Happy New Year: Welcome to 2015

I'm going to write some targets for this year. 

I don't believe in resolutions but I can happily work towards a target. 

I did a few last year, but life got in the way. 

Targets for 2015

To get healthy. I have let my health slide over the last few months. Bad planning, dreadful scheduling and life has meant I'm not sleeping as much as I should, definitely exercising less than ever, and obviously eating some really tasty but not good for you foods. 

To build some savings. I need to adopt a more frugal outlook to life and live in a more streamlined world.  I have a slight ostrich approach to finances at times and that never ends well. 

Find a good work/life balance. This is a tricky one. I work a lot of hours. Often upto 57 hours a week, before blogging, volunteering and housekeeping. So yes, a balance needs to be found. Either by cutting down my hours in the office, blogging more effectively and on a schedule and outsourcing cleaning (I like this one most!). 

Try new things. Like many people I find it really easy to fall into a comfort zone, and I forget that there is a world out there full of new experiences just waiting for me to say yes to. I can be a bit of a homebody at times and often find it difficult to step out of my box. 

Develop a regular skin care routine. I'm really bad at this, and I'm also very lucky that at my age I'm not as wrinkled and lined as I could be. Considering I rarely moisturise. I have the odd swollen bump that hormones like to offer me, however that's about it.

Montagne Jeunesse – Anti-Stress Dead Sea Mud Pac

I have had this mask hidden in a drawer for a while. Last week I was feeling like a few things were starting to get on top of me.

This in mind I had a little pamper party for one. I took some music into the bathroom, a nice candle, ran a hot bath and this sachet of product.

You can pick up Montagne Jeunesse products pretty much everywhere, I think I found this one is Savers and they're usually around £1 to buy.

I'm not much of a bather (I prefer showers) or a mask user, but right now my chin is like a war zone, red, angry and sore.

On went the mask, and in the bath I popped.

I look like the monster from the lagoon. I can't quite work out what was going on, but as a person with permanent ear, nose and throat issues I could physically feel them clearing out. How a face mask can clear a person's blocked ears I will never know. Sadly it wasn't permanent. I think I will be searching this product out again just for that reaction alone. 

It is a deep penetrating mask. When I first took the product off my skin didn't look angry, it almost looked like it had calmed right down. My chin and jaw line felt smooth. 

This week however, I'm back to angry again. The directions say to use it up to 3 times a week.  

I have a couple of other masks to try out too... this could become a regular occurrence. 

Spring Make-Up Look

This is a look I'm loving at the moment, a hint of colour around the eyes, and a pop on the lips.

Now the sun is shining more often, and the sky is blue it's the perfect time to freshen up make-up wise.

On the base I used my usual Avon cream to powder foundation with concealer for the red bits and darker circles.

I used MUA eye shadows on the lid. I started with a sweep of lilac over the lid and accented with a teal/green colour in the crease - both are from the Immaculate Collection, which I then blended out. Instead of eyeliner, I used Penny from the Ever After palette.

The mascara is brown/black Aero Volume by Avon. The blush is a mosaic one by MUA.

On the lips I used Showy Flamboyant by Revlon.

Beauty Favourites: Hair Edition

You may have noticed, or you might not, that I have red hair. I don't mean a little bit red, I mean pillar box/fire engine red hair. I love it. However, it is notoriously hard to keep bright.

I don't do a lot to my hair apart from the colouring. I have exceedingly fine hair, I do have a lot of it too mind. So there is a mass of waves on my bonce, that need a firm hand a strong talking to on more occasions that I care to admit.

I only wash my hair once a week. This is in part down to the sheer amount of hair that I have, it takes a long time for the oils to make their way to the surface, also for the sake of my colour too.

These are the items I couldn't shower without.

Shampoo and Conditioner.

So far this is my absolute favourite. It keeps my red hair red, and it cost effective too. At just £1.29 at bottle this Aldi product is well worth the money.

My well used shower cap.

I put on my hair conditioner and then plonk my shower cap on so it can get to work without attacked my the shower head. It soups up the power of the conditioner and makes sure I have a reletively tangle free mane when I come to drying it.

More often than not I leave it to dry naturally. From time to time I will use my wet 2 straight Remmington straighteners. I've had mine for years, probably about 15 if I was to hazard a guess.
They are a wide ceramic plate, which helps when you have as much, and hair as long as mine.

My Nail Woes

Over December I had some fabulous nail art going on.

Since January they've done nothing but split and peel. I've never had this problem before.

So I have taken it upon myself to cut my nails right back, and will use an arsenal of Avon nail care products as I grow them out again.

