Salon Em Make Me Better - The New Hair Treatment Revolution Hi Lift Cureplex

It would be fair to say that reverse balyage has been working well for me. Its been 6 months since I have had my hair coloured & 3 months since I have had it cut! Certainly is a treat when I flick my hair to the opposite side & people comment on my new hair colour! Im dreading the day that pure blonde hair is back 4 week root job - who has the time or money for that?

Over the last weeks I noticed Im really due for a touch up on the colour  & maybe a trim I think I’ve really stretched it well past my used by date (plus Im not sure how much longer I can convince myself that those wiry stands of hair are BLONDE not GREY) I swim 3-4 times a week  even though I wear a swimming cap plus my latest obsession is my cloud nice wand and curling the ends of my hair I felt like my hair was just looking so dry flat & dull and in need of some TLC. So with a few more weeks before Im in for a colour I asked Emma @ Salon Em to make me better!!

Thank God for Emma aside from the fact she is the world best blow (job) dryer I have ever met AND she is up to date on all the newest and best hair revolutions on the market. Emma suggested I try out the Hi Lift Cureplex its the new revolutionary treatment that creates new bonds & buffers on your existing hair delivering stronger and healthy hair - in layman’s terms it makes your hair shine, restores condition & suppleness to your hair.

Just 20 quick minutes a rinse and a blow dry & my hair is feel Oh - SO - Fabulous when I arrive home Michael said “Wow your hair is looking so good” I have the Attard seal of approval.

It cost just $40 as a stand alone treatment PLUS you also get a 100ml take home bottle which has about 4-5 “at home” treatments to top up after you leave for free! You can add this treatment to your colour for $45 & thats designed to prevent damage from colouring SO worth it. Plus I am certain I can stretch out a cut for a while longer - more money for shopping 

Below are some pics of the before the treatment - after my AH-Mazing Blow Job by Emma & the following 3 days after my treatment (plus you can check out my Instagram for more updates on the coming weeks) - but don’t just take my word for it give Emma @ Salon Em a Call  “Treat Yo’Self” before the winter blues set in!

Love Lauren

My Hair Before I arrived At Salon Em

Immediately After the Treatment & The Worlds Best Blow (Job) Dry By Emma 

That Night & The Following 3 Days After My Hi Lift Cure Plex Treatment SO Good !!!  

Didn't I Tell You? I'm Going To Hamilton Island..... (AGAIN)

My friend at work, Dana, is always going on holidays to Hamilton Island she talks about it before during and after. She loves it and has told me of the amazing things she does while visiting but mostly how beautiful this place is.  Due to a set of circumstances earlier this year, an opportunity came up for Michael and I to take a holiday, it was during the onset of winter which we both agreed we wanted to embrace warmer weather. I found a deal online which was too good to be true! So I really enjoyed telling everyone at work where I was going again and again to stir Dana up!!! So I was lucky she was kind enough to write me her Top 10 List of MUST DOs for our visit! 

My Sister also snagged the same online deal & when she asked me to join her just 6 short weeks after our visit my response was "I thought you would never ask!!"  Most people know that when I came home from Hamilton Island with Michael, I suffered from serious PHB (Post Holiday Blues) I found it REALLY hard to stop thinking of the good time we had, so of course when Skye asked me to join her, Michaels main worry was that I might come home with PHB he said he couldn't live through it again. (No guarantees Hun) 

So initially when I started writing I thought about Hamo with all the fantastic things you can do, believe you me there is ALOT, from water sports to Great Barrier Reef Tours, visits to Whitehaven Beach, lunch at the Golf Club, dinner at beautiful restaurants, Sunset Cocktails,  or just lie on the beach really the list is endless you will never be bored here, then I figured most people will do that stuff regardless! It occurred to me the one thing that people might skip or not know about or might think it's not worth seeing is the bush land, the panoramic views from doing some of the most Ah-Mazing bush walks are a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Best of all ..... they are FREE!!!! 

The best way to explore the island is literally 2 feet and a heart beat, do not, I repeat, DO NOT,  miss this amazing experience. Passage Peak  (Dana we will just have to share him) from my first climb I fell in love!  I just wanted to sit there and literally breathe in the serenity, the view is at the highest vantage of the whole island, you can just see everything particularly the WhitSunday Island & back to the restores. An easier walk, if you climb to Resort Look Out looking over at Passage Peak is just as beautiful.  It doesn't matter what time of the day you do a walk it's heaven! My 2nd favourite is walk is to Coral Cove followed by a close 3rd, Escape Beach both secluded and quiet you could pack a lunch frolic on the private (both times I have been completely alone) not to mention most pristine beaches I've seen - Bondi you ain't got nothin on this place! 

