Liebster Award Nomination

A big thank you to the beautiful Michele over at Frugal Diaries for nominating belle | beau for our first award, a Liebster Award. We are so honoured! It made our normal Wednesday a lot more special!

Starting out in blogging can be quite daunting. When we decided to start belle | beau less than a month ago, thoughts such as 'will anyone besides or family read it?!'. Turns out they would. Although our following is very small at the moment, we appreciate each and every one of you!

This award is a fabulous way for new bloggers to connect and reach out to readers that perhaps wouldn't have normally stumbled across their blog.

About the award :

The Liebster Award is for bloggers who have less than 200 followers. We think it is great that there is a limit because some of us less known bloggers can get noticed without getting lost among those that have thousands of followers.

The Rules :

1. Bloggers must link back to the person who originally nominated them.

2. Nominees must answer all of the 11 questions given to them in the nomination.

3. Nominees must choose 11 of their favourite bloggers with under 200 followers to nominate for the award.

4. The blogger nominated cannot nominate the person who originally nominated them.

5. The blogger nominating another blogger must inform that blogger that they are being nominated.

Our Nominees :

The Lowly Scribble

Sweet Apple

Life in GMT +10

Pee XO

Buttons & Bows

Life as Caite Morgan

Summer Dawn Lifestyle

Bunny Likes to Shop

Katie Raines

Disco Airglow

Sass, Class & Lattes




Michele at Frugal Diaries Questions for us :

1. What inspired you to start blogging?

We both love to read blogs in our spare time, and get asked individually quite often where we have purchased our items of clothing/makeup/skincare/handbag etc from. We thought why not create a space where we can share our ideas, purchases and inspirations with others. 

2. What is your goal with blogging?

Our goal is to inspire our readers to live the most beautiful life they can - what ever that means individually for each reader. We are here to provide inspiration, share ideas and give advice. 

3. What’s one new thing you want to try this year?

Blogging was on the top of the list for both of us this year!! 

4. What is something you know now that you wish you knew then?

That it's the small things that create the big memories. 

5. What’s the latest book you read and would you recommend it?

Brooke : The Book Thief & yes.
Francie: A Million Little Pieces by James Frey and Yes. 

6. What’s the best advice someone ever gave to you?

To slow down and enjoy the now

7. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be ?

Brooke: I really love living in Perth - as I've gotten older I've grown to appreciate it more. But if I had to pick another place I have visited to live - NYC, hands down (that's assuming I can't move into Cinderella's Castle at Walt Disney World...)

Francie: Margaret River in the South West of Western Australia. So beautiful.  

8. What’s your most prized possession?

Brooke : If a person can be a prized possession, my boyfriend J. 

Francie: My babies. 

9. What’s your favourite quote?

“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” 
- Audrey Hepburn

10. What single quality do you appreciate the most in people?

Both : Honesty!

11. What’s your favourite post that you’ve written (please include a link)?

All about the eyes.

Our Questions for our Nominees :

1. Why did you decide to start your blog?

2. What beauty product can you not live without?

3. What is your 'go-to' outfit when all else fails?

4. Who is your biggest style inspiration?

5. If you could pack your bag right now and go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

6. What inspires you to write your blog posts?

7. What is your day job?

8. What is your ultimate 'me time' activity?

9. Who are some of your favourite 'well known bloggers' and why?

10. What do you do to workout/stay & healthy?

11. What are your goals, dreams and hopes for your blog?

Again - a big thanks to Michele for including us in this - we look forward to reading all of your answers. Be sure to comment on this post or our instagram page when you have completed your post.

Love B & F xx

Long Weekend Essentials

Some essential beach items for the Australia Day Holiday. 

Enjoy the weekend everyone 

B & F xx

Mara Hoffman bikini swimsuit
net-a-porter.com

Maison Michel black felt fedora
net-a-porter.com

Ray-Ban ray ban sunglasses
glasses.com

Kassatex beach towel
$82 - bloomingdales.com

Summertime- Beach Decor, Surf Art, Beach Photography, California,...
etsy.com

All About the Eyes

Keeping the skin around your eyes in tip-top condition can help to reduce and slow down the signs of ageing. It is important to start to look after your skin before it starts to age, rather than when you start to see the signs. The eyes are often the first thing a person looks at when meeting you  - so don't you want to give a great first impression??

