by Candice DeVille | Nov 12, 2014 | Beauty Reviews, Skin Care, sponsors
Brought to you by Nuffnang and Neutrogena
Great skin is the foundation to a great look.
If really want to pull off the #IWokeUpLikeThis look with #NoMakeup #NoFilter, then you’d better be paying good attention to your skin. There is no makeup that can truly imitate the glow of well-maintained, hydrated skin. Trust me, I know.
As a makeup artist I see women of all ages, sans makeup, on a regular basis. It’s instantly obvious who takes care of their skin and who doesn’t. I’m often shocked to hear clients say they are at least ten years younger than their skin appears to be.
Eating well, getting enough sleep and staying out of the sun are all vital to great skin, but there are now fantastic products out there to help us make the best of our efforts.
When it comes to moisture, it should be your number one priority in skin maintenance. Our bodies already produce a very clever substance known as hyaluronic acid. Its job is to cushion joints, hydrate the skin and the hair, and helps our skin retain its elasticity. It’s an amazing molecule, which can retain up to 1000 times its own weight in water. The problem is though, that the levels our body naturally produces degrades daily, and as we age, this process speeds up.
So what can we do? Fortunately for us, the technology of the beauty industry has caught up to the point where they’re able to produce high quality gels to keep us hydrated. The main problem has been the very high price point; until now.
Neutrogena has just launched their Hydro Boost Water Gel range to much fanfare and anticipation. A luxury product, with the same efficacy and results as those more than twice the price! The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel is a pale blue, silky gel substance that is instantly absorbed into the skin. With no greasy residue, it leaves your skin feeling instantly hydrated, supple and smooth.
No matter the weather, we lose so much moisture from our skin each day. It may be the natural climate, the artificial climate (air conditioning / heating), or simple daily perspiration. Keeping up your water is one thing, but we want to make sure it gets to where it is needed and doesn’t immediately evaporate. I’ve spent a lot of time working with different skin hydrating solutions, and hyaluronic acid is by far the most effective ingredient in seeing instant results.
Having such an affordable option as Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel may revolutionise your skin care regime. You won’t need the big bucks to get the big name glow, just this little blue pot of hydrating molecules.
Try it for yourself, and I’d bet you’ll be impressed with the results too!
I even have a Hydro Boost special hamper pack to give away!
You could win the ultimate hydrating hamper including these products from the Hydro Boost range.
| NEUTROGENA® HydroBoost Water Gel 50g $24.99 |
| NEUTROGENA® HydroBoost Night Concentrate 50g $24.99 |
| NEUTROGENA® HydroBoost Gel SPF15 40mL $24.99 |
| NEUTROGENA® HydroBoost Eye Roll On 15g $19.95 |
Quite the beauty haul!
All you need to do is tell me in the comments, why the Hydro Boost Water Gel appeals to you.
Terms and Conditions for this giveaway can be found here.
by Candice DeVille | Oct 30, 2014 | competitions, sponsors, Travel
It is quite possible that what I have to tell you may be the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. It has been on my “Life List” for quite some time and I didn’t know if or when I’d be able to make it happen, but now I can tell you….
I am going to Dubai!!
In fact, the whole Nuffnang Bloggeratti team and I are headed off to Dubai together! This is the very first time that such a large group of bloggers have been invited to take part in a huge getaway campaign, and I’m honoured to be amongst them. We’ve become a close-knit group of Nuffnang bloggers from across Australia, all writing about different things but sharing the same blogging passion. Having the opportunity to work on something this exciting and spend time with ‘colleagues’ is just incredible!
The whole group of us cover a diverse range of topics, so the stories you’ll be able to see will have something for everyone. We are fashion, parenting, style, interiors, food and craft bloggers. Can you imagine how differently we’ll experience Dubai?
We will be working with the #MyDubai initiative, created by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. Yes, that’s right and I can hardly believe it myself, we’ll be working on a project initiated by Royalty!
