Don’t miss this opportunity to pick up a couple of summer essentials before you leave to go on holiday.  Two days only this Friday and Saturday VIP card holders sale at Sussans. stores.

Great chance to pick up any pressies still left on your list.  When I was there the other day I picked up some War birds mugs for Granddad and a Warbirds BBQ apron which is very cool.  They stock Maxwell Williams and there’s always good stocking fillers in that range.  A set of knives can never go a miss for those who have everything.

Make your list, check it twice and I might just see you there.

Something exciting is happening in Wellington next year. An event just for women.

This is my exciting new venture and I am so excited to be finally able to tell you about it.

The New Zealand Women’s Conference is confirmed for Saturday 28th May 2011 at the  Hotel Intercontinental for Women about Women to Inspire, Empower and Challenge them to live their best lives.

Get top tips from experts in their field, gain insight and inspiration on how they have succeeded. What were their highs and their lows. 

Hear from some of our amazing trailblazers talk about their lives, how they have achieved their success. Learn form the experts on everlasting weight loss, start a new business or land that dream job.   How to declutter your life to reduce your stress and setting goals you can actually stick too.  All this and more at one event just for you.

Check in regularly for all this and more each month here at www.womensconference.co.nz

We will be updating the website with new speakers and more information on our fantastic Conference which will be held next year on Saturday 28th May 2011 at the Hotel Intercontinental.  Tickets are on sale now so reserve your seat, numbers are limited, so get in early.

Email info@womensconference.co.nz  for tickets and receive the early bird offer available till Christmas.   

There’s a monthly newsletter to keep you informed of all the latest developments so don’t forget to sign up.

This is the ‘must attend event’ for Women in 2011.

You see when I tell you all what exciting new things I have found lately, he knows too.  But it’s ok because to help you all out, I will take one for the team.

Now this particular great find of mine is a double whammy, whilst it’s a tale of a great find, it’s also a tale of great loss.  My loss in fact and yes I do wish I was talking about weight, but instead it’s my GHDs.  I bought a pair of them about five years ago and they were lovely.  Didn’t get much better really, did a great job and, given I only used them about 4 times, were in a pretty much near new condition.

Here’s a hot tip, straighteners don’t work on fine hair.  Not a lot of point of straightening fine hair it only makes you look like you have a whole pile less.  So in the cupboard they stayed.

So, what’s the problem?

Well I lost them, can’t find them, disappeared, gone for forever and yes, you guessed it, I have no clue where they went.  Now the problem is that I have a daughter that has the most beautiful thick hair, which she would like to have straightened on a regular basis and no straighteners.

I do want to say in my defence that I have resisted this temptation before now to replace them.  Lets face it, GHD have brought out Gold ones, Black ones with swirls on them and lots more.  But their latest range really got me.  Oh my stars they are gorgeous.

Their latest limited edition rainbow coloured collection are to die for.  My daughters are going to love them.

There is Purple Indulgence, my choice, Red lust, Blue Serenity and Green with Envy.  We all know these are the best on the market, so I am sure the colour makes them even better.

In store now, don’t miss out as they are for a limited time only.

How did I go with justifying them?  Think I will get away with it at home?  Wish me luck.

Available:  Selected Hair Salons

Price:  $369.00  but I did hunt around on the web and found them for $339.48 (8% off) on

www.hairproductsonline.co.nz

So it arrived and I was so excited.  The book is titled US, ‘Transforming Ourselves and the Relationships that Matter the Most.’  I pretty much sat down and started to read, I wanted to know what she thought was the answer on how to live a great life.  She of all people would know, she’s married to Americas Dr Oz.  It’ like finding a secret path to the Holy Grail.  Or is it?

I guess we should never assume things then should we, which is precisely why I am here at thia point writing this.  I am here for you, to sift out all the rubbish and to help you make better buying decisions.  I wonder if I can swing that one past my husband, it was research and I needed it straight away.

I couldn’t have been more disappointed reading this book.  Really like I said at the start, I was certain she would be great to listen too.  You see when they put confusing statements on the inside cover alarm bells start to ring.  I love this one “The key to real and lasting change lies somewhere between what you know and what you do.  It’s what you think.”   Ok so what on earth does that mean, I hate these sort of statements that fluff around the facts.  What is she trying to say?  Why can’t she just say ‘The real key to lasting change lies with what you think”  see much easier.

So unfortunately most of the book seems to follow along those lines and if you concentrate  hard you will find the odd piece of good advice that pops out.  But most of it is hard to read, she uses words I haven’t even heard of and I require the dictionary to know their meaning.  This hardly smacks of a book for the masses, which really is a shame as it could have been so mush better.  I found her advice hard to understand and not memorable either.