Here are our pick of eye serums. Now, everyone has different needs when it comes to the eye area, so we would suggest having a chat to one of the lovely girls at your closest Mecca Cosmetica or Aesop store. Serums are not designed to be the only eye care used - they are best followed by complementing eye creams, especially if the skin is dehydrated. Like a face serum, eye serums are formulated to target particular skin issues such as dark circles and fine lines. 

Brooke's Pick:

Perricone MD

Vitamin C Ester Eye Serum

$82 from Mecca Cosmetica

I have been using this eye serum for about 5 years now. It is very lightweight, with it's consistency a little like water. My main concerns about my eye area are dark circles and developing fine lines. The ingredient 'Vitamin C Ester' has been developed to target our darker areas by acting as a brightener (and don't we all love a brightener!). Makeup goes over this product smoothly, and there is no down time while you wait for it to soak in, it is absorbed straight away. 

Perricone MD describe the product as follows: 

"Vitamin C Ester Eye Serum is the perfect complement to your daily eye treatment regimen.  With nourishing and protective antioxidants, this lightweight formula absorbs easily into the skin to deliver stunning results. It encourages collagen production to boost elasticity.  Apply on cleansed skin and follow with one of our award winning eye treatments."

Perricone have also released a whole face Vitamin C Ester Serum {here} which I am very keen to try. 

Francie's Pick:

Aesop Parsley Seed Eye Serum

$81

I love this eye serum as it is quick and easy to use, and soaks into the skin straight away. Aesop are a natural skin care brand, and this sparked my interest. The product feels refreshing on my eye area and has many essential oils and vitamins packed into this one little bottle. I have been using this product for several years and have been happy with it over the years. 

Aesop describe the product as follows:

"An easily absorbed moisturising treatment serum perfected for the sensitive skin area around the eyes. Its greaseless, silicone-free formulation makes this product ideal for all skin types and is designed for everyday use. The blend of concentrated botanical extracts in this exceptional product includes Carrot Juice, Lavender, Grapefruit Seed and Chamomile that, in conjunction with Parsley Seed Extract, constitutes a potent combination suited to all skin types. In our quest for perfection this product takes the extra step of using a silicone-free formulation to allow fast skin penetration, removing any incidence of product build-up or pores becoming clogged."

Have a beautiful weekend (long weekend to the follow Aussies!) everyone.

Love B & F xxx

Love : Shirt Dress

We love a shirt dress here at belle | beau. Especially if it's denim.

This one sported by Brooke was a purchase years ago from Sportsgirl and has lasted the distance over a few seasons.

we also don't mind a bottle of bubbles or two. much to the Rockstar's disapproval.

Here are some current season finds to shop.

ok, ok, not a complete shirt dress, but it's halfway there. plus its denim!

^^Country Road Chambray Quilted Dress, $149 ^^

for the daring!

^^Warehouse Oversized Shirt Dress at ASOS , $114 ^^

^^Witchery Sheer Solid Dress, $99.95^^

^^Paul by Paul Smith Shirt Dress in Stripe Print, $372 at ASOS^^

Love B & F xx

Proplenish : A Review

ProPlenish is a relatively new anti-ageing product on the market, and I have been taking it religiously for the last 7 months. ProPlenish is a collagen supplement (in the form of Marine Collagen) that helps to replenish the collagen that our bodies (horribly!) slow down the production of as we go through our 20's. You can read more about the product here .

I could not recommend this product highly enough. I add one sachet to a glass of water first thing in the morning, and give it a stir. It dissolves and settles within a few moments, and has absolutely no taste.
If you prefer, you can add it to your morning coffee, sprinkle it over your cereal or mix it into a shake, it's a personal choice.

Being on the cusp of turning the big 3-0, anti-ageing is high on my radar. ProPlenish is by far the most effective anti-ageing product I have tried. Since I have been taking ProPlenish, I have noticed a fullness in my lips, tiny little fine lines that were appearing around my eyes have disappeared and my skin has a plump, dewy glow to it. It also helps with nail and hair strength and growth.

