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Author: Kellie O’Brien

WIN: The worldwide beauty phenomenon: BB Cream by Garnier (review and giveaway)
YOU may have passed me in the street this week and not recognised me. You see, I’ve been donning a new face.

Me… showing off Garnier's new BB Cream

A slight improvement on the old one.

Garnier sent through its version of the new worldwide beauty phenomenon, BB Cream. Theirs is called Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream. If you haven’t heard about BB creams yet, it stands for “Blemish Balm’’ or “Beauty Balm’’. Having seen so many beauty trends come and go, this one grabbed my attention because there’s some history behind it.

BB creams were developed in the ‘50s to soothe and heal a patient’s skin after surgical procedures. It took off in the late 2000s in Korea and became the beauty secret of its film stars. It’s now quickly spread through the UK, US and finally Australia.

Miracle Skin Perfector combines skincare with makeup. How easy will your morning skincare routine be now? The skincare is made up of anti-oxidant properties and Vitamin C to boost the skin’s natural glow and radiance.

After a week and a half of using it, what do I think?
- Someone said it was more like tinted moisturiser, which left me a little sceptical. I’ll admit, I need better coverage than that these days. We’ll thank sleep deprivation for finally catching up with me. But it couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s given me great coverage without being heavy thanks to mineral pigments for natural coverage.
- It claims to deliver five instant benefits – 24 hour hydration (yes), even skin tone (my complexion does look better), corrects blemishes (even the pigmentation under my eye is looking better), boost radiance (I’m glowing!) and SPF protection (well, yes, obviously).
- The product could be improved by increasing the SFP 15 to 30. Our sun is too harsh.
- Interestingly, for my combination skin at least, it’s not too oily or drying. It’s quite creamy and is really easy to apply.
- When I’m wearing it, it lessens the lines around my eyes and mouth. Well, my deep canyons look more like ravines, anyway. Unfortunately, I lucked out on simple “fine lines’’.
- There are only two shades – light and medium. More shade options would be better for busy mums who may require mixing the two shades to get the right match. Fortunately, the light shade is perfect for me.
- I was impressed by the longevity of the coverage. It stayed on… all day! I tend to see foundation slide off my nose by late afternoon. Although, I am still wearing a concealer underneath. I’ve yet to find a product that hasn’t required me to do this.
- It’s only $13.95. Really? I’m not even going to reveal how much I’m spending on skincare and foundation at the moment. I’m starting to wonder why I’m paying all that money.
- It smells divine.
- I love the idea that while there’s an immediate cosmetic effect, there are long term benefits as well. I’ll be keen to see how my skin transforms over a longer period.
… and just a bit more self portraiture!

The Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector – BB cream (RRP: $13.95) is available at Priceline, supermarkets, pharmacies, independent and variety stores. You can also find out more about the BB cream at www.garnier.com.au and on its Facebook page.

Would you like to try it? Well, Garnier have teamed up with Three Li’l Princesses to giveaway 1 x Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream Light AND 1 x Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream Medium to 10 – yes 10 – readers. For a chance to win, simply leave a comment telling us the best beauty tip your mother/grandmother passed on to you. The giveaway closes Thursday, October 6 at 7pm and a winner will be drawn randomly and announced on this blog and via Facebook and Twitter. Australian residents only. Limit of four entries.

Want extra entries? Then here’s how you can up your chances in the draw. Each task is worth one extra entry, but must be included as a separate comment (or it won’t count).
1. Click the Facebook button below and share this giveaway with your Facebook friends. Then leave a separate comment saying something along the lines of “I’ve shared this on Facebook’’.
2. Click the Twitter button below and share this giveaway with your Twitter followers (Twitter handle is @ThreeLil). Then leave a separate comment saying something along the lines of “I’ve shared this on Twitter’’.
3. Follow me on my new Google Friend Connect button over there in the sidebar and leave a comment telling me you’re now a follower.
**DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream Light and 1 x Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream Medium for review. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

Check out more giveaways in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup.

Hosted by Three Lil Princesses
September 23, 2011
The Wonder Week: Wake me when it’s over
Baby Holly during a sunny period.

WITH so much interest in The Wonder Weeks, I thought I’d continue posting as Baby Holly passes through each fussy period. Besides, it’s so easy to write about a Wonder Week when you’re in the midst of a sunny period. Yes, I’m SUPER thankful for that.

To be frank, the last Wonder Week – Wonder Week 46 – was, well … let’s just say I gained a further three grey hairs. So forgive me if I didn’t feel like posting about it at the time. You may well have seen quite a bit of colourful language going on if I had. Just call me Joan Rivers, minus the facelift.

The three Cs – cranky, clingy and crying – were out in force. We went through some major separation anxiety, which didn’t help her start to childcare. Try leaving the room when she’s stapled to your leg. Things have settled down now. Again, thankful for that.

