NUFFNANG PRODUCT TALK

I have two very good friends who are hairdressers. While this is of immense benefit to me (I am so lucky to be able to get my hair done every six weeks without the worry of a hefty salon bill), it also means that they are often telling me about products I should be using/trying/loving all the time.

Given my hair type (fine, ‘limp’ at the best of times), I am a product queen. I need volume, texture, shine, oomph – whatever the day calls for – and I am not going to get it on my own.

Recently I have been playing the volume game – the say the higher the hair the closer to God (or some such thing) but after seeing the super sleek ponytails at last weeks MBFWA, I am heading back to the straight and shiny side.

My hair is very naturally curly, so I often wash, blowdry and straighten it everyday. I know this is bad for my hair. My hairdresser friends tell me its bad for my hair. Worse – often I wash, dry and straighten, then fill it with product to give it that dirty, dishevelled look. Crazy right?

But since I am back on the straight and narrow, smooth and sleek bandwagon (and have a deep new brunette look to maintain), I tried Dove Nourishing Oil Care Nutri-Oil Serum to see if it helped.

The pack talks about dry hair needing more than just moisture (which is typically what you get from conditioners) and how essential nutrients are what will restore shine, softeness and that super smooth look we all want. With almond and coconut oils that claim up to 99% smoother, shinier hair, I was intrigued.

Directions indicate 3-5 pumps of the miracle liquid – on wet or dry hair – depending on hair length, but I kicked off with two knowing how far a serum goes and that there is a fine line between smooth and sleek, and a greasy mop.

Applied on wet hair, blow dried and straightened, my hair felt (and looked!) fab. A touch (maybe half a pump?) more to smooth those fly aways and I was good to go. The product didn’t leave my hair feeling heavy or greasy at all and I was pleasantly surprised, given my experience with serums in the past has turned me more towards creme based forumulas.

Even the next day, my hair didn’t have the usual oily base I have come to cover up with dry shampoo and volume powder. I could happily have pulled it back into a ponytail and an Alice band and been on my way.

Verdict: it actually works. Well, at least on my hair.

You can try it too, as I have 4 Dove Nutri-Oil serums to give away. Jsut comment below about what hair type you are and the first four will receive the product.

Easy as straight, shiny hair with Dove Nutri-Oil.

After the fab night out at Style Review on Monday, the week of fun and fabulousness continued with the launch of Touche Hombre on Thursday evening.

With Mexican food the seemingly hottest cuisine in town at the moment, a point of difference at any establishment is important. Touche Hombre, located on the corner of Lonsdale St and Tattersalls lane opposite QV, provided it in spades and put on a party some won’t forget for a while – even with the aid of tequila.

Fashion Journals’ editor Leah White with Tamara Perenic and the Touche Hombre donkey

A donkey greeted guests on the street before waitresses handed out cocktails like candy. Tequila was the beverage of choice, and as the room filled up, and it was more difficult for the waitresses to get through, the bar became the place to be as the bar boys dipped glasses in salt and mixed drinks.

The food was served in small morsels – corn on the cob with spices, various taco tasters and tostatidos hovered on trays above heads while waitresses squeezed through. You had to be quick to try these bite size bits.

You can only book for lunch on Fridays – the latest trend in restaurants is not taking bookings – but when you are as cool as these guys, chances are, you don’t need to.

www.touchehombre.com.au
Images thanks to AMPR

Now that I have SO much free time on my hands (this is totally untrue, I feel like I have less time that I did before but at least I’m having fun), I was pleased to not have to cancel last minute on Style Review, a catwalk show that depicicted personal styling on real women – no skinny minny models here.

Fashion blogging fun and laughs L-R: Iolanthe Gattuso from Ruby Slipper, me, Michelle from Michelle’s Style File and Cecylia from Cecylia.com

Cindy Newstead hosts Style Review twice a year to show women how high street fashion can be incorporated into their wardrobes – and be worn to their advantage, meaning your clothes work for you and not the other way around.

Bloggers in technicolour: Cecylia, me, Kyra Pybus of Pybus PR and Iolanthe.

Seven models, ranging in age from mid 20s to mid 50s and in a spectrum of sizes, took to the catwalk to show off Cindy’s styling efforts in this seasons latest trends. We talked inverted triangles, boyish figures, ‘bits we all want to hide’ and other styling secrets and heard about the seven womens’ journey to find their perfect outfits.

I’m going to single out model Nicole for the purposes of this blog, simply because she wore Ted Baker for each outfit and I fell in love with every one. Blonde Nicole wore natural tones and camel hues so well and her height, further assisted with heels, made for some spectacular outfits.

Divine! Wishing I was as tall or as blonde as the lovely Nicole, but the whole Style Review exercise was proof to the women in attendence that there is something out there for everyone – no matter your shape, size or age.

