#3: Holiday with Hubby (just the two of us)

This is SUCH a belated post.

Those of you who subscribe to my YouTube channel will remember that, back in May this year, Mark and I trekked up to Cairns for just over a week.  We went with the gorgeous Mr & Mrs Nemeth (awesome friends from WAAAAAAAAAAAY back) and had the most fabulous time.

And to prove it?

Here's a link to a YouTube vid I made, just after we came back, of some of the amazing scenery!

Mark and I have seriously been lacking in the 'time for just us' department, pretty much since we got married 5 and a half years ago.  At 16, I was told I'd never have children, yet the 2nd month we were married, we conceived Moto!  So, we've always had someone else with us - and those parents who're reading this, can testify to how time consuming children are.

Making time to have a holiday was SUCH an important thing for us to do.  The kids spent time with their Grandparents interstate (my folks) and had the BEST time.  They didn't want to come home!! (And here was I, worried they'd be missing their folks too much!)

Coming back to Adelaide, refreshed after out trip, was so awesome.  I still watch that YouTube video every now and then just to remind myself of the serenity of it all, and to put me back in 'that' place where I'm relaxed, calm and on top of everything.

Considering taking on the 101 things challenge?

I heartily recommend it.  There's nothing better than spending significant time deciding what you want to achieve, writing it down, and then watching it magically happen!

*hugs*

Vashti

101 things in 1001 days...

At the start of last year, I decided to quite making 'New Years' Resolutions' lists.

I find it difficult to keep them, and end up getting frustrated with myself.

At the time, a group of colleauges had, one by one, embarked on a "101 things in 1001 days" challenge.  Initially, I thought it was a bit of a fad - something that would lose momentum pretty quickly.  But I kept on seeing update posts on their blogs, and I was intrigued...

Could it be possible to make lasting changes?  To write a list and keep to it?  To expect change, yet forgive ones' self if it doesn't happen, and to have included this outcome in one's plans..?  And then get up and go at it all over again?

It appeared so.

And because personal development/evolution is something that is pretty much at the core of who I am, I decided to embark on the journey.

I can't find the original website right now, but this is exactly what I posted on my [old] photography blog, the first part of which was copied - verbatim - from the "101 things" website:


The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

My Master List:

1. Shoot my first solo wedding as Vashti Wood:Photographer
2. Be published.
3. Spend a week, on holidays, with just my husband!
4. Organise my make-up.
5. Set aside $10,000 to 'play' with.
6. Get Moto's eczema under control.
7. Read 35 books.
8. Find a kindergarten for Moto.
9. Find a school for Moto.
10. Make and educational video.
11. Expand my subscriber base by 1000.
12. Buy a Holga camera.
13. Identify 100 things that make me happy.
14. Visit Aljona in Germany.
15. Visit Ali in England.
16. Visit Paris.
17. Replace every piece of clothing in my wardrobe.
18. Get as close as possible to my pre-wedding size.
19. See a 'movie in the park'.
20. Visit Nikki & Richard, and Donoi & Folla in Perth.
21. Visit the Northern Territory.
22. Visit Tasmania.
23. Meet 5 favourite photographers.
24. Begin homeopathy studies.
25. Keep a dream journal.
26. Print/frame a dozen photos for my home.
27. Make new blinds for my home.
28. Make a cubby house for the kinder.
29. Organise and cull Moto's clothes.
30. Organise and cull Hugo's clothes.
31. Refurnish Moto's bedroom.
32. Refurnish Hugo's bedroom.
33. Make everyone's beds, every day for a month.
34. Make pizza from scratch.
35. Make scones from scratch.
36. Learn how to make mint jelly.
37. Throw a dinner party.
38. Make tomato relish.
39. Complete the New Testament group.
40. Remember everyone's birthdays, and send cards so they arrive on or before their birthdays!
41. Have a date-night with husband once a month.
42. Make a fold-up pocket sized re-usable shopping bag.
43. Make 6 dresses for Moto.
44. Get an iphone for Mark.
45. Get an N96 for me.
46. Upgrade our computer 'situation'.
47. Decide on two lenses to get.
48. Get two lenses.
49. Get an SB900 flash.
50. Celebrate our 5th Wedding anniversary.
51. Take a portrait of Moto once a month for a year.
52. Take a portrait of Hugo once a month for a year.
53. Create Kinder portrait blog and post the above two every month.
54. Ride to the Library, with the kinder, at least 6 times.
55. Get a pedicure and 'maintain' my feet.
56. Never leave the house without hair and makeup for at least one month.
57. Practice pilates every day for a month.
58. Visit the Great Wall in China.
59. 'Do' China, where tourists don't go.
60. Photograph someone famous.
61. Make a coffee table photo book.
62. Take portraits of all 'close' relatives.
63. Make a photo pin-board.
64. Take the kids to Disney Land.
65. Go camping with the kids 3 times.
66. Read Twilight series.
67. Build a snow man.
68. See a production by Cirque du Soleil.
69. Kiss in the rain.
70. Complete a Sudoku book.
71. Learn to solve a rubiks cube.
72. Get an ipod.
73. Get a video camera.
74. Get involved with and plan Dessert club for a year.
75. Try my hand at 3 holga modifications.
76. Watch "Gone with the Wind".
77. Visit Lenny in Malaysia.
78. Get teeth professionally whitened.
79. Take/post a photo every day for a whole year - create a 365 photo blog.
80. Take a Self-Portrait every week for a whole year - create a 52 photo blog.
81. Take a portrait of my Mum, print and frame.
82. Take a portrait of my Dad, print and frame.
83. Take a portrait of Mark, print and frame.
84. Have another family over for dinner/games at least 4 times.
85. Find/read 5 esoteric 'christian' scriptures/lost books.
86. Critique said books compared to the Bible.
87. Start a 'Tips and Tricks' journal, and write something in it at least once a week.
88. Create 500 wedding album templates in photoshop, or buy a wedding album software.
89. Remember to use re-usable shopping bags.
90. Plant Moto's placenta.
91. Plant Hugo's placenta.
92. Make homeopathic remedy from Moto's placenta.
93. Make homeopathic remedy from Hugo's placenta.
94. Toilet train Hugo.
95. Ride my bike every day for a month.
96. Leave a lovenote for Mark to find, once a month.
97. Be awake by 6am every day for a month.
98. Go cherry picking.
99. Shoot at least 1 national/interstate destination wedding.
100. Shoot at least 1 international destination wedding.
101. Restart this project