Week 46 is all about The World of Sequences. It’s about how things fit and belong together. For example, they know the spoon has to go in the bowl and then into their mouth. Instead, it tends to catapult from the spoon to the wall for a new Weetbix wallpaper finish.

The seventh developmental stage is called The World of Sequences. And no, that’s not the stuff you put around the ruffles on your fuschia-coloured skirt. Following it, Baby Holly is now:
- Pointing at what she wants and is babbling more than ever. More words are emerging, including “sister’’ and “Mum’’ (yay!).
- Is able to take the spoon from my hand and place it in her mouth. She has been able to feed herself finger food for some time now.
- Fills bath containers with water and then pours them out. Or throws them at her sister, which ends in tears – always.
- Learning to stack her ring stacker and can see her processing how to stack blocks.
- Becoming more game when walking from one piece of furniture to the next and letting go more often as she begins to learn to stand unassisted.
- When giving her a horsey ride on my foot, she bends her knees, aiming to jump higher off the floor.
- Tries to climb steps – and everything else. Heaven help us!
- Participates more in peek-a-boo and gets excited when playing hide-and-seek with her sister.
- Imitates a lot of what I do, including brushing her teeth and hair. If only she had some hair.
- Blows hot food before eating it. Picture it: it’s cute. Add to that her newfound love of big pash kisses.
- Claps her hands at the end of songs, when we say “yay’’ to anything and when others clap.
Here’s what we’re doing to help her development during Wonder Week 46:
- Getting her to watch (and help) with household chores. She stands up at the dishwasher while I unpack it, helps put the ironed clothes away (OK, so she throws them across the room) and watches me make the bed.
- Encourage her to use a spoon (despite how utterly messy it is).
- Naming objects, such as body parts (especially when dressing) and objects. She’s already mastered quite a few. It’s always followed by hand clapping.
- Singing movement songs, including Incy Wincy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle (she loves twinkling her fingers) and Pat-a-cake (she now claps her hands – in fact, she claps her hands at everything).
- Hide an object under another object (box, material etc) and get her to find it. She also likes lift-the-flap books and plain old peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek.
- Toys have included Ella’s rocking horse, balls, stacking blocks and rings and animal picture books (especially lift-the-flap books where she can lift the flap herself).
At the end of this Wonder Week, we feel like she’s now able to communicate with us easier. I feel like she’s really turning into a toddler. Although, I’m not sure I’m ready for that.

I’ve already posted about Week 26, provided a copy of the Wonder Week chart, reviewed the book and had author Frans Plooij guest post. There’s more about the new expanded version of the book on the official Wonder Week site. But to learn more about the Wonder Weeks themselves, buy the book on Book Depistory OR on Amazon.

What are your tips for dealing with a cranky, crying and clingy baby?

Please note, some of the above are affiliate links. I only support those products and services which I have full trust in.
September 22, 2011
Alphabet Photography Challenge – L

L is for legwarmers, lovely and long. Can you spot the L?

By Carly Webber of Carly Webber

Carly is mum to two beautiful children and has another on the way. She runs a successful photography business in Brisbane, with her style being classic beauty. She loves simple, pure and timeless portraiture, which is evident when looking through the gorgeous array of shots on her site. She blogs over at Carly Webber Photography and hangs out on Facebook and Twitter.

If you would like to contribute a photo to the Alphabet Photography Challenge, a series of posts aimed at being a “look and find” activity for children learning the alphabet, please email.

Linking up with My Little Drummer Boys’ Wordless Wednesday. Click on the link to check out more photo posts.

PS. I’m now on Google Friend Connect. Yay! You can find the Follow Me box by going to the homepage.

September 21, 2011
The terror that stalks the night

It was a big day bike riding (and sugary treats) that led to Princess Ella's night terror that night.

SHE screamed out “Mum, where are you?’’ with such terror in her voice I could only but run to her, hoping she was OK. It had been a long time since this nightly stalker had visited; since he’d totally taken over her little body.

When I arrived, she was sitting up straight, rocking back and forth and whimpering. That image breaks my heart every time. “It’s OK. Mummy’s here,’’ I say, instantly going into auto pilot. I know the drill. I know what’s to come, how to manage it and when it will end.

She twirls around in her bed, like a dog chasing its tail. I quietly ask her to lie down with me. “I don’t want to,’’ she says through tears. I ask her if she’d like a cuddle. She looks straight through me, shakes her head and even more tears fall. “What would you like?’’ I ask. She shakes her head again and then begins rocking back and forth. I put my hand on her back to pat her, but it only prompts her to do another circle. By now, I should know better than to try and touch her.