So in a nutshell, don’t bother with this one if you are looking for a good self book look somewhere else.

Available:  All leading bookstores

Price:$34.95

For those of you lucky enough to live in Auckland, this could be worth checking out.

This Nest Sale looks like it would be worth going to, 30% off is a decent discount.  Be  in quick, the good stuff wont last.

PRIVATE SALE: FOR nest VIP CUSTOMERS ONLY
30% off Everything in Store
(And up to 50% off many items)
4 DAYS ONLY
WEDNESDAY 26TH MAY TO SATURDAY 29TH MAY
Starts 9am Wednesday at the following nest stores:
Auckland: Nuffield St, Ponsonby, Takapuna
Wellington: Woodward St
Christchurch: Merivale Mall

This offer excludes already discounted items and cannot be used to purchase gift cards. This offer is for items in stock only and cannot be redeemed against a prior purchase.  This offer is not available for web orders or at stores not listed above.

A long time ago I read an article about a women in the States who was trialling this new Lash Serum that was designed to increase your lashes, make them thicker and grow at a faster rate then normal.  I thought how exciting at the time, I have always longed for big beautiful eye lashes to make my eyes stand out more.  I have to create this by using Mascara and we all know that can be hit and miss until you find a really good one.

So I have always wondered how long it was going to take for someone to come up with a reasonably priced one and now they have.  L’Oreal is one of the first cosmetic houses to launch their new Renewal Serum Inside Mascara and I have to say you wont be disappointed.   I love it.  I am a big fan already of their Beauty Tubes Mascara so I was thrilled to see they have launched this on a similar style with the Lash Serum at one end and the Mascara at the other.

Double Extension claims you will have visibly more lashes, plus they will be 80% longer in just 4 weeks.  The Serum is an intensive gel, enriched with essential nutrients to help repair, fortify and strengthen the lashes.  The theory behind this is that it extends the the length of time before your lashes fall out so there are more there than before.

Now if only they could invent this to help the hair on my head and I would be ecstatic.

I don’t know about you but that sounds great doesn’t it.  So I am going to trial it.  I want to know if this really does work.  I going to use it on my eyes and not my head, tempting as that may be.

You can also buy the Serum which you apply to clean lashes at night as well to make this more effective, which of course I have bought. Then you use the other one underneath your Mascara during the day.  Double the dose.

But all that aside even if it doesn’t live up to it’s claims its still a fantastic Mascara.  It’s as good as the Beauty Tubes if not better and acts as a treatment all day long.

I will keep you posted as to how I get on with my trial to see if it works, but I can still recommend it as a Mascara anyway.  I always love the idea of using a primer first, Mascara second and this really is good. 

Give a it go and I always find that L’Oreal is reasonably priced and good value for money.

It’s getting rave reviews.  Some are claiming this is better than eyelash extensions and I’m not surprised as my lovely friend commented the other night, she thought I had had eyelash extensions put in.  No not me, it’s just my new Mascara.

To help make sure there is no clumping when you apply your Mascara, make sure that you apply the Mascara while the Serum is still damp.

Available:All L’Oreal stockists Farmers, Pharmacies, Selected Supermarkets

Price:$33.95

Stevens are offering you a fabulous opportunity to set up your own MasterChef kitchen at home with this special offer!

Celebrate the winner of MasterChef with a HUGE 30% off everything instore* for ONE DAY ONLY!!

* Excludes already reduced items, online orders, special orders and the purchase of Gift Cards.
  Not available in conjunction with any other offer. Not available at Stevens Outlet Store.

For that special Mum on Mothers day,  why not try the gorgeous Mums the Word package at East Day Spa.

East Foot Ritual
60 minute Signature Massage
15 minute Scalp Massage or
15 minute Reflexology

90 minutes of relaxation for $140.00

Now doesn’t that sound heavenly.  This is a complete indulgence for that special Mum.  You can either phone, visit one of their Spas or simply buy it online and it will come packaged up ready for you to gift away.  Won’t you be the clever one with this gift.

I particularly like East Day Spa as they have a relaxation room which you can spend time in chilling out before and after your treatments. Its also a great place to visit with girlfriends as you can have treatments together.

Available:East Day Spa Thorndon, Wellington                                 Price:$140.00

N.B  It appears that this offer is exclusive to the Wellington Spa, but there are offers at their other locations as well.  Check them out on www.eastdayspa.com