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    • Here it is, my final post for Blogmas 2016. I wanted to take this moment to reflect on this past month of blogging, how I felt about it, what I've learnt, and maybe give you a sneak peek into my plans for the coming year.

    I first off to just have to be a little bit self centred and give myself a pat on the back for managing to push out new content every day for 24 days. I really wasn't sure how it would go or if I could keep up with it, but somehow I managed to, even though I did go away overseas for a bit over a week right at the start of the month.

    There is a part of me (and I would say the larger part) which has really enjoyed taking on this challenge and putting out content every day. There is also a little part of me that hasn't, but there's a good reason for that. It has nothing to do with not enjoying blogging or not enjoying creating content in general, but rather to do with the fact that about half way through the month I began to think about where I wanted to take my corner of the Internet in 2017.

    I have plans on how I want my blog and social media to look and feel in 2017. I've got grand ideas which I'm hoping I can put into action. I plan to use some of my downtime with my family over the Christmas break to start working on these changes. I plan to bring you different and new content on renovated platforms. Having all these new ideas in my head, and knowing that I wanted to bring out different styled content made the last half of blogmas difficult, for a lack of a better word. It's not that I didn't like the content I was putting out, because if I didn't I would never put it out in the first place, but it was content I'd already put together following my old 'pattern' and look. When I get an idea in my head about making something over or creating something different, it kills me when I can't get working on that straight away, but I've had to wait out blogmas and wait for this upcoming break to start putting all that together

    It may come as no surprise but for the rest of this month I'll be taking a step back from my blog, Instagram and all other social media platforms. I might do one last post just before the new year to wrap up 2016, but otherwise I'm going to take some time to be with my friends, family and myself.

    Whatever you're doing over this holiday period I hope you have a wonderful time. Surround yourself with people you love, reflect on everything you've achieved in the past year and give yourself some goals to kick in 2017.
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    posted by . 12/24/16 . / / / / / /
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    My Thoughts on Blogmas

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    posted by . 12/24/16 .


    Here it is, my final post for Blogmas 2016. I wanted to take this moment to reflect on this past month of blogging, how I felt about it, what I've learnt, and maybe give you a sneak peek into my plans for the coming year.

    I first off to just have to be a little bit self centred and give myself a pat on the back for managing to push out new content every day for 24 days. I really wasn't sure how it would go or if I could keep up with it, but somehow I managed to, even though I did go away overseas for a bit over a week right at the start of the month.

    There is a part of me (and I would say the larger part) which has really enjoyed taking on this challenge and putting out content every day. There is also a little part of me that hasn't, but there's a good reason for that. It has nothing to do with not enjoying blogging or not enjoying creating content in general, but rather to do with the fact that about half way through the month I began to think about where I wanted to take my corner of the Internet in 2017.

    I have plans on how I want my blog and social media to look and feel in 2017. I've got grand ideas which I'm hoping I can put into action. I plan to use some of my downtime with my family over the Christmas break to start working on these changes. I plan to bring you different and new content on renovated platforms. Having all these new ideas in my head, and knowing that I wanted to bring out different styled content made the last half of blogmas difficult, for a lack of a better word. It's not that I didn't like the content I was putting out, because if I didn't I would never put it out in the first place, but it was content I'd already put together following my old 'pattern' and look. When I get an idea in my head about making something over or creating something different, it kills me when I can't get working on that straight away, but I've had to wait out blogmas and wait for this upcoming break to start putting all that together

    It may come as no surprise but for the rest of this month I'll be taking a step back from my blog, Instagram and all other social media platforms. I might do one last post just before the new year to wrap up 2016, but otherwise I'm going to take some time to be with my friends, family and myself.

    Whatever you're doing over this holiday period I hope you have a wonderful time. Surround yourself with people you love, reflect on everything you've achieved in the past year and give yourself some goals to kick in 2017.
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    My Thoughts on Blogmas
    posted by . 12/23/16 .


    Whether it's at the start of the new year, a new month or a new day, many of us will make the resolution to get our shit together, put on our activewear and actually head to the gym in it. I personally love heading to the gym and doing a workout. While at the time it can suck hardcore, the feeling you get as soon as you're done knowing you made it through, and the feeling that will last with you for the rest of the day knowing you've smashed a good workout that day, is addictive.

    Before we go any further I want to stress I am not a fitness expert in any shape or form, anything expressed or talked about here simply comes from my own personal experience.

    If you're heading to the gym to start your fitness journey, of course it's going to be hard at first. Whether you're trying to do cardio, lift some weights, stretch out your body or take on some body weight exercises, if you're new to the fitness game it's going to feel weird and tough.

