So on my ‘lil Red Carpet Trip over the weekend it was a full-on schedule, read: not much sleep.
Now, as you know, I am not much of a Party Girl nowadays, more of a Cottage Girl and I’m usually tucked up in bed not much after the hours of 10pm, but this weekend there sure weren’t much tucking up going on…I mean heck I even went to Afters in a smoky club where Ferraris pulled up outside and dudes danced.
It was fun, interesting and exhausting and by the end of the weekend found myself sitting in the airport looking just like I’d spent the last few days partying.
Enter,Nikki Parkinson, Styling Queen of Australia, lady who travels with more lotions and potions than you could ever imagine. Lady whose lotions and potions I found myself, after knowing for oh about 10 minutes, stuffing into my luggage to help her get them through.
Lady you want to have sitting next to you on the plane because you will be constantly sprayed, spritzed and foofed with a long and never-ending array of creams, tricks and potions to keep you looking a-ok.
As we sat in transit, waiting for our plane to Sydney, Nikki, graced us with her knowledge, pulled out her tonne of beauty must-haves and gave us a lesson on how to fake a glow.
How to Get Your Glow on with Styling Queen of Australia Nikki Parkinson from Styling You
The Airport Styling Session
1. Equip yourself with a hideously large amount of products so that you are prepared for any situation
2. Start with this miracle budget product (I keep one of these about my person at all and any times…car, handbag, beach bag, kitchen, up sleeve) Garnier BB Cream (available Coles, Priceline, BigW)
3. follow with a dusting of mineral powder, Nikki recommends Bare Minerals
StylingYou Advice : this is your Go-To look when you are running ‘out the door’ in the morning, trying to get the kiddos to school/get to work…do not enter the atmosphere without these babies helping you along
4. Need a bit more help? go for foundation & concealer in the hotspots
StylingYou advice : I like Illamasqua foundation so worth it…cost per wear = good & Benefit Erase Paste concealer
5. for some extra brightening : highlighter
StylingYou advice : use an easy to use highlighter….Benefit’s Watt’s Up is quick and easy & glides on in one quick sweep
6. For some extra zing add some power to those cheeks baby
StylingYou Advice : Benefit’s Rose Tint & ChaCha Tint are faves
7. Eye shadow Benefit Fahrenheit Fab in Gabby
StylingYou Advice: if you are looking really tired skip the eye make-up, it’ll make you look more tired
8. Don’t forget the hands
StylingYou Advice: Burt’s Bees Ageless Hand Cream
9. shine those lips for diva power
StylingYou Advice: for a lipgloss that’s lovely try Jane Iredale Just Kissed lip stain in Forever Pink and Napoleon Perdis Lady in Red lipgloss.
So that’s it, you’re done, quick & easy.
And a few more of the travel girls’ tips
1. this shampoo for great hair Original Mineral Detox Shampoo
2. swig a double dose of Olive Leaf to get you through any Christmas/travelling/broomstick situation (I am stocking up on this big time)
3. Australian Bush Flower Travel Essence…pop this under your tongue while travelling to ward off that jet-lag & tiredness
4. these were great from Body Shop, Vitamin E Mist & Peppermint Cooling Foot Spray
I hope you enjoyed that little airport styling session and thanks to Nikki Parkinson of Styling You for spraying, primping, lending me her GHD’s and generally being very nice to me…and Cas from YTravel blog & the lovely Mel from One Crafty Mumma for laughing and having fun as we travelled…it was fun!
Here we are after our session…of course, your key ingredient to looking good and star style?
Sunnies.
Yes indoors.
See you soon, I am spending the day wrapping and cooking….I have some Beach Cottage Twinkly Christmas things to show you in this old place too..
Byeeeeee
Slap on that BB Cream sweeties and smile for England, ooops Australia
Oh how much fun are you ladies having!! You didn’t point out a stripey cardigan is an absolute must on travel too. Tee hee. I’ve just had a facial before the school run, YES, some children still at school this week, it’s ridiculous, but anyway, i feel all creamed up but i do feel a tad jet lagged as i could have fallen asleep during my massage. Ah, happy travels & GOOD LUCK GIRLS!! Love Posie
I go through Aussie pre-clearance three times a month and they are 1,000,000 worse than the US …no idea how you got through with all that…and not in a ZIPLOC??? They even take our yoghurt away from us….and any food with sauce we may have brought to eat on board…and we are THE CREW!!! LMAO. It’s actaully so bad in Australia that we are permitted to check our crew bags if we want to. I now leave a bag at our crew hotel with all my creams etc…I got nuttin’ going through Aussie airports any more!!! LOL
They were actually in my luggage – we were “in transit” (read sitting on airport floor for six hours) waiting for our domestic flights which is why I was able to pull out so much.