Dubai is a land of dreams to me; not only do they have the biggest shopping mall in the world, but is a wealth of culture, history and tradition. There is so much I want to see and experience. The tastes and sounds, the early morning sunrises and the beauty of the desert plains will, no doubt, provide the perfect backdrop to my stories. The aquariums, ice rinks, fountains and markets all fuelling the imagination and creating exquisite memories.
The passionate people watcher and archaeologist in me is beside herself with excitement. I feel like a child presented with the dessert buffet and only a tiny plate to hold it all. I know I will be a glutton for experiences on this trip and these are the souvenirs I plan to bring home.
Already I am planning the wardrobe needed for this adventure, imagining floaty silks, golden trims and leather sandals. The possibility of what awaits on the local Dubai fashion scene is simply too much to comprehend. The luxury, the choice, the scale; all like I’ve never seen before. I am fascinated to sit down with tea and explore the stories of traditional dress and the subtleties of style in Dubai.
As my fellow vintage lovers, I know you will understand completely when I tell you my minds eye sees all these images with a tinge of Hercule Poirot and a Khaki clad adventuress. My pulse is already racing.
It is not only me who should feel the excitement of this tough, as I have an announcement for you too.
As a part of this spectacular Dubai trip, Nuffnang has the opportunity for YOU and a friend to WIN and come with us!!
All you have to do is tell us via your social media platforms “What do you dream of in Dubai?” and make sure to add the hashtag #NNDubaiDreams and #mydubai.
Please note that you must remember these things for your entry to count:
- Must use the two hashtags #NNDubaiDreams and #mydubai
- Can upload an image, text or video
- Shared on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
- Entries can any format as long as they’re publicly visible and include those hashtags.
Here is the official Nuffnang blog post with all the competition details
What can you win?
- The winner and your +1 receive flights from their nearest capital city, accommodation, and activities in Dubai. They’ll be traveling in part with our group, but not included in all activities. Includes flights, accommodation and activities.
Terms & Conditions
Do not let this one pass you by!! Enter as many times as you like and share this with all your friends who may end up winning for you!
by Candice DeVille | Oct 23, 2014 | Events, sponsors
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Brought to you by Nuffnang and Spokes
There is Spring Racing of another kind in Melbourne each year. It does have horsepower, but not in the four legged sense.
Last Sunday the Mr. and I headed to Phillip Island for the MotoGP, something we’d never done before. We both love bikes but for different reasons. He’s actually the long-term rider; I prefer the aesthetics and how brilliant they look in photo shoots, not to mention the leather outfits. It was a day we both really enjoyed.
Being there as guests of Spokes, we were even more aware than usual of the message of rider safety. As you may have read in my previous post, the Mr. has been involved in seven accidents in his time, fortunately protected by the correct gear.
On our drive out to the Island we were discussing this matter of correct protective gear and watching all the riders as they passed us. I was horrified to note that so many riders and pillions weren’t anywhere near well enough prepared. I saw shorts, t-shirts, chino pants, sneakers and even high-heeled sandals. The thought crossed my mind that should this particular lady come off, she wouldn’t be spending money on pedicures anymore.
It was a great relief to arrive and see plenty of riders in proper protective gear, checking their helmets in at the minding booth. Spokes had a fantastic arrangement where anyone who arrived in proper protective gear received a lunch voucher they were able to cash in at the Spokes Protective Clothing Lounge. Smokey pulled pork rolls, beef brisket… yum!
The first thing we did was head across to the Expo area and check out the various offerings including sunglasses you can smash with a hammer and they don’t break!
The team at Spokes put us both into the virtual reality headsets to test our reaction time. I get quite competitive at these sorts of things, so I was concentrating hard and made my best score of .43 of a second! Yeah!
I took my own protective gear (my ear plugs and sunnies), and we headed off for a special tour of Pit Lane. What a hive of activity! I was relying on the knowledge of the Mr. to translate all the colours and numbers into something I could understand, otherwise it was a blur of chrome and fake tan to me. I did have a little giggle at how alien I looked amongst all the grid girls, but mostly admired their ability to withstand the cold and pain of high shoes all day!
We headed back to the Spokes Protective Clothing Lounge for some of that amazing smokehouse lunch.
