What's In My NEW Planner - 2014/2015 Edition



Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about the new planner and stationary collection from Target (Australia). The Molli & Mimi range is becoming a hit with stationary geeks across the country. Last week I managed to pick up one of their featured 2015 padded planner's. So I thought I would post a mini review.

Top 5 Tips For Getting Beautiful Skin This Summer *


One of the biggest beauty trends for this summer is fresh, glowing skin with minimal makeup. Put your best face forward with the help of skin expert and Brand Manager for Nad's, Natalie Ismiel, who fills us in on her Top 5 Tips for Getting Beautiful Skin from head to toe this summer.

'Little Black Book' - Filofax Finsbury Mini



I was lucky enough to get my hand on the Finsbury Grained Leather Mini Organiser. I prefer the leathers to synthetic leather ones, and I as I usually go for bold colours I went for a classic black this time.

With it being so small (the mini) there’s only so much you can do with it but it does force you to only include the most important things in there!

Halloween Decor Inspiration


Spooky is my middle name!


If you saw my post earlier today you’ll know that I have Halloween on the brain.

What can I say? It’s one of my favourite holidays and I become giddy just thinking about this fun holiday. More than the decor I love that Halloween marks the beginning of “the holidays” and it’s my favourite time of year. Don’t you just love all the fun celebrations, weather, food, decor and feelings associated with this time of year? I know I do!

Today I wanted to share with you some Halloween Decor Ideas that will be perfect for your home to celebrate Halloween with - this year or next.

Yankee Candle 'Ocean Star ' Review *


Ocean Star™ 

Soothing and fresh … the scent of peaceful, sun-kissed waters laced with aloe, citrus and lotus blossom. Dive in!


About Yankee Candle™ - Our candles are made from premium grade paraffin and infused with the finest quality ingredients that deliver "true-to-life" scents. Each wick is hand striaghtened to ensure the best burn possible. SOURCE

This Yankee Candle 'Ocean Star' offers such a light, fresh scent and I love the shade of blue. According to Yankee Candle, it features sun-kissed waters laced with aloe, citrus and lotus blossom.” Sounds good to me! What I love about their candles are they make a great addition to your home decor, perfect gifts for the hostess of a party, thank you or birthday gifts, Valentine’s Day or holiday presents…the list goes on! And they come in all shapes and sizes nowadays. Good news – Yankee Candle has a candle for you too!

Sally Hansen - Spring Racing Shades



Today I have a little sneak peak of two of the ‘soon to be released’ Spring Racing polishes from Sally Hansen!



There are seven Spring Racing inspired shades which are perfect for the warmer weather here in Australia. Sally Hansen have also designed a new brush for better application. It is rounded to fit the curve of your cuticles and is shaped to hug the contours of your nails. Today I'll be showing you two shades from the Sally Hansen Spring Racing 2014 collection.

Introducing BLOG DIRECTORY Facebook Page!


Promote your blog or website here!



Your #1 place to advertise your personal blog or website. Come and join our growing community. LIKE, SHARE and advertise today!

Blog Directory is a brand-new Facebook page (created by myself, Tayla Divitini) that specialises in promoting blogs and websites. Anyone who owns a blog/website can post on this page. Even if you do not have a blog/website of your own, you are more than welcome to promote other sites of interest. 

This service is 100% FREE. 
GET IN TODAY to promote your blog or website!

To view the Blog Directory Facebook page click here.
To join the Blog Directory Group (and start promoting) click here.

Yankee Candle 'Salted Caramel ' Review *



"Sweet surrender is yours with our luscious gourmand confection of burnt sugar, sea salt, and smooth vanilla caramel"



Sweet surrender is yours with our luscious gourmand confection of burnt sugar, sea salt, and smooth vanilla caramel. Like the sweet treat itself, this is a pleasure best savoured slowly. Lighting the candle signals you are going to take the time to enjoy its deliciousness. This fragrance perfectly captures the scent of sweet salted caramel - golden and buttery. You can even smell the salt. SOURCE

There is nothing more relaxing on an chilly evening than snuggling on the sofa with cup of tea and a candle burning in the background. Food scented candles are delicious during any month of the year. Especially sweet and indulgent fragrances. My latest Salted Caramel Yankee Candle purchase was a must!

