happy HALLOWEEN

MY PUMPKIN HEADS - happy trick or treating! 

happy WEEKEND

WOOHOO... HOW QUICKLY HAS THE WEEKEND COME AROUND? Way way too quick! {Actually, where is this  year going?} Wishing you a little dance, a little joy, a little music - and hot man to share it with! Thanks for stopping by! X

hip hip HOORAY

GREEN IS THE NEW BLUE {BOX}... well, for little tackers anyway! What the b-jesus am I talking about? I had a little green polka dot parcel delivered today from hip hip hooray - a unique kids' pressie service who provides clever, creative and wow-factor presents online. Genius! The range features the top 10 presents for newborns to 12-year olds that have come highly recommended by mums and dads - and which evolve and change regularly with trends and new recommendations received.  PLUS {I love this for the extended family} one of hip hip hooray’s online features is the birthday reminder service. You just register everyone’s birthday on your present list and hip hip hooray will send you email alerts and recommend appropriate presents. And another BIG PLUS...  hip hip hooray has a unique partnership with the George Gregan Foundation whereby $1 from every $4.50 wrap is donated directly to The George Gregan Foundation to help to create outdoor specialised playgrounds in children’s hospitals around Australia and to fund medical practitioners in the area of paediatric neurology. Love it even more!
CLICK HERE to sign up for the birthday reminder service and to start shopping! : )

gwynnie in THE KITCHEN

DID YOU GET YOUR GOOP NEWSLETTER THIS MORNING? There's some major goodness in their today! Gwynnie cooks Herbed Ricotta Buschette with the Barefoot Contessa! It looks delish, would make the perfect weekend brunch delight - and even more importantly, {especially with my lack of culinary skills} it's supposed to be quite easy to make!!! CLICK HERE if you haven't sighted it yet!

friday FAVE

YOU CAN'T IMAGINE MY DELIGHT WHEN I FOUND THIS behind-the-scenes snippet of Alexa Chung's  November Elle cover - complete with a little info on how they did her hair and make-up. {She is truly gorgeous - and seems quite switched on!} Enjoy!

updating THE BOB

SCARLETT JOHANSSON CAN REALLY DO NO WRONG WITH HER HAIR... Seriously, she suites virtually every hair colour, any length - and now she has proven that a bob doesn't have to be dead-dull-boring or newsreader-ish! She gone the more edgy road and has had her bob chopped-into so that's long in front and closely shorn in back! Stunning - and I'm thinking low-maintenance? Do you like it?
{Pic: InStyle}

legendary STYLE

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN of the little blue box - and the delights it holds!

napoleon lip palette GIVEAWAY

TO COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BRAND, make-up maestro Napoleon Perdis has designed a must-have new lip gloss palette with 15 bewitching lip shades—one for every year of Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics and one for every occasion... This blockbuster palette, which comes with a dual-ended lip brush, is a Spring/Summer essential that no Napoleon fan should be without. Shades range from deep burgundy to tropical coral, vibrant red to neutral toffee. Divine! To get your hands on one of these gorgeous palettes all you need to do is spend $99 or more on Napoleon Perdis products this season to receive one for free, buy one for $75 OR you could WIN one of the five bellaMUMMA has to giveaway!!!
For your chance to win, all you have to do is 'like' bellaMUMMA on facebook {if you haven't already} and leave a COMMENT below - or email me - telling me why you would like to win? Winners will be announced November 5! Good luck!

super-smooth MOVE

EVERY NOW AND AGAIN—DON'T WAX... You can still remove hair — just use a razor. Why? Shaving every now and again will help discourage ingrown hairs and the little red bumps you get when you wax. Plus you get a smoother look by shaving and a really good exfoliation, too.
{Source: Allure}

mid-week mumma: JENNIFER LOPEZ

JENNIFER LOPEZ STARS ALONGSIDE HER 2½-YEAR-OLD TWINS Emme Maribel and Max David in Gucci’s latest campaign for their yet-to-launch line, which will hit stores in spring 2011... And while Jennifer lends her flawless face and cute kids to the campaign, in return, the fashion house will make a donation to UNICEF and the Maribel Foundation, which Jennifer started with her sister Lynda.
{Source: Celebrity Baby Blog} Loving that Jen!