With my job (a Teacher of little ones), my hands are constantly being washed and in all sorts of mess. My nails were also a mess. Since starting on the product, my nails have been their strongest in my whole life and no amount of wear and tear will hurt them. My hair is also very long and in good condition. My girlfriend (who also takes ProPlenish) and I have fondly nicknamed the product "Mermaid Water" because of the Mermaid-like hair it has given us.

I don't tend to wear much coverage on my face during the day (usually just some concealer and powder) and you can see the glow that ProPlenish has given my skin through the little makeup I wear.

the proplenish glow and mermaid hair ;)

And sorry...two no filter, minimal face makeup 'selfies' to come below...but just wanted you to see my skin close up!

^^ best lip colour ever!! ^^

ProPlenish can be purchased on the ProPlenish website and select health food stores around the Country. It costs $49.95 for a months supply. That is less than $2 a day. A bargain in my opinion. And the best $2 I spend in my whole day.

**Update!! (June 2015)**

Dropping back into this post to update you on my usage of ProPlenish! It has been over a year (closer to 18 months!) since I wrote this post, and OH MY how time flies.  New blog, new look, but same old me. So you are probably wondering: Is she still using ProPlenish? and the answer is yes. Most definitely. I still notice the difference in my skin, hair, and more recently, my nails. I thought they were good 18 months ago, but I didn't know what I was talking about as now they are beyond unbelievable! I still recommend this product to all that are interested in glowing, plump skin, and I kind of fear the day I fall pregnant and have to stop taking it. Kidding!! But kind of not... ;)

B x

Please note all opinions are my own. I was not paid or seeked out to write this review, I simply wanted to share the goodness that is Proplenish with you all. 

Black Tie Event Inspiration

I have worn this Carla Zampatti dress pictured to several events. It sure is a show stopper! 

I love using red when I have an event to go to - a colour I wouldn't normally turn to. Red lipstick( Nars Heat Wave is a favourite) and black OPI nails (we don't want to be too matchy-matchy) or a nude nail for a more classic look.

When wearing a red or bright lip, I like to leave the eyes as natural as possible, lined with black liquid eyeliner. 

I have 2 go- to hair styles for an event. One is side parted waves, the other is a classic ballet bun. This dress definately called for the later. 

When a dress is detailed , I like to keep the shoes timeless a nd simple. These Zara heels are a perfect example. 

B x

                      

                                        

                                      

                                      

Zara nude high heel sandals
zara.com

NARS Cosmetics sheer lipstick
bloomingdales.com

Opi nail varnish
$19 - liberty.co.uk

Walt Disney World Part 1 - The Magic Kingdom

A while back, my sisters and I took a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
We had the best time, and stayed for ten (!) nights at one of the Disney Resorts.

i highly suggest taking a cross-body style bag so your hands are free to take photos/hug characters. this mimco bag i purchased for the trip was the perfect companion whilst park hoping. shoes that strap your feet in are also a must...flip flops/thongs are a no-no for a full day of walking. i was SO shocked by how many people were hat-less whilst wandering the parks...sun smart is fashionable, people!

Since returning, I have been asked many times to provide suggestions and tips on how to plan a Walt Disney World (WDW) holiday. So with that in mind I have decided to create a series of posts over the next few months dedicated to planning a Walt Disney World Trip.





Firstly, there are probably many things that people aren't aware of when they first start thinking about a trip to WDW. WDW land is double the size of Manhattan. It covers 39 square miles and houses 24 resorts, 4 theme parks and 2 water parks. You could stay there for a year and not see everything there is to do! With a shopping and dining area called Downtown Disney, there is no reason to need to leave the Disney World for your entire stay.

Because my sisters were travelling for several months before and after the Disney portion of the trip (I met them for 3 weeks as I had work commitments) we stayed in one of the value resorts called Pop Century. We found this completely fine as we really only used the room to sleep, and the Dining Hall provided us with fast and cheap meals with a lot of variety. However, if you are after more of a resort type holiday, I would recommend a moderate or deluxe resort as they have a fabulous choice of restaurants, spas and pool areas.

Now onto the Magic Kingdom!

I was lucky enough to spend my birthday at the Magic Kingdom. We used 2 days to explore this park, and we still didn't have enough time to do everything we wanted to.

happy birthday to me! my special birthday badge. it was such a happy day - over 200 strangers smiled and said 'happy birthday brooke' as they passed me. i highly recommend having a birthday at a disney park, you feel so special!

