New Website: The Gracious Life

Hi everyone, as I mentioned in the previous post that something new and exciting was coming, well it is here...The Gracious Life.

The Gracious Life will still feature blog posts about fashion, beauty and lifestyle, but also has a few extra bits!

Check it out: 
http://www.thegraciouslife.com.au/

Something New and Exciting is Coming!

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to say sorry for the lack of posts! I am currently working on the launch of a new and improved blog/website.....which should be launching very soon...I will keep you all updated...so watch this space!

For now, here's a little sneak peak:

The Life of an Award Winning Hair Stylist: Lizzie Liros

Lizzie Liros, Multi-Award Winning Bridal Hairstylist and International Educator, lets us in on what a typical week in her super busy schedule looks like.

A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF LIZZIE LIROS

Saturday: 3am to 2pm

Saturday mornings are usually very early starts and this one is no exception, up at 3am to prepare for the first of three weddings for the day. My first stop for the day is a high-end wedding in ritzy Double Bay to prepare six bridesmaids and the bride for an early morning church ceremony. The style is highly polished and sophisticated which suites this group of women perfectly as the bride is an ex-mode, as are her four of her bridesmaids, a very glamorous and beautiful wedding.

Once my first wedding is complete, I race off to the other side of town for a smaller, more intimate vintage style wedding. This 1pm ceremony has three bridesmaids and the bride is a lot more relaxed with a garden setting. Nothing like finishing the day with a beach sunset and that is exactly where my next wedding takes me, up to the iconic Palm Beach for a gorgeous simple boho styled beach wedding with three bridesmaids, the bride and two darling flower girls. This relaxed barefoot bride wanted a sun kissed complexion and natural tussled curls so befitting for the surrounds.

Sunday: 4am

Today I am flying to Melbourne for one of my regular client’s very special days. A traditional Indian wedding is one of the most exciting occasions you could be involved with. I just adore the theatre and colour and tradition. Today I will stay with my bride all day and night as she changes between 2 different looks for the ceremony and reception.  Really fun day.

Monday: 6am

I high tail it back to Sydney for three days of education at my Sydney studio. Over three full days I will guide 30 hairdressers in varied levels of education; hairstyling basics on day one, a master class on day two and my favourite, vintage styles on day three.  I absolutely adore the change of pace my career affords me, education is my way of giving back and nurturing the next generation of stylists.

Tuesday: 6pm

After a full day of education I am helping my daughter with her study for HSC.  Is school getting harder or is it just me?

Wednesday: 6pm

Education is wrapped for the day and I squeeze in a quick meeting with my management team to discuss my upcoming USA tour. I’m beyond excited as this is my first educational tour to America and I can’t wait to meet all my students. The tour takes me to LA, Miami and NYC, oh and a little stopover in Vegas for some well-earned me time.

Thursday: 7am to 6pm

Today I am in my salon with back to back appointments, but today I am with a film crew who will be following my every move for a documentary on my career and life. I feel a bit like a reality star to be honest and wouldn’t mind some of that Kim Kardashian cashola or her shoe collection if it was on offer. Today is the last day of a seven week shoot, I will miss the crew when they go.

Work over for the day and it is off to soccer practice with my son.

Friday: 5am

Today I am shooting my new book and DVD, "Celebrity Hair by Lizzie Liros". I absolutely love shoot days as we all have so much fun and it is such a creative energy that I need to thrive.

I am so fortunate to have surrounded myself with a brilliant team of models, photographers and makeup artists and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. My sponsors also make my job so much easier as the professional hair styling product range I work with from Whitesands Australia makes styling hair an absolute breeze. Likewise I am blessed to be working with the most beautiful hair extensions from Amazing Hair Australia that allow me the opportunity to be really creative. They are all my support system in so many ways and I love them to bits.

Tomorrow is Saturday and I do it all again and wouldn’t change a thing. People often ask how I maintain such a busy schedule day in and day out, and I tell them if you love what you do then it isn’t work, it is a blessing.

Fashion Icons at The Art Gallery of South Australia

The Art Gallery of South Australia will be hosting an exhibition this summer called; Fashion Icons. This exhibition will be showcasing 100 haute couture masterpieces, by designers such as Balenciga, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. These pieces will be coming to Adelaide from the collection of the Musée des Arts Décorratifs, all the way from Paris. 

Fashion Icons is a celebreation of fashion over the past 60 years and we will be able to view (in person) pieces made solely for the catwalk and pieces made to order by celebrities.

Mannequins will be specially made to fit each masterpiece!

This exhibition has only been shown in Paris, and now will be coming to Adelaide (it will be the only state in Australia to host this exhibition!). Fashion Icons will be at the Art Gallery of South Australia from the 25th of October 2014 till the 15th of February 2015. Tickets go on sale from the 1st of September. 

