#PursueToSmile

This year, beyond a shadow of a doubt, has been the most difficult year of my entire life.  It has been a chaotic, sad and pressure filled year. I lost 3 family members in three months, my finances were mostly dismal and I was going through a major existential crisis. But, these days, things are so much better and it is mostly because I decided to make a conscious decision to be happier whatever was happening in my world; that and a lot of prayer.

So the other day when I read Verushka’s (her blog)  #PursueToSmile blog post,  I thought: “Hey, this is just another way to bring some joy into my life”. Let me explain the concept. This is what I gathered from the post.

*Write/blog/tweet 5 things that make you smile

* Take a picture of you smiling and post it on social media

* Nominate two or more friends to take on the #PursueToSmile challenge

* Tweet “I have taken the #PursueToSmile challenge

And now for my list..

 *My son and the rest of my family. These people are so funny and creative that they make being around them an absolute joy. And they always keep me inspired.

 * Blogging has helped me through a lot of tough situations this year. Even if I don't have a ton of followers, never go to events and I don't get a lot of page views, the feeling self worth that I get from blogging is more than enough. Also, there are so many amazing bloggers out there that I cannot help but be motivated by them.

 * Anything hot in a pretty mug puts a smile on my face. There's something about a cup of green tea that seems like it could be magic. And I am sure I don't have to explain the amazingness of a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day.

*BOOKS! Basically anything I can get my hands on to read. I am obsessed with collecting books and magazines and being transported to far away places and glamorous photo shoots. To me, reading is literally like taking a mini vacation from the chaos of the outside world.

 *Fashion. What can I say about fashion? I love the fact that you get to be a different person everyday through fashion. You get to have a voice and no one can really say " well hey, you are doing it wrong". I read fashion blogs and magazines everyday and I find myself continuously amazed and inspired by the fashion industry.

Here is my picture

That is as big as my smile goes

I nominate Namreen from Life and Times of the Fireflies, Tasneem from City Girl Vibe and Naeemah from The Jam Jar Blog


* I do not take credit for some of the images in this post

OOTD - Casual Lunch

Since I hardly ever have anyone to take pictures of me during the day (no one with the patience anyway) I refrain from doing look posts. However, I would still like to share what I wore every now and then and I figured why not do it this way. I realise it is not nearly the same as a proper look post, but I suppose it is better than nothing.  Maybe I am just too terrified to actually pose in front of a camera.This is a quick post on what I wore recently to a pretty laid back lunch with a very good girlfriend of mine. I hope you enjoy it nevertheless.

* Boyfriends jeans and spike bracelet : Mr Price (Quirky Stylista range)
*Neon trimmed clutch and white T shirt : JET
*Sunglasses: Freebie with Glamour mag
*Shoes: Legit
* Lips ring : Edgars
* Gellac Nailpolish (burgundy) : Yardley

Thank you for reading....

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

REVIEW: Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara

More often than not you will find me reviewing mascara on my blog. That is because I simply cannot stay monogamous when it comes to them: yes I have become somewhat of a mascara whore. While I have firm favourites, like Maybelline Illegal Definition (read post here), you’ll always find me yearning to try new ones and ultimately buying them. A few months ago I posted a lukewarm review of Lancome’s Hypnose Drama mascara which you can read here and today I’ve decided to discuss Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara.

 

Here are my thoughts on the product

The packaging is once again absolutely picturesque. The white tube is adorned with the most adorable little red hearts and flowers and was created by Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz. Too be honest, it looks like the R315 it costs.  Application was much easier than with the Drama mascara. The brush doesn’t pick up as much product either which makes it a relatively smudge free process.

Two coats are all you need to create lashes that are curvaceous and impactful. Without a doubt it creates a doll eye effect. Furthermore it stays on for the longest time but, also removes quite easily with a cotton swab and make up remover. It is definitely not mascara I would purchase for myself over and over again simply because of the cost; my budget would never forgive me. If you are looking to spoil yourself and splurge this would be a great choice.

Long lasting effects and a great smell: I give this mascara an 8/10.

Which mascara are you currently using and coveting?

 

                                                             TILL LATER, LAUREN!

Men's style for winter

The other day I was told that I hardly ever post anything for my male readers. Mind you, I didn’t even know I had male readers. Nevertheless, here I am doing one for the dudes. I absolutely love doing inspiration posts, so I thought why not do one on winter fashion for guys. I don’t consider myself a fashion guru, I like what I like and I tend to share what I like. I’ve gathered a few images that have caught my eye and I hope you guys (and girls enjoy it).