    I find that when you're first starting out however, it doesn't take long for your body to become accustomed to the workouts you're doing, and in the beginning you'll see improvements quite quickly. You'll find you can run for longer, lift heavier weights and hold a plank for longer.

    What can happen though, once you've gone through that beginning stage and got your body use to working out, is that you can hit a plateau.

    This is when you struggle to take your fitness to the next level. For some reason you can't seem to handle those heavier weights, you can't seem to get your body to push to that next level. I've had this recently and it can be super demotivating and disheartening. When you've been consistently putting in the effort and no longer seeing results as quickly, you can be left wondering what you're doing wrong. One thing to remember is this is completely normal, you're not the only one going through the struggle.

    It's the same thing that happens with many things; whether you're learning a new skill, losing weight or trying to improve fitness, when you start off at the beginning with a blank canvas you have a lot to learn, a lot to gain, so you rapidly pick up all the bits and pieces you've been missing. Once you improve to a certain level, to a point your body is comfortable with, it can be hard to make it go that step further.

    So how do you get yourself over this little bump in the road? Honestly the answer isn't anything mind blowing or life changing. The answer is simply you need to really push yourself. If you want to improve your cardio further you have to push your body and make it run for that little bit longer. If you want to lift those heavier weights you just have to make yourself pick them and pump them out, even if your body is screaming that it doesn't want to. Obviously when you are trying to push your body, you do need to keep in mind to not push your body to far to the point that you do some damage to yourself.

    Something that I do when I'm doing my own workout is, if I'm doing weights or some sort of body exercise, when I think I'm done, I push myself to just do another five reps. Even if it takes you a little longer to push them out, just do five extra. If you get yourself to do that each time for each exercise you'll slowly start to notice that those extra five are no longer that hard to push out. Then you start giving yourself another extra five on top of, etc.

    The same works for cardio. If you're coming to the end of your session on the treadmill, the bike or some other machine, try to keep going for an extra minute or two. Maybe bump up the speed at which you're going for that extra time as well. Again, it will be tough, but that minute will go super quick, and before you know it that extra minute won't seem like such a challenge.

    Everyone has their own fitness journey, everyone has their own path and everyone's body is going to need to take a different route to get to wherever it is you want to be. The key is to not let yourself get discouraged, whether it's by your own progress or watching other people around you at the gym. Especially when it comes to watching other people at the gym, remind yourself that they all started just like you and at some point in time where in the exact same spot on their journey as you are now.

    If fitness is something you want to really make an improvement on in the new year, remember these little bits of advice for when times get tough, remember to just push yourself that tiny bit further than you feel you want to, and I promise you, you'll feel great afterwards.
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    Pushing Past Your Gym Plateau

    posted by . 12/22/16 .


    I've done two past posts like this, one showing my favourite photography apps, and one showing my favourite gaming apps. To round it off I thought I'd have one last post dedicated to some of the other general apps I have floating around on my phone that I really like.

    Quartz

    I don't turn on the TV much these days, expect to watch Netflix or Youtube, so aside from hearing about things on Facebook (which is super reliable ...) I don't have many sources to find out what's happening in the world. So I decided maybe I should download myself a news app so I can keep in the loop like a normal human. I don't remember how I stumbled across this on the app store, but I'm so glad I did because it delivers news exactly how I want. The app is called Quartz, and basically it delivers you news in text message form. When you open it you'll see those three little dots start to work and the app will begin to deliver you news. After it sends you a message about something, the app pops up with optional replies which allow you to either find out more about that news topic if you're interested or move on to something else. It's a super quick and punchy way to find out the big headlines for the day and I love it.


    Skyscanner


    I've known about the website for a while, but I just recently discovered there is an app as well. The downloading of this app is thanks to my recent Bali trip which has sparked my desire to try and travel more in the new year. Skyscanner allows you to find the cheapest flight for any destination anywhere in the world. You can either pick a specific destination, or you can just pick the 'anywhere' option and it will literally show you the cheapest place to fly to that it can find at that moment - the perfect excuse to go on an impromptu trip.




    If you have a GoPro I would highly recommend downloading this app. This app not only lets you control the camera, but you can see what's being filmed. It also lets you watch any videos you have stored on your camera, on your phone. There is a slight delay between what is being filmed on the camera and you seeing it on your phone screen, but I still think it's awesome.


    I'm sure we all know what Tripadvisor is. I've always known about it, but never used it until my recent Bali trip. My friends found heaps of cool cafes and eating spots thanks to the app, and we experienced so many cool places and stayed in some wonderful places that we all felt the need to make sure to review them. So I downloaded the app and started to review some of the places I'd been. Hundreds of people have already read the reviews I posted. I didn't realise how many people actually are always looking on the app, but now that I'm using it I'm realising how good it is, especially if you're off travelling. It also is a great little way to sort of keep a log of the places you've been.




