Lately...

Clear Conscience Geranium Pet Shampoo

Last month I was fortunate enough to receive the Geranium Pet Shampoo from the Clear Conscience Soap Company. Now, this was sitting in my cupboard for almost two weeks before I got a chance to use it on Genji and everytime I opened the cupboard this amazing smell wafted out. Not a flowery, girly scent, just a nice clean natural fragrance. 

Bath time in our household is never fun and this is usually the result of running water in the tub.

I'm not moving from under this chair.

My first impression was that the soap may be a bit difficult to use on Genji as we have to work quite quickly with him. However, once he was in and rinsed all it took was a couple of rubs over his coat to soap up nicely.  I don't think Genji liked the smell of the soap very much, he kinda just looked at it with a scared look on his face but I'm sure that was just because he didn't know what it was. 

Once he's in it's always a bit of a struggle hence no photos of him in the tub. But here are a couple of after photos.

This pet shampoo worked wonders. Once all dry, Genji smelled amazing and his coat was so shiny and soft for over a week. Usually we're struggling to make it through a fortnight before he needs another bath (It's bad for their skin to bath every week) but with this soap he doesn't seem to smell as bad come bath day. 

The geranium in this soap helps protect against fleas and assists with healing small cuts and abrasions. Genji hadn't had fleas for a few months prior to using this shampoo, but he hasn't started scratching either which is a good sign. 

I forgot to take a photo of the soap prior to using, but here's a shot after two washes (hair and all). 

This soap has probably lost about 2 cm from two washes, so it won't last a year but for a small to medium dog it suits just fine. I'm estimating we'll get another four to five washes out of this bar. 

I've tried many of the brand name dog shampoos in the past and most of them fail to either condition or prevent fleas. This product gets a big tick for both. I give the Geranium Pet Shampoo a 9/10. I give it a 9 because at the moment the soap is just sitting on the tub ledge being all slimy but buying a soap container would easily fix the storage issue. It'd be great to see a similar product in a pump bottle though. This is definitely a product that we'll be using again and again. Our pup hates bath time so, any product that keeps him cleaner for longer tops my list.

The Clear Conscience Geranium Pet Shampoo retails for $5.60 for a 80g block and can be purchased from their website. Go check it out!

 M.

A day for baking treats

Last Monday was a public holiday here in QLD, which meant resting my tired feet and baking treats.

I got this great recipe for these delicious Cinnamon Pinwheel Buns from Here Comes the Sun. I've only just started following Amanda and her guest bloggers but I already love it. It's also a plus that it's a NZ blog, one of the most beautiful countries in the world. 

M.

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream Review

I've been a bit slow to jump on the BB cream bandwagon. However with the change of season, my skin has freaked out a little bit and all of my current foundations and moisturisers that I loved back in Summer are reacting differently. I always have to use a different foundation in winter but this year my whole regime doesn't seem to be working and my skin is the driest it's ever been. I'm not sure if it's because I'm getting older or the added recent stress but having to fork out money for different cleansers, moisturisers and foundations is just not an option that's available to me at the moment. I decided to minimise my makeup use and focus on hydration before I'm mistaken for a scaly reptile. 

After speaking with a rep at the local priceline who claimed it would hydrate and even out my skin tone, I purchased the Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream. I'm always hesitant to purchase anything with the word "miracle" for obvious reasons but after so much hype for a reasonably priced product I thought it was worth a try. 

It has a great creamy texture that doesn't leave your skin feeling oily like other tinted moisturisers. It evens out skin tone really well but it won't cover up any blemishes. I used a dab of concealer just to hide a couple of red nasties.

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream with no powder:

Garnier claims that this product has 24hr hydration. I still had to use my moisturiser in the evening after cleansing but my skin didn't feel dry throughout the day. This product lasted for about four to five hours before I had to reapply. On the second application I used powder over the top for a bit more coverage. 

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder:

This isn't a product I'll use everyday as it doesn't provide enough coverage for work in a corporate environment however it probably will turn into my go to product for weekends and lazy days at home. I had heard reports of people applying cheaper BB creams under their foundation however the two products reacted and I ended up with a slight burning sensation on my skin- not recommended.