“Let’s lie down,’’ I insist again and so she does. I run my fingers through her hair, hoping it will calm her. The whimpering stops. Then, as quickly as it stopped, it starts again. This time the wails are loud and long. It prompts her dad to come in.

We know the drill. This is where it ends. The sound of both our voices telling her it’s OK instantly calms her and the beast that has taken over her body disappears. She lies down and within a matter of seconds is as peaceful as… umm, oh dear, I can’t think of anything. Gee, a girl knows how to ruin the moment, doesn’t she?

Anyway… Night terrors, unlike nightmares, happen earlier in the night. From experience, they tend to happen for Ella when she’s overtired or consumed too much sugar in one day. Thankfully, she has no recollection of these episodes the next morning. For that, we’re grateful. We also have no reasoning why it takes both our voices to calm her so instantly. But it does. Every time.

Do your children experience night terrors? What works to calm your child?

September 20, 2011
WIN: These are a few of Ella’s favourite things (valued $275)
Princess Ella excited about her “favourite things''.

WE’RE doing it Mary Poppins-style with a little giveaway we’re calling These Are A Few Of Ella’s Favourite Things. Mainly, it’s things Princess Ella has loved that brands have sent through. Yes, she is one spoilt little princess. Come her birthday, she’s going to be a little blasé about the gifts we’ve given her.

Among the products Ella is loving are the Tiger Tribe Boxset Beach Villa from Cadootje and Tiger Tribe, a Hallmark Recordable Storybook of Winnie the Pooh, Stephen Joseph Gifts accessories, Rhys Muldoon’s latest album and Teddy Rock’s new CD and DVD.

Tiger Tribe Boxset Beach Villa

With her love of doll’s houses already evident, Ella’s eyes lit up when she spotted the Tiger Tribe Wooden B0xset Villa with summer approaching, this one is going to come in particularly handy when travelling.

This ingenious two-storey beach house, aimed at the 3+ age group, packs away into its own box making it portable and compact. It’s stylish and wonderfully designed using eco-friendly birch plywood. Ella was particularly taken with the art work, including crabs, waves, decks and little windows.

It also comes with a host of accessories. The boy and girl (dubbed Jackie and Wacky by Ella) are made using wood and bendable rope arms and legs. Rope is also used to easily fasten the box shut. Plywood and felt are combined for items like the wind surfer, beach umbrella and sun lounges, which add to the painted wooden kitchen, bedroom dresser and bed. It certainly has one little girl – and her mum’s – imaginations running wild.

The only downside for us is some parts being a choking hazard for Baby Holly. Overall, I’m incredibly impressed and quite keen to check out the other box sets and box extensions.

Favourite part: Sunnies and hat-wearing girl and boy, now named Jackie and Wacky. Valued at: $59.95.

You can find more about Cadootje on Facebookor Tiger Tribe at www.tigertribe.com.au and Facebook.

Hallmark Recordable Storybook

Since The Bloke in The Shed has taken on his new job, it means he’s more often missing out on one of our favourite parts of the day – bedtime books. However, we’ve now found a way for the two li’l princesses to not miss out on hearing their dad read to them. It’s our Hallmark Recordable Storybook.

We were given a copy of Winnie the Pooh’s Plan Bee: A Story about Friendship. I would have been more than happy to keep the calming demo voice and beautiful background music already programmed into the book. However, the opportunity to record our voice reading it was too great to pass up.

I’m particularly taken with the illustrations which, as is typical of all Disney releases, are beautifully done. The hardcover book also features a wonderful message about friendship and what it takes to be a good friend as Pooh goes about trying to be a bee.

While each page is recorded separately, the downside is Ella changing the pages too soon during reading and cutting off the recording. This means we have to start from the beginning for that particular page.

Favourite part: Ella said it was when Pooh endeavours to fly (although, she didn’t use the word “endeavours’’ obviously). Retails for $34.99

You can purchase the book, and the other titles such as Lightning McQueen and his Winning Team, via Hallmark Australia www.store.hallmarkcards.com.au, with all orders shipped out within 48 hours.

Stephen Joseph Gifts:

Each day Ella changes the message on her new rewritable door hanger on her bedroom door. Some days it says “good morning’’ and others “stay out’’. I might add these are merely just a series of random letters and squiggles, but she assures me that’s what it says.

The door hanger is from Stephen Joseph Gifts, featuring colourful children’s accessories for children aged two to eight. She also received a beautiful drawing pad with crayons, a turtle Go-Go purse and matching coin purse.

This is a seriously cute range, with high quality and, most importantly, safe products. The accessories also come in a number of coordinating designs, so you can mix and match to your heart’s desire. They include butterflies, ladybugs, robots and trains.

The purse has been a lovely place to put the $2 coins her Nan keeps giving her. It fits snugly inside the bag, which was perfect for her to take to a wedding we attended two weeks ago. The ladybug notepad with crayons helped during the long, boring trip south to that same wedding.