     Email Apps


    I have a couple of different email apps for my different email accounts. I've got the classic Gmail and Mail app that comes on the iPhone. The one in the middle is called Boxer. I use this for my University email and I find it super easy to use and it's great for email accounts that may not want to connect with the regular iPhone mail app.

    YouPic


    I started using the actual website before I downloaded this app. Basically YouPic is a place that photographers can upload their pictures and get feedback from the community. I found it to be a great platform, there are heaps of people interacting and using the website, and there is also some great learning tools and videos interviewing some great photographers and finding out how they do their stuff. I mainly use the app to check any notifications that come in and have a little browse of the people I follow, whereas I use the actual website to upload any photos. Feel free to go check out my page (see below)



    Daily Water


    This is my most recent download. It's a super simple app that helps you keep track of how much water you're drinking a day. I recently became aware of how bad I've been at drinking enough water each day. Drinking enough water is not only important for keeping you hydrated, but it's also important your digestion and overall general health. Basically every time you drink a cup of water you tap on one of the glasses and the app will keep track of how you're going each day. Until I get into a good habit, having something like this that I need to check off is a great way to keep myself motivated and on track.


    Netflix

    .. because duh.



    Realestate


    I've always used this website when I'm looking for rental properties, and I also have an addiction to looking at the fancy houses that are for sale in my area and having a snoop inside, and dreaming one day I can own one of them. So that I could do that whenever and wherever I wanted, I downloaded the Realestate.com.au app.


    What apps do you have on your phone?
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    Top iPhone Apps
    posted by . 12/21/16 .


    Having Stationary So Cute You Don't Use it For Six Months


    Having More Candles Than You Can Burn At Once

    Multiple Pairs of Boots

    A Mug Collection

    Owning the Same Item of Clothing in Multiple Colours

    Having Nice Looking Coat Hangers

    Having Twenty Pens When Going Into an Exam

    Colour Coordinating Everything







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    Uncessaries that are so Necessary
    posted by . 12/20/16 .


    If you haven't guessed already, I love trying new haircare bits. While my hair probably hates me for it and probably wishes I'd just pick some good staples and settle down, I find it super fun, and currently I've been trying out some products from MUK.



    1 Minute Ultra Soft Treatment
    I actually use this as a normal conditioner rather than a treatment thanks to my thirsty coloured blonde hair. I'm use to having to sit with either treatments or conditioners in my hair for ages to ensure they hydrate and deknot my hair, so when this stuff claimed to only need to be used for one minute I was intrigued to see if it could stand up to the test of my hair. Safe to say I was impressed. Whether I used this product on its own, or mixed it in with some remnants from old conditioners I'm trying to use up, this stuff left my hair feeling smooth, soft and fairly knot-free.

    Ultra Soft Leave In Conditioner
    I've recently got back in to putting leave in conditioning products in my hair after washes, rather than simply drying and straightening it and just putting some oil in the ends afterwards. Using a product like this I definitely notice a difference in my hair once I'm done styling, or even if I leave it to air dry. It doesn't feel as dry and it doesn't knot as easily. It just generally sits and looks a lot nicer when I just take the extra minute to put this product through my hair.


    Thermal Protector
    I've always stood by the fact that it's super important to put a heat protecting product through your hair, especially if you have coloured blonde hair or some other light tone. Even if you just plan to give your hair a quick run through with a hair dryer, if you're constantly not protecting your hair before applying heat, sooner or later you're going to start noticing damage. I've noticed that with some heat protectors they can leave my hair feeling a bit dry or a bit crunchy and weird after I've dried my hair, but I'm  happy to say this one isn't one of those. After drying my hair using this product, it just feels normal, nice and soft and smooth.

    20 In 1 Miracle Treatment
    This product makes a lot of promises, and a lot of promises that sounded perfect for my hair, so it had a lot to live up to in my books. This is another leave-in treatment, which I actually love because I never manage to set aside enough time for those that you need to leave in for 10 - 20 minutes and then wash out, so something like this is much more convenient. I would pop this in before drying my hair, and I have to say I've highly enjoyed using it. While I don't think it did any sort of miracle transformation on my hair, it did help keep it more soft, smooth and tangle-free compared to if I don't use any treatment at all. Also a lot of its benefits come from keeping your hair protected while it's in your hair, so I feel a bit more at ease knowing my fragile locks are being looked after.
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    MUK Haul
    posted by . 12/19/16 .