Differing from tinted moisturisers, traditional BB creams are supposed to be an all-in-one product that works as your sunscreen, primer, anti-aging cream and foundation. They're supposed to contain anti-aging properties where as tinted moisturisers will only provide hydration and sheer coverage.

I love this product however after doing a bit of research on BB creams this seems to be more like a tinted moisturiser to me. Sure I don't have to use sunscreen, primer and foundation but I still have to use my serum and the Garnier BB cream doesn't seem to contain any anti-aging properties. However for such an affordable price I really can't complain.

The Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB cream is available in original, oil-free or sensitive. I bought the Original from Priceline for $13.99.

*This is not a sponsored post.

M.

Illuminare tenebras

Light up the darkness collection

M.

My Sukin "must haves"

No, you're not going crazy there are two Elegant Impressions blog posts in one day! I was just going to do a post about my "must have" winter skincare product but thought I would also touch on my summer "must have" for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere. 

As soon as the season changes into Winter or Summer I find myself making a trip to Priceline and heading straight for the Sukin range. Sukin is an Australian skin care range. All of their products are organic and they do not test on animals. I've used a few of the Sukin products in the past but these two products are definitely my favourites. 

For winter I always buy the Sukin Rose Hip Oil. I love this product and find that it works wonders to help re-hydrate my skin. I massage three drops onto my face just before bed each night. Rose Hip oil contains 80% of essential fatty acids which is vital for regenerating and repairing the skin. If you have dry skin, acne scarring or uneven skin tone, this is a great product for you. Rose Hip oil is suitable for all skin types however I have found that I have regular breakouts if I use this product during summer when my skin is much more oily. The Sukin Rose Hip Oil retails at Priceline for $19.99 for 25ml and the bottle also comes with a handy dropper. 

My favourite summer Sukin product is the Hydrating Mist Toner. I'll usually use this product first thing in the morning as the refreshing spray is a great way to wake yourself up. It's also great to freshen up on a hot day and would be great for a long haul international flight, if only there was a travel size! The Hydrating Mist Toner contains rose water and chamomile extract and one spray of the bottle is all that is needed. I only use this product once in the morning before moisturising as it tends to dry out my skin. If you don't go crazy with it, this bottle will last you all summer. The 125ml bottle is very affordable retailing at just $9.95.

If you would like to know more about this great range check out the Sukin website. 

Please note: this is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

M.

Winter Fashion Wants

I've just compiled my list of fashion wants this winter. I've got quite a good collection of jackets, jeans and tees but these items would just add a bit more "oomph" to my winter wardrobe. I'm particularly in love with the Witchery Puff Vest. 

Winter Wants by amelmire featuring aviator sunglasses

Witchery puff vest, $150 / Suede booties, $59 / Polo Ralph Lauren , $99 / Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses / Black 'N White Knit Tube | Dotti, $49


What are your fashion wants this winter?

M.

Bath bombs with a conscience

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting the wonderful Katie, founder of the Clear Conscience Soap Company. She gave me a tour of her work space and even let me make my own bath bombs. My bath bombs consisted of coconut and grapefruit oils topped with juniper berries and lavender. I can't wait to try them out. 

I was also lucky enough to be able to take a few soap samples home to try out. I haven't tried them yet but I will post a review in the coming days. I'm especially excited to try the Geranium pet shampoo on Genji but that will have to wait until the end of the month once the ingredients have settled a bit. Stay tuned!

I know I'm going to love these products as they're eco-friendly and great for sensitive skin. Head on over to Clear Conscience and check them out!  

M.

Puppy Love

After a Photoshop hiatus I've decided it was time to play around with my photos more. I used a split toning effect on this photo, a technique alot of photographers use with wedding photos. 

 It's raining here today which is quite annoying as I was hoping to go out and take some more photos but I did manage to snap this one of Genji on the deck this morning. Gotta love the Genj!

M.

Workplace bullying.

I'm 25 and up until February this year I seemed successful. Well paid job. Just bought a house. Regular holidays. None of this was worth it. For two years and four months I was bullied by my manager. 