And so, I thought it best to transpose my 101 things blog entries to my OzBudgetBeauty.


I have been VERY lazy in keeping up to date with posts crossing items off my list, but now it's been transposed, I plan to be more consistent with it.


If you're thinking of creating some new years' resolutions, have a go at embarking on this journey instead.  It's surprisingly difficult to come up wtih 101 things you want on achieve in just under 3 years, and it makes you think.


So, I know it's a few months before the New Year dawns, but I thought I'd put it out there and get you thinking.


*hugs*


Vashti


t the start of last year, I decided to quite making 'New Years' Resolutions' lists.

I find it difficult to keep them, and end up getting frustrated with myself.

Video update on Secret Beauty Ingredients...

Just a quick update to syncronise my YouTube channel with my blog.

I've already blogged about two of the ingredients - Water and Olive Oil, and will update my YouTube channel in the next day or two.

I've FINALLY got my charger cord for my camera, so I'm back in business with stacks of reviews, updates, and tutorials to come!  Oh, and stay tuned for an awesome review and discount coupon for an online makeup store (I can't reveal anything here, but suffice to say that we're talking major brands MAC, L'Oreal, etc at rediculous prices).

Secret Beauty Ingredient: Water

Okay.  It's actually not a secret at all.  And we've all heard the instructions for us to drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water per day for optimum health...

Well, whilst it's true that we all could do well to drink a little more water every day (you should be drinking water instead of soft drinks, for instance) there *IS* a risk of drinking too much water.  Yes, beleive it or not, you CAN drink too much water and make yourself pretty sick in the process.

However, having said all of that, have you noticed that nearly EVERY time you look at the ingredients list of your beauty products (if you're NOT reading the ingredients lists, then you seriously SHOULD be) the very first ingredient listed is water [aqua]?

It's not an accident.

In case you didn't know, the list of ingredients on any skincare or cosmetic label, are always in descending order.  So that means, the closer to the front of the list an ingredient is, the more of it a product has.  And, the ingredient that is at the very FRONT of the list, is the ingredient that the product contains the most of.

Yup.  Most of us are shelling out big bucks for products which contain mostly water!!  What the...?

As an aside, you might find the Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary interesting reading.  If you've ever wondered what some of those weird sounding words on the back (or underside) of your skincare/cosmetic products are, then this is certainly the place to find out.  It contains not only the name of the product, but some detailed information as well, including links to studies and other sites.  Highly recommended!

There are literally thousands of web articles discussing the importance of water in the human body, and it's not my aim here to replicate any of them.

Just to remind you that:

• water is important
• we should all be getting a little more of it into our bodies than we currently do
• it's the main ingredient in nearly every skincare or cosmetic product
• dry skin NEEDS water, not only in the form of drinking water, but water applied and sealed directly onto the skin
  

Secret Beauty Ingredient: Olive Oil

Olive Oil!