my photo MEMORIES

MY GORGEOUS HUBBY WITH A TEENY MR 7 on his 2nd birthday! How cute are my boys! {I can remember that day, that moment so clearly!}

loving... this SHOOT in VOGUE

{Source: Vogue Paris November 2010 via Fashion Gone Rogue}

pink ribbon DAY

ONE IN EVERY NINE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85... It could be a mother, sister, aunt, cousin, niece or friend. Whoever they are, one thing they have in common is that they will all need our help and support. Today is the Cancer Council’s Pink Ribbon Day, the day we can all help raise money and awareness for all Australian women affected by breast cancer. For as much that has been done to help improve survival rates and treatments, the fact is there is still so much more to be done in the fight against this terrible disease.
CLICK HERE to show your support for breast cancer by ordering pink products to sell, volunteering your time to help, buying pink, holding a pink fundraiser, or making a donation.

glow & tell: PINK PATENT MARY JANES

THIS WEEK'S GLOW & TELL COMES FROM A GORGEOUS FRIEND WHO HAS A GORGEOUS BLOG, Linda from Pink Patent Mary Janes... Here are her beauty tips:
Best beauty advice: I'm a sponge. I love learning beauty tips and tricks and think you can never know it all. Whenever I've been on a shoot I'll hang by the make-up artist and follow their every move. I've also been lucky enough to interview some amazing experts in the field who've spilled some sensational secrets. They're passionate about beauty and I grab that passion and hold onto it.

I think it's important to change your make-up regularly and always give a nod to fashion - with this season's colour featuring on your eyes, lips or nails {Chanel always do the best fashion-forward nail colours - and they're worth the big bikkies. For more of a bargain I love Orly.}. Natio offer fun fashion colours without the big outlay - their eyeshadows are gorgeous.

Spending time experimenting with make-up pays dividends. I know what suits me and can happily switch looks by using different eyeshadow colours and know instantly what looks to avoid {nude lips = corpse for me}. Beauty-wise I think it's important to treat your face, neck and decolletage as the one area and always take my cleanser, exfoliator, face masks and moisturisers down to my chest {great advice from Christine Snow from TrueSolutions}.
Can't-live-without: I love Olay moisturisers: they're always at the forefront of technology and yet still offer what you need, good moisturisation. As a curly-girl I love my hair products, and TIGI BedHead Foxy Curls is my must-have to keep my mop from frizzing out. Decent conditioner is essential - as is a colour-care shampoo to stop my faux-raven tresses from being washed down the plug-hole.

I alternate between Pantene, Joico, Sebastian and Herbal Essences to keep things fresh. After years of mis-treating my lashes I have short little stumpy critters, but Dior Show gives me long, showgirl lashes every time. I love a lip-balm, gloss, stick - my bag is full of 'em. But Guerlain is my go-to lipstick, Burt's Bees for moisture and Bloom for a pretty dash of colour. Walking out the door without perfume makes me feel nude. I have scents for every mood and event: SJP Lovely is a fave day-scent, as is YSL Elle. I love Tom Ford's exotic perfumes for night and should I feel in a classic mood - it's got to be Chanel. Palmers do the most fabulous face-mask ever. It fades splotches and blotches and leaves my skin dewy and fabulous - and it's so cheap it's almost obscene! It's Palmers Skin Success Eventone Skin Brightening Mask. Fabulous.

Time saving tips: Cleanse and exfoliate in the shower. I like to use two-in-one cleanser and exfoliator and prefer a tinted moisturiser with sunscreen so I do it all in one. Buy good quality brushes and use your eyeshadow as eyeliner - it's the ideal way to make your eyes pop and bring in the season's colours. I'm going to bang on the experimentation drum again. If you spend a bit of spare time fiddling around with make-up to see what suits you {or book in a make-over at your fave cosmetic counter} it'll save you time when you're getting ready for a big night.

happy WEEKEND

WISHING YOU A GORGEOUS COUPLE OF DAYS OF PLAY AWAY FROM WORK... and I hope it's warm enough for some fun in the sun, maybe even hot enough to get your cossie* on and have a dip in the ocean! {*Loving some of the swimsuits in this Sea Folly video!}
And loving this quote... “In the summer, the song sings itself.” ― William Carlos Williams

I look like this when I do the laundry... NOT!

