Friday, September 30, 2011

perfect TIMING

THE BEST TIME TO APPLY YOUR SKIN TREATMENTS IS BEFORE 10PM... 
{What the what?} This is because between nine and 10 at night your skin cells go into repair mode and are more receptive to products, especially acne and anti-aging treatments. Your skin’s temperature also rises by a degree or two at night, which temporarily dilates the pores making everything you apply before bed penetrate even deeper. Splashing your face with warm water, and rubbing your cream between your palms to heat it up, before applying to helps this process even more. 
AND REMEMBER: You should also apply your AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) and Retinol creams at night because they make skin more sensitive to sunlight.


flowers for FRIDAY

HE LOVES ME ~ HE LOVES ME NOT...
he loves me!!!
{Pic: Pinterest}


friday fave #3: BLUSH, NUDE & CHAMPAGNE

BLUSH, NUDE & CHAMPAGNE ~
loving these shades!


friday fave #2: ADELE'S DEBUT VIDEO

LOVING ADELE'S DEBUT VIDEO FOR 'SOMEONE LIKE YOU'
& love watching her walk through Paris!
She looks gorgeous!


home inspiration: VINTAGE SURF

SO LOVE THE BEACH / SURF HOME VIBE...
and love this vintage surfer mix!



friday fave #1: EENI MEENI + E3-M S/S '12


SO SO CUTE...
eeni meeni miini moh's + e3-M's Spring Summer 2011 Collections
CLICK HERE for more!


copy-cat her hair: MISSONI S/S '12

ANOTHER GORGEOUS STYLE FROM FASHION WEEK
by Eugene Souleiman, Global Creative Director, Wella Professionals for Missoni S/S ‘12...

 The Look: Spanish Harlem “I wanted to create tension between the hair and the clothing, to inject it with a rawness that would capture the passion and sensuality of a beautiful young Missoni woman at the end of a hot summer night. So I took the idea of a traditional, slick Spanish look with a perfect side-parting and hair smoothed back over the ears and sculpted into a neat bun, and deconstructed it to create a ‘roughed up’, dishevelled effect and a slightly dirtier end-of-the-night texture.” said Eugene. 


to copy-cat the look:
1. Start with freshly washed and conditioned hair using Wella Professionals Enrich Shampoo and Conditioner, and apply Wella Professionals Velvet Amplifier to wet hair before blow drying hair straight and smooth using a round brush, without creating volume. For hair in need of an extra moisturising boost, like that of models at Fashion Week, try using Wella Professionals Enrich Moisturising Treatment once a week. 

 2. Rub Wella Professionals Rugged Fix Matte Moulding Crème between your palms and fingers and squash into the roots of your hair all over to create a slightly matted textured effect. 

 3. Next, spray the hair with Wella SP Hydrate Finish to rehydrate it a little, then apply Wella Professionals Perfect Setting Blow-Dry Lotion to set the natural movement and texture, blasting the roots with a hairdryer to help absorb the product making it invisible. 

 4. Although the end look is slightly dishevelled it’s important to start with a neat side-parting, so use a sectioning comb to create this before using your hands to pull the hair back roughly into a ponytail at the nape of the neck, covering the ears. Don’t worry if the hair is not perfectly smooth as the beauty of this look is in the imperfection. In fact, if you massage the hair with your fingers to create more volume and texture, this will add to the overall look. 

 5. Next, take the ponytail, loop it back on itself and tie it into the base of the original ponytail to create a bun loop in the hair, with the rest of the of ponytail falling free. 6. Now use irons to straighten the loose ends of hair and add a light mist of Wella Professionals Ocean Spritz Beach Texture Spray to create a slightly drier, rougher texture. 

 7. Finally, decorative hair combs specially created by Missoni and featuring a snake motif in colours matching the Collection were placed in the back of the hair above the bun loop.


CLICK HERE for more product info


eye TLC

YOUR EYE AREA IS SUPER-DELICATE AND NEED LOTS OF TLC... 
Not only is the skin around your eyes thinner than practically anywhere else on the body, it's 
also the victim of a lot of wear and tear... 
Here's how to make ammends:

1. Resolve to stop rubbing as every time you do, you risk breaking delicate blood vessels, which leads to darkening, dulling, and thickening of the surrounding skin.

