REPLAY SIGNATURE SECRET SCENT

I can't believe we are half way through may and almost half way through 2019! Where is the time going?! We have been extra busy with trying to sort out the apartment but I finally have some down time to play with products. Today I want to go through the launch of REPLAY fragrances in Australia. Replay is renown for their innovative fashion - jeans in particular.

Replay was established in 1978 and had expanded to areas such as fashion and jewellery. Replay had most recently created a collection of fragrances to complete their fashion and style portfolio.

This beautiful Signature Secret was created in collaboration with Mavive. A beautiful feminine fragrance with a luxurious finish. This bottle is a work of art on your vanity.

This fragrance is made up of fresh petitgrain and sweet pear with jasmine as it's heart notes. Bottom notes are sealed with white flowers, making this fragrance beautifully fresh, sophisticated and unique. 

I fell in love with Replay the moment I saw it. The bottle and floral artwork was exquisite. A lot of thought was put into this bottle. The perfume lasts for the first half of the day, I am not one to re-spray myself so whatever I leave with in the morning, is it. I have been using a lot of sprays that will only survive for the first hour, so I am pleased. If you are lookig for a longer lasting fragrance, try their Eau De Parfum. You can find more fragrances from Replay here.

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STEP BY STEP MOTHER'S DAY DUMPLINGS WITH GRAMPIANS OLIVE CO

With Mother's Day just around the corner, Grampians Olive Co is being put to good use. I have made several delicious vegetarian recipes using Grampians Olive Co, you can check out my Hearty Bean Recipe  or my String Bean, Corn and Cashew receipe before scrolling down to check out this Mother's Day's deliciousness. 

Dumplings are actually ridiculously easy to make.
You can essentially use any filling you like, just make sure everything is finely chopped... veggies, meat, nuts...whatever tickles your fancy. Add some salt, pepper and a nice dose of Grampians Olive Oil, I went with their Signature Cold Pressed but you can opt for a flavoured Grampians Olive Oil.

We purchased the dumpling sheets from an Asian grocer, have a bowl of water on standby and utilise as glue.

Scoop a generous dollop of your filling mixure and place it in the centre of the sheet.

Dampen the top edge before folding the sheet

Dampen the corners then fold again!

Dampen the sides of the sheet (parts closest to your thumbs) Pull the tips together and press the dampened tips of the sheet on top of each other so they don't become unstuck... and you have your first dumpling!

 Here's a batch we prepared earlier :)

The options are endless, click here to go through the variety of Grampians Olive Oil available for you to chose from!

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EYEXRA - LIGHT FILTERING EYE WEAR + 15% OFF DISCOUNT CODE

When I started working for my current company, I started to experience a huge amount of headaches being almost screen bound 5 days per week. I went to the Optometrist who had recommended a very very low dose of prescription + tint. Ever since I have been wearing my glasses, my headaches have more or less eased. But glasses don't come cheap, I was able to get a raw deal for $99 until I was told the lens tint to add some light filters will be an additional $120. I ended up paying over $200 for a very average metal frame.

This is why I want to talk about EXYRA today.

WHY YOU WOULD WEAR LIGHT FILTERING EYE WEAR

Artificial light (including LEDs, fluorescent bulb and incandescent bulb) can disrupt sleeping patterns. The blue light comprises of wavelengths that range from 400nm-500nm that can be found in your phone, your laptop and energy efficient light. Nowadays, we seem to be subjected to blue light from dawn to dusk as we become more technology bound and working in offices.

"According to a study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, the hypothalamus area of the brain is responsible for regulating sleep patterns and creating the sedative hormone, melatonin. When artificial blue light is received by the retina during times usually associated with rest, the body's natural circadian rhythm becomes confused and unable to distinguish between night and day. In conducted trials, the study found that exposure to blue light supressed melatonin production by almost 85% and instead boosted alpha brainwaves associated with alertness and concentration."

WHY EXYRA?

A lot of companies use a lens coating to reflect harmful blue light. However EXYRA's lens technology is made using a photochromic dye that is used to absorbs and blocks the blue light from entering the retina. EXYRA's lenses are scratch-resistant and offers UVA/UVB protection. The frames are made using durable acetate allowing the glasses to feel lightweight and unobtrusive when worn.

EXYRA glasses are assembled in Brisbane, they provide prescription (single vision lenses only) and non prescription styles. Their stylish blue light glasses retails for $98 (keep an eye out for sales too!).