SUPER-CUTE STYLING IDEA - love it! Love the models + frocks, hair & make-up and Steven Meisel = gorgeous pix!
{Pics: Fashion Gone Rogue}

friday FAVE

JUST HEARD PAPIER MACHE, ONE OF MY FAVE ONLINE MAGAZINES is releasing their first print magazine in February 2011! Cannot wait! If you haven't seen Papier Mache's online issues, CLICK HERE to experience some major major prettiness!

my photo MEMORIES

I'VE JUST SPEND THE LAST HALF HOUR {OR SO} GOING THROUGH iPHOTO and getting lost down memory lane... when I actually should have been working - woops! I thought I might start sharing some of my past pix with you?  {It'll give me the perfect excuse to peruse my iPHOTO albums more regularly!} This one is of Mr 4 about 3 days old and Mr 7 about 3 years old! I love it because they look like they're both singing!!!

chanel SPRING BEAUTY

I LOVE A BIT OF RUNWAY BEHIND-THE-SCENES BACK-STAGE ACTION... I actually used to be a 'dresser' back when I starting out in the industry! Very chaotic and tiring, but heaps of fun!
I hope you enjoy watching this? How exquisite is the make-up!!!

mid-week mumma: GWYNETH PALTROW

GWYNNIE IS LOOKING HOT LATELY... and happy, don't you think? How gorgeous does she look in this Calvin Klein dress on the carpet at Elle’s 17th Annual Women in Hollywood Tribute? Just divine! Gwyn was one of the honorees at the star-studded event, along with Hilary Swank, Diane Keaton, Jodie Foster and director Sofia Coppola. Go girl!
{Source: Just Jared}

make-up MASTERCLASS

beauty SLEEP

NEVER UNDER-ESTIMATE YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP...  Sleep is critical to reducing inflammation in the skin - and it can undo many of the signs of aging that stress hormones have created during the day.

glow & tell: DEMI MOORE

DEMI MOORE TURN 48 IN A COUPLA WEEKS... I'm always fascinated with by her flawless skin, luscious hair, and a jaw-dropping figure - and the fact that she looks 'real'. She opened up to W magazine about some of the tricks and products she relies on to keep her glowing:
SKIN: "My skin is very sensitive, so I use only fragrance-free, simple, pure products. And I moisturize, moisturize, moisturize—that’s the most important lesson my mother passed on to me, and I say it to my daughters all the time. No matter how late of a night it is, when I get home, I take the time to clean and moisturize my face. I'm a big believer in that if you focus on good skin care, your skin will be balanced, and then you really won't need a lot of makeup."

HAIR: "If I'm not working or going to an event, I don't blow dry my hair, or flat iron it, or curl it. I have a lot of hair, but it's fine, so I find giving it a break from those stressors really helps to keep it healthy. And I don't have to color my hair yet, either—knock on wood! As for products, I like shampoos and conditioners that are moisturizing, such as the Redken All Soft line.

MAKEUP: "One product I can't live without is a sheer burgundy lipstick. My natural lip color is somewhat purple-y, so I find this type of shade makes my lips look rosy and healthy, as though I'm not wearing anything at all."

