'don't get catty' Sally Hansen Salon Effects

I am in LOVE with Sally Hansen Salon Effects! Thought I should post up the easy peasy, prett,y no drying time, last for 10 days with two kids manicures I do with them!


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Jamie Oliver Tefal Pan

I'm not sure that I have ever blogged about a pan before, but this pan is the shiz! I cook, 5 nights a week, plus a couple hot breakfasts and lunches here and there, I'm not an amazing chef, but I love cooking, chopping, trying new recipes (1-2 new recipe a week)... I rely heavily on my tools in the kitchen, so when I saw this pan on sale I snapped it up... That was almost a year ago!

Then I was pregnant and had a new baby and just didn't get the time or flexibility to try my new pan... Didn't want a dodgy meal if it wasn't so great, so stuck with what I knew, inferior pans that I have had since we got back from England (6 years ago)...

Fast forward to brunch 2 weeks ago, we had a few friends over and I was cooking a full English breakfast for all, I needed all 5 jets on the stove and needed an extra pan for eggs... I whipped out this baby and cooked some good eggs, non stick, no oil - delicious eggs!!! One of our guests commented that those pans are the shit and he was right! Have used it loads in the past two weeks as well as purchasing replacement ones for my other sized pans!

If you love to cook and are in the market for new pans, you must buy one, just to try, you won't look back!

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Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

The last in The Hunger Games Trilogy, I read it in a day... As I have said before, these are easy reads, no brainpower required... This story is much more about the war that the first two stories lead to, so it has played on my mind a bit... A great ending to a great trilogy... I would definitely encourage teenagers, the desired audience, to read it... It speaks to me as I continue to rally to equal rights, as a reminder of all of the basic human rights that we do have...



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Bad Teacher Film Review

Bad Teacher
Even if you have an hour and a half to kill, please don't do this! I know that there is something better for you to do...
Not even Jason Segel can save this movie... It's short but is so tedious it feels about 30 minutes longer than it is... Not funny... Not endearing... Not anything... BOO!

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Breaking Dawn part 1 review

Breaking Dawn part 1



I was lucky enough to go to the movies twice in two weeks, unheard of since having two babies!

Cricket and I went on a date to catch the 4th film in the Twilight franchise... I love these books and the last two films for the cheesefest that they are, I'm not looking for a deep cinematic experience... And I got what I paid for, two hours of solid entertainment, some beautiful cinematography, and a very pg version on what should have been rough sex and bloody labour... In all if you are thinking about it, do it... Best of the franchise so far...

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Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

A perfect sequel to The Hunger Games... Starting where we left off on the return of Katniss to District 12... Following her on her journey against the leaders, her confusion at her feelings for the men in her life, and then her entry back into the arena... Edge of your seat stuff, I read this in a day at the same time as looking after two kids (I call it the sneaky read)... Great for all of the reasons that the first one was, and then some!

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The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins review

As you may have noticed, since getting back from our trip to London and purchasing my kindle, I have been doing a lot of reading... Mostly of the True Blood Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries, then Game of Thrones Songs of Ice and Fire series, and although I wanted to go with something a bit more relaxed and cheesy, I started The Hunger Games trilogy... One of my good mates was reading and suggested I did too! Glad she did because I really enjoyed this book...

First point which I feel really sets you up for the trilogy is that this is a teenage book, not meant for the meticulous minds of adults, this is perfect for me right now after the heavy stories of the last 5 books I have read... This means that it's an easy read, easily digested without too much brainpower... However the message of this story is much more political, and I like it... The biggest thing I got out of it was a reminder of how lucky we are to have our (in most cases) freedom, our government may be effed up, but for the most part we are free to live our lives as we choose in Australia...

The characters are endearing, the story although reminiscent of Battle Royal in the arena, feels original and I would be more then happy for my kids to be reading books like this when they are teenagers... The concept of questioning authority is a good one... You will be sold on Katniss, our heroine, and her story, couldn't wait to start Catching Fire, the next book in the trilogy!!!

Looking forward to seeing the film!

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A Dance with Dragons (songs of fire and ice, game of thrones) review

A Dance With Dragons
George R R Martin

Having read all of the Songs of Fire and Ice series in succession, I was excited and nervous to read this one... Excited because at the end of every book you just want more, nervous because I don't know when the next one will be released... I have completely enveloped myself into these books, they have kept me satisfied and obsessed for a couple months... I must say that the first half of this book (5) was almost boring... I couldn't get in to it, when 4 was amazing, it just felt slower then slow... At the halfway mark things picked up, the reason I think is because 4 & 5 were like one story split up and divided by the characters, halfway everyone was back in the story and it felt like a carefully woven story again... So inevitably it ended leaving me hungry for more and I have no idea when these characters will be back in my life! Read it! Read them all! Watch it! Season 2 starts April 1...