2. Don't pull and drag the eye when you're removing your eye make-up.

3. Make sure you always gently apply an anti-aging eye cream.

{Pic: Elle}


Thursday, September 29, 2011

snippet of MY DAY

A TOAST TO POP...
we love you & miss you!
X


fashion file: HOW TO DRESS YOUR AGE


IF YOU WORRY ABOUT LOOKING 'MUTTON' ~ BUT AT THE SAME TIME DON'T WANT TO LOOK LIKE A NANNA ~ READ ON... 
"Don't dress to look younger—you'll just wind up looking silly," says Polly Mellen, celebrity stylist and Allure magazine's fashion editor. "Dress to avoid looking old," she says. 

Here's some more of her fab fashion advice:

* Streamline your clothes. Small ruffles look OK, but anything too fancy looks dowdy. If you are going to wear that froufrou stuff, you have until age 50 to do it.

* If your arms aren't what they used to be, make sure your top has sleeves that hit at the elbow. As for your skirt, it depends on your legs, but generally one that hits just below the knee is best. That's the most flattering length, no matter how old you are. 

* As you get older, bright colours become trickier to pull off. Wearing them from head to toe can be overwhelming. Limit yourself to colored accessories, like shoes or a handbag. But don't wear too much grey, or else you'll look like a little grey wren.

* Flowered prints can look very dowdy, except on a dress at an evening party in the spring. Polka dots are best left to twentysomethings.

* Stilettos—they make you look younger because they lift you off the ground. There's been a huge resurgence of flats, but I think they can make you look frumpy.

* By the time you're in your 20s, you should know yourself. If you're still experimenting like you did when you were a teenager, you'll just look immature. Find a style and stick to it.

* Bohemian styles make you look dated and old. Those long skirts and tunics drag you down: They're not youthful or uplifting, and they hide your body.

* The classics still look as youthful and flattering as they did decades ago Think of the simple clothes that Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, and Greta Garbo wore: a black turtleneck, blue jeans that fit perfectly, and khaki pants (which look so chic with a black sweater). 
No matter what age you are, the classics will always look right.


{Source: Allure. Pics: This Is Glamorous}


bella sponsor: LOOKYOUNGER.COM.AU

ANTEIS OF SWITZERLAND, THE WORLD LEADER IN DERMAL FILLERS
has launched a new injectable that truly allows you to re-sculpt your face...

New Modélis Shape –the injectable with 3-D sculptural properties, can be used to balance a weak chin, straighten a crooked nose, define cheekbones and enhance the contours of the face. It's made from hyaluronic acid (HA), a sugar compound that acts as the skin’s natural plumping agent, bio engineered to retain a soft texture while providing a very firm support. 

How is it different to other fillers?
Modélis Shape uses new hybrid plastic matrix (HPM) technology that combine two different HA concentrations into a single formulation. The result and point of difference, is an injectable with a higher density than any existing volumiser that gives you a very natural feeling to the touch. Unlike previous generations of HA-based injectables, Modélis Shape provides improved definition of the facial features and can even be moulded to achieve the desired results with greater precision than previously possible with current injectable volumisers. 

 Modélis Shape is also the first injectable volumiser that can modify the features and actually alter facial proportions. A jaw can be subtly re-drawn, while the chin, cheeks, nose or temples can be adjusted to look more balanced or youthful.
 The advanced technology of Modélis Shape will give you significant results but
won't look noticeable, fake or overdone!
+
* Modélis Shape is quick and affords no downtime. * It can be administered in a lunch hour. * It's easy to inject and the formulation is very stable, remaining exactly where it is placed.
* It will last much longer than a regular dermal filler.

For further information on Modélis Shape and your nearest practitioner,
 call 1800 633 830 


home inspiration: WALL OF FRAME

AS YOU KNOW FROM MY 'SNIPPETS OF THE DAY',  I HAVE A 'HALL OF FRAME'... !
{If you missed it - CLICK HERE}
Some of you mentioned that you liked the idea so I found more pix featuring
'little galleries of assorted frames' to give you a few different ideas 
~ and maybe a little inspiration to start your own this weekend!
{Loving those book stacks too!}


copy-cat her hair: ANTONIO MARRAS S/S '12

ANOTHER GREAT HAIR 'CREATION' FROM FASHION WEEK...
created by Eugene Souleiman, Global Creative Director, Wella Professionals
for Antonio Marras S/S ‘12

