Summer ready skin with Brazilian Beauty Currimundi

As the seasons turn and we head into the glorious warmer months, my spirits are lifted and I'm feeling pumped up for Summer. My skin however... not so much. I'm notoriously bad at looking after my skin, even though I'm well-educated on the importance of caring for my body's largest organ. In my younger years, whilst working on different cosmetics counters at David Jones and Myer, I even had the opportunity to learn from some of Australia's best facialists, yet I still don't regularly use good quality eye cream or moisturiser.

That should do right? A couple of fancy-schmancy skincare products are all you need for healthy, glowing skin. Nope. While quality skincare shouldn't be underestimated, great skin is a result of homecare combined with regular salon treatments. You can cleanse and scrub all you like, but only the professionals can really get to and treat the source of your skin concerns.

Ugh. Brutally close photo of my skin before I left for my salon visit that morning. Dry patches of flaky skin on my forehead and cheeks (where I cop the most sun), enlarged pores everywhere, and a very oily t-section. Deep smile lines (too deep, if you ask me), and some hormonal pimples for good measure.

So when my skin feels dry and flat after a Winter of indoor heating and outdoor wind (I blame my work in retail and at a school sports department), it's time to bring out the big guns. And by big guns, I mean a customised Detox Facial* at the new Brazilian Beauty salon at Currimundi on the Sunshine Coast.

This fresh new skin clinic and beauty salon is part of Queensland's most well-known chains of beauty salons, and I was dying to book a visit as soon as I heard that franchisee Josie Paton was finally opening the first Brazilian Beauty on the Coast.

Josie Paton, owner of the newest Brazilian Beauty salon (and the first on the Sunshine Coast). Keep an eye out on the blog over the next week as I share a bit more about Josie.

After an initial skin scan, popping my face into a nice little dark cave whilst skincare guru Genna had a look under UV light, I was told that my skin was pretty good for a Queenslander (yup, I guess this means us banana-benders generally have pretty damaged skin... oops). Genna then settled me into a lovely fresh treatment room, dimmed the lights and worked her magic. I love when I'm asked about my preferred massage pressure, and Genna got my request for 'hard, but relaxing' just right.

My skin got a much-needed deep cleanse using leading cosmeceutical skincare brand Australian Skin Institute (preservative-free, hurrah!), and my congestion and dead, dry skin cells were bid goodbye with lovely clean-smelling products.

But that's not all… more glorious massaging (scalp, decolletage, arms, hands and feet!), a customised face mask massaged on beautifully, before Genna finished off by applying the ASI Good Night Serum, a highly concentrated delivery of Vitamin C to leave my skin absolutely glowing. With results this good, it's no wonder Genna has fast become renowned for offering one of the best facials in town.

My salon visit was completed with Youngblood Mineral products applied to make me over and send me out for the day looking fresh and fabulous.

Facialist extraordinaire Genna of Brazilian Beauty Currimundi

Now, I'm really no good at photographing myself receiving a facial (that whole eyes-closed relaxing thing gets in the way), so there isn't much point in me sharing photos. What I can share however, is that my skin felt incredibly plump and healthy. 

I've said this before, but I think 34 is the age at which I get serious about committing to a good skincare regime, which includes in-salon facials. They can pump up the moisture levels in your skin way beyond what you can get at home; and it's these elevated products applied consistently that really give good skin.

Whether you've got all day to spare or just need a quick refresh and cleanse, it's definitely worth checking out Brazilian Beauty Currimundi to get on track for great Summer skin!

*I was a guest of Brazilian Beauty Currimundi. I was not paid to write this post; I just loved the experience a LOT and am happy to share the good vibes.

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Weekend Reading

I've officially survived my first full term at my school job. (I know, I know, I haven't really blogged about what I'm doing with two jobs, but if you follow me on Instagram, you'll pick it up pretty quickly. I work in a school, and also still at Lorna Jane casually.)

Ok, here are some great things on the internet for you to enjoy this weekend.
1. Here's a sweet post from Vicki over at Style on V, suggesting Five Little Ways to Spread a Little Kindness.

2. Completely in love. My go-to lippie of the last three months has been Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Grapefruit. I use this balm all the time - I'm definitely going to have to re-purchase soon, and with 3 for the price of 2 at Priceline at the moment, I'll try a few other shades in the range too.