The catwalk show was accompanied by a pop up shopping area, where I procured a gorgeous recycled resin ring in orange from Dames and Divas.

A big thanks to the Style Review team for having me along! See you in Spring.

Images thanks to Meagan Harding Photography.

Right now, I am 28 years, 2 months, 20 days and about 12 hours old. Give or take – well, I guess give – depending on when you read this.

The thought of turning 30 has terrified me ever since I turned 22, and as it gets closer and closer and milestones pass (like the day I turned the same age as when my mother gave birth to me) the looming line in the sand becomes more and more real.

Whilst riding the tram home tonight (and becoming so distracted by the fear that I left my umbrella on the 72), I came across a blog post by Em Rusciano, inspired by a magazine from 1997 that listed 30 things you should have done by the time you were 30.

On reading Em’s responses (she had 16 out of the 30), I figured I have about 22 months to complete all the things on the list and perhaps now was a good time to check it out and see where I was lacking.

So according to the list, by 30, I should have:

1. One old boyfriend I can imagine going back to and one who reminds me of how far I’ve come.
Um, so I haven’t really had a lot of boyfriends. The ones I can imagine going back to are married. The ones who remind me how far I’ve come have fallen off the radar.

2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.
If it was owned by someone off eBay, does that count? Otherwise, can IKEA be described as ‘decent’?

3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.
This I have covered. This I could do in 30 minutes.

4. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.
I have many, many purses I am not ashamed to be seen carrying. I do not own my own suitcase (best I get one in the next 22 months) and I left my umbrella (gorgeous, clear with polka dots) on a tram tonight. But I LOVED it.

5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.
There was recently a group on Facebook, ‘All my friends are getting married. I’m just getting drunk’. My lifestyle lends itself to partying. I have 22 months of ‘youth’ left.

6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
I think I am pretty straight and narrow really – I was the ‘square‘ at high school, I’m always the last one in the office. Must do something juicy in the next year and a half.

7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age — and some money set aside to help fund it.
Now that I am freelancing and contracting, I am supposed to look after this myself. I figure if I wait three months, I might be able to take a trip. I’ll start saving again soon. I swear.

8. An email address, a voice mailbox, and a bank account — all of which nobody has access to but you.
I have seven email addresses, but only one voicemail. And the message is wrong. Several bank accounts – none of them have any money in them, however.

9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.
I am quite thrilled to report I have NEVER had to pad my resume. I am awesome already.

10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.
I am truly blessed to have many, many friends who are both.

11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.
I have one (singular) screwdriver – why do I need a set? And a drill? Probably not safe. Bra’s I have in spades.

12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.
Just one thing???

13. The belief that you deserve it.
I think I am getting there. The ridiculously expensive thing I bought for myself, was therapy.

14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
I occasionally remove my make up. I occasionally go around the lake. I rarely have a plan for dealing with life.

15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better.
Define ‘solid’ and ‘satisfying’.

Apparently, by 30, I should also know …

1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.
Did it once. Got hurt. Isn’t that enough?

2. How you feel about having kids.
This changes day to day. Today I have a cold my two year old niece gave me. Today I do not want kids.

3. How to quit a job, break up with a man, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.
I have quit several jobs. Pretty sure I cried every time. I don’t think that is how you are supposed to do it. Men? I broke up with a few. Pretty sure I cried every time. I don’t think that’s how you are meant to do that either. I rarely tell a friend anything that is even remotely in the vicinity of ruining a friendship. Some things are best left unsaid. And I am an ugly crier.

4. When to try harder and when to walk away.
A life failing of mine. I never walk away.

5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.
I’ve been told on several occasions I am good at this. Big tick here.

6. The names of the secretary of state, your great-grandmothers, and the best tailor in town.
Do we have a secretary of state? I know who the Governor-General is, and I can tell you that woman has the best tailor in town and is old enough to be a great grandmother. Surely that counts?

7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
I know how to live along, and I like it. It’s living with other people that worries me.

8. Where to go — be it your best friend’s kitchen table or a yoga mat — when your soul needs soothing.
The top shelf of my pantry houses everything my soul needs for soothing.

9. That you can’t change the length of your legs, the width of your hips, or the nature of your parents.
The length of your legs can be altered with heels. The width of your hips can be altered with Spanx. My parents are pretty awesome and need no altering.

10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
I think my childhood was pretty great actually. Can I have two points for that?

11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
I may need to work on this area.

12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs, or not flossing for very long.
I know I drink too much. But I’m young – at least for another 22 months. And you should all be grateful I don’t smoke or do drugs. I’m practically an angel.

13. Who you can trust, who you can’t, and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
I take everything personally.

14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.
This one took a while, but I think I’m good with it now. The therapy helped.