{Perfect for summer and I'm thinking could be cute for little girls too!}

The Look: Oui Madame! “I was inspired by a moodboard of Claude Cahun that Antonio had created which had pictures of her wearing a hat made from twisted fabric," said Eugene. "I wanted to recreate this effect with hair to make a small but striking hair look which was sculpted and intricate, a mix of strict discipline with ephemeral beauty.”

copy-cat the look:
 Step 1: Prepare Start with freshly washed and conditioned hair using Wella Professionals Enrich Shampoo and Conditioner, and apply Wella Professionals Velvet Amplifier to wet hair before blow drying hair straight and smooth using a round brush, without creating volume. For hair in need of an extra moisturising boost, like that of models at Fashion Week, try using Wella Professionals Enrich Moisturising Treatment once a week.

 Step 2: Sectioning – Part 1 Use a sectioning comb to create a razor sharp side-parting, all the way back to the crown. Take the section of hair from the large side of the parting on the top of the head (leaving the small side below the parting and the back for the head from the crown free) and spray with Wella Professionals Flexible Finish Spray at the roots of the hair until the hair is absolutely wet , then brush through creating tension in the hair and secure tightly into a pony tail high on the side of the head using a snag free elastic. Spray the pony tail with Wella Professionals Shimmer Delight to create a shine and even texture to the pony tail.

Step 3: Sectioning – Part 2 Take the remaining hair from the side of the parting and the back of the head and saturate the roots with hair spray and brush through with a soft bristle brush. Pull the hair toward the high pony tail and create a second pony tail just below the high one, then bind the two pony tails together with snag free elastic. Spray Shimmer Delight spray into the ponytail. Ensure that the hair on the back and side of the head is clean and shiny, and wraps around the head as if wrapping the head in a piece of silk fabric.

 Step 4: Rope Twist – Part 1 Divide the ponytail into two equal sections and twist each section individually before wrapping them around each other along the full length to create a rope-like braid, spraying generously as you go. Secure the end tightly with a snag free elastic.

 Step 5: Rope Twist – Part 2 Next pull the rope twist over the top of the head, creating a tiara-like sculpture. Pull the end of the twist diagonally down to the nape of the neck, finishing on the opposite side to the top knot of the rope. Using hair pins, pin the rope twist into place. Soak the end of ponytail with Wella Professionals Sculpt Force Flubber Gel and tease the hair to blend perfectly with the hair at the back of the head for a seamless finish.

CLICK HERE for more product info


the SUPER-NATURALS

I'VE WRITTEN QUITE A FEW STORIES ON NATURAL BEAUTY... 
Here's some of my favourite DIY natural ways to revive your skin...

* For a super-soft complexion, wash your face with milk to plump up your skin. Next apply egg white to your face (if your skin is dry, mix in a little egg yolk) with a soft brush or your fingertips. Leave on for 10 minutes before washing off with tepid water, then apply moisturiser.

* Hydrate your skin with this nourishing mask. Mix 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons sweet almond oil and 5 drops of rose oil, then use your fingertips to apply it to your face and neck. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes then wash it off with cool water.

* Refresh your skin every few weeks with mashed avocado. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes before washing off with cool water.



Wednesday, September 28, 2011

snippet of MY DAY

A TABLE FOR TWO...
I've been chatting 'recipes' today with Billy Law {for a freelance story I'm working on}
& he's just as inspiring in real life as he was on Masterchef!
CLICK HERE to visit his mouth-watering blog
{Warning: it will make you hungry!}


copy-cat her hair: PONYTAILS ON PARADE

I'M LOVING ALL THE BACKSTAGE INFO I'M BEEN SENT FROM FASHION WEEK ~
here's the latest instalment {featuring one of my fave hairstyles, the messy ponytail}...

The Show: Mary Katrantzou, Spring/Summer 2012 
The Designer Inspiration: Nature vs. Nurture 
The Hair Look: Urban Flowerchild 

The backstage scene at Mary Katrantzou, with girls wafting about like exotic creatures in Mary's vividly coloured floral and underwater photographic prints provided the perfect inspiration for the hair look this season. 

