IS TRYING OUT SUPER-NEW STUFF...

... and getting great stuff to giveaway!

I tried out these method newbies a coupla weeks ago and I love them {I know you're not surprised, as I am a huge fan!} but seriously, they are good!

+ I actually think I like the marketing just as much as the products, here's what they say about themselves...

 foaming hand wash  rrp $5.99
 foaming at the mouth, bad. foaming at the sink, fun. foamy stuff.
 pump, lather, smile and the next thing you know your hands are soft and clean. what’s not to love? especially when the formula is biodegradable, naturally derived and contains no dirty ingredients.

pure naked moisturising body wash  rrp $11.99 (on sale for $9.99 for the month of May)
 the most planet-friendly thing you can do in the nude naked is natural.
it’s pure. it’s undisguised. just like our body wash. which is packed with rich moisturisers without containing any dirty stuff, like parabens, phthalates or EDTA. it simply leaves your birthday suit soft, clean and party ready. not to mention delicately scented in a fresh, nature-inspired fragrance.

{They do smell A-MAZING!}

THE GIVEAWAY BIT: bellaMUMMA has 5 x method newbie packs {valued at $47.94} to giveaway including everything you see in the pic above...  loving, yes?

If you'd like to WIN yourself one of these packs of goodness, all you have to do is 'like' bellaMUMMA on facebook {if you haven't already} then leave a comment below - or email - 

'why you would like to win these awesome method 'newbies''?

Good luck! : )

home inspiration: COLOUR TRENDS FOR 2013

AS YOU KNOW WE'RE RENOVATING...

well, we're just about to move inside for stage 2 {the messy stage!} ~ renovating the loungeroom,
so colour schemes are on my mind, big-time!

If you are in the 'same boat' or are just looking at brightening your walls {and lifting your winter 'mood' in the process}, take a minute to have a squizz at the Dulux Winter 2013 Forecast videos above, there's some great 'wouldn't-have-thought-of-that' colour ideas!
+

CLICK HERE to get the Rise look + CLICK HERE to get the Share pallette

+ CLICK HERE for more on the Merge colours + HERE for all the colour inspiration {you'll ever need} & for more about the stylists who created these looks!

3 surprising FEEL-BETTER BOOSTERS

NEEDING A CAFFEINE-FREE MOOD BOOSTER?

Here are three surprising, easy ways to feel better and reset your mood 
{you can have your coffee too!}...

1. Stand up tall. Your mum was right—you need to stand up straight! Poor posture makes you physically weaker. Studies show that standing up straight and pushing out your chest acatually boosts testosterone levels, which are linked to better pain tolerance and reduced stress hormones.

2. Smile like you mean it. Psychologists in the UK have noticed that people who find it hard to frown due to Botox injections also find it harder to feel negative emotions and generally experience more positive moods as a result. The study is not saying to go out and have Botox to be happy, it's pointing out the power of a frown—and how by simply smiling, you can improve your outlook and your mood.

3. Talk with your hands. Some actions do speak louder than words. Psychological scientists at The University of Chicago have released a study suggesting that using hand gestures when we talk can make our thoughts more concrete, which in turn helps with out problem-solving.
So start flaunting your 'handiwork'!

{Source: Prevention / Pic: Barney's Bergdorfs, Bloomies & Bendel's}