This candle has a sticky sweet scent that fills the whole room and lingers for hours even after you have finished burning. Of course it has a delicious caramel fragrance with hints of vanilla to it. Some sweet candles are just too overpoweringly sickly but Yankee Candle have managed to give this fragrance depth.

Salted Caramel may not be to everyone's taste, but if you love rich warm and yummy fragrances then you should definitely check this one out! I can't wait to try some of their Christmas scents soon.

Yankee Candle Salted Caramel can be purchased from their website, and start from as little as $1.99! The jar featured in this post is the medium jar for $24.99. 

Click here to be directed to the Yankee Candle website.


What are your favourite Autumn fragrances? I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Lavazza Coffee Machine Review*


The easiest way to Italy


Every morning deserves an excellent authentic Italian coffee. Actually so does every lunchbreak, evening, weekend. But getting that authentic Italian coffee experience at home has been difficult. Thanks to the Lavazza 'A Modo Mio' system by Electrolux - that is no longer an obstacle.

Design & Installation
The Lavazza A Modo Mio Premium Mio capsule coffee machine is slick and beautiful. It’s small enough to be neatly tucked away but also beautiful enough to be the centerpiece in the kitchen. There is little set up required – essentially just removing the packaging, filling the water jug and plugging the machine is enough to get you started. The instructions are included but are not needed.

Operation
The best products are those which you can use simply and effortlessly. The Lavazza A Modo Mio capsule coffee machine is one of those products. By turning the machine on, two LED lights illuminate where the cup should sit with the machine button lights flashing. Once the button lights have stopped flashing, it’s simply a matter of putting the capsule in the machine and pressing the cup button on the top left hand side of the machine. You can choose to have the coffee served as ristretto (short) or long.

Pods
The Lavazza capsules are true to their flavour, with the tasting notes identifiable as per their trademark taste. There is a large selection of pods to try with different flavours and strength. The machine comes with a sample box – from the strongest (a high percentage of Arabica) to the decaf blend. The pods are reasonably priced around $12 – $13 mark per pack of 16 capsules. If you’re in the market to have a real strong coffee with fantastic consistency, this machine is for you.



Cost
The Lavazza A Modo Mio Premium Mio capsule coffee machine I was provided with retails at $199.99. This model came with a separate milk frother. If black coffee is your drink of choice, you can save yourself a few dollars by buying the model without the frother (retailing at $99.90). 





My top three flavour recommendations


A Modo Mio Favola is compact in size and comes in a variety of colours. All models are equipped with a steam/hot water spout to be able to prepare a cappuccino or latte macchiato.

There is a wide range of capsules for every taste. A Modo Mio comes in eight carefully selected coffee blends, from the delicately Dolcemente to the intensive and full-bodied Divinamente. A Modo Mio  machines and capsules are available in select stores and from the Lavazza A Modo Mio homepage.
 

First Impressions - Yankee Candle 'Snowflake Cookie'



If you know me, you'll know I'm a big fan of scented candles. I don't think there is anything better than the scent of a pretty candle wafting through the air, and this time of year is perfect for stocking up on all your favourites. I love nothing more than curling up with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book on these chilly winter nights, lighting a scented candle and feeling all my worries float away.

So, when I spotted this gorgeous 'Christmas themed' Yankee Candle from my local newsagent, you can imagine my delight. I chose the one scent I have always lusted after, Snowflake Cookie. Yankee is the king of Christmas candles so it felt only right to give this one a try.

Yankee Candle Snowflake Cookie is a scented candle that features notes of holiday cookies and sugary pink icing. The candle provides a long-lasting fragrance from beginning to end and burns completely. It has been formulated with fine ingredients that include pure and natural fragrance extracts, and features a custom blended wax formulation to ensure the optimum melting point and ability to hold fragrance oil.

RRP: $49.95 / $39.95 / $22.50 / $4.95 / $17.50 / $4.50
Pack size: Large Jar (623g) / Medium Jar (411g) / Small Jar (104g) / Sampler (49g) / Tealights (12 pack) / Tart Wax




Are you a fan of Yankee Candles? Let me know which scents I need to try! 