 The show theme: Nature vs. Nurture, which prompted Pantene Pro-V Global Ambassador Sam McKnight to create a naïve, childlike, floaty style that tapped into the colourful, floral, watery mood. "When we saw Mary's collection we knew that with such rich detail, it was important to keep the hair simple," says Sam who devised a low ponytail tail (a key trend this season) with hair all around the hairline left loose so that it floated as the girls walked. "The lighting on the catwalk is daylight," says Sam, "So we wanted to create this light, halo-like effect with the hair." 



 Get the Look: Key to the look is freshly washed and conditioned hair to bring out the shine and brilliance of each girl's coloured hair. Sam's team used Pantene Pro-V Colour Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner to achieve a perfectly clean, healthy looking base before blow drying. Next, Sam misted over Pantene Pro-V Stay Smooth Hairspray to provide 'bite' to prevent the hair from being too slippery, then gathered the volume into a ponytail, held low on the nape of the neck, ensuring that a fine veil of hair around the hairline was left loose. "I used my hands rather than a brush for this look to keep the texture of the finish natural," says Sam. A light mist of Pantene Pro-V Stay Smooth Hairspray held the style in place without weighing it down. 


CLICK HERE for more product info ~ 
and HERE to see Sam chatting backstage!


home inspiration: WHISPERS OF PINK

LOVING THE LITTLE ACCENTS OF PINK...
and loving that book stack {my new obsession}!
{Source: sf girl by bay}


mid-week mumma: GWEN STEFANI

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL...
here's sneak peek of Gwen Stefani‘s upcoming Harajuku Mini collection for Target that arrives instore on Nov 13 ~ and everything is beyond cute! 
 “Harajuku Mini is a dream come true,” Gwen told WWD. ”I’ve always wanted to do a cool children’s fashion line inspired by the supercute and playful kid’s clothing you find in Japan.”
 Available in sizes 6 months to 16Y, the collection will range from $4 to $30. And it will include everything from graphic tees and zip-up hoodies to tutu skirts and ballet flats.
 “Target has given me the creative freedom to design kid’s clothing that is different than most anything you usually see out there with great quality, attention to detail and most of all, available at amazing prices,” she said.


make-up trend: BLENDED BLUSH

'THE' BLUSH SHADE FOR SPRING ISN'T PINK OR PEACH: IT'S BOTH!
Makeup artists, working on Spring/Summer collections at Fashion Week, have used two shades of powder blush—soft peach and rosy pin—in tandem. The trick is to swirl both colours together then dust them on the apples of the cheeks and on the cheekbones. The result: a pretty flush of colour, that's simple and fresh!
{Source: Allure}


mid-week mummas: GWEN & ANGELINA

WOW WHAT A PLAYDATE...
Angelina Jolie took her some of her tribe {Shiloh,  ZaharKnox and twin sis Vivienne} to Gwen Stefani’s house on Monday (September 26) in London, England for a playdate with Gwen’s son Kingston!
{Wouldn't you have loved to be a fly on the wall!}
{Pics: Just Jared}


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

copy-cat her make-up: DOLCE & GABBANA S/S 12

OKAY I MAY SEEM A LITTLE OBSESSED WITH DOLCE & GABBANA'S 
SPRING/SUMMER 2012 SHOW...
but I had to share this behind-the-scenes clip with make-up guru Pat McGrath!
How divine is that eyeliner!!!!


snippet of MY DAY

SPRING CLEAN STINT...
I thought our {Hubbie's} cookbook collection {there are more} looks better 'stacked' on show ~ 
rather than stacked away in the cupboard?
Do you like book stacks?


loving... DOLCE & GABBANA SPRING 2012


ONE WORD... fabulous!
: )


home inspiration: DINING ROOMS

LOVING THESE FOUR DINING ROOMS
selected by the super-stylish 


lippie TIP #1

YOU DON'T ALWAYS NEED TO WORRY ABOUT LINER...
Liner is no longer a must—today's lipsticks don't bleed. To enhance your Cupid's bow or add symmetry, use a pencil that matches your lips, not your lipstick.
{Source: Allure}


smart trike recliner 4-in-1 GIVEAWAY

GWEN STEFANI HAS ONE {HOW CUTE DOES KINGSTON LOOK?} ~ AND NOW YOU CAN TOO!
I'm talking about the super-trick Smart Trike Recliner 4-in-1 that is designed to cleverly grow with your baby...
{I see heaps of little ones 'trucking around' in these, and they all look like they're having a hoot of a time ~ no more getting-into-the-pram-battles!}

