Pebble Penn : 2015

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My Snowboarding Trip - 3 Essential Skincare Products for the Snow!

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5 Saving Tips to Build Wealth in your 20s

I am not sure how many of my readers know, but I have been working in the finance industry for nearly 5 years now, from having no idea how a debit card worked or how a chequed looked like, I now pride myself on my ability to understand finance and save.

It use to be so easy to spend all my wages, I thought I was loaded and invincible, I spent 99% of the money I made from my part time job on make up, the latest handbags, the trending fashion .... anything and everything that I liked - I brought.

I was veey lucky in that I lived at home with my parents while I was studying with little to no expenses being paid by myself, so to me, there was no need to save any money, however as I watched my friends go on extravagant lifechanging holidays, buy their new cars and now buying property - it is now I wished I had some tips on how to build wealth when I was young and had less commitments.

So here we are, 5 Tips to Build Wealth.

1) Do not spend money on things we dont need, to impress people who dont care.
Spend on something you really want, not

2) Do not spend above your means
Simple, if you make $50 do not even consider spending $51.
Spend what you have not what you want.

3) Control debt
The reality for all us Gen X, Y, Z's is that we are savy generation, we have access to information that our parenrs never had. Getting a loan for a car, a holiday is so easy now for everyone - there are literally hundreds of options at our finger tips.
So learn to control debt wisely, dont let a default (mark on your credit rating) affect you 4 years on when you want to get a loan to buy your first home!
For example if you have a credit card, try to pay within the interest free period to avoid paying interest, you will often find that once you start accumulating large amounts of daily interests it is reallt hard to get on top of. Alternatively, if you have purchashed something large on your credit card, speak to your provider (ie. Bank) to see if the have interest specials.

4) Have a savings goal and a plan to achieve it
Having a plan makes your goals more achievable - because you have considered HOW you are going to get there.
Consider breaking down your goal, put away $100 per week, and by the end of the year you will have saved $5,200!
You can even organize for your workplace to automatically place your savings into another account - I know sometime when I dont see it, I wont want to or feel the need to spend it!

5) Learn to take care of your finances and budget
Banking and Finance are not really fun topics... I know.... trust me! But its also something that cannot under any circumstances be ignored. Its one of those things where the earlier you start the better.
But once you start it is easy! One step at a time, take a portion of your salary each month where you dedicate it to savings - action is the best start!

I hope that helps and if you have a unique way you like to save, please share! There is absolutely no right and wrong!
I have never blogged about finances, but I thought it might be nice for a lighthearted post about money.... let me know if you want to see more of these days posts or less!

Xoxo

Penn

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, by Unknown

Emporium

Maison Tsumiki; Haircut Date.

I finally have my weekends back now! For those of you out there who have also finished their exams - hooray, we made it! With my weekends back now I decided it was time to fix up my gross and dry hair that is full of split ends!

My bestie Jess suggested a hair cut date at Maison Tsumiki, located in Emporium. I have never been there before, but after some insta-stalking I could not wait!

After having a brunch date nearby, we arrived at Maison Tsumiki excited and full of anticipation. The salon was beautiful but simple and clean. Maison Tsumiki is a japanese concept hair salon that shows the true luxury of Shu Uemura Art of hair care.

When booking the appointment you are allocated an hour, your hair stylist is there with you from start to finish, they take care of you from consultaion, to washing and massaging your hair, to cutting, blow drying and styling. This way I find the service more personalised, with much greater attention to detail. The staff are friendly and highly professional.

I didnt have much idea of what style I wanted, I wanted to keep growing my hair long for my best friend Becky's wedding in December, but with the dry and split ends it was getting hard to manage. My stylist Keiko suggested the length and also asked how I liked my fringe length to be, after consultatiom I was taken over to the basins for a wash and massage. The shampoo an conditioner used smelt amazing! Unlike your normal hair salon experiences, hair washing at Maison Tsumiki was not rushed at all, it was such a relaxing and soothing experience!

Keiko took a total of 45 mins to cut my hair, from cutting the length when it was dry, to measuring the lengths and thickness when it was dry. Keiko took so much care to ensure symmetry and lightness in my hair. Overall I was extremely happy with my hair cut, its the first time having a LOB (long bob) where my fringe was the same length as the rest of my hair. Before you finish, the stylist will ensure they style your hair, Keiko suggested soft curls at the bottom of my hair, and even taught me how to DIY at home every morning as well as when I should out on hair oil.

I fell in love with the experience and cannot wait to go back for balayage my hair with them. I especially like the way they take time to focus on your hair and has an in-depth consultation and analysis of your hair before you start. Although it may be a little bit pricey for students, I feel like its a great place to go if you have damaged or ceappy hair to have it all fixed and taken care of. As for the longevity of the hair style, I will have to wait to see!

How often do you like to cut your hair? Do you have a favourite salon/hairdressers?

Xoxo

Penn

8 comments

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Ashiura Ran Run

Ashiura Ran Run - Feet Mask!

Feet care is not really my top priority - ever. However after my trip to Groom Spa this valentines (you can read here) and getting a pedicure I was looking at options for products to DIY at home!

So while my parentals were in Japan, I got them to buy me back some Feet Mask options from the pharmacies there so I could have a try of it myself! I didn't really have a brand in mind, but just asked my mum to look for something that will soften the feet and moisturise it.

I received the Ashiura Ran Run Feet Mask from my parentals around a month ago, but unfortunately have not had the time till recently to try it out. I must say - it was interesting.