Money-Saving Makeup Tips




Certain beauty products are extremely expensive and can end up burning a huge hole in your product. The truth is, you can still make yourself look and feel a million dollars without punishing your bank balance. Read on to find out a few tips that could assist you in getting more bang for your buck.

Tip #1 - To prevent compacts from breaking in your bag, put a cotton ball or round inside.

Tip #2 - Pumping the wand traps air inside and makes the mascara dry out faster. Instead, spin the brush to get rid of clumps.

Tip #3 - Fix broken or smashed lipstick by heating it quickly with a match or hairdryer.

Tip #4 - Save money on liquid foundation by applying with a brush instead of a sponge.

Tip #5 - Keep an eye out for blog sales from beauty bloggers.





What are your tips for saving money on makeup and other beauty products?

How To: Blog Graphics



So, as you might have guessed, I’m a little OCD when it comes to my post graphics. However, you don’t have to be super OCD like me to create a style guide and keep your graphics consistent. Here are a few considerations:


Set your standards

Consider setting standards for the type of images, and possibly even the number, you choose to feature, and how you credit them, or how you edit your photos if you use original photography. Consider how you will credit your images. Remember, Pinterest and Tumblr are not sources. 

Will you list credits as numbers at the bottom of your post? Or spell out the source directly underneath the photo? I personally prefer to spell out the source to encourage people to go to the original. If you use original photos, consider editing them the same way for consistency.

Keep it consistent

Making your images one consistent width (preferably the width of your content) is the quickest, easiest way to make a statement with your graphics. You don’t even need fancy software. Simply drag your photo into iPiccy and resize.

If you choose to do nothing else with your graphics, try this. Scroll down any blog with consistent width photos, and you will see just how much of an impact it makes. It can take a blog from scrapbook to editorial. In fact, if you have really great original photography or a fantastic eye for images, you can probably stop here and call it a day.


A little goes a long way 

Post graphics are a great place to mix in another font or two beyond what’s in the rest of your blog design, but don’t go crazy. I think a good starting point is something for titles, something for subtitles or less important text, and a fun accent. 

You don’t have to use every font in your overall blog design, but pick at least one of them for consistency, and make sure anything you add has a similar look and feel. Also consider using different weights and styles of your blog design fonts.

Keep it real

Photos and graphics can be a great way to experiment and evolve your brand with little impact or commitment, so bend the rules if you need to. What are some ways you’ve established a style guide for your graphics?


Zoutons - Coupon Website Review*

"The Loot is On!"

Found the perfect dress, check! Discovered its your size, check! Check the price tag, oh dang it...
This scenario is all to common when it comes to shopping in-store. The price is often the reason for you sadly placing your desired item back on the shelf/rack. That's why finding a great deal online always manages to put that cheesy smile back on your face.

Personally, I love websites that offer a wide range of different products. From fashion, to makeup, to electronic devices and food. Because don't we all like to stuff our faces while we impulsively buy unnecessary products online, or is that just me? That's why the following website has caught my eye.



Zoutons.com is a coupons and deal aggregation platform with the tagline “The Loot is on”, helping online shoppers and deal hunters to locate latest coupons and offers from a vast pool of online retailers, banks & brands.

The site is incredibly easy to use. You will be able to purchase your product in a matter of seconds. Below is the the simple 4-step process:
  1. Select the deal you want to redeem
  2. Click on ‘Activate the deal’ button. This will direct you to the website where you want to redeem the coupon. 
  3. Choose your product and checkout the cart 
  4. Now, just apply the coupon code and you're done!

Upon searching the site myself, I came across a few incredible deals, to good too miss! They are listed below:


Top categories


Top stores


Top brands






Finally to sum up, There are sites that sell cheap products at high price to customers, and many deals sites are highlighting and promoting those products for huge commission without shame. I find Zoutons to be trustworthy, leaving customers happy to continue shopping with ease. Overall, a great coupon site. One small suggestion for improvement would be to introduce a newsletter to receive coupons to our email inbox.

Like I said earlier, the whole process is incredibly simple. The Loot is On, so why not check out Zoutons today.

Find Zoutons on... 




