Isn’t it refreshing when an already well established company finds a gap in the market fills it and very successfully at that.  What am I talking about?  Well a clever friend of mine put me onto this very cool new product range that has just been launched into New Zealand called Za.

Za is the collaboration of Shisedio and Zotos who both have a long and successful history in the beauty industry.  Their mission was to ‘establish a brand for all women who seek new value and lifestyle, who actively enjoy their life and want to bring out their beauty’.  I believe they have succeeded.

Za’s products are rich in vitamins and minerals and the product list is vast.  If you can’t find something to suit you in this range, then you may need to call Madonna who would be as fussy.

The product range consists of Dewy Effect which gives you a natural and silky smooth look, or you could choose from the True white range with it’s advanced technology to help make your skin look more luminous and translucent.  If preventing those dreaded wrinkles before they appear is what concerns you, then the Future Defence range could be the one for you.   Anti Acne range is also proving popular for the younger market, but don’t look past the Special Care Products for treatments which will give your skin the extra boost, especially during these drying winter months.

If none of that is what you are after then don’t look past the Make-up range with Tinted Moisturiser, Concealers, Powders and the Eye liners, Lipsticks and lots more, I am nearly out of breath just trying to read the whole list out.

But I have saved the best for last, the PRICE  it’s positively brilliant as it’s some of the lowest prices for these type of products on the market.  For example the highest price you pay for anything is $29.95 and some are as low as $9.50, what a bonus for me as a Mum buying a future tween her first range of skincare.  Yipee.

I’ve given Za 5 out of 5 which is as you know is unusual for me, but they really have done a very good job with this range and it seems that they tried to cover all possible needs.  I am suitably impressed and would highly recommend it to anyone who is  just starting out using skincare or even for those who are looking for a good quality product, at a bargain.

  

It’s at this point that if you were close to me you would probably want to hit me when I tell you that I am writing this from my lounger by the pool in Fiji.  Yes, in answer to your question, the weather is amazing. I am feeling totally relaxed having had my latest instalment of vitamin D.  I can honestly say I haven’t looked forward to a trip as much as this one and it has definitely paid off.  I am very relaxed and ready to face the world again when I get home.

I have also managed to lose myself for a couple of days in Louise Bagshawe’s latest book, Passion.  I’ve been transported around the world in an exciting chase for survival, fallen a little bit more in love with my husband due to the love story and have decided that I haven’t worked anywhere hard at getting myself fitter in 2009.

Seriously isn’t this why we buy them. These books certainly don’t require you to have a university degree to read them nor do you really need to concentrate hard. I managed to keep reading this over the laughter and screams from my kids in the pool.  But I have really enjoyed just chilling out and no you don’t have to come to Fiji to enjoy the book.  In fact, this could the very thing you need when the weather is bad and you are looking for an escape. 

I read her book Sparkles and loved it, so I was thrilled when her new book came out just before my holiday.  This has also lived up to Bagshawe’s reputation as a great read.  Remember though, I did warn you that it won’t make Oprah’s best book list but it may just make your life just that little bit more bearable on those dreary winter days.

Passion by Louise Bagshawe

 A failed marriage between Melissa Elmett and Will Hyde did a lot of damage. She was too young, he was hurt when she left him. Years later, Melissa becomes the target for a kidnap plot, a consequence of her father’s ground breaking energy saving invention, and Will is the only man who can protect her. Now they’re on the run, thrown together again by the pursuit of vengeance, will their passion for each other reignite?

Avaliable: all major bookstores

Price: $38.99

                          

  

During the holidays it’s always a challenge to find something interesting and exciting to do with the kids and cooking always seems to pop up much to my concern.  You see the control freak in me likes to keep things in order and this activity scares me, as I have visions of food travelling at high speed around my kitchen.  It of course probably wont happen and I really should pay attention to the sticker my eight year stuck to my steering wheel, its very simple reads ‘chill out mummy’.

So as any well intentioned parent would do, I am rising above my children cooking fear and I have bought the girls a cookbook and I think it’s going to help them turn into the next Nigella Lawsons.  But maybe before it does that, it might just help me.  If I am now going to be completely honest, I have actually used it much more than they have. 

The recipes are quite simply fantastic for the less exciting eaters in our house and gives me great everyday ideas of what we can eat.  Seriously I bang my head on the fridge door on a regular basis trying to think of fast, easy and yummy meals which my family will love.  So as much as this is a great cookbook for the girls, it’s an even bigger help for me.

But seriously the girls also love it and has become a favourite gift for their friends as well, you can combine it with an apron or a cool chefs hat etc to make a really different birthday gift. 