Thanks for sharing Sarah! Will have to pop over to the other ladies blogs and check them out. Love this little blogging community thing, it is so much fun, and it makes a sahm’s life more interesting and easier to keep in touch with what is going on, with the benefit of staying in yours pj’s with a cuppa in hand.
x manda
I’ve never giggled so much through a blog post! It was pretty fab to have our own personal assistant at the airport – and omg look at us all scruffy in the background with Nikki looking all glam. I got myself some BB today AND I’m so tracking down the mineral powder and chacha!!!
AND how have you managed to squeeze in blog posts already PLUS a video – - I’ve done nothing!
So fun
Mel x
I thought I was a cosmetic junkie but I think all this while I was over estimating myself. I cannot believe her pouch. She is a cosmetic goddess. You know what, I actually would tire of the process itself…I am worthless. Although I would gladly stock up on that Australian flower essence, that will find some serious use, if I could ever find it. And I have that Vit E spray from Bodyshop. It’s brilliant and I love it.
I never told you thank you for the BB Cream… oh my goodness how could I be such a clod?!? I received it some time ago but only used it for the first time this weekend, and what can I say….. it is simply heavenly!! Which says a lot from the girl who has all her cosmetics in a drawer the size of a shoe box (and I’m not talking chukkas here, more like stiletto size box!) and has room left over for lots of lip balm and bandaids.
You all looked great! There is no way I would have guessed it was 0300. So glad you had a wonderful time and I’ve been loving hearing/seeing about the trip. Toodles! Enjoy your day!!
What a fab time I don’t feel quite so badly about being a product girl too now. Could not live without Clinique’s dark spot remover. After becoming a mom at 40 it was a bit grim before I found this product.
It looks like you guys had a blast!! I agree with you on that bare minerals it is absolutely the best powder for fixing up a face in five.
My daughter introduced me to it a few years ago and I haven’t turned away from it since. I used it in the car , one harried day, on way to have my liscence picture taken and it transformed me into something more than presentable right quick. I even still get compliments on my liscense photo, which previously always seemed to look like a mug shot. So yes I swear by those bare minerals. Also big plus, it being a dry powder we can get it on board an airplane. Here in the States they make us throw out all liquids nowadays.
Looking forward to your twinkly Christmas stuff!!
Have a Merry One
Eileen
And well done again and congratulations to you and the others for being there! that is a huge achievement that I think people forget we have to say – it wasn’t the trophy but for you to just be there – so well done.
With your photos today – It does show the improvisations in a suitcase that can make a little glam anywhere
I’ve been lucky to have met Nikki and Caz – they are so lovely. I hope to meet you all one day soon.
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
So that’s it, you’re done, quick & easy. 
Oh how much fun are you ladies having!! You didn’t point out a stripey cardigan is an absolute must on travel too. Tee hee. I’ve just had a facial before the school run, YES, some children still at school this week, it’s ridiculous, but anyway, i feel all creamed up but i do feel a tad jet lagged as i could have fallen asleep during my massage. Ah, happy travels & GOOD LUCK GIRLS!! Love Posie
lucky you, wish I could have a facial…so glad my kiddos are at home & loving me!
x
Ok, had to laugh… there is no way ever you would get through security with all of that in the States. No. Way. Ever.
haha Jen, we said that! and those pictures aren’t all of it…she was loaded man!
x
I go through Aussie pre-clearance three times a month and they are 1,000,000 worse than the US …no idea how you got through with all that…and not in a ZIPLOC??? They even take our yoghurt away from us….and any food with sauce we may have brought to eat on board…and we are THE CREW!!! LMAO. It’s actaully so bad in Australia that we are permitted to check our crew bags if we want to. I now leave a bag at our crew hotel with all my creams etc…I got nuttin’ going through Aussie airports any more!!! LOL
yes, I am not quite sure how she did it! oh yes I do, half of it went in my suitcase
xx
LOL Go on ya!