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Top Fashion & Beauty Steals 2014*



Like many other shopaholics out there, I love to discover new brands and products on a budget. I mean, why pay full price when you can get a discount? That's why I try to be as savvy as possible when it comes to online shopping.

Recently, I came across an Australian website offering a world of savings, including, thousands of fashion, beauty, giftware, electronics and travel discounts. Plus other deals such as restaurant coupons, cheap hotel stays and flights, insurance deals and discounted movie tickets. This website is called CupoNation. Offering discount codes from popular  international stores such as ASOS, The Iconic and BeautyBay.

Today I'd like to share with you my favourite deals for June. Get ready, get set... here we go!

Victoria's Secret Haul

It's been awhile since I did a haul post, so today I wanted to share with you a few items I bought from my new favourite store, Victoria's Secret. As I'm going on holiday soon, I thought that would it be a good excuse to have a little spend up.

Victoria’s Secret’s unique collection of accessories are perfect for those looking for that special something for herself or great travel sized gifts. For that glam girl-on-the go, expect to find a wide range of bags, luggage, passport covers and travel wallets in both nylon and genuine leather to Cosmetic & toiletry bags, and sunglasses.

There is only a single Victoria's Secret store in my hometown of Perth, which is located at the domestic airport. But the trip was definitely worth the drive!

Top Travel Apps

Products featured - Samsung Galaxy Ace 3, KLD phone case  &  Victoria's Secret passport holder

Using my smartphone for and during travel was the advice I was given recently. There are so many useful apps that makes travel and travel planning easy, so I decided to put together a list for you to check out.

You’ll find apps for booking anything from tickets, to hotels, and finding food and wifi when you’re out and about. Some of these aren’t particularly made for travel but should be used when you are. It simply makes it all easier!

'Valentina' by Valentino - Perfume Photography

Travel Tips & Tricks


I L.O.V.E travelling. That is a pure and simple fact. I feel very lucky to say that I have travelled to many amazing places in my life so far. Though many people preference 'packing' as one of their least favourite part of planning for a holiday. Below is a list of my personal tips on how to pack savvy for your next trip:

NEW Etsy Store!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TaylaMadeGraphics

Shopaholics Anonymous has now opened a BRAND NEW Etsy store. Featuring all things graphic design. Perfect for your personal blog or website.

For many years, I've had a passion for design. Therefore, I have created this online store to share my passion with all of you.

For any enquiries feel free to message me through the 'contact me' tab. Or click on the link/logo below to see my work in action!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TaylaMadeGraphics

Filofax Personal Domino in Deep Pink - REVIEW



Last week I came home from university and spotted a suprise parcel in my letterbox. Lo and behold, it was a gorgeous new planner. Kindly sent by the folks at FilofaxShop Australia. Therefore, today I will be reviewing the newest member of my Filofax family. The Filofax Domino - 'Personal Size' in 'Deep Pink.'

*This post is sponsored, yet does not affect my opinion on the product being discussed. 


In a good quality/functional planner, I’m looking for something that is:
  • easy
  • flexible
  • pretty
  • gives a good overview 

So let’s test how the Filofax system works out.
I can't deny the organiser is still weighty to carry around but knowing that I have all the notes I need is great.

The elastic closure works well and feels secure. The external colour is absolutely gorgeous and the inside is a beautiful grey suede. I have nothing but good things to say so far.
The cover isn’t leather but it’s very lovely and doesn’t look cheap. I’m a little worried about the off white elastic belly band becoming dirty and looking very used over time. I’ll let you know how that works out.




The inside is beautifully embossed with the Filofax logo and the model name and size. It’s a suede-like fabric and very nice to the touch. By the way, I love how the pink pleather is peeking through the credit card slits on the left side. You will also notice the little notches for the elastic belly band on each side. Lovely details, even on this budget version.


Filofax Domino Personal Organiser - Click here
Want to snatch up other great bargains? Check out FilofaxShop.com.au 


Overall I really adore this planner. The quality is just beautiful and I like that you can change the diary pages every year and essentially only need one planner.  

*Since taking photo's of this planner, I made some cute laminated dividers. To check out how they look in my new binder, watch this space! 
 ** To check out my other Filofax - Click here









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