You can choose from easy to prepare Nachos, Homemade Hamburgers, Rice and Chicken Kebabs, Macaroni Cheese, gosh where do you stop, um did I mention the Chocolate-dipped treats, Fudge Pudding, Little Apple Pies or Meringue Nests I could go on and on.

Pick up a copy of Edmonds Beginner’s Cookbook and add it to your cookbook library you wont be disappointed, I haven’t been.  It does take away need for me to be really hands on when the girls are using it to cook with, as it’s so simple for them to follow. 

Available:  all major bookstores                            Price:$24.95  (prices can vary)

It’s always a happy day when Trelsie has one of her sales and if you have ever coveted a piece of Treilse Cooper and couldn’t get past the price tag, now is your chance. Don’t take too long to think about it, because at 50% off it makes for great “investment piece” buying and it will definitely be “if you snooze, you lose”.

50% off both Women and Kids clothes, at all of her Auckland Stores.  Once again, you are the lucky ones if you live in Auckland.

Note to self, must email Trelise and ask her when she’s going to open a store in Wellington.  We can always live in hope.

   

You see there’s a really good reason I’m called the Shopping Queen.  I didn’t get my title for nothing, much to my husband’s despair it’s well earned and my latest purchase is no exception.  It’s a disaster, one even my children have said Mummy ‘what were you thinking’.  But to be fair it was packaged up so I couldn’t do the  ‘try before I buy’.  

I am always prepared to give something a go when I am told it’s a not to be missed out on and it’s the latest and greatest product on the market.

So you all don’t make the same mistake,  it’s called nimue Vitamin C Moisture Mist. You spray it on your face to lock in the moisture which helps with anti-ageing and provides the skin with well needed anti-oxidants.  It’s also supposed to make you feel good and give you a lift with the help of Phyto Endorphins to create happiness.  To be fair the only lift I got was the one I rode up and down in at my building, can’t say I noticed a happy feeling and my husband certainly won’t when he finds out how much I paid for it.

What they don’t tell you is that it’s smell is like rotten cabbage, which seems to linger on your clothes for ages afterwards and would make those around you question the last time you had a shower.  It really isn’t very nice and definitely not an indulgent $72.00 nice.

We could rename this as the ‘I want to be left alone spray’,  because that’s exactly what will end up happening and as much as you think everyone likes you, this is one sure fire way to end up standing on your own, it just stinks.  Now I can put up with a lot in the name of anti-ageing, I have had hair pulled out, face lasered and lots more all in the name of beauty but this really is ridiculous even for me.  A big old waste of money.

So save your pennies for something else more worthwhile, unless of course rotten cabbage is your thing.

Price:$72.00                                               Available:all nimue stockists

  I have found what could be my new favourite thing.  A friend of mine is a hairdresser, very handy and especially when she gives me the heads up on what’s new and cool in the Hairdressing world.

It’s called bent, my new very easy and fun way to do my hair by wrapping it around the tong and creating these amazing curls.  I am no hairdresser so anything complicated you can just kiss goodbye to with me, but believe it or not I can do this myself.

So what is bent, well it’s a ‘ceramic curling tong’ with advanced cuticle protection technology and is designed by the master of hair himself Richard Kavanagh.  While working in the forefront of the fashion industry creating the latest looks for celebrities, music videos, magazines, etc he couldn’t find premium hairstyling tools.  So he developed his own.

While most heated hair styling tools can damage your hair after use, the beauty with this tong is that it helps to protect your hair by locking in moisture which creates your lovely curls and waves.  After you have dried your hair it seriously only takes five minutes.

The digital temperature settings allow you to control how much of a curl you want and the automatic timer takes all the worry away if you ever forget to turn it off.  The tong heats up in record time, comes in four different sizes and 360 degree swivel cord with a hanging hook.  The best part is the display which shows exactly what the temperature is and you control that yourself and is available in four different sizes.

So create your way to the latest in big stunning hair for 2009 with the bent, it’s really easy to use and great value for money.  My daughter can’t wait for me to try it out on her.

Hot Tip: Don’t forget to use a heat protector before you use the bent - not only does it protect your hair, it also helps the curls to last longer.

I have given it a 5 out of 5, which is unusual for me, but really its that good. 

Available: www.richardkavanagh.com                                         Price:$140.00

   I have just finished reading one of the best books I have ever read.  Now that’s a big statement to make, as you know I do read alot but this is a really good book.  It’s Suzanne Paul’s new book called ‘But wait there’s more’ and I couldn’t put it down.

Now I haven’t ever been a fan of hers but thought that the book would be interesting about her rise to the top and her then very public fall to the ground.  What I didn’t plan on was how honest she was going to be about everything and helpful, this is for anyone wanting to achieve their goals in life.  It also gave me a reality check on how hard you really do have to work, if you want to succeed at anything in life.  It doesn’t just happen, you have to make it happen.