The style I picked is YARRA/ Honey Tortoise. I've only had 1 pair of prescription glasses in my life, and it's a metal frame. I have only worn it at work when using the computer for almost 2 years. As a result, a slightly thicker frame took a little bit of time to get use to. After a period of wear, it was comfortable and I started to wear it at home when I am on the laptop or using my phone for an extended period of time. When I had my prescription glasses made up it cost me a lot of money for a heavily discounted frame. I am glad that there are  alternative options such as EXYRA to provide quality glasses for less.

If you are interested to check out EXYRA's range head to their website.

DISCOUNT:

15% off storewide for orders over $70, use "lilynotlouise" when checking out.

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YOU NEED SUNGLASSES FROM QUAY AUSTRALIA ASAP!

We have been gifted with rays of sunshine well into Autumn, a few rainy hiccups but we are back on track. My optometrist told me the importance of sunglasses when I went to get my eyes tested, a good pair of sunnies will shelter your eyes from sun damage, UV rays and... FLYING ROCKS! I used to walk around in the sun without sunnies, this was until I noticed a freckle on my eyelid - yes you heard right! Every time I get my skin examined the therapist will tell me about the amount of sun damage around my higher cheekbones and closer to my eyes *sigh*

Since then, I ALWAYS have a pair of sunnies in my bag. For the past few weeks I have Quay Australia's Firefly in my bag without fail. 

Firefly is available in Black/Green, Violet/Pink and Black/Brown (photographed). This is a category 3 pair of sunnies made from both metal and stainless steel. My face is slight square with a bit of a point stemming form my chin... depends on the angle it may also look round or a bit oval (if I don't grind my teeth!). The fit was spot on. The style speaks for itself. I swear it's instant class as soon as you put in on. I can wear the daggiest clothing but once I have Firefly on - the world is my oyster.

Quay Australia stocks some of the coolest and edgiest designs, have a browse through their site and the style/frames will amaze you. If you are like me and struggle to find a pair of sunnies that really shouts at you at the shops, you will LOVE Quay Australia, they think outside the box with their designs.

Love a discount? 

Use "LILYNOTLOUISE20" when checking out from 

https://www.quayaustralia.com.au

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5 THINGS YOU MUST DO IN FIJI + NADI SHOPPING SCAM (BEWARE)

ISLAND TOUR

There are many islands surrounding the main island of Fiji and many tours/cruises you can take to go island hopping. These can usually be booked online before your trip or while you are in Fiji, by your hotel. If you are time poor, do a day tour. We did the Robinson Crusoe Island Day and Night Tour it cost approximately $297AUD per person. It was our biggest spend during our trip but it was worth our while. We were taken on a village tour for a couple of hours and then whisked away to Robinson Crusoe Island where the water was pristine. We were able to see all the fish in calf deep water.


Tour link: https://www.robinsoncrusoeislandfiji.com/tours.html

SNORKELLING

There are so many beautiful reefs in Fiji, it would be a shame if you don't go snorkelling! We went snorkelling in Natadola Beach. There was a reef fairly close by the beach so we didn't need to swim out too much we saw the most beautiful fish, I spotted a clown fish hiding in the reef. It was my first experience snorkelling in Fiji and it was the best decision. Make sure you have your under water cameras ready!


We rented our Snorkelling gear through our hotel for $10FJD per set for the day.

VILLAGE TOUR

A village tour in Fiji is not to be missed. It's a different way of community living. We went on two tours, one to the Sanasana Village and the second one with Robinson Crusoe Tour to Vusama Village.


We went on the Sanasana Village Tour with our hotel staff, it was $15FJD each, half of the profit went directly to the local village which we were really happy about. We were asked to remove our hats and sunglasses when approaching the village, women had to cover their shoulders and knees. The community living is not what we had expected, people lived in a block of land that is owned by the Chief, without fences or power lines. The houses were mostly made from tin or cement, there were no physical doors or windows. Simply squares or a rectangle. We were taken to the Chief's bure and met the chief. The villagers were extremely happy to see us, everyone was shouting Bula! with a huge smile every time they saw us. On our way back, our guide must've told them that he was taking us for a village tour and I assumed that they knew 50% of the profit goes to the village directly so each household greeted us and thanked us. If your hotel offers a local village tour, don't skimp out. It was the most authentic experience we had and knowing 50% of the profit goes directly to the village, it was even better. You will be taken to a place to buy souvenirs. We wanted to support the locals so we made a purchase.