When I graduated from University I was one of the lucky ones. I never had to scramble around on SEEK trying to find a job amongst the other 40,000 or so graduates in the state. I gained full-time employment in my last 6 months of University, granted not in that Marketing role that I wanted but I discovered I was working in the industry I needed to be in. Tertiary Education is something that I hold in great esteem. I grew up in a small country town where trades were favoured over degrees and those that did go on to University came straight back and assumed their parents roles (Namely in Education and Health sectors). My grade 8 English teacher once told me "You'll never attend University or amount to anything". Five years later I packed my bags and set out to prove him wrong. And I did, and I haven't looked back. 

Four months after graduating I landed what I thought was a fantastic job. I was travelling the countryside and speaking with students about a University education. It didn't dawn on me until six months in that the way my manager treated my colleague and I was not normal. I just thought "This is how it's done in the government sector". I was scared and I didn't want him to think that I was weak. I'd landed a well paid job and to outsiders could be deemed "successful". I didn't want to ruin this amazing opportunity. Then things at work started getting weird. He started telling me my work was "fantastic" and my colleague "just didn't get it". Little to my knowledge she was also being told the same thing. It didn't dawn on me until one night at an important corporate event that I had planned. I thought I had everything covered, he told me I had everything covered. Then something was missed. The electricians didn't arrive! Electricians ? "I didn't know we needed any electricians!" And from there things went downhill. The more he pushed me, the more flustered I became and  more and more things went wrong. Then he said it. "We are now having a competition". "Whoever wins gets to keep their job and at the moment, Mary, you are losing". A volunteer student overheard and the look on her face was one of pure horror. That's when I realised. This isn't normal. For whatever reason I stayed in this miserable department for two more years. I went home and told myself that things would get better. But they never did. The insults kept coming, information was omitted from important briefs and I was left out of team activities. Anything deemed urgent was delayed in returning feedback to me and then I was expected to turn around projects with 30 minutes to spare. I was regularly told I was stupid and didn't understand anything. The one occasion my colleagues and I tried to speak with the director about it, she said she would have a chat to him. I found out later she had told somebody we were just whinging.

I persisted, thinking that things would get better. I got promoted and I thought "Well I must be doing something right". But it didn't stop. I took stress leave, couldn't find a job and went back to work. Things got better for awhile but then they kept me on short term contracts. Two weeks here and two weeks there. I then found out that they were sourcing for other applicants for my role. How? Why? If I'm not doing my job properly why are they doing this? I even asked for feedback and was told I was performing well. Well then why! One day something snapped. I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't wake up and go in and pretend like this environment wasn't hurting me. It was. It was toxic. I felt like a flower that was slowly wilting over time. I had no confidence left, no energy to carry on. 

Quitting was one of the hardest things I've done. Leaving financial security (which in hindsight wasn't that secure anyway) and just taking a leap. It's been eleven weeks since I left and my confidence still hasn't come back. Some days it's there for a couple of hours, but most of the time it's just a piece of charcoal smoldering away, trying to get out. Today I went back to that place and walked into the office where I used to work. I felt sick and I just wanted to run but I couldn't. I was there for an interview for another department. Why?! Why am I back here?!

There was a pre-interview test. I failed. I know I did. I walked into the interview room and everyone was lovely. They were smiling and made me feel comfortable. They didn't ask why I left, I suppose they didn't need to. His reputation is well known. They were lovely and they called me back two hours later offering me the job. I don't know if I can take it though. I don't know if I can ever go back there. There's a fantastic opportunity at another company that I'm interviewing for on Monday and I want to work there. I told her the truth. I told her what I was feeling and that this job, that I so desperately needed was not on top of my list. She did me a wonderful favour today. She thanked me for my time, wished me luck for my interview and said she would hold off until next week when I heard back. If I don't get this job on Monday, the job there would still be waiting for me. I wouldn't have to commute as far as was advertised and a job was guaranteed for me after the contract end date. 

