how to get more energy through your day is your body telling you something?

Hey lovelies! I've got a different type of post for you coming from a very wet Monday for the first day of Winter in Australia.

I was thinking about how we lack energy and what can cause it and what we need to do to make ourselves more efficient in our daily lives. I will give you a bit of a background story for this post. My studies were failing and I was feeling tired all of the time. I'm 31 in October so I shouldn't be feeling as if I need to sleep all of the time. Sometimes I can blame depression and mental health issues but sometimes I can't, such as this time.

less of this stuff

I was also having bone pain, and muscle pain and felt sore even without having done much. After losing 25 kilos last year I would have thought I'd felt healthier not worse!

But I went to the doctors and had blood tests, found my vitamin d was very low, as with my calcium and my thyroid was very underactive. So now I'm on a new diet, and medication and its helping wonders.

My shopping trolley/cart as of last night!

I can't stress how important it is to get those things checked. Especially for bone health, mental clarity and general happiness as all of these can cause problems such as depression, osteoporosis, brain fog and worse.

Since I've been on thyroid medication for a bit over a week I've noticed a difference already, my mind is clearer, I'm waking up better in the mornings. And I can concentrate better for longer.

I've also switched up my beverages less coffee and more herbal teas that have healthy benefits to them such as Lemongrass, licorice, cinnamon and mint.

I hope this has helped you to get a spark in your Monday morning, do let me know if you also suffer from any of these! comment below!

Hugs Jess

May Monthly favourites including teas, necklaces, fashion and makeup and hair

Hi lovelies thought I'd post my May favourites as its nearing the end of the month already! I'm shocked at how quickly it has gone.

First off its a non beauty item, lately I've been addicted to teas and especially herbal infusions and tonics.
These three are my current favourites

 Govenors estate teas, I've recently fallen in love with! they were on special at Coles which is the supermarket I shopp at for $2.99 and you get 20 teas in the pack. I picked up soursop green tea, Calming peach and Cinnamint. All three I adore.

 This blush is obviously by Face of Australia and I purchased it after falling in love with a swatch my friend Mel did on her instagram, I purchased it from Kmart when they were clearing Face of Australia and I only paid $4 for it. It's a lovely cool toned pink and buildable, easy to blend and the shade is Hello Dolly.

 This is a fab find, @faceattire on instagram did a swatch and I fell in love with this shade! it is oxx lipgloss and its $2. There is no shade name.

 I got this a few weeks ago the Toni and Guy glamour volume plumping whip and I'll be doing a review on it soon. I paid $3.99 for it at my local Supermarket as they were being reduced to clear. I always get sucked in by cute packaging and a good deal to boot!

 omg these chocolates! I had these with my mother in law and my partner on the weekend I am so addicted to them, luckily they were a gift for my mother in law as I know these are expensive!

my favourite fashion statement for Winter is layering! I went out with Mel on Friday night to see Aloha the advanced screening. I wore the fox head necklace, my crystal pendant and a scarf and I love how it looks.

Video can be found here
girls night out in the city vlog video

So this has been my monthly favourites I do hope you have had a fabulous month! let me know what you have been loving.
Hugs Jess

soaps that are a good Lush alternative!

Hello lovelies today I wanted to share with you my current Lush addiction which mind you is rather expensive and enthralling however I have an alternative that is cheaper, natural and still just as comparable as Lush soaps!

I've found these at a local supermarket and they are all under $4 a bar.
I've tested three of them out so far and am loving them!

 These soaps are all cruelty free, and have natural based properties to them. I tried out the

Bergamot Macadamia soap (100g) which is so vibrant and lovely to use. The colour of the soap is amazing and the scent is heaven. It lathers amazingly well and its so creamy and left my skin feeling silky smooth.  I am yet to try the one on the right which is the 

Rose Geranium soap (100g)

 What the company says. The safflower oil, avocado oil and macadamia oil used in this product is certified Organic or Biodynamic. Grown without the use of artificial fertilisers, chemically synthesised pestisides, weedicides, fungicides and growth hormones. For the 

Rose Geranium soap (100g) soap.

 

 I also tried the Herbon soap and I found that to

be the most creamiest and moisturising. What the company says about the botanical soap

Herbon Botanic Soap is made from pure botanical oils and contains natural glycerine that gently cleans and cares for your skin.

INGREDIENTS: Coconut Oil, Free Fatty Acids, Salt, Glycerol, Olive Oil, Vegetable Derived Glycerine, Water.

100g net

Website 

Herbon soaps

Biologika website

 For the

Bergamot Macadamia soap

 The safflower oil, avocado oil and macadamia oil used in this product is certified Organic or Biodynamic. Grown without the use of artificial fertilisers, chemically synthesised pestisides, weedicides, fungicides and growth hormones.

 overall I found the ones I've used to be just as nice as Lush products, easier to source and I find better value for money.

I love soaps, what do you guys think?

Designer brands by db girls night out competition and the story of Patches the rescued piggy

Hello lovelies I wanted to talk to you today about the rarity about finding a good friend and making the most of it. I met Mel on instagram originally and she's fast becoming one of my favourite people. Did she have a big following? is she a youtuber? nope, she's just a very genuine, down to earth girl that I have very similar interests with. We first started talking about thrifting, and make up as they are two of our passions. I've since gotten to know that Mel is very passionate about animals and lives on a property and is able to take in pets that need homing. She rescued her pet pig Patches, and Patches is not the typical miniature pig, she will grow up to a full size Sow. This pig is quite the character so I've been told. She's a housepig and is able to open doors and when she does she goes into Mel's room and eats her lush products!

Patches likes to eat products like these, and these.