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The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle Book Review

This book is called a classic for a reason... I remember it fondly from my childhood, so when I got pregnant with Marley, I went out and bought the big board book with the little caterpillar that can be moved through the holes of the fruit etc... I was surprised that Marley enjoyed it from a very young age, and still does... I read it 5 times before lunch the other day and the beauty of it is that there is something in it for everyone, Marley is enjoying counting the fruit, Mace is enjoying learning about what the foods in it are called, and they both love when the caterpillar turns into a butterfly and I flap the wings/book away... If you invest $30 in one book for your kid/s, this is my most recommended choice!


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Alvin and the Chipmunks Chipwrecked

As a parent, sometimes you have to do things that you don't want to do... This was one of those things...

When we saw The Fairies Christmas Ballet Film, there was a trailer of this chipmunks movie... Marley was in hysterics and I knew immediately that we would be seeing it... And so we did...

I must admit that it wasn't as bad as I expected, but my expectations were pretty low! It ticked the boxes for Marley, it was funny and cute, with songs... There isn't much to it, there isn't any reason to see it, unless you have a kid that wants to... I loved the chipmunks when I was a kid and it did bring back some memories of my youth, it was just unfortunate that they didn't keep the theme song! Highlight: the Chipettes singing 'I whip my tail back and forth', but that's on the trailer!


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Dexter season 6

I am a big fan of Dexter... So none of this is meant awfully, because overall I enjoyed season 6... It just wasn't as breathtaking as season 5, or 4, or anything until now... But that doesn't mean it was bad, mostly it felt like there was a whole lot of setting up for next season, right up to that very last scene... I don't feel fulfilled and satisfied by this season as I have in past, but I sure as hell can't wait for next season!!!




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Christmas Day...

You really can't imagine how magical Christmas is with a toddler until you have one! Marley is 2 and 9 months and has been extremely excited about Christmas, all about listening to and singing carols and making gingerbread... From the get go she wanted one thing from Santa and that was a triangle, the instrument... I don't even know how she knows that they exist, but hey... I encouraged her to think about other things she might like, she came up with Fairy Bells from the fairies, and music in her room (it just do happens we had bought her a boom box/iPod dock for her room), definitely a theme here... She has talked loads about getting a fish called 'Squeaky' so Santa brought her one of those two amongst loads of other gifts!
She put out snacks and drinks for Santa and Rudolph the night before and surprisingly went off to sleep with no issue (she is usually awesome at going to bed, but I thought the excitement might be too much!) after a delicious dinner with the family... In the morning she was beyond excited, the only downside was that she had so many presents that she barely noticed each individual one until later on the day... I was impressed with my gifts too!
We shared the cooking for 8, had a delicious traditional roast with pav for dessert, couldn't fit in the pudding and custard... I ate far too much and couldn't even fit in dinner!
The weather was warm and stormy... The beautiful thing about mums garden is that half of it is more like an extension of her lounge area, under cover with a lounge, tables and chairs, so we spent most of the day outside... Lovely to spend the day with our family, delicious food, thoughtful gifts and by the end I was do exhausted I could barely speak... Cuddled up with Mark and watched Inbetweeners The Film again, perfect light hearted laughs to finish off a big, big day!























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Ikea Christmas lights

Not a great picture, but you get the idea! Super cute stick on snowflake lights from Ikea, great value at $5! Already with 30% off... Looks like everywhere are doing their Christmas sales before Christmas has begun... Went past Bed Bath and Table today and their decorations were already 50% off, they had some lovely stuff too!




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Game of Thrones: Songs of Fire and Ice George RR Martin

Game of Thrones
Holy moly, first things first, if you haven’t watched the show DO IT! And then read the books, or the other way round, whichever... The show is so true to the book it really doesn’t matter which way you do it, just do...
The books are a huge commitment, thousands and thousands of pages, but completely engulfing... Definitely not my usual genre, but the characters absolutely have me... Am start of book four right now, while I know I still have many hours of reading ahead, I am starting to wonder how I am going to manage without these characters, or even if there will be any left by the end!!!