I am so thankful. Thankful that she showed me that this company does not revolve around one department. Thankful that she showed me that there are good mangers out there who care about their employees. I am thankful because at least now I will know how to be a good manger also. One day I hope I see that douchbag in an interview and I hope I'm on his panel. Then he will know what it's like to sweat. 

M.

Change.

I've just found this quote by Jeanette Winterson. I haven't read any of her writing previously but this quote makes me want to.

"When we make a change, it's so easy to interpret our unsettledness as unhappiness, and our unhappiness as a result of having made the wrong decision. Our mental and emotional states fluctuate madly when we make big changes in our lives, and some days we could tightrope across manhattan, and other days we are too weary to clean our teeth. This is normal. This is natural. This is change."

M.

I want...

Hills of Gondor Leggings from Black Milk. I'm a big LOTR fan so these would suit me perfectly.

Hills of Gondor Leggings from Black Milk

Job interview tomorrow. If I'm successful I will buy these.

M.

Morning Smoothie

This morning I decided that I would have a good day. Due to usually having to leave the house at all hours of the morning, my breakfast usually consists of toast or yoghurt. 

Today however I decided to make a delicious green smoothie. I was sifting through my recipe book over the weekend and came across this recipe.

Kale and Banana Smoothie

1 cup of chopped kale
1 medium banana
1 cup of almond milk.

Put everything into a blender and blend until smooth.

Elegant Impressions

I love how it's the little things that can really brighten up your morning.

M.

I can't believe I've lived without...

Bloglovin'.

Each morning I scroll through my bookmarked links and visit each of my favourite blogs. Depending on how many updates they've been this can take anywhere from 15 minutes up to an hour. Recently I came across Bloglovin' which allows you to follow all of your favourite blogs in one place.

To begin with you will need to search for all of your favourite blogs and add them to your account but once that's done each new post made by those blogs will show up in your account like a news feed. You can also create folders to assign blogs to categories as well as choose to be notified when a new post is made. You can also search for top blogs in any category you like. I'd highly recommend this website to anyone whether you follow one or a hundred + blogs. 

Click here to follow my blog on bloglovin'.

M.

Travel Handbag Essentials

I think I've just about got the hang of long plane flights. I found the flight to and from Hawaii quite comfortable, which is a first for me as I tend to get quite restless. I attribute this to my careful planning of handbag essentials which I think I've finally nailed. 

Travel Handbag Essentials by amelmire 

Urban Originals studded handbag, $83 / Mimco travel wallet, $205 / Burt's Bees burt's bee, $9.06 / Beauty product, $3.40 / Anatomicals Snog Me Senseless Mints / Waterford Pallas Black Rollerball Pen / Beauty product / New 69 Kindle eReader  / sweet dreams balm | Perfect Potion

My new favourite product is the sweet dreams balm by Perfect Potion. I tend to get quite nervous with turbulence so before I left I went on the hunt for something natural that would help me calm my nerves and also help me sleep. When paired with my ujayi breathing, this balm kept me calm and I even felt refreshed with just four hours sleep. I found it worked best when rubbed on my feet, wrists and temples. 

I like to also pack one form of entertainment. I usually pack my e-reader as I movies are always accessible on the plane. Taking some snacks also worked a treat as I find the flight attendants don't give out as much food if it's an overnight flight. 

Facial and body wipes aren't just for babies. I love this product and carry a packet everywhere in my bag and car these days. I find it helps me to quickly refresh in the middle of a long day and it's also come in handy when I can't get to a restroom to wash my hands. They're also fabulous out camping or in the middle of storm season when showers/water aren't available. You can pick them up quite cheaply, the other day I picked up a packet from Woolies for $1.00!

Breath mints, moisturiser and lip balm have always saved me. I like to use breath mints and then brush my teeth when I arrive. I know some people carry a toothbrush and toothpaste with them on board but I only like to use plane toilets when I'm desperate (Yepp, they scare me with their scary whoosh noises). Moisturiser and lip balm have been a god send to prevent dry skin and chapped lips from the air-conditioning.

Besides a trendy travel wallet for all of your important documents (never put these in your checked luggage) and a pen to fill out the arrival card on board, fit all this in a roomy handbag and all you're all set for takeoff! 