As I was reading the post, I was thinking the same thing as Jen! It’s 331 here (3 x 3oz bottles, in a 1 quart ziplock bag) per person…
They were actually in my luggage – we were “in transit” (read sitting on airport floor for six hours) waiting for our domestic flights which is why I was able to pull out so much.
Makes sense! I only travel with carry-on these days, because I hate the cost of checking luggage, and hate waiting at baggage carousels LOL
Thanks for sharing Sarah! Will have to pop over to the other ladies blogs and check them out. Love this little blogging community thing, it is so much fun, and it makes a sahm’s life more interesting and easier to keep in touch with what is going on, with the benefit of staying in yours pj’s with a cuppa in hand.
x manda
it sure does Manda, the best thing I did though was go meet some other girls…it was time!
xo
I’ve never giggled so much through a blog post! It was pretty fab to have our own personal assistant at the airport – and omg look at us all scruffy in the background with Nikki looking all glam. I got myself some BB today AND I’m so tracking down the mineral powder and chacha!!!
AND how have you managed to squeeze in blog posts already PLUS a video – - I’ve done nothing!
So fun
Mel x
I blogged super duper quickly and spent the rest of the day shopping, cleaning and wrapping!
it was so funny with Nikki…I don’t know how she does it, I felt and looked like a dag…oh yes, silly me, she is the Styling Queen of Australia
x
Oh God you two … I look awful. Didn’t actually have makeup on as it was 3 o’clock in the morning! Love the post though and will share it!!
x
you so do not look awful!
you rock the beauty bloggers by being gracious enough to be shot at 3am..that’s a REAL beauty blogger who is not 21 xo
Great post of a fun morning. Love the sunny picture and you managed to get my hideous nails in that refuse to fall off!!
i need to get cracking and write some posts- you are on the ball!!
So awesome meeting you
I don’t know how we managed to have fun in an airport at 4am but somehow we did!
love to meet up again Caz, it was lovely meeting you, I’ll see you for that guest post in the New Year
enjoy that sweet baby girl, take a deep sniff in when you are cuddling her for me!
xo
I thought I was a cosmetic junkie but I think all this while I was over estimating myself. I cannot believe her pouch. She is a cosmetic goddess. You know what, I actually would tire of the process itself…I am worthless. Although I would gladly stock up on that Australian flower essence, that will find some serious use, if I could ever find it. And I have that Vit E spray from Bodyshop. It’s brilliant and I love it.
You girls had so much fun!
she is gold and it was epic!
x
I never told you thank you for the BB Cream… oh my goodness how could I be such a clod?!? I received it some time ago but only used it for the first time this weekend, and what can I say….. it is simply heavenly!! Which says a lot from the girl who has all her cosmetics in a drawer the size of a shoe box (and I’m not talking chukkas here, more like stiletto size box!) and has room left over for lots of lip balm and bandaids.
You all looked great! There is no way I would have guessed it was 0300. So glad you had a wonderful time and I’ve been loving hearing/seeing about the trip. Toodles! Enjoy your day!!
What a fab time
I don’t feel quite so badly about being a product girl too now. Could not live without Clinique’s dark spot remover. After becoming a mom at 40 it was a bit grim before I found this product.
It looks like you guys had a blast!! I agree with you on that bare minerals it is absolutely the best powder for fixing up a face in five.
I even still get compliments on my liscense photo, which previously always seemed to look like a mug shot. So yes I swear by those bare minerals. Also big plus, it being a dry powder we can get it on board an airplane. Here in the States they make us throw out all liquids nowadays.
My daughter introduced me to it a few years ago and I haven’t turned away from it since. I used it in the car , one harried day, on way to have my liscence picture taken and it transformed me into something more than presentable right quick.
Looking forward to your twinkly Christmas stuff!!
Have a Merry One
Eileen
thanks Eileen for your feedback on the Bare Minerals, I am giving it a go too!
x
Miss Sarah
I love it all.
And well done again and congratulations to you and the others for being there! that is a huge achievement that I think people forget we have to say – it wasn’t the trophy but for you to just be there – so well done.
With your photos today – It does show the improvisations in a suitcase that can make a little glam anywhere
I’ve been lucky to have met Nikki and Caz – they are so lovely. I hope to meet you all one day soon.
Have a wonderful day,
loulou, hereiamloulou blog
x
love to mee you too lou!
x