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Melbourne Victory Fan Fest at Luna Park

We went to MVFC fan fest at Luna Park 2 years ago and loved it... It changed to being a look at AAMI park last year, but back again this year! We were pretty excited, it always restores faith in the team to feel like you are in it with them... Marley was looking forward to the carousel and meeting Archie Thompson, she only got to do the latter as the carousel was closed, then she got so shy around Archie - hilarious... But now she has a picture to keep forever of arguably the best a-league player thus far!

I must admit I liked the set up better last time, the players out with us, people watching, milling around... This time you had to queue to get upstairs, get autographs and get out, so only one of us to go (pram factor), it was ME!!! Yayayay!!! Interesting that Mehmet and Muscy weren't with the players for autographs...

The TAC stand was good fun for Marley, playing a ball game... We went on the elephant ride, saw Santa, and ate some curly fries... Loved seeing all of the fans that made it out, even with the threatening weather... Was definitely worth the trip, we were all exhausted by the time we got in!


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Sunday Morning at Max Brenner

Max Brenner has become a guilty pleasure since my friend Leigh reminded me it was there... So Sunday morning we went to indulge my waffle craving... Their waffles are AWESOME! Mark had their chocolate crunch pizza, which was too much for one person... My waffles and fruit for two fed Marley, Mace (fruit only) and me, delicious! Marley and Mark read a tattoo mag while we waited, always a long wait there!!! But always worth it... If you only have time for a drink, their banana chocolate frappe is divine...








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Jingle Bells from Bed Bath and Table

These are just too cute! Stars made up from loads of tiny bells... Good fun as a Marley sized instrument and beautiful hanging about the house! They come in different sizes, we got a couple and hung them on the stairs between the kids Christmas stockings...


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Foo Fighters at AAMI Park Review

Foo Fighters

The first ever gig at AAMI park... I must say as a venue for a gig it was awesome, loved being under the stars! As a Melbourne Victory supporter I was concerned about the pitch, I guess time will tell just how much damage all the drunkards in general admission did it to, and there were plenty... Leaving the venue my shoes were sticking to the floor, thought I was going to lose them, yuck!

The Foo Fighters have been a favourite band of mine since their inception, I have seen them loads of times and they have never failed to impress me... I am completely enamoured with Dave Grohl... The band came through with a great set, but, yes there is a but, it is probably the worst set list I have heard from them... Still good though, still an awesome show, still will continue to see them live... Just thought that there last show was better, felt like they tried to mix it up a bit too much and there was a little to much jamming and lulls (this was made up by our truly awesome seats, 6 rows back, at the front right)... Most of all he made us hang for the best part monkey wrench, kinda blowing the track for me, and it is in my top 3 Foo Fighters tracks, so that sucked...

The other thing was that Pat looked like he wasn't well? Sick, or stressed, or sad? By the end he seemed a little happier, but I was genuinely worried about him...

For all of that, these guys put on a damn good, loud, long show, with such an impressive catalog of music they always bring it! They are a tight unit performing, charismatic, funny and make it feel personal... Was a great girls night out with my best friend, who is leaving me... Love the Foo Fighters!!!



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Decorate the Christmas tree!

Decorate the Christmas tree!

We got an awesome deal through xmastrees.net.au who deliver your fresh tree to your house, all ready to go in the stand... When Christmas is over they come and take it away and dispose of it for you! Awesome!

The tree itself is pristine, packed full of branches... Really deluxe tree, I think I would go as far as paying full price next year!

Marley woke up to the sight of her Christmas tree and insisted we decorate it, and so we did!










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The Wiggles Big Birthday In The Big Tent Flemington Racecourse Review

The Wiggles Big Birthday In The Big Tent Flemington Racecourse

We booked these tickets what feels like forever ago... We were lucky to get in the Hot Potato section only 8 rows from the front...

The parking queue was a nightmare, the toilet queue was a nightmare, taking 20 minutes the. 15 minutes respectively, so we dashed to our seats with 2 minutes to spare! And waited 20 for them to start... I was pretty disappointed with this as there was an extensive merch stand and other things to do in the tent and we didn't get time to cruise it pre show because of the time constraint... I can see why, the parking situation was crappy, but sitting and waiting with a 2 year old is not a good time...

Once the show started, The Wiggles won me over! I was surprised that it felt so personal, even though we were up close there really wasn't a bad seat on the house... A good range of songs, comedy, dancing, it was over an hour of proper, professional, entertainment... Marley LOVED it! Dorothy the dinosaur was her highlight, but every time anyone came out, she got very excited...

On our way out we grabbed some merch, and ran to the car to get out before the traffic inevitable traffic jam started again!


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