Our Vusama Tour was different, we were able to see the positive impact brought by tourism. Vusama village was a lot more remote than Sanasana however they had a power lines, physical doors and windows, more resources and a church built in the village.

KAVA CEREMONY

Kava is the national drink in Fiji, we were told that people drank several cups per day to help them chill, wind down and relax. Kava drinking comes with a traditional Kava Ceremony. It is often a drink people offered to their guests. Kava is made from root grinded into powder. We went through 2 kava ceremonies. The first ceremony was in Vusama Village with the village chief and it was very formal. The second was in a store in Nadi which I will speak about later.

We experienced a numbing effect, we did not experience any high or sudden relaxation. I think this depends on how much kava you drink.

LOVO

Lovo is a must have when you are in Fiji. It's a traditional cooking method where fish, beef and chicken are wrapped and cooked underground essentially. We experienced this during the Robinson Crusoe tour. I personally found the fish a little bit tough but the chicken, delicious. My partner loved the fish.

NADI SHOPPING + SCAM STORY

This is not such much a do, it's more of a "beware" story. We went to Nadi to check out the town and do some shopping. There were a few tourists wandering around. We were dropped off at Jack's which is one of the most popular souvenir franchise in Fiji. As we walked down the street, several shop owners tried to get us to go into the shop and we did but didn't buy anything. One guy from a shop named "Fijian Souvenirs or Local Souvenirs" who was very charming, very friendly asked us to go into his shop which was all wooden handcrafts. Gave us a spiel about how dodgy non-native Fijians are in Fiji and that we should support local Fijians. We declined and he said "how about I will give you my card so you can come back when you are ready." We stupidly agreed and was lured into the shop for the non-existing card. He started with a Kava ceremony then tried to sell us kava, cigarettes and weed.

Following this he tried to sell a $250FJD  wooden statue to my partner, he claimed that the wooden statues are all locally carved and made - no, we saw the same items at the airport for $16FJD. Luckily we budgeted our shopping trip and only had $100FJD with us.. in which we had already spent $30. My partner declined the item. He tried to push a $150FJD item on my partner. I went over and said we didn't bring much money today and tried to take my partner out of the store. This man strategically placed himself so that he was blocking my partner and the entrance/exist. He kept asking us how much we have, we said not much and that we don't have cards or anything. By this point he was a bit annoyed and told us to go and look at the cheap stuff. Eventually we purchased a turtle necklace for $20FJD. which was still a rip. On our way out he literally forced us to givea donation to the local village into his massive "turtle bowl" we chucked some silver shrapnel into the bowl as it's money we didn't want to take back and left.

An hour after this experience we both started to feel funny in the stomach. I told my partner that I was almost certain that he fed us tap water disguised in a Fiji Spring water bottle. We went and had lunch then I had a full fledged upset tummy 2 hours later. But I was ok once everything came out (sorry TMI!). We were fine for the rest of the trip.

To be honest, this didn't dampen our experience, it was an experience on it's own. I have never seen anyone so pushy before. We still had a great time in Fiji. Bottom line, be careful and try not to get scammed or drink mysterious bottled tap water!

We will be going back to Fiji to do some island hopping in the future

TOP 5 THINGS TO DO IN SLOVENIA

During my trip with Trafalgar, we visited Slovenia, a hidden gem - picturesque scenery, beautiful food and hilarious locals full of sarcasm who will feed you shots of schapps in the morning. Slovenia was my highlight during my trip throughout the former Yugoslavia, mainly because I didn't know what to expect and BAM, serenity. Slovenia is slowly being discovered by tourism so get in quick!

Also important to note that NONE of the photos below are photoshopped or touched up. I had to increase the contrast of the photo above for Lake Bled due to terrible overcast. I hate seeing heavily edited and photo shopped travel photos in blogs cos when I go there, it looks nothing like the photo. So whatever you see below are untouched with natural lighting taken on my Samsung mobile.

Morning Blueberry Schnapp - Top of Mt Vogel

MT VOGEL


We took a cable car to Mount Vogel early in the morning, the mountain is 1922m high (our cable took us to about 1600m) and a part of the Julian Alps. Even though it was Summer in Slovenia, the snow caps were still visible. The view was breathtaking. In case you are curious, skiing is available during winter. There is a paranomic restaurant aligned with the cable stop. We didn't dine there but we sure got a shot of blueberry schnapp (pic above) to help with the chilly breeze up on the alps!