I'm lucky to have someone share this with me - I wouldn't have know this otherwise and would have missed out on literally the best part of the island! I'm off for another walk to make the most of my last day here! If you are planning a visit and want some tips email me lauren@allthegoodies@gmail.com I'd love to help.

Love Lauren xx

Above Coral Cove - From The Air (Don't Tell Jetstar) + On Foot From My Walk 

Escape Beach From The Air (Don't Tell Jetstar) + On Foot From My Walk 

Resort LookOut - Back Over Passage Peak - Gorgeous! 

ME  !! At The Top Passage Peak - when you get to the top you feel SO good!!! 

Views from Passage Peak to the Resort

Early Morning Light - Passage Peak 

Happy Feet

I once owned a pair of Brown Jesus Sandals, circa 2003, I loved them got around everywhere in them and I wore them with everything, jeans rolled up, shorts and skirts I wore them riding my bike at the pub & shopping!!!! 

2014 come full circle ( as usual it seems) I looked in horror at Instagram & online and every one seemed to be wearing them well was no way I wasn't going to succumb again to the Slide, Mandals as they are referred to these days. Yet when adopting the minimalist packing plus something dressier than Havaianas Thong (I still have after all these years NFI on the correct pronunciation) I just kept being drawn back to them they look so cool & comfortable. 

So I caved to the Birkenstock ...... Birks as Im fondly referring to them. I chose White in colour,  they go with everything & yep super comfortable. I'm glad I went down a size my feet are small usually a UK 36 but I went down to a UK 35 in these babies! Besides the fact that my niece keeps making me feel self conscious every day so far asking me  "Aunty Lauren Why do you keep wearing those shoes?!" Ive taken to ignoring her comment and admiring my feet, plus outfit planning for the black ones I'll be purchasing and running this summer! 

Hope you have had a great weekend 

Love Lauren xx 

The Only Acne I Want (Acne Studios)

 Two weekends ago I took my husband Michael on an excursion. It's not that hard to get him motivated so long as I use the words breakfast and bacon. So what was supposed to be a relaxing Breaky & a quick pop into an organic shop in Woollarah afterward resulted in a leisurely stroll through the Intersection Paddington, for sure that's my favourite way to spend Sunday!

We visited a store that I love Acne Studios I had seen their Jensen Boot online & I felt immense lust, I wondered what happen seeing them in real life? (duh) it wouldn't hurt to have a look they probably won't have them anyways.  From the second I clapped my eyes on them, sitting at the back of the store as if waiting for my arrival, my heart palpitations started occurring & then I uttered the ULTIMATE fatal words, "Do you have these in a size 36?" I swear I saw Michaels eyes roll & could hear his mind thinking  ... "Oh God Here She Goes" he knows me well, I was a goner, I slipped them on twirled around, swayed from side to side & quickly the love & admiration flooded in.  Is this even possible for a pair of boots? I looked at Michael, secretly hoping for his approval mind you,  "Gee they are really nice Hun" that was enough to seal it for me!

I didn't stop thinking about them for the rest of that week. I planned outfits I would wear with them, places we would visit together, people they would meet & finally on Friday night I bite the bullet & made the purchase on Net A Porter because the price was much lower than in store who doesn't love a saving?

Today is my first outing with them! I tried to keep the outfit simple with my & keep the boots as the focus I'm pretty smitten & pleased the cold weather is back ( Yes I put on a jacket but this sun was heaven ) so I can get my estimated 90 wears = $6 per wear, bargain really?! Yes ... No ... ?! Doesn't matter I'll wear them to death!

Hope you have a great weekend

Love Lauren xox

Photo Credit | @deborahmarjoram

Acne Jensen Boot

Viktoria and Woods Grammar Crop Tank

Nobody Denim (Similar)

Chanel Necklace 

July Spring in The City

Winter in Sydney .... Let's face it it's really not that harsh, oh yes it gets cold, and fresh but really the days have been so stunning so who doesn't dream of the warmer months? This is why I love my country Australia I'm a summer time lover!

This weekend was my husbands birthday, I treated him to a weekend down in our famous city Sydney& what should have been a treat for him probably ended up more so for me!!
I scored what I already I think is my new favourite outfit! Spring collections are already arriving in stores much to my delight.

