happy WEEKEND

REPEAT THIS 10 times... LOL!!!

Have a great 'happy' weekend! x

friday FASHION FAVOURITE #2

I LOVE LOVE LOVE ABI AND JOSEPH ... perfectly cut pilates pants, yoga pants, camisoles with built in support, wrap tops and tee-shirts - Abi and Joseph is not your average activewear range. Perfect for exercising in - or wearing every day - we're talking super comfy and super SUPER stylish!

To check out the entire range - and buy online - visit abi and joseph...

friday FASHION FAVOURITE

HOW CUTE ARE THESE little clutches and purses from

Anthropologie -

gorgeous...

Check out the entire range by clicking here!

wet & DRY

WATER IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE but it isn't always the source of a great haircut, reports Allure mag. Here are differences between a classic wet-cut and a dry-cut so you can choose what's best for your locks...

Try a DRY CUT if:
* A Your hair is long. Women who have long hair and want to keep their length intact should definitely get a dry-cut. Hair shrinks when it's wet, so the amount the stylist is removing might be deceptive.
* Your hair is curly, fine, or wavy. With a dry-cut, the stylist can plainly see what he or she is dealing with, how the hair falls, and where the weight is distributed.
* Your hair is looking weighed down. A dry-cut is the best way to remove weight and add texture without significantly changing the shape of the cut.

Try a WET CUT if:
* You want to try something new. The stylist has more control over wet hair and it's easier to craft an entirely new shape when the hair is holding still.
* You've had several consecutive dry-cuts. A wet cut is necessary once in a while because too many dry-cuts in a row can leave hair stringy. A wet cut is great for freshening and evening up the ends.

product of the WEEK - lanolips

LANOLIPS 101 LIP OINTMENT is a must-have for both your bathroom cabinet and your handbag - read on and you'll understand why...

THE PR BLURB: Unlike your average lip balm or gloss, ‘Lanolips 101 Lip Ointment’ is comprised of 100% ULTRA Medical Grade lanolin which means:
• there are no chemicals or additives
• it’s hypoallergenic
• it’s colour and odour free
• it’s so safe it can be used on the mouths of new-born babies
• It is used in hospitals after surgeries to help open wounds heal
• it is 100% pure, cream of the crop, concentrated and refined lanolin
+ it's SUPER HYDRATING holding up to 200% of its weight in water
• it's suitable for even the most sensitive skin
• lanolin has the lowest sensitivity reaction rate of almost any ingredient
• and it accelerates the repair of damaged skin

BELLAMUMMA'S VERDICT: Love it - the rose coloured version is my fave - and love the fact that it's not just for your lips... you can also use it for: • Dry skin • Nursing nipples • Minor cuts • Eczema • Psoriasis • Minor burns and sunburn • Skin abrasions • Dry cuticles • Cracked heels • 'Chicken' elbow patches • Dry nasal passages from lots of sniffling • Keeping eyebrows in place

For more info - or to buy Lanolips online - visit www.lanolips.com

power NAP

NEED AN ENERGY BOOST DURING THE DAY, try a power nap! Here's what you need to know {if you do have the time!}...

1. Keep it short. Naps can leave you groggy if you let them drag on for an hour or more. Dozing for 15 to 20 minutes is usually enough to recharge.

2. Chill out. If you're thoroughly exhausted but just can't sleep, doctors say that simply relaxing will help boost your energy. Give yourself 15 minutes to lie back and close your eyes. (Set an alarm rather than watching the clock.)

3. See the light. Get yourself back into the world of the living by stepping near a window, going outside for a few minutes, or even simply turning on all the lights in the room. Light tells your body that it's time to be awake.

mid-week MUMMAS

CELEB BELLA- MUMMAS THIS WEEK...

Jennifer, Gwen, Jessica, Angelina {how gorg is her make-up?}

and Victoria...

hot KNOT

TIRED OF THE SAME 'DO', try this easy twisted knot...

1. Mist hair lightly with a volumizing spray, then when your hair is 80 percent dry, flip your head upside down and blast it with heat—the point is to get as much volume as possible.

2. Brush the hair back loosely from the face and collect it at the back of the head. Experiment a little to see where it looks best on you: high, low, or slightly off to one side.