making WAVES

TO CREATE SOFT WAVES, THE EXPERTS SOMETIMES PLAY CHEMIST... One such concoction involves dissolving a coin-size amount of hair conditioner in a spray bottle of water. Shake it well, mist on dry hair until it's damp, and scrunch gently. In addition to bringing out waves, it also softens the hair and makes it really shiny. If you have time, blow the hair dry and use a large-barrel curling iron; if not, let hair air-dry to create a loose, soft bend. {Source: Allure}

a peek into MY WEEK

HELLO HELLO - IT'S BEEN A COUPLA JAM-PACKED WEEKS... Last week was back-to-school {how quickly did the holidays fly by?} so I managed to get a little bit of work done and the house back in order {sort of}! I must say I do have a love/hate relationship with back-to-school... the holidays are chaotic and there is many a tantrum and fight over the silliest things, but I do enjoy not having to do the lunches and school drop-off and pick-up! And when the boys go back to school, I do miss them - and their craziness! During the week I also had a scary moment with my computer... eek! My mousetrack pad thingie became possessed and difficult to use, so I had to take it to the Mac specialist to be fixed... luckily it was under warranty and was easily fixed! It was very weird being computer-free {actually it was quite liberating}.
It also gave me time to give my handbag a much-needed overhaul {ie. chucking out heaps of silly bits and bobs - and the Lego - that had accumulated in there}. The key ingredient to my organisational success... the Borne Naked Handbag Liner. Have you seen/heard of them? Amazing! Once you have one, you'll never go back to digging around in your bag to find 'whatever' because everything has it's place - plus you can swap everything from one bag to another in an instant! Pretty clever! And that's about it for this week!!! I would love to know what you got up to? If you have a minnie, leave a comment and let me know?  PS: As you can probably see for yourself, the 'fringe' is gone - I'm growing it out! {You knew I would!} I'm on the hunt for some pretty/cool hair accessories, so stay tuned, I hope to be sharing some great finds with you over the coming week! X

australis lip butter WINNERS

AND THE WINNERS OF THE AUSTRALIS LUSCIOUS LIP BUTTERS are...
* dannibeauty
* 3windows
* oozzle
* bels
* di
Congratulations!!!!! Can you all please email me your address, and I'll get your two lovely lip butters on their way to you!

happy WEEKEND

SEND THIS TO SOMEONE YOU LOVE OVER THE WEEKEND... 

Awwww - and have yourself a love-ly weekend too! A quote for your perusal... 

“We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh.” 

― Agnes Repplier 

{Pic: LeLove}

friday FAVE

I LOVE HANDWRITTEN THANK-YOU NOTES...  which is why I love this 'Love and Thanks' card! {There's just something special about getting a handwritten card that makes it more heartfelt, don't you think?} I also love that you can download this gorgeous card design for free at one of my fave blogs EAT DRINK CHIC!

damage CONTROL

SUN EXPOSURE CAN DRY YOUR HAIR OUT especially if it’s chemically treated... Make sure you invest in a great shampoo and conditioner with UV-filters to protect the hair from becoming brittle and keep the colour intense. When heading to the beach or spending any time in the sun, spray your freshly shampooed hair with a lightweight leave-in conditioner that contains UV-filters. Slick into a ponytail or a bun with a low side part and you’ll not only look sexy and fresh, you’ll be protecting your hair from colour fade and UV rays.
{Pic: Allure}

mid-week MUMMA: VICTORIA BECKHAM

I LOVE THESE PHOTOS OF VICTORIA BECKHAM from Glamour magazine back in February! CLICK HERE to see the whole set!

And forget all the gossip you've heard about Victoria and David Beckham‘s 11-year marriage - it's doing just fine. “We are still so close … We were at a party the other day, at my mum’s house, and I was sitting on his lap. We’re very affectionate,” says Vicky in the November issue of Marie Claire. “We were the only couple who were even near each other at that party. We’re soul mates.”

super SHINY HAIR secrets

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR HAIR TYPE OR TEXTURE you can have healthy-looking hair {yes, you can} by following these 'hair appropriate' shiny hair secrets...

IF YOUR HAIR IS DAMAGED - improving its condition is the only way to make it look shinier.

Here's how...

* When hair is damp, apply leave-in conditioner to damaged areas.

* Invest in a quality deep-conditioning treatment and use once a week.

* Although blow-dryers and straightening irons may add to the damage, they're the only things that will make your hair look sleeker temporarily. Your hair needs heat to smooth the cuticle — these are the tools that can do it. Put the blow-dryer on a high setting and use an iron on hair ends. Apply drops of frizz-taming serum to dry hair.