 Rockstar soap by Lush

 This is the very beloved Patches and culprit! who was adopted because her mother died on another unknown farm and her life would have been endangered otherwise. She basically acts like a dog.

 This is the culprits owner Mel, we have such a lot in common and I'm thrilled to be telling you this story because we're going out tonight and I'll tell you how.

Not only does Mel love thrifting/opshopping as you can see here she found this snazzy dress in her local thrift store. She also loves hello kitty (like me) and she collects toys (like me) and adores make up (like me) but this is all besides the point.

Mel won us a competition that Designer brands were hosting on Instagram! she won us this girls night out and chose me to be her date.

 yup we get to go into the city for a girls night out hosted by Designer brands and we get free tickets to see the advance screening of Aloha, and a goodie parcel full of make up valued of $50!!  I was stoked and shocked Mel chose me to go with her.

 So far my morning has started out with coffee, planning my make up, accessories and I've already planned what to wear. Is anyone else like that where you have to plan things?

 Fox necklace from Target only $2 on sale! I love it

 Bracelet from Kmart 50cents on sale.

 A look at my make up I'll be wearing, Elf foundation, bys primer, essence go big mascara, covergirl liquid concealer, Maybelline fit me concealer, Australis on tour contour kit, Australis limited edition bronzed eyed girl palette that Mel gave to me!

 Face of Australia gel eye liner is my favourite current eye liner.

I'm so thankful to have met Mel and make friends with her, it sounds corny but it really is hard making genuine friends as you get older. Especially ones that understand the daily struggles of illnesses and the likes that we both struggle with I wont go into hers as that's her story but I'll go into more of mine at a later time, but for tonight I'll be vlogging where I can, taking lots of pics and enjoying it to the fullest! 

hugs and love 

Jess

oxx kmart $2 brand lipstick review in Chevrolet

Hello lovelies! today I am reviewing the OXX kmart branded $2 make up. I love this lipstick! it is the most creamy, pigmented and loveliest shade for such a good pricepoint! I love this colour for Winter as its such a vampy shade but I also wear any colours all year round.

 This is the shade! chevrolet! its a darling wine red colour. It's a cool toned red that suits my cool toned very pale skin. The consistency of the lipstick is amazing! creamy, pigmented and in one swipe you get a very opaque payoff.

 I actually think the packaging is relatively cute, not too cheap looking. And the colour is easy to pick out. They only had 2 left in this colour and I'm going to repurchase it and get more in the shades to see what the others are like.

 Overall a very nice bullet which withstands being in my handbag, again not too cheap looking or feeling.

 Sorry for the bathroom lighting. But I just wanted to show how pigmented this is! and it literally lasts for hours.

 I'm adoring this shade right now.

So in conclusion
great colour payoff
great consistency
great price point
good for beginners and advanced makeup wearers
very good value for money
long wearing and soft on the lips

hope you enjoyed my review!
let me know if you have tried anything from this brand
hugs Jess

living with chronic pain part one

Hello my lovelies, I'm so sorry for not being around, I don't have a terribly exciting story that goes with the blogging break but basically life got in the way and I've been unwell. For someone who lives with chronic pain things can take a turn for the worse quite easily. I don't really like talking about it because I don't like to dwell on it, however I did want to write this post because I think it could educate some people on illnesses that don't really have a certain look to them and people think you look normal and healthy.

I've had people assume I'm a happy and outgoing person because that is the front I put on, I'm not faking it but its somewhat easier than having to be asked if I'm all right all the time. I've even had people act surprised when I've told them I have bipolar. So these illnesses that might seem like they aren't real to some, are in fact very real to those who suffer them. Its been a total learning curve for myself as well finding out what my body can handle, learning my triggers etc.

I believe that life happens for a reason, sometimes we can cope and sometimes we can't. Lately I haven't been coping that well. Recently been diagnosed with chronic pain syndrome and going through the rounds of doctors, and tests, and trying different medications have left me drained and not myself.

But things are improving, my great circle of friends have supported me, and I'm slowly picking myself back up. So I wanted to share with you some fun moments I have been able to have when feeling better.

 My friend Kiera trying the new vegemite cadburys flavoured limited edition chocolate today, I love this girl!

 Sally my bestie trying the chocolate today! I have a video on their reacitons it was hilarious
link here
link to the video of us eating the vegemite flavoured chocolate

 Treating myself to hot chips! they were so good!!

 my partners favourite dinner at the moment is homemade taco's, this is a shared platter. And I love making them.

 Seeing Royal night out with my girlfriend Angie, and saw this Minions sign thought it was so cute. Royal night out is a fantastic movie if you are into historical romances.

 When I've worked at the opshop and created a display of miniatures.

 I met my instagram friend Mel! and we're seeing each other again on Friday because she won tickets to the advance screening of Aloha and its hosted by Designer brands by db cosmetics company and we both get a $50 make up box worth of goodies!! so excited.

Video of meeting Mel my instagram friend can be found here
shopping at H&M meeting my instagram friend Mel

 outfit of the day hosted by my work All Sorts opportunity shop and this was pin up inspired look video can be found here pinup inspired outfit of the day video

 Mel and I were shopping at H&M and I was trying out hats

 Mel and me resting in the city

 Mel smelling the goodness at lush!

 I drank some good portwine!

Lush goodness!

So that's been my month basically. I'm going back to the doctors tomorrow to find out some results tomorrow. School has literally taken over at the moment and have been bombarded with school work and assignments. But I'm trying to get a balance in things. Keyword is trying.

So hopefully you'll see me being a bit more regular!! keep in contact, I'd love to see how you are going and you can find me
Instagram
Instagram
I post pics everyday!
Twitter
Twitter
Tumblr
I post most days
http://batvvlove.tumblr.com/

Lots of love
Hugs Jess