15. Why they say life begins at 30.
I have 22 months to finish this list and work it out – and then life can really begin. Apparently.

With the last of the Autumn sunshine beaming down, last Saturday presented perfect conditions for a day at the races. The 7-Eleven Pink Ribbon Cup bought a mostly young crowd to Caulfield, dressed fittingly in pink, to enjoy the picnic atmosphere and enjoy a Slurpee and Krispy Kreme donut.

Jess and I: Jess wears Siren Shoes, Runway Australia dress, Karen Hamilton hat and Chanel bag. I’m wearing Wittner shoes, Cue dress, homemade hairpiece and op-shop find bag.

Hanging with Jess, from What Would Karl Do, we perused the fashions whilst sipping a traditional raspberry slurpee.

The frocks were mostly fabulous – our personal fave being the fashions winner, as selected by Jess – while some others took the pink theme a touch too far in dresses that were more suited to a nightclub than a races marquee.

Fashions Winner Madeline Jones

It felt a little early for dancing at 11am, but the DJ played, the photobooth flashed and girls queued for fake eyelashes and hair extensions. The 7-Eleven young members marquee felt like a teenage dream birthday party – complete with bubbly champagne, an ice cream freezer and horse races just out the window.

Dan and Dani, from Channel 9’s The Block

Milinery by Danica Erard was on display and was a much coveted prize for the best dressed, while the teams from The Block provided a few celeb spotting opportunities.

Thanks to 7-Eleven for a fab day out, to support a wonderful cause!

Pictures thanks to Andre Elhay Photography.

As part of my new life, I have a much more active interest in the social media sphere. One part of this is to contribute to a blog on all things social and business and my first post on Facebook Offers went up this week.

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Now on offer: Facebook Offers

In a move that surely surprises no one, Facebook this week launched ‘Offers’ in Australia, currently available in beta to a limited number of business pages and soon to be available to all pages.

Facebook Offers follows in the footsteps of FourSquare and the multitude of group buying websites that have sprung up over the past years, leveraging the power of bulk buying and word of mouth.

While FourSquare integrated with Facebook over two years ago, at the time Facebook Places replicated the technology of using the location based services facility that FourSquare offered. Facebook Places was replaced with the tagging location technology soon after.

You can read the rest of this post at FRANk Media.

With technology moving as fast as it is, it’s any wonder we can keep up. Yesterday’s Words with Friends is todays Draw Something and tomorrow we’ll probably be playing a game that’s not even invented yet. Our time is precious, but we use most of the spare minutes we have online, so anything that will make that time more enjoyable is valuable.

Technology moves fast – remember Minority Report in 2002?

Even more prized than enjoyment however, is efficiency. The apps that help us get things done faster are worth their weight in gold and the newest app available on facebook (and coming soon to a computer, iPad or smart phone near you) does just this, bringing the kind of technology we have only dreamt about to the tip of your fingers. Quite literally.

I have over 650 facebook friends. Yep, I know. No, I don’t know all of them personally – some are work contacts, some are friends of friends I’ve met once – but everyone has a purpose for being there. Which makes it all the more difficult when I can’t remember someone’s name, only their face. Or what they were wearing.

Turns out, most of us work on these visual cues, seeing life in images rather than words. Thereitis brings this psychology and cool 3D technology together with Spaces, the most advanced search tool to hit since Minority Report suggested something like it a few years back.

The Thereitis Spaces app displays all your friends in 3D – and you can sort them by gender and relationship status

It’s really quite nifty. My 650 friends profile shots are displayed in 3D, on a rotating axis. I can use my finger (on iPad or smart phone) or computer mouse to spin the images and leverage my already organic ability to detect what it is I am looking for with visual clues. Sort by gender, location or latest profile updates. 

Only remember the first letter of someone’s name? Search using the alphabet. Search by relationship status – handy to see which of your friends are single in one hit (although slightly reminiscent of The Social Network, rather than Minority Report…) or just check out the most recent photo additions in one place.

The guys in the Social Network searched the single ladies at Harvard – the compared them

You can also use the Spaces app to see all the photos you have been tagged in on the one axis, a clever way to show a photo montage of yourself over the years and perfect for 21st birthday parties.

Now, while this app is fun and super handy for those moments when you can’t remember that tall dark stranger you added at the club on Saturday night, it’s the future of this technology that I am more interested in. A quick look at the developers website and I’m shown a mass of shoes floating around an axis.

Sort by colour, price, style while viewing in 3D – online shopping in the future

Imagine the possibilities – online shopping, where you are looking for the perfect pink peeptoe, made easy. No more trawling though online site after online site. Imagine seeing all the pink peeptoes in one, easy to compare, place? Or should I say, space?

I imagine it’s as easy as spotting the one you are after and saying, “There it is!”