How to take a good license photo

It's hard to take a good photo when you aren't allow to smile. Don't give up, here are a few of my tips for taking the best Driver License photo you can....

Do a few facial exercises to relax your muscles first. It doesn't matter how silly you look, this will pay off.

Don't lift or drop your chin

Posture. Drop your shoulders and have a straight back straight. Everyone looks better with a neck :)

Don't wear too much makeup up. I always think your nicest daytime makeup works best

Don't overload with accessories. Don't get me wrong, I over-accessorise everyday but I find that in photos it can look dated quickly.

Don't try to be sexy. You'll look like an idiot.

Relax. The camera picks up nerves like a guard dog.

and smize like you have never smized before.

What I wore: Trip to the salon

This morning I am off to visit one of my favourite people in the world. My gorgeous friend Toni. Not only does she laugh at my jokes, watch sad movies with me and not look in shock when I stuff huge meals into my mouth, she also manages my difficult hair. Toni owns the Beautiful You Hair and Beauty Day Spa and today she need to tend to my roots and trim off my crunchy ends.

What I wore...

This kinda ridiculous Boom Shanker Australian animal print jacket which I love, white Bonds t-shirt, black JAG jeans, an old but awesome belt and cowboy boots. This is the kind of outfit my country boy husband looooves. Giddiup!!

What outfits does your partner love you in?

The best dark circle concealer ever!!

School holidays, wet & cold weather and 3 weeks fighting a virus have really rocked me. I've truly spent the last three weeks looking like an extra from 'The Walking Dead'. At least if I really was an extra I would have the benefit of a up-close-and-personal perve at Daryl Dixon.

Because it was time to step back out in public, I decided to hit the beauty counters and find something...anything...at any cost, to make me look a little less like shit.

I must be the only person on the planet that didn't know about Benefit Erase Paste $47. This really is the shizz!!!

This thick, orangy paste camouflages and illuminates the under eye area. I'm almost looking and feeling human.

Now, to deal with my regrowth and overgrown eyebrows.

What's is your go to miracle product?

The Lone Ranger 2013 review

This was one movie I wasn't keen to see. I have a lingering, love affair of Johnny Depp since 21 Jump street and I have a very new, fresh, love affair of the very handsome and very tall Armie Hammer and a girl crush on Helena Bonham Carter but this still wasn't enough.

I dragged myself along to the preview. What else was I going to do on a raining Sunday afternoon? I also took my very excited, young daughter.

Seriously, how could anyone think Johnny Depp with a dead crow in his head was a good idea?

Any woo, I've completely changed my mind. I loved, loved this movie. I want to buy a white horse, I want my husband to wear spurs and I don't even mind the crow.

My daughter can not stop talking about this movie and gave it a 10.5 out of 10. She's cute, but I think she needs some maths tutoring.

I dare you not to smile and whoop when the William Tell Overture blasts through the theatre.

This is an excellent, fun, holiday movie.

Target Toy sale and a $50 Target voucher!!

I'm always on the hunt for a good bargain and I will hunt high and low for it. Combining my love of a bargain and hunting is the Target Toy Race on 26 June. I am fairly certain this will bring out all my worst traits but I'll end the day a happy, happy girl. The Target Toy Sale is always amazing and I'm planning on hitting it in a major way. I'm going to have all my gifts, presents, bribes, stocking stuffers, and sorry-I-was-too-lazy-to-make-dinner gifts sorted for the next 6 months.

I must admit that I am a little scared for anyone else participating in the Target Toy Race. I can be so very competitive and it won't be pretty. I will be the lady with the frantic look in her eye, wondering where the hell she left her trolley and children. I'll have to find a way to fasten them all to my body.

There are a few things on my must-hunt-down list. My girls will think I am awesome if I manage to get my hands on a couple of iCoustic Tower Speakers. The girls and I love to have spontaneous dance parties while we are getting ready for school. These will be awesome for that.

I'll also grab anything with Lego written on the side. I love the 6 hours of silence that comes after the box is opened and the girls are constructing colourful, Lego houses.

Now, how would you like to win a $50 Target voucher!!!!