3. Tell me, do you want the same thing as me from your blog reading? You want high wit, and low prices? Someone who would wear an amaze ballgown skirt with converse sneakers and a striped tee? Well get following Beth of Almost Posh. She's an Adelaidean with attitude, and she juggles the three big ones - work, her kidlet and blogging - well.

4. It's now almost October. Gah! I'm still searching for a little more inspiration for how best to keep my focus in 2015, and not get too sidetracked. More suggestions are welcome!

5. Trainee Mama (excellent blogger, cool mama, my bestie) is so different from me in so many ways. She's a gym instructor *insert grossed out emoji face here* and she really enjoys green smoothies *insert facepalm emoji here, oh wait, they don't have one yet* FACEPALM.

She wrote this week about a groovy little blend-y appliance with the bottle actually on the top, and was talking about some of her fave smoothie recipes on her Facebook page. If you're that way inclined, head over and check them out. If you're not, pour another dash of cream in your coffee and relax.

6. For those of you not into starting your day with a big ol' bunch of kale, these Apple Bacon Pancakes (let that sink in a moment) by Shay of Mix'n'Match Mama are the bee's knees. The cat's pyjamas. The ant's pants. Go cook them now for someone you love.

So happy weekend! I have huge plans to vacuum and get the media room ready for our new lounge that's being delivered. Then I'll mix and match cushions on it for seventeen hours. Huge plans, eh.

What about you? Discovered anything amazing cruising the internet lately? Good stuff I should read (that's not about Sam and Snez, or the #libspill)?

Anannasa kaftan love - the perfect pool coverup

Now that us Aussies are heading into a hopefully warm Spring and a definitely warm Summer, it's time to start thinking about swimwear season. This in itself is a whole minefield, especially because there seem to be a large proportion of people who are keen on actually working to get a bikini body prior to hitting the beach. I understand their thought processes, I really do... but to me, I have a bikini body. I own bikinis, and I will put them on my body. Voila!

Good on you if you love working out, I wish you the very best. I can't really bear it. It's not for me. I understand that it SHOULD be for me, but no way in hell will I wait until I have my dream lithe body before actually taking a dip in swimwear this Summer.

My biggest concerns through Summer should really be limited to keeping the patio fridge stocked with Sav Blanc (Trainee Mama never turns up empty-handed, which helps) and dipping my toe in the pool to see if it's actually warm enough to swim in yet. Most Queenslanders would say 'not until November', and I tend to agree; although my Tasmanian husband will take the icy plunge in the next few weeks, I'm sure of it.

Fundana Collection Paris tunic* in blue, by Anannasa

Whilst I'm all for wearing whichever bathers you like, I feel the need to have a cover-up or kaftan ready every time I hop out of the pool. Even if you’re not sitting by the water, they're a great option for sunny summer days, especially if you choose a breezy, light fabric.

Friends who visit our place during Summer are often surprised that I've 'glammed up' for a casual or impromptu BBQ, but all I really do is throw on a kaftan or tunic with some fun accessories.

     

This super-breezy georgette style from Anannasa with a few sparkles and sequins around the neckline and cuffs will be a great lazy Summer afternoon choice as it gets warmer, thrown over swimmers with a straw fedora; or I can add skinny distressed white jeans, wedges and some extra bling to jazz it up and head out for cocktails somewhere by the beach.

Are you open to kaftans? Do you think they should stay poolside, or can they be glammed up?

*Fundana tunic-style kaftan gifted from Anannasa - thank you to the lovely Sher for adding such poolside glamour to my wardrobe, I can't wait to show you all the other Anannasa piece that arrived this week too!

I'll be linking up with Kimba Likes Wardrobe Wednesday, so head over and see what infinitely more stylish folk than me have been wearing.

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Guest room makeover: from vile violet to green goodness

It has come as quite the surprise to me that completely changing a room’s look in our home gives me such a great feeling. Living in a few rental houses as a kid meant that I never really got into decorating my bedroom and personalising it beyond putting a few band posters on the walls with blu-tak.

Now that BB and I are living in what we hope will be our home for more than a few years (at least until Stevie is old and grey), we're really loving taking the time to transform it into 'our place'. Now don't misunderstand, there's no renovating required, one of our provisos when we bought was that it could be comfortably lived in straight away; but there were definitely places where we could see that we'd need to add our own touches.