M.

Mahalo Hawaii

What can I say? Hawaii was amazing. 

Waikiki Beach at dusk <3
This photo is the property of Elegant Impressions. Please do not use without my permission

We're heading up to the Fraser Coast this weekend so I will post more about our amazing holiday soon.

M.

We've Moved stationary

I thought I'd share with you guys our moving cards that I made when we bought our home early last year. We had just gotten married and I thought that it would be a good idea to also notify people of our new address when sending out our thank you cards.

This image is the property of Elegant Impressions

I love creating stationary. I'm hoping to design more in the future.

M.

Airplane fashion

Tomorrow we leave for Hawaii for one week. I'm excited because it will probably be 
the only holiday we get for the next 12 months. Getting ready to go on a 9 hour flight
got  me thinking about plane appropriate clothes. I want something comfortable
but I don't want to wear trackpants or pajamas. Some form of cardigan/shawl/baggy jumper
is a must as the aircon makes me freezing. 

I've been playing around with Polyvore lately and came up with this:

Airplane fashion by amelmire

The good thing is that I already have most of the things on this list. Just need to find a comfy cardi.

M.

2013 Goals

I'm sure everyone reading this has heard alot about other people's new year's resolutions and perhaps you've  made a few of your own. Listening and reading to everyone talk about their wishes for 2013 over the past few days has got me thinking about my own personal goals. I'm not usually one to make goals for the year ahead but I think this will help me get out of this rut or as I call it my "quarter life crisis".

I've broken my goals up into eight different categories that relate to different areas of my life. This way I know I'm not neglecting any important areas. I'm not expecting to achieve every goal I've set, instead I like to think of these more as guidelines for a healthy life. If I find something on here isn't working I will change it to suit my lifestyle. As circumstances are constantly changing in our busy lives, goals should be reviewed regularly (not just at New Years) and changed if they're not working. 

Well enough rambling, here's some areas that I would like to improve on in 2013.

Health & Fitness

This list is the most extensive as I find that regular exercise is one thing I can count on that will always make me feel good. 

• Practice yoga at home at least twice a week
• Wake up at 4.45am at least once a week to work out
• Successfully do 10 push ups (not the girly ones)
• Achieve more abdominal definition
• Cut back on caffeine- drink more water
• Make a new meal every fortnight.

Love

• Don't take my frustration out on my husband
• Have a date night at least once a month
• Continue telling my husband that I love him everyday

Financial

• Save enough money for a holiday to South America in December
• Eradicate bad debt (car loan exempt)
• Put money away for upcoming bills each pay

Social

• Step out of my social comfort zone once a week (this can be as simple as asking a waiter for something)
• Meet new people
• Have a dinner party

Career

• Get a new job (that I love)
• Begin business plan for potential new business venture
• Finish my Graduate Certificate

Personal Development

• Make an appointment with a psychologist for my social anxiety
• Actually attend said appointment
• Be creative everyday (can be as simple as writing a haiku or doodling)

Home

• Finish painting hallway/living area
• Paint kitchen
• Paint and declutter gym/computer use area

Spiritual

• Go to church at least once a month
• Mediate during lunch breaks

Has anyone else set themselves goals for 2013?

M.

Post Christmas Shop

Nothing cheers a girl up more than a good shop. 

I am a bit of a tight ass when it comes to money but every now and then (usually about once a season) I'll go all out. And what better time then after Christmas! Yesterday after our coffee date, I hit the shops with my BFF. Besides my "Grande Soy Flat White" here is what I bought:

Fancy Pant- Sportsgirl

You can't see it in the above pic but these pants have a fabulous floral print on them.

Lady Tee- Sportsgirl

This takes me back to the pop art section we did during high school art classes.

Swiss Xmas Doll PJ set

I know it's Xmas themed but I couldn't resist, anyway, it's not that obvious...

Other purchases post Christmas include:

Rayban Caravan Sunglasses

A5 Sweet Weekly Diary

In between these shops I've also purchased a bunch of boring work clothes. ick. Hope everyone had a wonderful Chirstmas/New Year. Hello to 2013.

M.