It turns out that the issue of wearing the right protective gear was more complex than I first realised. Did you know that there are online sellers marketing items to Australia that don’t meet our standards or are even counterfeit items? I had no idea! I suppose if they’re doing it with something as small as makeup, it stands to reason that bigger ticket items like protective gear would have this problem too. It just hadn’t crossed my mind. It pays to check out www.spokes.com.au for a full list of protective clothing retailers.
With our bellies full and feeling just that much more secure in the knowledge that the Mr. had gear that measured up to standard, we headed off to the grandstand for the big race.
I’m not even going to pretend I know about how this all works. I know the names, I know they go incredibly fast, and I know there is a palpable adrenaline in the crowd. I was informed that no, the tyre covers weren’t “wheel cardigans”, but rather electrically heated tyre warmers. I stuck to looking after my camera.
Trying to capture an image of riders going at around 300KPM isn’t as easy as I had imagined. Even with all my sophisticated gear, this is the best shot I managed to capture of Rossi about to cross the finish line.
It didn’t matter though; the size of the grin on the Mr’s face said it all. I know he was having ideas of returning to the racetrack himself, (yeah…. nah.) while we ladies could only think of the hot chocolate and warm car that awaited us.
The trip home left the Ride Smart message embedded in my mind. After seeing a few spectacular crashes trackside where, sparks flying, the boys still got up and walked away. It meant that every rider that dodged and weaved to find the “better” place in the traffic made me wince. Too many exposed ankles, girls in high-heeled boots and rear wheels nearly clipped.
As we came into the first major town, a woman stood shaking beside her car, the motorcycle in various pieces in the gutter. A crowd sat watching as the police managed the scene. It was only a matter of time before we saw this happen, and again our conversation turned to how prepared the rider may have been for the worst.
I loved watching the race, I was even more enamoured by the bikes on show. Glittering gold, chrome and cheeky slogans. But no matter what, with the Mr. right beside me, I was and am, incredibly grateful that Spokes is out there helping riders learn and prepare to make it back home.
Follow @SpokesRides on Instagram for for great tips.[/vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”30″][dt_slideshow width=”800″ height=”450″ posts=”motogp-2014″][dt_gap height=”30″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
by Candice DeVille | Oct 22, 2014 | Books, Music & Art, Events
‘Brought to you by Nuffnang and ONCE the Musical”
There is something very special, rather delicate about Once The Musical. Something that makes you feel as though you should hold it in the palm of your hand, protecting its small delicate features and sheltering its rawness from the harshness of this century.
It is not the huge, glitzy ensemble cast extravaganza we’ve come to expect from a night in one of Melbourne’s oldest theatres; but rather, it is painfully beautiful in its elegant simplicity.
Once, tells the story of a young Irish man living in Dublin. Having lost his passion for love and music, he hangs ready to accept his life as a hollow existence. The unexpected appearance of a young Czech woman, who hurtles into his moment, becomes the beautiful and funny muse who inspires this moving story.
A sell out on its world premier on Broadway in 2012, Once the Musical has gone on to win eight Tony Awards, A Grammy and Oliver and an Oscar for the piece Falling Slowly
(London cast video)
This multi talented cast performs with every inch of their beings; singing, dancing and playing each and every instrument throughout the show.
The simple and cleverly designed set brings a warmth and intimacy to this show, giving you the sense of being the only one in the room to witness this love story. Even from high in the stalls, you can almost feel the gentle touch of a single hand as it reaches for another.
I’d never heard of Once the Musical before this evening. I’d not seen the 2006 Irish film on which it was based, nor heard any of the music. It was entirely new to me, and this part I think, lead me very quickly to fall into their world.
But there is something else about Once that struck me; if ever there was a musical that felt truly Melbournian at heart, Once is it.
Perhaps it is our multicultural city, our live music and pub culture, or perhaps the hours I’ve spent listening to musicians with just as much real life passion as our leading man. The story on stage reflected only too well the longing, heartbreak and desire that fills the lives of my fellow creatives.
Now that Once The Musical has opened at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, you really must see it in this city, the city that carries the same heartbeat.