To enter:

1. Comment below or on facebook - Tell me what you would hunt down in Target with your voucher.

2. Do this prior to 6am on 6 July 2013

3. Make sure you leave an email address so I can contact you and
4. If you like Redcliffe Style on Facebook, that would be nice too but not a deal breaker :)

The Target Toy Sale runs from 26 June 2013 to 17 July 2013.

I have not received payment for this article, I was offered vouchers and I snapped them up because I already shop at Target and was happy to share it.

What I wore: Meeting with clients

Today I am off to meet with clients. To be honest, I love dressing up in 'work' clothes. It makes me feel important and serious. I worked in law firms for 14 years, so I dressed 'worky' a lot but now it's such a novelty and so much more fun.

So my work costume today is full of excellent bargain buys. This is a Witchery Military jacket bought on sale about 2 years ago. It was marked down and marked down and marked down again. In the end, I think I handed over about $40. The Review dress was picked up in the Myer sales a year ago. I think it came down to about $50. My laaaady-like pearls where gifts from my hubby, voodoo tights and Zu booties. Orange nails for colour (OPI A Roll in the hague) and red lippy because I love a little clashing.

I'm all business.

How to look good when you have a cold

The best thing you can do when you have a cold or flu is go to bed and rest but sometimes we have to pull it together when we really don't feel like it.

1. use a good moisturiser and a light foundation or BB cream. Your skin will probably be dehyrdated and you won't want to overload it with heavy products that will bring attention to it. This is my favourite BB at the moment, and we all know why ;)
2. green tinged concealer around the nose to hide the redness. Check out the Napolean Perdis one. This is thick enough to hold up after a couple of wipes of a wet tissue
3. stay away from red lipsticks, these will highlight any redness in your face or around your nose. I usually go for a lip balm with a little colour. My favourite is Lanolips with colour. If you have to go for a lippy, then try a light natural pinky/brown colour
4. blush is a must. You need to put a little life back into your face and blush is the quickest way to do this. Only a little, or you'll look like an over made up corpse
5. Eye drops. These will take away some of the redness before you add some...
6. Waterproof mascara. Your eyes might be watery but you still need to open them up
7. Focus on your good points. You can't go wrong with your eyebrows at this time. Fill them in, add some wax and brush them into place. Avoid plucking, you can't handle a lot of pain at the moment.
8. Just a light, spritz of Perfume, to hide the smell of vicks vapour rub. I would even go as far as to put a bandage around your wrist and pretend the strong smell is dencor rub
9. Wear a brightly colour scarf around your neck. This is for two great reasons: one, it'll protect your neck and chest and two, it'll distract from the mess that is your face
   
10. Find some soft aloe vera tissues and keep a good stash on you. There is NEVER an excuse to sniff or snort
11. Dry shampoo is your best friend. You don't want to get cold and wet hair at a time like this
12. Brush your teeth, floss and gargle
13. Hat and sunnies hide nearly everything
    
14. Keep up the water, juice and panadol and...
15. smile

Catalina Geo - BB cream with a vibrating applicator

Obviously, I'm talking about the applicator that applies the Catalina Geo BB cream. It looks and feels delicious.

Check it out!

A big thanks to Kimba from Kimbalikes for running the competition that led me to winning this cute prize.

The Paperboy review and DVD giveway worth $200

Never has there been a movie so perfectly mis-cast as The Paperboy. What I thought was so very wrong, was so very right. Not one actor would have been the person I would have picked for their roles. Lucky, they didn't ask for my help when casting.

I can't say I completely understood this movie all the time but I could not look away.

The only thing I knew about this movie was that Nicole Kidman really urinated on Zac Efron during the filming. Yes, I can see why that is newsworthy, but there was so much more to the movie than the much talked about golden shower scene.

This movie follows an investigative reporter, his partner, his brother and a death row groupie as they try to prove a violent swamp-dwellers was framed for the murder of a corrupt local sheriff.

The casting, costumes, set and filming was fantastic and gave you the impression it was really set in the 1960s.