The guest bedroom was always going to be the first room we painted. (Let it be known that when I say 'we' in the context of painting, I invariably mean BB.) When we took our first spin through the house at an inspection, I got quite a shock when faced with a neon purple feature wall in one of the bedrooms, when the rest of the house was entirely beige and white.

The purple feature wall was such an eyesore, and didn't suit any of the other rooms or furnishings in our home.

The guest room is a great size, perfect for a decent queen bed and bedside tables, with a fantastic white plantation shutters like the rest of the house, and a large built-in wardrobe with heinous beige sliding doors (but they're a project for another day). We decided early on that we wanted to paint most of the house Dulux Natural White, which would keep the polished concrete floors from making our house feel too dark; but I knew that choosing a feature wall colour would drive me insane. I'm a naturally indecisive and anxious person, and decisions like choosing paint colours always make me very uncomfortable - even thought I know paint can be changed! Here is where BB was a champ: after three days of me trying to decide on a great green, he went to the paint store while I was at work, chose a colour, bought a tin, and came home to paint the wall! I arrived home that night expecting to go through more options with him, and he'd already done it. More reasons I love him... he chose Dulux Banana Palm, partly because the colour is fun and light and bright, and partly because he knew I'd love the name!

By changing the feature wall to the wall visible from the hallway, it gives this wing of a the house a really light Summery vibe instead of hiding the feature wall away.

The rest of the guest bedroom came together so easily, once I'd played around on Pinterest and Polyvore and decided on some styles I liked. I know we don't live in a giant mansion in the Hamptons, but I really love that fresh feeling that those sorts of home have - simple and summery all year round.

Polyvore was a great place to find and collate inspiration and start to 'see' the room come together.

The beautiful Summery 'This is the Life' print by local designer Hark Home is already a favourite, and looks great with the green wall, but I think I want to move it into my lounge room so I can see it more often!

I'm thrilled that we ended up able to find and use so many of the pieces that I was hoping would work in this room, especially the three Escape to Paradise cushions in teal watercolour and classic palmtree print. 

Hark Home print, Escape to Paradise cushions, Glasshouse Montego Bay candle, Dulux Banana Palm Wash & Wear 101 paint, Sheridan cotton waffle quilt cover

Walking past or into this room now is such a delight, and because we've made this effort and it looks gorgeous, it's less likely to be turned into an unused space or that old standard of guest rooms... the junk room! Next on my list for that room is to think about a few little comforts that guests might like handy - think a basket filled with phone chargers, spare toothbrushes, our WiFi password (I love this printable from Tomfo!), refreshing face wipes, local magazines, anything that makes them feel comfortable to lounge in there for as long as they like.

Do you have a specific guest room in your home, and how have you styled it? When you're a houseguest, what sort of little touches make you feel more comfortable?

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Life lately: why I'm not taking many outfit photos

I used to take a LOT of selfies. Pretty much every second photo I shared on Instagram or Facebook was a 'what I'm wearing' pic. And you might have noticed that I don't do that very often lately. And you might even (if you care a smidge for me) have wondered why.

There are a few reasons. The first big one is that I'm just not feeling inspired by my wardrobe and the outfit combinations I have in front of me when I'm standing staring at the rails of clothes in the mornings. This comes and goes, and doesn't worry me very much.

The second reason is that I wear a uniform a lot now. Le sigh. A red Dri-fit polo shirt, three days a week. I wear this with any of a number of black Lorna Jane shorts/cargo pants/tracksuit pants (yes... I wear trackies to work) and sneakers, either black or white. Now do you understand why I don't snap many pics of myself in this gorgeous get-up?

Red = not my favourite.

The pants that were issued to me with my shirt were so hideous, that I think even classing them as golf shorts was flattering. Knee-length, multi-pocketed, high-waisted shorts are not going to work on even the most slender of bodies, and on my curves... NO. So I pull the ol' LJ Flashdance shorts and pants out of the wardrobe for work, and try to make an effort by putting my hair in a bun or a braid. Yep, that's the extent of my creativity. I would LOVE to tart up a polo shirt-shorts combo a bit more, but I'm stumped. If you've got suggestions, please let me know!

The third reason is that I worry about people judging me. Yup, I'm like everyone else out there, and way too concerned with other people's opinions.