 

*I do not take credit for the images in this post

 

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

Review: Revlon Colorstay Foundation

As a blogger it is so easy to get swept up in the excitement of new products popping up everywhere. This frequently means that we forget about the products we know, love and trust.  I am a very curious soul and always on the lookout for new things to try: especially products other bloggers rave about. This was certainly the case when it came to foundation.

I have been sampling a lot of other brands but, for some reason I keep drifting back towards Revlon Colorstay. I’ve been using it for years now and, as far as I am concerned, it’s ideal. Let me tell you a little about the foundation.

 

What it says on the bottle

·         Wears for up to 24hours

·         Oil free and shine control

·         Natural flawless look

My experience with the foundation

The bottle does not lie. There have been instances where I have been out clubbing and the only thing that survived the sweaty, sticky night was the foundation. With a bird’s nest on my head and raccoon eyes the next day, my skin still looked fresh and flawless. It goes on very smoothly and blends really well whether I use my fingers or a brush. (I prefer to use my fingers however). Because it promises to stay put for 24 hours, you would expect it to feel heavy, but that is not the case at all. What’s even more fabulous is that you only need a little bit for maximum coverage. This means you won’t have to replace it for a long time. Revlon Colorstay is definitely a lifesaver. If you are keen to get a flawless, natural look without the heavy feeling, I suggest you get your butt to the mall and buy it.

PS. I usually get mine at Edgars

 

Saving ALERT!

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

 

Words on Wednesday

Hey everyone!

How has the week been treating you so far? Whenever I am feeling the midweek slump (or any other slump for that matter) I always try to think of things that make me really happy. Just to cheer myself up. Recently I won one of the loveliest giveaways ever on Desle’s blog here

I completely forgot to share some of the images I took with you guys. So in an effort to get myself out of this slump; have a look at what I won on one of my absolute favourite blogs. Do yourself a favour and have a look at Desle’s blog. It’s beyond fabulous!



My favourite part of the prize by far was the hand written card!

 

                                                                     TILL LATER, LAUREN!

It's not personal



I do not take credit for this image

 

How many times have you been in a shopping mall where a toddler has thrown her/himself on the floor and a panic stricken mother is either standing helplessly, visibly praying or attempting to negotiate with the screaming child? I have witnessed the sight a multitude of times and every single time I have thought “Women please get your sh*t together!”

Now that I am a mother too, however, it is whole other ball game.  While my son rarely throws tantrums in public places (I got lucky), I have encountered it a few times and I can tell you without a doubt, it is any mother’s worst fear. Not because we have no idea how to handle our children, but because strangers are standing around, staring judgingly just as I was.  You have to understand, you simply cannot prepare in advance for a tantrum, it always happens when you least expect. But, this post is not for the onlookers. It is for the moms who have been avoiding going out all together because they cannot imagine dealing with the dreaded outburst.

Let me assure you, IT’S NOT PERSONAL. Chances are it is just a case of bad timing: you probably decided to make the trip close to the little one’s nap time. Or the large crowd is causing them to be a little restless. More often than not, it has nothing to do with who you are as a parent. The sooner you realise that, the sooner you can forget about being judged and that might make defusing the situation a little easier. Forget about feeling self-conscious and focus on the child.

Like I said there is no way to fully prepare for a tantrum, but you can do a few things to lessen the chance of one. What works for me is feeding before we go shopping and also packing a few snacks. I also make sure my son is well rested and is aware of where we are going and what is going to happen. And the most important thing, I promise him a reward if we get through the trip without any major hiccups. And if all else fails and he does end up throwing a tantrum, I take him home. I can always continue shopping another time. Losing my own composure is bound to make things way worse. Remember, IT’S NOT PERSONAL.

                                                              TILL LATER, LAUREN!

REVIEW: Cinderella's Secret Body Scrub

As you may or may not have guessed by now I am a huge fan of Cinderella’s Secret products. So far everything I have used has been so luxurious, so decadent! I have already reviewed two of my favourite products from the brand read post here and today I would like to talk about one that caught me completely off guard: The Love Potion Body Scrub.

Generally I am not too fond of body scrubs simply because I hate having to spend a good couple of minutes actually rinsing the stuff off. However, this time that was not the case at all. From the moment you lather the product on you feel pampered (I know I did). It has a rich and creamy formula that makes you feel both relaxed and revived at the same time. And, it rinses off easily. No hard labour involved.