Firstly, because it wasn't a sheet mask for the feet, it came with two feet shaped sealed plastic bags with liquid in it.

Secondly, I had expected more than one set in the box, but it turned out the two packs were for the left and right feet.

Although the box is written in Japanese there are clear pictures for instructions to show you what is meant to happen. After opening the foil packet to reveal the clear sealed plastic feet shaped bags, you can go ahead and cut off the top. You are creating the area in which your feet is placed into the bag.

Upon opening the bag, you will smell a strong chemical aroma - reminded me of whiteboard markers.

You are provided with stickers to seal the bag around your feet to ensure you can still move around and prevent leakages of the liquid. It was actually quite hilarious to put on and wear, I even sent a pic to my bestie telling her I got new "glass slippers" - she was confused, horrified and then realised they weren't really shoes.

After 40 mins in these bags, it is time to migrate to your bathroom where you can give your feet a wash. Wash off all the liquid and chemicals and you are done for the day. Nothing happens straight away.

When I went for a pedicure, the mask that they put on my feet instantly made my heels softer and feet more supple; so I had assumed that this would do the same. Prepared to be disappointed if you are impatient like me, because it was then that I decided I really needed to read the box again.

As per instructions in approximately 5 to 7 days the skin on your feet with shed, and by around 2 weeks time you will have baby soft supple feet.

I waited and waited and waited and nothing happened. I decided it was a write off straight away, dud product with no results. But the next day I woke up, and my entire sole of my feet was peeling skin. Imagine spending 5 hours in the sun with no sunscreen, the look of your peeling skin the next day minus the pain. That was what it looked like. I have attached the photos below.

This went on for the next day, and I am so thankful that it is currently winter in Melbourne where socks and stockings are a must! Because I could not imagine walking in sandals in that condition! As the days progressed, different parts of my feet started peeling, revealing very supple smooth skin underneath.

I could not stand it any more, so on day 3 of the peeling I took some time to give me feet a gentle scrub to rid of the skin and voilaaa! I am the proud owners of healthy smooth feet!

Here is a Warning to those who are disgusted by feet, dry skin, shedding skin, gross things etc etc.

I highly recommend that you do not click the link to see the picture of my feet during this process. I generally have a high tolerance of these things… but…

It. Is. Disgusting. - Not for the faint hearted!

Click HERE if you would like to see the in-progress picture of my feet.

What do you do to keep your feet soft and smooth?

xoxo

Penny

8 comments

, by Unknown

Marc Jacobs Fragrance - Daisy.

16 comments

, by Unknown

beauty

Review; Dr Scholl - Medi QttO Sleep Wearing Slimming Socks

There have been so many drastic changes to my workplace over the last month, and increasingly I have been wearing high heels everyday to look professional and top of my game!

I love the look of high heels, and wearing them also gives me an instant confidence boost; however they make of feet so sore by the end of the day, and my calf muscles feel really stiff and like they are ready to explode!

I travelled to Japan with my parents about 2 years ago, and noticed that the Japanese had these "Compression Sock/Stockings" in all their pharmacies. I did not know any japanese whatsoever, however the box says something on the lines of "beautiful legs" and "especially designed for your legs at night" which basically sold me immediately! The product name is Dr Scholl - Medi QttO Sleep Wearing Slimming Socks and the original purpose of the socks is to assist in slimming your legs.
This is my solution to better circulation, tired leg muscles recovery and the prevent of having tight stiff calf muscles.

They come in three sizes, M, L and LL; and sizes are dependent on the length of your legs, therefore people with supermodel length legs (lucky ducks!) you can be assured there are options available to you as well!

From your ankles, to your calves and to your thighs there are different levels of compression, therefore it is important to ensure you have the right size so the correct compression for the right areas.

What I liked…

- It is really hassle free, just pop it on before bed and that is it. I find that it relieves the pressures of my legs and muscles after a long day at work in high heels. This is the best thing to have for general leg care!

- It never breaks! You never really use the socks anywhere but when you are sleeping, so wear and tear is minimal. Investing in a pair once can last you years!

- Reduces bulky muscles, has a leg sliming affect. This is not proven by anything/anyone scientific at all! However, I find that my legs muscles - especially my calf muscles - feel very hard and stiff when I exercise too much or if I spend continuous days in heels. The feeling of hardened muscles make my legs look bulky, and I feel like wearing the compressions helps those muscles relax again into their natural state. So for me I feel like it slims the legs, by reduce muscles stiffness.

- Prevents swelling in the legs. Good for people who cramp in their sleep, or recovery after exercising.

- Good for blood circulation

What I disliked…

- Compression stockings sometimes fall off during sleep. This never occurred in the first year I purchase the sleeping socks, however in the second year, it started rolling and falling off in my sleep.

This could either mean

1) I was wayyy too rough with it initially and loosened the tightness/compression feeling of the socks

2) I sleep like a crazy lady

Which I must say, are two things that very very likely may have both happened.

- It can seem like there is no results. I don't know what expectations one could have on a pair of socks. However, don't expect miracle slimming in your leg muscles, I would recommend this for general leg care and relief of tired sore legs. If you end up slimming then that is a bonus.

The inspiration to this post, was because I have since purchased a new pair of Dr School - Medi Otto compression sleeping socks from Japan, and casually mentioned to my friend, and she had no idea these existed! These socks are too amazing to not share!

These compressions stockings are also the same reason I have started wearing small compressions grade black stockings to work. The relief in my legs IS. AMAZING.