Her story is one of courage to go after her dreams when her life was pretty bad and her determination not to let anything get in her way.  She just never gave up and she still hasn’t.

I kid you not, she hit some really bad times, arriving in New Zealand with $18.00 in her wallet, having to spend two hours each way on a bus everyday to get to her job, changing buses multiple times.  Amazing when alot of us would consider having to take one bus to work is a big deal.  The worst part was when she realised she had lost it all.

But while all this is very interesting and makes you realise how hard she really did have to work to achieve her success, what’s really great about this book is she gives you advice on how you can do it.  This was the really cool bit for me.  It’s smart, practical and really makes you think I can do this.   I found it inspirational and have been motivated by her advice.

Her story is amazing, her message is simple.  It’s a must read and a great gift idea for anyone who you know has big dreams.  One of her great quotes is:

                                       Dreams become your goals

                                      Goals become your plans

                                         Plans become your reality 

Available: all leading booksellers

Price:$37.00 (Whitcoulls price)

  I just about need a P A to run my life and that of my family, due to the how busy we are and complexity of all that we do.  It’s a given that I need a fool proof organisational system to help run my business and family.  So imagine my delight when an organisational diary turned up on my desk for me to trial and blog about.  It’s called a ‘Who Does What When’ and is the ultimate in diaries for those tasked with the challenge of managing multiple people.

It’s just slightly smaller than an A4 piece of paper, so it fits nicely on my desk or my bench at home.   There are five columns across the top and I only need four so I use the spare to write birthdays in.  There is, however, a section for birthdays.  The squares are nice and big so I can fit multiple appointments in them and the all essential ‘to do’ column, with a notes section as well.

Who Does What When is the brainchild of Michele Hamblin who lives in Australia and runs her online business from there.  This just makes my life so much easier, when I am always trying to keep track of everything as a family we need to do. 

Never shall I be concerned about missing an appointment again, an essential for any busy family.

Available:www.whodoeswhatwhen.com

Price:$27.00  Aus  (plus postage & handling)

Just wanted to let you in on one of my interesting discoveries today, I popped into Overland Shoe Store to admire the new season boots they have coming in and ended up having a conversation with the shop assistant.  She was very helpful and alerted me to a problem we are all going to have this year with new season stock arriving into store.

We need to get in quick, I know most of us are trying to be more fiscally responsible this year but we don’t have to be silly about it do we?  Surely we can have new boots for winter, they are after all an essential part of our winter wardrobe.  But the reason why we need to get in quick is that most stores due to the economic downturn have drastically reduced what stock they have bought in for Winter.  Hence there being considerably less stock in the stores to choose from.

Now she did say they would still be carrying a large variety of styles, just not the volume they have had in past years. So once it’s gone, it’s gone.  Also that there was no guarantee that they would be re-ordering the popular sellers like they did last year.

Now this wee clever piece of advice will probably apply to most retail stores.

So the message today is, if you’re after something particular for Winter, start looking now and buy now.  Chances are that if you see something you like, by the time you have looked around and made your mind up, your size will be gone.  There has never been a better excuse than now to go shopping.

   While I was away on holiday, I tried in our hot weather to take much better care of my skin than I normally would. But sometimes I fall into the classic mother trap where I slip, slop slap, everybody else in the family and then either run out of time for me and think I’ll do when I get down to the beach or forget altogether.

I did however manage to put moisturiser on my face every morning before I ventured out into the sun. As luck would have it, this moisturiser also doubles as a sunscreen and it is fantastic.

It is the brainchild of two Aussie woman who when looking couldn’t find the ideal moisturiser and sunscreen, so decided to create their own.

So what makes this one so special, well it is the latest in coloured moisturises which also double as a sunscreen because it protects you from UVA and UVB rays.  It is water resistant and contains natural anti aging ingredients like Green Tea, Pomegranate and Australian Daisy. 

So why is this so great, well Australian Daisy has been used by the Aboriginal Tribes for it exceptional cell renewal and anti- inflammatory properties and I must say it does feel pretty amazing when you put on.  I didn’t get sun burnt once during my holiday and that’s really saying something as I was at the beach for all of January.  This without a doubt has become my new favourite moisturiser to wear in summer and it’s amazing how many people comment on how good my skin looks when I am wearing it.  Truly it’s hard to explain but you really do look tanned, youthful and relaxed with it on.

It comes in a range of seven shades to match your colour and although may seem a little on the pricey side, it you think about you are getting two products in one.

Now who doesn’t want that.  Check out their website as they other products and if they are where near as good as this one it will be worth giving them a go.  Their site is great and lists all stockist’s of their products in Australia and New Zealand.  www.hissyfit.com

Available:Kirks, selected life pharmacies (check out website as well for stockist’s)

Price:$69.95