Mt Vogel

LAKE BOHINJ

This is the largest permanent lake in Slovenia, it's a 5 minute drive from Mt Vogel - if you are travelling to Mt Vogel you will pass Lake Bohinj. I didn't see any public transport in this part of Slovenia, so driving or going with a tour is your best bet. We saw lots of camps set up close to the lake. This view is a slice of pure paradise, we spent quite a bit of time here and didn't want to leave. We also saw a lot of trouts swimming in the crystal water.

LAKE BLED 

Our accommodation was in Lake Bled (Park Lake Bled Hotel), heavy overcast on the first day but it quickly cleared up. There were an abundance of tourists sitting by Lake Bled as well as holiday goers from nearby cities/countries. We saw a lot of people sun bathing and swimming by the lake. The lake freezes during winter allowing guests to walk across the lake to explore the medieval bled castle by foot. You will get a grand view of Bled from the castle and bell tower. There is an entry fee.

LJUBLJANA

Ljubljana is the capital city of Slovenia. We strolled around the city and markets, the cafes served baked goods, coffee and sandwiches (all very very affordable). At the market, you will find fresh blooms, fruit and vegetables. There were also a lot of university students in Ljubljana, apparently students make up 1/7th of the city population.  There is public transport in Ljubljana, you can also rent a bicycle to explore the city.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT

The infamous Cream Cake of Lake Bled is readily available around bled - A layer of crispy golden crust, a generous layer of cream followed by another generous layer of custard sitting on a crispy layer of thin buttery dough. It was heaven.We got ours from Restavracija Panorama, just a short walk from Park Bled Hotel. We didn't get time to go to Okarina but it was highly recommended and loved by Paul McCartney.   

The other thing that was mesmorising was their trout. Freshly caught, tender and flavoursome with a side of buttery garlic potatoes and spinach. If you a seafood lover you will love this.

Related Post: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRAFALGAR TOURS

Everything You Need to Know About Sisley Paris Hair Rituel Revatilising Fortifying Serum

Another year, another innovation launched by the prestigious French brand that is internationally recognised - Sisley Paris. The range takes a "global" approach to hair care looking after your scalp and hair fibre for both men and women. There are 6 phenomenal products in this range to create a sensorial experience during your hair care routine.

WHY SCALP TREATMENT?

The scalp is often neglected post-wash with oils applied to the ends of our hair only. Beneath the scalp, the hair is born and grows from the hair bulb which is a living part of the hair that is invisible to the naked eye. Small blood vessels provide nutrients to the bulb for hair growth, protection, shine and suppleness. The way we nourish our scalp and hair follicles can potentially impact the condition of our hair. I personally found it interesting that we are constantly feeding nourishment to the shaft of our hair that does not have any biochemical activity - in a harsher term, the dead ends of our hair. The treatment applied to shaft of your hair is to condition against harsh environmental aggressors. In conclusion, there needs to be an equal focus to treated your follicles and the ends of your hair.

WHAT ARE THE KEY ACTIVE INGREDIENTS OF HAIR RITUEL REVATILISING FORTIFYING SERUM?

• Vitalising-fortifying complex (Zinc, copper, magnesium, vitamin B6, Pro-vitamin B5, Vitamin E derivative) and Arginine (one of the twenty main natural amino acids that make up proteins, particularly keratin) to promote hair vitality. 
• Rice proteins and a Vitamin Peptide (derived from the combination of a peptide made up of 3 amino acids and Vitamin H, known for its action in treating hair loss) to densify hair fibre.
• An extract of Linseed and Einkorn wheat to protect the hair's natural colour
• Soothing Alpha-Bisabolol of natural origin
• An extract of Sage 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAIR RITUEL REVATILISING FORITYING SERUM?

• Creating stronger and denser hair
• Contributing to healthier and stronger, shinier hair 
• Relieves scalp discomfort
• Energises the hair bulb to help keep your hair anchored making it more resistant and protecting your hair's natural colour. 
• Fresh fragrance to complement the effectiveness of the key ingredients

SO HOW DO I USE IT?

Part you hair and use the drop dispenser and apply the droplets directly onto dry or damp scalp. Focus on any areas of hair loss. Massage the oil with your finger tips and use this treatment as an intensive treatment every 2 days for a month, then twice a week for 2 months for maintenance. Do not make contact with your eyes.  