For more info check out http://www.fashionicons.com.au/

Beauty Spot: Current Favourite Products

I have recently purchased and been sent some products that I have been really enjoying, so I thought I would share them with you...

1. Beauty by Calvin Klein

I received this perfume as a birthday present and I don't wear it all the time, but when I do someone always asks me what perfume I'm wearing. It has quite a strong scent, I would say it has a floral scent but it's also slightly masculine like. I also like the simple packaging, its just cool! 

2. Nutrimetics Lip Apeel

So this lip product is something I always recommend to my friends (please don't mind that it looks a little dirty, I just get a lot of use out of it!). I'm not a huge fan of most of the nutrimetics skin care products, but this lip product has really worked for me. It has a gommage substance on the bottom and a lip balm on top. Firstly, you rub the white gommage over your lips, leave it on for a few minutes until it has dried, then wipe it off, it is basically a lip peel taking away dry skin, once the white stuff is off, I wash my lips and apply the balm. If I don't feel like doing the scrub first I also just apply this balm before putting on lipstick and it makes my lips feel nice and smooth.

3. Body Shop Coconut Beautifying Oil

I'm sure you've all heard about how good coconut oil is good for the hair and skin, but when I first tried pure coconut oil on my skin I feel like it did'nt really make any difference, so I just gave up on it. I was recently sent this body shop coconut oil to try, and I am actually really loving it! I put it on just before I go to bed (most nights) and as I am putting it on my skin just feels so soft....it's like magic!

4. Australis Neon's and Neutral's Palette

I found this palette in the discount box at Priceline, it was reduced to AU$2.50 (I was so EXCITED). I'm not one to use daring eyeshadow colours but I thought, it's only $2.50, it has the neutral colours, and I can just play around with the neon colours....so why not! I've found this to be so handy, I have been using the neutral colours for highlighting and contouring, and I am so happy with them. I keep it in my bag, it's the perfect size to carry around, plus it has a huge mirror!

5. Eles Deckchair Blue Nail Polish and Jordana Clear Coat

I was recently sent this Eles nail polish (which I will be using in an upcoming nail art tutorial!) and I am very impressed. First of all is a has a wide, thick brush which means you only need like 2 strokes to cover the whole nail and secondly the quality is so good that only one coat is needed for full coverage! 

As for the Jordana Clear Coat, I actually borrowed this from my mum, and I have to say it is the best top coat I have ever used! It glides on so easily over the nail polish and it doesn't smudge any nail art!

6. Lush Gorgeous Facial Moisturiser

In celebration of the new look Lush store in Rundle Mall, Lush offered some Adelaide Beauty Bloggers, a few products to try out. One of the products I was sent was their Gorgeous Facial Moisturiser. I have been really enjoying this moisturiser, is has an amazing floral scent and considering it's in a tub, it's actually easy to use. I just tilt it slightly and dab my finger in. It has a light consistency but when you rub it into the skin it feels extremely moisturing!

I would love to hear what your current favourite products are or if you have tried any of these products? :)

Vera Wang and Boutique for Harris Scarfe Media Preview

I was recently invited to attend a media preview for the new Vera Wang and Boutique Collections for Harris Scarfe. 

As we entered, we were welcomed by racks of beautiful new season pieces by Vera Wang and Boutique. The collections are full of colour and pattern. I really like how these pieces can be worn by women of any age from 18 years old to 100 years old.....and you'll still look stylish! 

I had a great time browsing the racks, hanging out with these girls and talking fashion...

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 Keep an eye out for these new collections coming to Harris Scarfe soon!

Beauty Spot: Nails Nails Nails

Hi my name is Mayanthi and I am a nail polish addict!

 I am one of those people who always has their nails painted....I have been painting my nails since I was about 12 years old. I love painting my nails in all different colours and I really enjoy coming up with interesting patterns and designs to paint on everytime. A friend of mine suggested that I post nail art tutorials, which I thought, "yea, why not!".

I thought I'd start with a simple design. I was sent the Bourjois Ultra Shine Polish in purple fiction and the Ulta3 nail colour in earl grey to try out. I was quite intrigued because I had never tried a Bourjois nail polish but I have heard good things about the brand overall.

 All though the two nail polishes were different brands, the colours work together perfectly...

Step 1: Paint 2 thin coats of the Ulta3 colour. Let it dry for a minute or two, I found that once I was finished the other hand, the first hand was already dry.

Step 2: Take the Bourjois colour and hold the brush diagonally across the nail, once in position brush the polish on keeping in the diagonal direction. Then do the same on the opposite side, creating a triangle shape on the bottom of the nail.

Finally add a top coat to create more shine, and also to help the nail polish dry faster and evenly.

And this is the finished look!

I would love to hear what you think....and let me know if you want to see more of these! :)