Tickets for Once The Musical are on sale now for performances until December 31st 2014.
Booking early guarantees you’ll be able to get good seats in the stalls (like I did), and amazingly, have the opportunity to join the cast for a drink on stage before the performance and at interval!
Once the musical from Vintage Current on Vimeo.
by Candice DeVille | Oct 16, 2014 | Events, sponsors
My husband used to race motorcycles. He now commutes into the city and home again almost daily. My best friend and her husband both ride regularly, on new and classic vintage bikes. I love them all the way they are, with everything intact; so you can understand why I have a strong vested interest in motorcycle safety.
My Bff Helen on the track at Phillip Island
There have been a number of times that the Mr. comes home, shaken, having been in a close call with a distracted driver or even debris on the roads. Every time you get a roadside phone call, your heart stops. I know so many of you are in the same boat as me, with partners, friends and family all riding motorcycles. This puts us in a position of responsibility to highlight riding safety at every available opportunity.
I asked my husband for insights on his lifetime of riding.
“I’ve been riding for about twenty eight plus years and been involved in seven accidents, only one of which I was at fault. These are things I know for a fact.
- Invest in good quality gear. Unless your name is Clarke Kent it’s going to hurt when you come off. The choices today are amazing, and the technology involved – lifesaving.
- It’s never too hot to wear the right gear. Shirts, shorts, jeans, sneakers are not going to help you, even a fall at 20km/hr will be painful.
- Pay attention ALWAYS. Your daily ride is not the time to contemplate the world’s problems. That lapse in attention could be the difference between a near miss or a painful crash.
- Be SEEN. We have all seen those stickers on trucks.. “If you can’t see my mirrors then I can’t see YOU”. It’s a simple statement of truth. Constantly scan those around you, can they see you? If the answer is no or you don’t know then adjust your position accordingly and be prepared to react.
- If you think you’re fast on your weekend blast through the hills, take it to the track instead. Not only will you not end up being a statistic, you’ll also get a dose of reality of what fast really is.
With the MotoGP in Phillip Island coming up next weekend, I’m honoured to be working with Spokes. If you’ve ever attended this event, you’ll know how the road to the Island simply teems with bikes.
As a driver, it requires all your care, attention and skill to safely make this trip, ensuring everyone arrives without incident. I can’t even imagine how much more difficult it would be for riders in these conditions. Congested roads, impatient drivers, and often inclement weather.
This isn’t the kind of trip that you just wake up and decide to take. Planning and preparation make the journey a safe and enjoyable one.
“Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to clock up some significant kilometers on the bike, ranging from weekends between Adelaide and Melbourne, to a +5,000 km loop from Adelaide to Gold Coast (via Melbourne and Sydney).
I’ve done trips with tents, clothes, food, & more packed in my bags, to trips with nothing other than my credit-card. I’ve even done a trip when I moved from Melbourne to Adelaide, with everything I owned strapped to my bike, and wrapped in a tarp to protect it all from the weather. I’ve not done a trip with a trailer on the bike yet, but given my Dad has a sweet set-up with BMW and trailer, I can see that one happening at sometime in my future.
What I have learnt in all these trips, is to pack smart, take only what you really need, invest in the ‘right’ protective gear for the expected weather conditions, and don’t fall into the trap of ‘pushing on for just another 20k’s before I stop’.
Stop for a break often, stretch, and ensure you’re alert for any surprise that might come your way. Nobody wants to be caught out and be lying on the side of the road waiting to be found because of a momentary lapse of concentration.
And what’s the best route to take? The one that gets you there safely.“
While we begin planning for our big trip next weekend, I want to ask for your help. Please, share this post, share this message and help me to highlight the message of rider safety in this week especially.
Your favourite rider might ride a vintage Bonneville, a Harley, a customised Ducati or even just enjoy the thrill of being a pillion. Whatever they ride and whoever you know, this is a message we all need to get out there, keeping our friends from harm. Thank you.
You can follow the Spokes campaign on Instagram to see all the amazing goings on of the big MotoGP day at @spokesrides #Spokes