    The awesome people from the brand Juliette Armand recently sent me a few goodies from their Elements of Evolution range. I'd never heard of or seen this brand around before, so I was intrigued to try out some of their products.


    I talked about a mask in my previous Eminence Mask Review post which I said smelt and felt like you were putting literal chocolate all over your face, and I have to say this mask brings about a very similar feeling; and it makes sense considering it contains actual chocolate, cocoa butter and caramel. I slather this all over my face and let it dry. It does get quite flaky once it's fully dry so be ready to wash it off before you start ending up with flakes of chocolate mask all over you. After using this my skin felt nice and soft and smooth and ready to take on the world!



    Hyaluronic Acid Serum
    I've only recently got into using serums, but when regularly using this one I noticed a difference in my skin. I've been hearing all over the place how good hyaluronic acid can be for your skin, and if this serum is anything to go by I would have to agree. I only have a small sample size, but a little really goes a long way. I've gotten at least ten uses, if not more, out of this small bottle. Using this after I toned my skin and before I put anything else on, I notice my complexion will look more even and brighter when using this consistently.

    This product also contains hyaluronic acid, so I thought good things would come from this stuff. I can say I was right. Whether I use this in combination with their serum, or one from another brand, I find this cream leaves my face feeling hydrated and soft but not oily. I find this stuff sinks really well into the skin and overall just leaves my face looking and feeling great.


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    Juliette Armand Haul
    posted by . 12/18/16 .


    Recently, the people from MOR were super lovely and sent over a bunch of their products which I wanted to share with you all


    Correspondence Cyclamen Tuberose Hand & Body Wash
    I'm not sure what it is that is in this stuff, but when I was using this with my exfoliating glove to try and remove some pesky leftover bits of fake tan, they slid straight off! All these products are from the same fragrance range, so what I say here can pretty much be applied to the rest of the items. The scent quite clean smelling but also has hints of what smells like a nice, sophisticated perfume.

    Correspondence Cyclamen Tuberose Triple-Milled Soap Bar
    I don't really ever use soap bars anymore, but they are always packaged so beautifully, and the ones from MOR are no exception. Not much to say about this expect it works just as you would hope a soap does, and a bonus is I don't find it to be drying on my skin, which I find can be a problem with many soap bars.


    Correspondence Cyclamen Tuberose Fragrant Candle
    I love the minimal look of this candle. With the same scent as the above products, the candle burns so beautifully because there's nothing I hate more than when a candle burns uneven and leaves a whole side of wax untouched (I should have put this in my list post yesterday - if you haven't seen that yet check it out here). The clean packaging means it can suit almost any home style, and if you're not a fan of the blue band you can just slip it right off.

    Correspondence Cyclamen Tuberose Body Cream
    Correspondence Cyclamen Tuberose Hand Cream
    Again with both of these products they have the same scent and both are packaged so beautifully. I find both products are super moisturising and hydrating. I've especially been digging into the hand cream lately because for some reason my hands have been getting quite dry of late so this stuff has been my saviour.

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    MOR Haul
    posted by . 12/17/16 .

    1. Chewing Noises

    2. The Cold


    3. Cheesecake
    4. Headaches/Migraines


    5. Being Rushed


    6. Missing Breakfast
    7. Public Speaking


    8. Not Having Time to Exercise


     9. When I Can't Think of That Word I Need
    10. The Fact I Can't Think of a Tenth Thing

     What are some things you hate?
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    10 Things I Hate
    posted by . 12/16/16 .


    I haven't done one of these posts in a while, but when I recently came across this on the interwebs I had to share!

    Spire is a mindfulness and activity tracker. While our world is full of fitbits and many wannabes, this is the first device that doesn't just track your heart rate and activities throughout the day, but also your breathing patterns.

    What is the point in tracking how you breathe you may ask?


    We all know that mediation is good for us, which has a large focus on slowing down and controlling our breathing. We know that when people face serious anxiety or panic attacks, one thing they need to focus on controlling is their breathing in order to help calm them down.

    When we have a good focus on our breathing it helps us feel more focused, less stressed and can help you sleep better. Clipping this device on to something like your belt or bra, Spire can help track your breathing to improve these parts of your life.

    As well as having the ability to track your activity like a fitbit, the device can also detect abnormal or tense breathing patterns, and when it does it will vibrate to help remind you to focus on your breathing and remain calm. The device can also be connected to an app where you can see all the information it has collected, and also explore some of the guided mediation sessions stored in the app's library.

    Not only does it do awesome things, it looks super cool as well. It even comes with a wireless charging pad with has a sweet wooden pattern.

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    Cool Shit: Spire
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