IF YOUR HAIR IS SUPER-STRAIGHT - straight hair has great natural shine, because its flat cuticle is highly light-reflective.

Here's how to boost that shine factor...

* To get maximum shine, wash and condition your hair, then blast it with a cold-water rinse for about three seconds - this helps seal in conditioner, making hair easier to style and adds a ton of shine.

* Blow-dry while brushing with a natural boar-bristle paddle brush. Apply a bit of light finishing serum to frizzy areas (like ends). Finish with shine-enhancing hairspray.

IF YOUR HAIR IS CURLY - curly hair tends to have more shine-reducing short pieces and split ends. This becomes really noticeable when it's blown straight.

Here's a few tips to get the shine factor back...

* Use a moisturising shampoo and conditioner and a straightening gel. Detangle with a wide-tooth comb.

* As you blow-dry, wrap sections around a round brush to straighten.

* Apply a finishing cream just below the roots to the ends.

* To get super-glossy curls: After conditioning hair, don't rinse completely — leave a little in. Apply a gel to damp hair and twist sections around your fingers. Let hair dry naturally.

hairdo LOVE

NEED A LITTLE HAIRSTYLE UPDATE? Wear you hair halfway back... To make this style more grown-up, take the top section of your hair from temple to temple and lightly tease the underside with a paddle brush. Skim the brush over the surface of hair to smooth it, then secure at the back of the crown with a simple metal or tortoiseshell barrette.
{Source: Allure}

kate + gwyneth in ELLE

LOVING ELLE'S PRIVATE HOLLYWOOD shoot {in the November issue} that features two of my fave mummas,  Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow. Here's a sneak peak of their pix and a snippet of their interviews...
ELLE: What did you learn from your mother about being a parent in Hollywood?
KATE: My mom and dad had it figured out: They never worked at the same time, and they were very conscious of making anywhere we went feel like home. When you’re working, the hours are brutal, but when you’re not working, you have all the time in the world. That’s always a difficult balance.

ELLE: How do you balance work and motherhood?
GWYNETH: It’s really hard. One night in Nashville, my son was screaming with a terrible stomachache. I was like, “I have to get out of here!” but we had to finish. My friend Jenno, a mother of three who was producing, was great, reminding me that nine times out of 10, they just have gas.

CLICK HERE to check out the entire shoot and more of their interviews!

happy WEEKEND

WISHING YOU A RELAXING WEEKEND... See you back here next week! X

friday FAVES

IT'S THAT TIME OF THE WEEK AGAIN, dah nah - here are my Friday faves...
1. D&G'S SPRING 2011 COLLECTION... So so pretty, especially love the cabbage rose-print tanks unbuttoned to reveal a hint of bra, and the mismatched bubble shorts and love love love the gingham and floral head scarves! I'm a huge fan of the head scarf, especially when I'm getting close to my 6 week hair colour appointment...

2. OLAY'S COMPLETE DEFENCE DAILY UV MOISTURISING LOTION SPF30+... is the perfect everyday sunscreen! It's super lightweight , non-greasy, moisturising and it provides you with SPF 30+ protection. It's also infused with aloe, vitamin E and green tea extract so it's good for your skin too. And another biggie, which I really like, it works really well under your foundation... CLICK HERE to find out more!

3. SHANNON FRICKE'S FREE RANGE CERAMICS... Shannon has amazing style and I'm always in awe of any new project she takes on! Loving her 'Free Range' of homewares 'bit and bobs' which includes candle, cushions, little fabric pouches, cards and envelopes - and these beautiful ceramics! She calls these 'the pinkies' - love them. Visit Shannon's blog to find out more about - and shop - the {free} range!

5. ROCKPORT'S SPRING 2010 COLLECTION... I used to wear high heels 24/7 BC {before children}... AC, not so much! Well actually, not at all... ! Don't get me wrong, I love high heels, but I just found I couldn't walk in them anymore - they hurt like hell... and then I found this pair of heels! They're from Rockport and they are OH SO comfy! The Rockport range has undergone a major overhaul and there are some seriously cool styles worth checking out - and did I mention, they are SO SO comfy!