The Magic Kingdom was my favourite park, mostly because of the true "Disney" feel it had to it, even if Walt himself didn't get to see his vision come to life. It has a lot of similarities to the original Disneyland with classic rides such as 'It's a Small World', 'Splash Mountain' and 'Peter Pan's Flight' just to name a few. Magic Kingdom is pretty low on the thrills in term of rides (I am a bit of a thrill seeker), so it was a nice way to ease into the theme park heavy week and a half we were about to have!

the red necklace around my neck is actually a lanyard (stylish, i know...). i used it to carry my camera around, as i only took my canon powershot to the parks. i found this fabulous as it meant i didnt have to dig around in my bag for my camera each time i wanted to use it.

day two at Magic Kingdom called for ponchos. these are available to purchase at all disney resort stores and at parks. super stylish, yes?? ;)

the beautiful cinderella castle. 

The next Disney post will be on Disney's Animal Kingdom. Stay tuned!

B x

{all photos taken with canon powershot}

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SK-II facial treatment essence : a review

For the past 10 years I have been extremely diligent in my beauty regime. 

A lot of the items have been mixed up and changed through out that time, but my one constant has been SK II Facial Treatment Essence (FTE).

FTE's main ingredient is Pitera (90%-read the background on Pitera here-it's quite amazing) FTE's nickname is 'Miracle Water' because of it's water like qualities and the way it works miracles on skin. 

I must admit, the first thing that enticed me to try the product was the marketing of the company. The peaches and cream complexion of Cate Blanchett staring out at me from the pages of glossy magazines wore me down, and I did some research on the brand. After reading some reviews on FTE, I decided to give it a go - and haven't looked back since. 

It gives my skin a gorgeous glow and is surprisingly hydrating for a product that isn't a cream. I use FTE morning and night, and it is the first thing I put on my skin after cleansing.

I use my hands to distribute a 20 cent piece sized drop over my face, using a patting motion. I let the goodness soak in for a few moments then follow with the rest of my products. I have somewhat sensitive skin and the product has not once irritated or broken out my skin. It also evens out my skin tone (a very important factor to me with combatting the ageing process!)

just wanted to show what my skin looks like with little makeup on - in this photo I have just concealer and a light mineral powder as cover on my face. 

In Australia, we can purchase the product at Myer and David Jones stores, and also some online retailers.

At a cost of $99 AUD for a 75ml bottle, it it on the pricey side, but money well spent in my opinion. I go through approximately 4 bottles per year as an indication of how much I use. 

Even Sebastian gives his paw of approval...

B x

**disclaimer**

all opinions are my own, I was not paid for nor seeked out to write this review. I simply wanted to share how much I love the product

photos taken with canon eos 100d and iphone 5

Melbourne Town

With family living on the east coast of Australia, we are lucky to be able to visit the city of Melbourne quite frequently.

Melbourne has taken a few trips to grow on me..being from 'The West' I am used to blue skies and warm weather. 

Melbourne is generally the opposite of that. 

However. 

Melbourne has a lot to offer that Perth doesn't. Cafes ... shops ... restaurants ... these all seem to have a bit more going for them than Perth's do. The Yarra is nothing in comparison to the Swan, and the beach is very 'un-beach-like' in Victoria,  but I have come to appreciate the city for what it is - an exciting playground where there is always something happening...

  

beautiful skyline

Melbourne has taken a few trips to grow on me..being from 'The West' I am used to blue skies and warm weather. Melbourne is generally the opposite of that. 

However. 

Melbourne has a lot to offer that Perth doesn't. Cafes ... shops ... restaurants ... these all seem to have a bit more going for them than Perth's do. The Yarra is nothing in comparison to the Swan, and the beach is very 'un-beach-like' in Victoria,  but I have come to appreciate the city for what it is - an exciting playground where there is always something happening...

south wharf

peek a boo

all photos taken by me/j with canon eos 100d.

style notes:

sunglasses : stella mccartney

knit & jeans : country road

bag : michael kors

boots : wittner

watch : michael kors

iphone cover : kate spade

B x