Stephen Joseph Gifts includes backpacks, lunch bags, stainless steel drink bottles, photo frames, raincoats, handbags and sunglasses. I’m so taken with the designs behind the gift ideas, I’m already eyeing off quite a few items for Christmas.

Fave part: Door hanger she can write messages on and rub out daily. If only we knew what those messages were. Pack retails for $77.85.

You can find more and buy Stephen Joseph Gifts at www.stephenjosephgifts.com and connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Rhys Muldoon and Teddy Rock CDs and DVD:

Despite my favourite CDs collecting dust, I’m still pushing for the princesses to listen to a variety of genres – even if it is still all kid based. So the past week we’ve swapped our pretty pop music for down and dirty rock courtesy of Play School favourite Rhys Muldoon’s I’m Not Singing and Teddy Rock’s Nursery-wave Party!

I’m Not Singing is TISM meets Play School. Start with Kram from Spiderbait as your co-writer/producer, add guest vocalist Tex Perkins, some tongue-in-cheek lyrics and yep, Rhys’ album ain’t for the faint hearted. Except that Ella loves it – every head-banging moment. She’s lured by the silliness, catchy tunes and mention of… bodily noises. Along with punk-style Footy Dad, her favourite is the rockin’ Bob the Bear, with the well chanted line “who, who, who did a poo?’’. The Bloke in The Shed is likely to be listening to this one even without the girls in the car.

Teddy Rock is kids’ music with the cool factor. Expect nursery rhyme favourites like This Old Man and Twinkle, Twinkle turned up a notch with Buzz, Belle and Bop. We were given the 24-track CD and 18-track DVD to review and were taken with the rockin’ Incy Wincy Spider. It’s the same old lyrics, but the tune is just a little hardcore. I should have broken out the leather jacket for Ella. While both albums caused plenty of laughter, beware: they are best enjoyed in small doses.

Favourite part: Ella just can’t get past the “who, who, who did a poo?’’ lyrics from Rhys’ Bob The Bear track, especially right after Baby Holly has done her business. CDs retail for $19.99 and DVD $27.99.

Learn more about I’m Not Singing at www.abcmusic.com.au and follow Rhys on Facebook. Learn more about Teddy Rock at www.teddyrock.com

To go in the draw to win a Tiger Tribe Boxset Beach Villa, a Hallmartk Recordable Storybook, Stephen Joseph Gifts pack (drawing pad, handbag, door hanger and kids tote), Rhys Muldoon’s album I’m Not Singing and Teddy Rock’s Nursery-wave Party! CD and DVD OR the runner-up prize of a Hallmark Recordable Storybook, leave a comment telling us what are some of your child’s favourite things. The giveaway closes Monday, October 17 at 7pm and a winner will be drawn randomly and announced on this blog and via Facebook and Twitter. Australian residents only. Limit of three entries.

Want extra entries? Then here’s how you can up your chances in the draw. Each task is worth one extra entry, but must be included as a separate comment (or it won’t count).
1. Click the Facebook button below and share this giveaway with your Facebook friends. Then leave a separate comment saying something along the lines of “I’ve shared this on Facebook’’.
2. Click the Twitter button below and share this giveaway with your Twitter followers (Twitter handle is @ThreeLil). Then leave a separate comment saying something along the lines of “I’ve shared this on Twitter’’.
**DISCLAIMER: I received review copies of all of the above. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

Hosted by Three Lil Princesses
September 19, 2011
WIN: Aussie Giveaway Linkup #16
IT’S that time of the week again, when we link up our giveaways or start entering to win. Yesterday I had a huge win. Actually, I had a huge win back in May when I scored a voucher for a facial, pedicure and manicure for Mother’s Day. Except I blinked, three months passed by and there was the voucher: EXPIRED.

So yesterday, thanks to the salon staff allowing me to use my voucher regardless, the deep canyons on my face became more like shallow ravines. My feet no longer resemble a snake shedding its skin. And my hands could pass for that of a hand model. Well, if I was modelling freshly packed fertiliser straight from the cow paddock, maybe. You can’t win them all.

There’s little that could surpass those three whinge-free, cling-free, mess-free hours. Apart from maybe a week at a resort, with a good book, sipping cocktails with those little umbrellas and someone to turn down my bed sheets and lay out the resort dressing gown each night. Ah, the memories.

Anyway, back to reality. As most of you know from last week, there’s a new badge to grab for the Aussie Giveaway Linkup, but the same old rules apply. If you’re a reader, start clicking.

If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately.
2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents.
3. Grab the NEW button to add to your post.
4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
5. Start entering the giveaways!
If money were no object, what would be your ultimate day of pampering?

Hosted by Three Lil Princesses

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September 18, 2011