I don't want to ruin any moment of this, but Zac Efron has grown up since High School reunion, Matthew McConaughey's role went places I didn't expect, Nicole Kidman was brassy, sensitive and unpredictable, my forever crush on John Cuzak died a very, swift death AND Macy Gray is a superstar. When Macy Gray was on screen, I couldn't look at anyone else.

This movie is not for children (or teenagers, or the prudish, or to watch with your in-laws).

Thanks to Roadshow Entertainment, this is another great movie that you can own. I have 5 copies to giveaway.

GIVE AWAY!!
If you would like to own this movie, all you have to do is:

1. Leave a comment either here or on facebook telling me why you would like to win a copy of The Paperboy;
2. Enter prior to 6am on 20 June 2013; and
3. Make sure there is a way for me to contact you.

If you would like to 'like' Redcliffe Style on Facebook that would be cool too.


The Paperboy is available to rent & own on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download from 28 June 2013

I have not received payment to review or host a giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Silver Linings Playbook giveaway worth $200

I wasn't sure about this movie. I must be the only woman on the planet that doesn't see the appeal of Bradley Cooper. He always looks greasy and sleazy. Like an upper class, uni student with a weird sex kink. I've enjoyed all the movies I have seen him in but I just didn't think he was that special.

This movie turned it around. I'm sure he still has some weird kinks but think he can act his arse off. It took me about 40mins to start enjoying this movie and then I loved it. I loved every subtle, magical moment of it.

Robert DeNiro is perfectly cast as the OCD, booky dad. Jackie Weaver was probably my favourite character. She is so loyal and adorable plus the camera loves her. I can see why Jennifer Lawrence received all the accolades she did. She was perfect. They were all perfect.

For those that don't know, this movie is about a man's life after a long stint in a mental institution. He obsesses on how to win back his cheating wife and in the meantime he befriends a younger lady who has plenty of her own issues.

This is a comedy. I wasn't sure for a while, but I did catch myself smiling.

This is definitely on my you-must-see-it list.

Now, who wants to see it? Thanks to Roadshow Entertainment I have 5 copies to giveaway.

GIVE AWAY
If you would like to own this movie, all you have to do is:

1. Leave a comment either here or on facebook telling me why you would like to win a copy of Silver Linings Playbook;
2. Enter prior to 6am on 17 June 2013; and
3. Make sure there is a way for me to contact you.

If you would like to 'like' Redcliffe Style on Facebook that would be cool too.


Silver Linings Playbook is available to rent & own on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download from 5 June 2013

I have not received payment to review or host a giveaway. All opinions are my own.

At Last....

Last night we went to opening night of At Last: The Etta James Story starring the amazing Vika Bull. I was already an Etta James fan but now I'm a die hard Vika Bull fan. Her voice left me speechless. I only wish it left the drunks behind me speechless too. But no, they sang along to every note and warble.

This is a narrative concert. So you learn about Etta's troubled life in between hearing her hits. I loved hearing these little snippets. Once when she was asked to describe her singing style she responded that singing allowed her to vent 'All this bitch shit inside of me'. I think that's my blog style too.

Not only was Vika awesome, her musicians were excellent too. I loved watching them and found myself getting distracted by watching them working together. I loved seeing them looking and watch for each others subtle cues.

Usually, I'm like an emotional rock but my eyes did fill with tears when Vika sang 'At Last'.

Afterwards, we joined the star, musicians and crew for drinks.

The star

The freaking awesome Vika Bull

The Musical director - Piano and Keyboards

John McAll

Chillaxing with the guitar dudes

Chris Bekker - Bass &  Dion Hirini - Guitar

What I wore: Brown, a lot of brown with a faux fur shrug from Myer. A sexy pair of overpriced booties that I'm not even close to reaching acceptable cost-per-wear. A tan, handmade, envelope clutch from Som & Tooby (I added my own dingle dangle). Warm & Fozzy OPI nails, Maybelline Plum Perfect lipstick

This was an excellent way to spend an evening.

It's not too late. This show runs until 9 June. You can find details here

2 Freebies you must hunt down right now!!

I'm not kidding. Attached to two Australian magazines are two awesome freebies that you must own.