'Hang on,' you say, 'isn't that why people post selfies and outfit photos on Instagram though? For others to look at and judge?'

Why no, my dear friends. No it's damn well not. I post outfit photos because I like seeing other outfit photos, and I feel inspired by style bloggers (completely separate from fashion bloggers, because who has the funds to keep up with fashion?) who wear a really cute striped tee with a denim vest over the top and I think 'Hey! I've got striped tees and denim vests, I'll try that. And maybe, just maybe, someone might look at my (probably coral and/or stripe tee) outfit and think 'That's cute, I might wear my stuff like that'. Or they might not, and that's ok too.

But I don't think it's ok for regular people to be judged on their everyday style choices. Celebrities who are famous for being celebrities, sure. I mean, I'll rag on Kim Kardashian's poor choice of ankle-strap stilettos until the sun comes up, but if a mum from Melbourne wants to wear those, good on her. Kim K (and pretty much anyone else in her clique) wear clothes TO GET REACTIONS from us, and from the media. Normal people wear clothes so their private parts don't show. Yes, double standards; but I never said things were fair.

All this to say that I had a brutal customer experience at work a month or so ago, and have only just noticed that it's affected how I get dressed in the morning, and how I share images of myself on social media. And I want to get myself out of that slump.

I bought these tights from work. I harboured no delusions that I would look like the above bum-model when I wore them, I just loved the print. It reminded me of a Finch swimsuit I had and loved as a 10 year old, and that made me happy. Lesson one: buy things that make you happy.

I was so excited about them that I wore said tights to work the day after I bought them (who doesn't do that? Nobody, that's who). I took a couple of pics in the fit room before work to send to my bestie (who is as much of a Lorna Jane print tight lover as me) and thought I might also share on Instagram later in the day. Lesson two: share outfit pics on Instagram shortly after you take them, don't overthink it.

Who matches their green smoothie jar to their workout tights? Lorna Jane girls do, that's who.

Before I got the chance to go sit in the sun on my lunchbreak, read excellent text compliments from my best friend on my new tights, and post a photo on Instagram, a customer walked instore and insulted me. Ok, so she didn't just come in and smack me in the face with cruel words, but she really hurt me. She wanted tights for exercise (you're in the right place, lady), the conversation was running along nicely, and after I explained the lengths of tights available, she told me what she wanted, so I pointed at mine, and confirmed 'You'd like a 7/8 style, like the ones I'm wearing?' (Retail 101. Always confirm what they want, because sometimes they explain very, very poorly.)

Her response almost floored me. 'No way, I don't want those. I don't think bigger girls like you should ever wear printed tights.' With a sneer. I smiled of course, and handed the customer over to a collegue. Then went and ate my body weight in avocado and fetta on Turkish bread because carbs.

Who even? I thought we clarified I was talking about the LENGTH OF THE TIGHTS, you muppet. Apparently not. And apparently you have rules on who should wear what. To which I say, leggings are pants. And print schmint. But that little exchange did upset me. I didn't post my photos on Instagram for a day or so, because I felt that I looked a lot bigger in them, and that I would get similar comments if I posted the photos. Lucky for me, my Instagram community are lovely. Lesson three: believe compliments, ignore criticism.

Lots of likes and love from my peeps on Instagram. Gems, all of you.

The first thing I did to drag my mind out of that 'Katy, you're horrible' place this weekend was read Melissa of Suger Coat It's new eBook '10 ways to be happy in your skin' and then I wrote her an email telling her that she was a genius. If you ever doubt your ability to shine in the body you have, this is exactly the book you should be reading. She's a delight. (Not sponsored, gifted or anything, it just resonated like crazy with me.) Lesson four: read wise words.

Get this awesomeness here

The second thing was to spend some time with people (pets are people too, for the kidless) who think I'm awesome just as I am. I mean, sure... my puppy would probably prefer that her mum was a super-runner who could take her for 5km jogs along the beach every day. And BB would just adore it if I had Christie Brinkley's bum. But I don't, and they love me so much. Lesson five: good husbands and dogs never lie, and always love.

The third thing is that I've consciously decided that I'll share more outfit photos. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Do you have any hot tips on feeling better about posting outfit photos? Have you ever had days, weeks, months, where you feel like you can't share?

And how would you have (politely) responded to a comment like the one I got at work?

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