MY 2CENTS

This serum has been split between two households as my mum is a lover of all things Sisley. Since my hair is quite healthy already and I was blessed in the womb with thick glossy jet black hair. I have been relatively conservative in using this serum.. my partner on the other hand wants to bathe his head in the serum. 

There's a bit of a scab on my head and it kept falling off and re-scabbing I can't see it but I can always feel it and it gets itchy. Since using the scalp serum, the scabby patch actually started to heal and the itchiness had stopped. Also wanted to mention that I like to use the serum after I wash my hair.

I've also started to use the serum on my partner who have terrible scalp issues and reported to experience hair loss. I will report back to you guys!

LET'S TALK PRICE

$240 for a bottle of 60ml, let's be honest here - it's not cheap. Sisley Paris as a brand that is established by it's glowing reputation. They do not splurge on celebrity endorsement and put their money into research and science. Personally speaking, there are several luxe brands I will never purchase (especially skincare, I am more open to makeup though) because new products are pumped out with celebrity endorsement. If you are in two minds about purchasing a luxury scalp oil this is something for you to consider. If you are on a budget but looking for an annual or biannual splurge and wanted to try one product from this range - I recommend this scalp serum. If you are happy with what are you are using at the moment and prefer budget items than you can give this product a miss, just make sure you are looking after your scalp! 

WEBSITE
www.sisley-paris.com

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TURN YOUR FATHER'S DAY GOURMET WITH GRAMPIANS OLIVE CO +

Grampians Olive Co is Australia's premium organic extra virgin olive oil company, family owned and based in Victoria. I have loved and praised them in my previous recipe post. After a couple of weeks in Eastern Europe my appreciation for top notch olives, cheese and olive oil grew and was eventually instilled as an everyday staple. We had a bottle of regular olive oil waiting for us upon our return to Sydney and all we wanted was quality extra virgin olive oil. We were told in Eastern Europe that most restaurants will only have extra virgin olive oil (the highest grade and best tasting olive oil) served at the table, lower grade refined olive oil and virgin olive oil are then exported out to other countries. So we should feel very proud and lucky to have high quality extra virgin olive oil at our door step.

In the Sampler Gift Set ($22) you will have the opportunity to trial Grampians Olive Co entire range, including 8 organic oils (Signature Organic, Delicate Organic, Garlic Infused, Truffle Infused, Chili Infused, Tuscan Herbs Infused, Blood Orange, Lemon Pressed and 2 finishing vinegars (Roasted Capsicum and Caramelised Balsamic); comes completed in 10 x adorable 25ml bottles.  

Not sure about you but I find it exceptionally difficult to buy my dad Father's Day gifts... for the past few years it's been scratchies and lotto tickets. I popped over to my folk's place recently and found out they've been using vegetable oil to cook (hmmm..) and to mix in a dressing (WHAT!!!). I whispered to mum, "Extra virgin olive oil this year, there's an Australian brand 'Grampians Olive Co' from Victoria". Mum's eyes lit up!

I promise you, any meal can be gourmet with high quality extra virgin olive oil. Sharing another one of my super delicious vegetarian recipe below using Grampians Olive Co.

TRUFFLE PAN CHARRED GREEN BEANS WITH CORN AND CASHEW

What you need:
- Grampians Olive Co Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Grampians Olive Co Truffle Oil Infused Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 bag of green beans
- 1 cob of corn
- A handful of roasted cashews
- Garlic Salt and Pepper
- A pinch of chili flakes

Let's get cooking!

1. Wash your beans and nip the head and tail of the beans, if the bean is too long, snap them in half.

2. Pour a splash of Grampians Olive Co Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil into a pan on medium heat and let the pan warm up for a couple of minutes.

3. Add your green beans into the pan, warning - it will sizzle!!! You can lift the pan off the fire for a little. Keep tossing the beans around for a few minutes.

4. Add garlic salt, pepper and a pinch of chili flakes, keep tossing the beans and put a lid on the pan to let the green beans cook and char on low heat.

5. While the beans are cooking, put your corn cob in the microwave for 3 minutes (my lazy way!) and cut the corn off the cob with a serrated knife (careful, the cob will be hot, let it rest for a bit before cutting).

6. Add the corn and cashews into the beans, turn the burner off and lightly toss with a cooking utensil.

7. Drizzle Grampians Olive Co Truffle Infused Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil to your fancy and enjoy! Serve with a bed of rice of eat it as a side.

WEBSITEhttps://grampiansoliveco.com.au/

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