First is a fantastic Ginger & Smart scarf. This is attached to the June Bazaar Magazine. There are two graphic prints, I went for the black and white. The scarf is an excellent size. Perfect for wrapping around your neck to keep you warm in winter, or to use as a sarong in summer.

Second, is a cute umbrella by Camilla and Marcs. This is attached to the Marie Claire. As a bonus you can also read "Sexts & the ex: When he turns your pics into Porn" (I hate that). Back to the brolly, this also comes in two prints, I went for the lighter one. A neat size to keep in the back of your car for the surprise showers that always hit at school pickup time. 

I know without a doubt that I'll be heading back to the supermarket to pick up the other scarf and brolly before the week is out.

I'll see you there!

20 Things Every Woman should know before she turns 40

Things every woman should know before she turns forty. If you work it out before thirty then you are freakin' awesome and I want to be your BFF.

1. How to change a tyre. There is nothing sexier than a capable woman who is not scared of a little grease.
2. How to open a bottle of champagne without flinching. I'm always surprised how many people pass me the champagne to pop. Not that I mind, it's one of my favourite sounds. Even my dog has been trained to come running for it.
   
3. How to whip up a dinner party on short notice.
4. How to set the dinner table correctly for your short-notice, dinner party.
5. Give yourself a good blow dry. Not just drying your hair but giving it big, body and bounce.
6. Know what you like (and don't like) sexually.
7. To be able to eat alone in a restaurant or go to a movie by yourself.
8. Enjoy being alone and not confusing this for loneliness. 
9. Wear red lipstick without also wearing it all over your face or teeth.
   
10. Know that it's ok, and sometimes a lot of fun, to step out of your comfort zone.
11. How to laugh at yourself.
12. Know how to receive a compliment. It's okay to say 'Thank you' when someone says something nice. Don't try to fob it off and make them argue their compliment point. Saying thank you doesn't mean you agree, just that you appreciate their words.
13. Not to delay pap smears or breast exams.
14. How to say 'No'.
15. How to be a good guest. Don't underestimate this one. The good guest will be invited back over, and over, and over. The bad guest, well.......
16. How to use correct table manners. It's no secret how I feel about table manners. 
    
17. How to ask for help when you need it.
18. Be proud of being a woman and flaunt it if you feel like it. There is nothing wrong with a little cleavage or some leg.
19. How to love yourself and know you are loveable.
20. How to choose happiness. 

What else do you think we should know before 40?

What I wore: A cold morning in Brisbane

I have sick children, appointments and frizzy hair. I also have this fab red, faux fur, long line vest I picked up in the Myer's stocktaking sales. I threw it over some slim, black, jag jeans, a long sleeved black Witchery t-shirt and some old tan Zola boots. A quick braid inspired by the gorgeous Christina from Hair Romance and I was ready to take on the world.

I think it could make me look a little like Elmo, but who doesn't love a big, hearted muppet.

Selfies: 10 Tips to save you from losing friends or followers

We live a world now that everything is captured by camera and posted on several social medias within seconds and I love it!! But here are a few tips to ensure you don't lose all your RL friends or followers.

1. If you look awesome but your friend looks terrible you can't use the photo. If you look that great and you have to use it, then consider cropping them out or using the focal point to blur the crap out of them.

2. Never post photos of someone eating or talking with food in their mouth

3. You took a blurry photo. Delete! Why do people share blurry photos?

4. Weird proportions. You know when someone is too close to the camera and they appear massive. (Warning: differences may have been exaggerated a little in these images)

5. If you are stuck in a posing rut. You notice you are pulling the same pose and expression in EVERY SINGLE PHOTO. Delete!

6. Thinking of taking a photo of your injury and sharing it with everything. Please don't. I don't even like hearing about injuries let alone seeing it close up and filtered for effect.

7. Taking 20 photos at the same occasion, with the same people, doing the same thing. One or two great photos will suffice.

8. Overload the picture with hashtags. If the hashtag list is bigger than the photo, rethink a few of them.

9. Avoid the thumb.

10. Overusing fancy photo apps, frames and filters.

What are your selfie tips?