3. Twist the hair into a bun, pinning it in place as you go. (Don't worry about being neat—even the pros love a bun with some visible bobby pins.) The more pins you use, the tighter the bun will be. (If you have very long or thick hair and need more security, slide a large plastic U-shape pin through the centre of the bun first).

4. With your fingertips, gently massage the sides and the top of the head to free up some flyways and create a more rumpled texture. (That's right: flyaways are good.)

5. Mist your fine mess with aerosol hair spray and pack few extra pins in your clutch for the night. You never know what all that dancing will do.

mood BOOSTERS

NEED A LITTLE PEP IN YOUR STEP THIS MONDAY MORNING? Research shows, more than ever, that there are easy ways to boost our mood...

1. Don't dwell. Rumination—whether rehashing things from the past or worrying about the future—worsens and lengthens periods of depression and can make everyday bad moods more intense. Break the bad mood cycle by doing something constructive: Go for a run, get a manicure, play with your dog—and really get into whatever you're doing.

2. Act the part. Anything we do to promote our social relationships is a great way to achieve happiness. Oh, and when you see those friends? Be nice. "If you want to be happy, practice compassion," preaches the Dalai Lama—and a UC Riverside study found that favors as small as doing your roommates dishes can enhance your mood.

3. Get healthy. Exercise that is rhythmic, repetitive, noncompetitive, and involves diaphragmatic breathing (from your belly) yields the biggest mental payoff. Yoga has the additional benefit of increasing levels of GABA (a neurotransmitter associated with happy, calm feelings) and lowering levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. And it turns out that one of the best oral antidepressants doesn't require a prescription: eat monosaturated fats (like avocado, olive oil, and nuts) and oily, cold-water fish (like salmon) three times a week (or take a fish-oil supplement, otherwise known as Omega-3 Fatty Acids). Almost everyone in our society is deficient in fish oil, which has powerful effects on brain function and mood.

4. Buy flowers and play music. Studies show that flowers make us less anxious, less depressed, more compassionate at home, and more enthusiastic at work - while music can affect the pleasure centre of the brain.

5. Be optimistic. Scientists who study positive psychology believe that a little delusion—ie. actually doing a little magical thinking—can actually go a long way toward making us happier, healthier, and far more successful. Studies have also shown that optimism can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, improve immune function, and maybe even lengthen your life.

jools IN RED MAG

JOOLS OLIVER IS IN THE LATEST RED MAGAZINE... inside she revealed: "I'd love to go on Strictly Come Dancing." When the mag asked whether Jamie would mind if she was as famous as he was she said: "I asked him the other day. What if I got a great opportunity?"

"He couldn't stay at home and I wouldn't want a full-time nanny. He said 'we'd have to rethink'. Truth is, Jamie would never change his job - but it was sweet of him to offer."

Jools also confirmed she once danced around the house naked for Jamie - and is completely comfortable with her body now, "I've never felt this good. I like the way I dress, I'm comfortable being who I am. "I'm really comfortable with nudity. That story about me dancing naked for Jamie at Christmas with jingle bells on my boobs - all true!"

To read the whole interview you'll have to grab a copy of December RED mag which is on sale now...

cate IN VOGUE

THE GORGEOUS CATE BLANCHETT IN US VOGUE...

Inside she chatted about career choices and her family - here's a snippet...

On career choices: “I’m not very cautious or careful. It’s always been more about having a variety of experiences than any planned trajectory.”

On her family: “When the boys aren’t playing with friends, they can usually be found playing backstage. ‘They’re always engaged in the family business, so to speak.”

To read the entire interview - and see some more pix taken by Annie Lebowitz - visit www.vogue.com

a little INSPIRATION for the new WEEK

FROM SHANNON FRICKE'S INSPIRING BLOG...
'I think I can, I think I can,' she said to herself, as she sat with her head in her hands, wondering how she would muster the strength to fly again. Her wings had been clipped, you see and she found the sensation of it to be most unsatisfactory. It's just that, she loved chasing butterflies. They are colourful and so, so free, the way they dart and prance against the baby blue of the springtime sky. They make her heart soar with a sense of possibility. And this makes her happy. And she loves to be happy. 'Yes, I think I can', she said to herself. And with that she spread her wings, looked to the sky - and smiled...