White Suede is a favourite label of mine I love their collections & their Black Shine jeans are probably the most comfortable wardrobe staple that I wear regularly. This weekend we visited their beautiful Paddington store  & I bagged a beautiful pencil skirt which is an Ah-Mazing fit & stylish length its going to get a lot of wear & if you follow me on Instagram you know my obsession this last season of Viktoria & Woods looks like it could continue on into this season Bless! David Jones is already stocking some of their new pieces on the shelf. Now with online shopping & fashion bloggers you always know what's coming up then when it is in store I am online checking things out, I feel like I know what's there before shopping in the shops, so yesterday felt like the old days when things had arrived & it was a complete surprise! So a gorgeous black top classic crop beautiful cut I just know it will be a staple piece for the season ahead became mine!

I feel like it was the perfect outfit for our night out I teamed it with my Christian Louboutin Black Pumps & Chanel "Wallet On Chain" & kept my jewellery simple with By Charlotte earrings, ones I haven't worn but picked up in Brisbane last year!
We had drinks at The Shangri La Level 36 Blu Bar & Dinner at a gorgeous restaurant on O'Connell Street Swine & Co such a fun night!

Michael & I had fun taking these pics after dinner in the city he's becoming a great photographer don't you think? LOL  ;-D

Have a great week

Love Lauren x

I'll Have What She's Having

There's a new trend happening & I admit I am caught up in it .....

Nail Styling, Shellac or Vinylux Manicure, Rebalances, Enhancements, Patterns, Prints not to mention over 68 colours from all spectrums of the rainbow. Got a colour in mind & you can't find it? Don't worry it can be made!!!!! 

Gone are the days of dodgy French Tips from Sally Hanson (go on admit it you did it) or disasters at home spilling RED polish everywhere or sitting for hours on end waiting for polish to dry then going to bed & you wake up sure you hadn't moved nails peeping out if the sheet & they end up marked, damaged, ruined anyway! 

This trend is sweeping through my town almost like an epidemic. The one thing everyone got to have done! The envy & comparing, waiting for the next Facebook update on Instagram post to see what's new or can be copied, particularly in my work place, where phrases like "Did you see that colour she's having?" "What's that colour called?" "Ooohhhs, Aahhhhs I like that". "You Know Ill be having that next time!" "I copied You (wink wonk)"are thrown around every other day.

Luckily for me the go to girl is my very own talented  & creative sister Skye McIntyre . She is SO popular that when the girl in Woolworths asked me what colour my nails were & I told her also throwing in a promotion of "I go to ...."  She cut me off an answered "Skye McIntyre I know.... everyone goes to her she's the best around" I walked away with my strawberries, yoghurt & my puffed up chest feeling very chuffed! 

I have my set appointment every 3 weeks I whip over to her gorgeous salon in my lunch break then come back to work showing off my new creation! Now I will say I'm not really the adventurous type I tend to keep it simple & as a result I was yet to make it onto the Skye McIntyre Board (YES she has one) so when one of the girls I follow on Instagram @EatandShop posted a creation I was smitten with,  (I'm always inspired by others, thanks so much Hun for letting me copy you!) I just had to copy it & Skye was happy to me help out she loves a challange.

I love it looks so cool thanks Sis & YES! I finally made onto her board!!!! 

Love Lauren

L'America The Winter Essential LBD

Im suffering from PHB - Post Holiday Blues- after a weeks holiday at the heavenly escape of Hamilton Island, Sunning, Swimming, Eating out every day & Bushwaking (All The Goodies) I have returned home to Sydney, cold & wet "Winter is here baby".

Now its generally not nice to come home from holidays, period BUT it is nice to come home to a parcel waiting. For people who are friends and followers on Instagram know I love to shop at Runway Brooklyn  they have all the most fabulous Australian Designers ( plus today only a huge sale on some AH-Mazing pieces you should check them out),  I am a huge fan of their online boutique always offering quick service and friendliness to their customers. SO when we got home I had a parcel waiting for me which made my mood pick up somewhat know this is going to be my staple dress for winter, the essential LBD by L'America I love this label its is simple, cute comfortable and really easy to style with anything.

My husband Michael took me out for lunch today, I just had to get out of the house I was sick of myself we visited the leafy streets of Annandale, Clover Cafe, the food was tremendous just what I needed (more food) and afterwards I got Michael to snap some pics of my outfit today. He is calling today Black Monday - because Im All Black - Everything ...... I think I am in mourning of my holiday and return to work tomorrow!!

Never-the-less I love LOVE this dress I teamed it with my new Isabel Marant Blossom and Chanel Wallet On Chain, and DKNY leather vest simple and easy!

Have a great (short) week.

Love Lauren xx