 I have to say that my absolute favourite thing about the body scrub is the way it smells. I wanted to use it for a while before doing a review and I am beyond amazed. It leaves my skin feeling supple and cared for every time. As far as I know it retails for under R30 so you really have no excuse not to indulge. 

* please note that this was not a sponsored post.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my blog. Id love to hear what products you count on for a good pamper session. Alternatively connect with me on twitter @CkoBlog and my facebook page CKO cool kids only- blog.

                                                                TILL LATER, LAUREN!

CKO turns 1!

Even as I am typing this, it still feels unreal. How did I manage to blog for a whole year when I am so used to not finishing things? The answer is simple: this blog has been my saving grace. It is the one place where I can to share my thoughts and I don’t have to sugar coat anything. This blog has helped me overcome so many obstacles in the last year and, most importantly; it has helped me celebrate motherhood and my love for all things fashion and beauty.

The other day I was asked why my blog is called “Cool Kids Only”. If you knew throughout my childhood and high school you would certainly appreciate the irony. I was NOT cool at all, not even close. That’s why I thought choosing that name would be really funny (even if it was a private joke).

When I started the blog I was unsure of what I wanted it to be about, if anyone would read or how long I would be able to keep it up. But here we are, a whole year later and I couldn’t be more proud of my humble little blog. Through blogging I have discovered so many brilliant blogs and they have all made me want to be a better blogger myself. While I am still not entirely sure of the route I want to take with my blog, I definitely know what kind of blogger I want to be.  The kind that is authentic and supportive of other bloggers. One who is truthful and approachable and hardworking .Am I all of that right now? I don’t know yet, but here’s to another year of working on that.

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my blog. Thank you for every comment, share, mention and retweet. You would never know just how much it means to me. Bear with me while we attempt this for another year.

 

                            REST IN PEACE JAELYN: 2012- 2014 L

                                                 TILL LATER, LAUREN!

TRENDING: Cut out boots

Every now and then a shoe comes along that I am completely fascinated with but, also completely terrified of. At the moment that shoe is the cut out bootie. For quite some time now it’s been on my radar and I have spotted it on celebrities, off duty models and fashion bloggers the world over. While I completely adore how it looks on everyone else; I am not exactly sure my thin legs would be able to do them justice. And yet I still desperately want to get my hands on a pair. From the street style snaps I have seen these boots seem super versatile. It can be worn with flirty frocks or you can go the rocker chic route with black skinnies and a leather jacket. Whatever you personality desires.

                                                          Wear them with leggings

                                                                   Or socks...

                                                              How gorgeous are they?

 

 

HOW TO WEAR THESE BEAUTIES

 

                                                  

                                                    

 

* I do not take credit for the images in this post

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my humble blog. If you enjoy it please do me a favour and follow it. Alternatively connect with me on twitter @CkoBlog and like my facebook page CKO cool kids only- blog. Are you rocking the cut out boot trend? I would LOVE to hear from you.

                                                         TILL LATER, LAUREN 

REVIEW: Tresemme` Heat Defence Styling Spray

Now this is what I call a little bottle of dynamite. I have been using Tresemme` Heat defence styling spray for over a year now and I am thoroughly impressed. After giving birth my hair took a turn for the worse and I was in need of every bit of extra care I could find. I started looking for products that would not only help me fix my hair, but that would also continue to protect my hair once it was repaired. Let’s talk a little about the product.

What it says on the bottle

For soft, shiny results spray evenly through damp hair. Use a brush to pull hair straight and blow dry from roots to ends. Helps prevent hair becoming brittle and dull. With continued use prevents up to 82% less breakage. Helps protect against damage from dryers and heat styling tools, smoothes frizz and seals in shine.

What do i think about the product?

As I have already mentioned, this product has been one of the saving graces of my hair. After the first few blow outs there was a visible difference to my hair. It was soft and shiny and so much more manageable. More often than not I have ended up being disappointed after a blow out but, a lot less in the last year. The formula is a lightweight spray that gives you the most amazing shine without the greasy feeling. More importantly, it smells incredible. I can’t remember how much I paid for it but, knowing me, it probably wasn’t too expensive. The product certainly lived up to everything that was promised on the label. Overall, I was beyond impressed and I would recommend it to everyone reading.

What heat styling products do you prefer using? Have you used this one? I would love to hear from you .Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. If you enjoy reading it please do me a huge favour and follow it.  Alternatively connect with me on twitter @CkoBlog or via my facebook page CKO cool kids only- blog.

 

                                             TILL LATER, LAUREN!