Check out how it works below!
CLICK HERE for more info

bellaMUMMA has one Smart Trike Recliner 4-in1 to giveway!!!
For your chance to win, simply leave a comment ~ or email me ~ to say 'why you would LOVE to win one for your little one?'
{Giveaway only for Australian residents - sorry! Winner will be announced October 11}


copy-cat her skin: LIV TYLER

HOW BEAUTY-FULL IS LIV TYLER'S SUPER-SMOOTH SKIN...
on both her face and her décolleté?
To diy a glow like Liv's: Start by exfoliating with a finely milled scrub—this will slough away dead cells and prep your skin for treatment. Apply a product with retinol nightly to banish sunspots and even out tone. Finally, before blending in a concealer, assure it glides on smoothly by moisturising well, especially around the eye area. And don’t forget the sunscreen, it's necessary all-year round.
{Source: InStyle}


bella book: THE SILVER SPOON FOR CHILDREN


IF THERE'S ONE COOKBOOK YOU BUY FOR THE LITTLE CHEF IN YOUR LIFE, THIS IS IT!
The Silver Spoon For Children {Mr 8's food-bible} is a selection of 40 recipes adapted from The Silver Spoon {one of  Hubbie's food-bibles} by a specially commissioned expert on children's food {so all the dishes are balanced, healthy and yum}...

 Each recipe is presented with a short intro about the origins of the dish, fascinating facts about the ingredients and the Italian culinary culture. The recipes are super-easy to follow and have the most beautiful illustrations to help your child get an idea of the dish visually! There's also info on seasons, ingredients and basic cooking techniques!

What we love about The Silver Spoon For Children the most ~ other than it looks amazing ~ is that unlike most kids cookbooks, YOU {and the whole family} WILL want to eat everything in this book!

The Silver Spoon For Children is published by Phaidon Press
CLICK HERE for more info


extend your BLOWDRY

WHEN YOU'VE MASTERED {OR PAID FOR} THE PERFECT BLOWDRY
the last thing you want to do is wash it away the very next day... Well, you don't have to!

Here are the insider top tips for extending the life of your preciously sleek locks:

* Start with really, really clean hair. Make sure your scalp and hair are thoroughly shampooed and rinsed. Work a coin-size blob of conditioner through the ends only; heavy moisturisers weigh hair down.

* Choose products wisely. Use creamy pomades and shine serums sparingly. If you must use a silicone serum to tame frizz, don't apply it near the roots. But it's fine to use mousse or voluminizing spray near the scalp—these contain alcohol, which can actually help absorb excess oil. Just use half the amount you normally would to avoid buildup, which can make hair look dirty.

* Protect your hair. As long as you keep the blowdry, pull your hair back off your face tightly when washing your face and applying creams to ensure that skin-care products don't touch the hairline.

* Perk it up. At the first sign of grease, spray your part and hairline with an aerosol dry shampoo. Brush the product through your hair vigorously, because it can leave a white residue. To boost limp hair, spritz a voluminizing spray at the roots, then blast with a blow-dryer for lift. Tame strays with a straightening iron.

* Skip the gym. In other words, if you don't want to restyle your hair for a few days, avoid serious sweating.

{Pic: Style.com}


Monday, September 26, 2011

loving... GWYNNIE'S EMMYS SCRAPBOOK

LOVING GWYNNIE'S LATEST GOOP NEWSLETTER...
It's about her Emmy win and her trip to present at the Emmys ~
wow, she did helluva lot of travelling!
She also shares a few of her facialist's {Sonya Dakar} favourite red carpet tips: 
 * Store eye cream in the fridge—the active ingredients will help reduce puffiness and dark circles, and the cool temperature of the cream itself will reduce swelling in an instant!
* Massage face with a cube of ice to create blood flow and bring oxygen to the surface of the skin. 
* Mix together chamomile tea and green tea, chill in the fridge and put in a mister—spray on the face before and after makeup goes on to shrink pores."
CLICK HERE to see the entire newsletter


words of WISDOM #65



home inspiration: INDIA HICKS #2

SOME MORE HOME INSPIRATION
from the super-stylish, India Hicks!


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