I grew up in an area saturated with Italians, Turkish, and Greek immigrants.  Many of the kids I grew up with were 1st or 2nd generation Aussies!

As a result, most of my culinary experiences included extra virgin (and in most cases, homemade) olive oil!  MMMMMM, delicious!

But did you know that Olive Oil is also one of the most amazing [not so secret] skincare and beauty ingredients?

It's been found that the Egyptians (think Cleopatra), Greeks, Phoenicians, and Romans (among many others) all used this oil in beauty preparations!

Olive Oil:

• is a natural moisturiser - yup, it's absorbed right into the skin and helps to promote and retain it's elasticity (awesome news for those of you with rediculously dry skin like me, or eczema like my daughter)
• is very rich in antioxidants, including vitamins A and E, which are the key ingredients in ALL anti-ageing creams/lotions/serums etc
• also has the natural ability to stimulate cells and therefore, helps to enhance firmer and healthier skin
• can be used as a soap replacement for your entire body
• can be used as an eye makeup remover, removing even waterproof mascaras and eye liners
• is awesome when used as a lip balm
• is an amazing hair conditioner, and some people swear by it's ability to treat/prevent dandruff
• has got to be one of the best oils to strenghten nails and cuticles

I've recently, accidentally by the way, discovered what I consider to be the most amazing, hydrating, non-sticky, non-oily moisturiser featuring Olive Oil.  And what's better, is that it's cheap as chips, and you can make it yourself!


Basically, Olive Oil is the good stuff.  And you want to incorporate much more of it into your daily life than you already do.  Amazingly, not only is this stuff great on the skin/hair/nails (and in your beauty products) it tastes amazing too.  I've continued the traditions passed to me by some of my closest Italian friends, and we eat olive oil practically every day in our household.

As an aside, my three kids (17, 4 and 2yrs) LOVES 'garlic butter' that I make.  I take a tablespoon or two of softened butter, and drizzle olive oil into it (stirring constantly with a fork to incorporate it) until it's a really smooth pastey consistency.  Then I add salt and garlic to taste (you can use garlic powder if you prefer, but we reckon fresh minced garlic HAS to be the best).  Cover with clingfilm and leave in your fridge.  They'll have that stuff on bread, toast, plain buscuits, rice crackers or whatever.  No other flavours required!

Want to know more?  I'm composing a series of posts about 'secret' beauty ingredients, and have 3 more to go before I post my moisturiser's secret recipe.  Keep coming back to find out more.

Heads Up!!

G'day everyone.

I've seriously, almost accidentally, discovered what would have to be my holy grail of moisturisers!!!

Really!!

And it's homemade, all natural, and it's the most AMAZING thing for rediculously dry/damaged/sensitive skin.

I've been having terrible issues with my seasonal allergies.  My skin has been disgusting.  Dry, flaky, itchy, supersensitive.  It's been reacting to nearly EVERYTHING.

To say I was getting desperate is a little understatement.

I'm going to make a YouTube video about it, along with how to make it, and how to use it, and follow it up with a blog post here with the list of ingredients and some interesting facts on all of the ingredients and how awesome it is.

Seriously, my hubby thinks I should just patent or trademark the ingredients, keep them a secret, and make a million selling the product!  *laughs*  I, on the other hand, am paying it forward.

So if you know anyone with super dry skin, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, or skin that's supersensitive, you might want to tell them to keep an eye out in the next few days for my post...

It's really awesome.

Have a great day.

*hugs*

Vashti

I haven't forgotten you... honest!

July 2nd!!!

That was over 3 months ago!

Seriously!  That's how long it's been since I last posted, and it's probably been around the same length of time since I've posted a video to YouTube.

Life has been crazy hectic.  We've had health challenges, MUCH interstate travel, and my seasonal allergies have been wreaking havoc with my skin (and moods), we've bought a business...

Our 4yr old has just switched to full days at kindy, to prepare for school, so we've had all the hassle of ALL our routines changing to accommodate it.

I've got SO many videos, reviews, tutorials, tips and tricks to catch up on, I'm going to begin filming next week.

So, my first video will be a quick update.

Then I'm going to do two subscriber requests:
Top 10 Lip Products
5-minute face

I've also got tons of other requests, and questions, and a STACK of videos to make for my OzBudgetEvolution channel too.  So keep an eye out for it.

If you haven't already, follow me on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ozbudgetbeauty and subscribe to my YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/ozbudgetbeauty

Have a fantastic day!

*hugs*

Vashti