This is my starting point.

Short and stubby.

The first product I'll be using is Pearl Shine.

Let's hope that my nails grow back fast, and strong, I'm not keen on this lack of nails nonsense. I don't wear them exceedingly long, but I do like the pads of my fingers to have a little bit of protection.

What products do you use to keep your nails in tip top condition?

Valentine's DIY: Easy Crochet Bunting

I was looking for something different to do, and I came across this idea while I was googling. 

Simple Crochet Bunting

The only stitches you need to know are:-

ch - chain

dc - double crochet (single crochet in US)

I'm using a 4mm hook and double knit wool.

***

Row 1.  First, chain 2.

Row 2.  Work two dc into the second chain from the hook (ie. the first chain you made).

Row 3.  Turn your work.  Ch 1.  Dc twice into each of the two stitches.

You should now have four dc stitches in your row.

Row 4.  Turn your work.  Ch 1.  Dc twice in the first stitch then dc once in each of the remaining 3 stitches.  (5 stitches in row.)

 

Row 5.  Turn your work.  Ch 1.  Dc twice in the first stitch then dc once in each of the remaining 4 stitches.  (6 stitches in row.)

Row 6.  Turn your work.  Ch 1.  Dc twice in the first stitch then dc once in each of the remaining 5 stitches.  (7 stitches in row.)

 Continue working two dcs in the first stitch of each row and one in each of the rest.

Turn.  Ch 1.

Keep going until you are happy with the size of your triangle.

Fasten off and sew in the end of the yarn.

You can do the same with the original end of the yarn (at the bottom) or thread it through a glass bead before knotting and cutting.

To join your bunting triangles together, select your choice of yarn.  I chose cream.  Chain 30 (or more if you want a longer tie) and then, right side of your triangle facing you, carefully double crochet along the top.

Carry on chaining (I chained 6 in between each triangle) and dc-ing along the tops of all your triangles and then chain an additional 30 for the other end of the tie.  Turn your work, chain 1 and then dc your way all the way back along both the chains and dcs.

Fasten off and sew in your ends.

What do you think?

Family Friday: Minute to Win It

This is a game I came across while on @pinterest.

In the USA there is a game show where you are challenged to complete a series of light hearted challenges in under a minute.

These are some of the ideas I came up with to play with my cubs and family...

Bucket Head: Catch three balls in a bucket on top of your head.

Defying Gravity: Keep two balloons in the air.

Breakfast Scramble: Assemble the front of a cereal box that has been cut into 12 pieces.

Dizzy Mummy: Unroll a small roll of toilet paper with 360 degree spins of the arm. (You may need to unravel some first to make it an attainable task.)

Separation Anxiety: Separate a pile of 25 multicoloured sweets into five separate containers in a separate colours with chopsticks.

Tweeze Me: Players use tweezers to relocate five Tic Tacs from one bowl to another.

Face the Cookie: Players move a cookie from their forehead to their mouth using only their facial muscles. 

Snail Trail: Same as Face the Cookie except using an After Eight Mint!

Faster Pasta: Using a stick of raw spaghetti held between your lips pick up 3 pieces of raw penne pasta. 

Number of the Beast/666: The task is to roll 6 sixes in 60 seconds

The only limit with this game is your imagination. 

Valentine DIYs: Valentine's Wreath

I thought as Valentine's Day is looming, and I've been scrolling through different decorations on @pinterest, that I would try my hand at making a wreath.

As we are still feeling the pinch of the post Christmas/Birthday season I have made this from items I already had in the house.

Here I have an offcut of red material, a wire coat hanger and the inside of a laundered old pillow.

I made a rough circle shape out of the hanger, don't worry if it's not totally round as you are adding the wadding next. (apologies for the lighting, daft Yorkshire mid afternoon drizzly weather)

Then I took the red fabric. This offcut already had a hem on there which made then next step slightly easier/neater.

I wrapped the material around the wadding and sewed it with a rough running stitch. I did this all the way around the circle.

Then my mind moved to how do I decorate this?

BUTTONS!!! I have so many different styles, colours and shaped buttons. So I selected a few.

Everything £5 Haul

Pink and Grey Poncho: I've always fancied a poncho for day-to-day wear, but wasn't sure about it. So when I spotted this fleece number on the website everything5pounds.com I thought what have I got to lose.

And I must admit I am pleasantly surprised. It's a great length for when you're out and about, especially jumping in and out of the car. I can't be doing with the faff, I'm also thinking in the springtime it could well be school run worthy.

Black and red polka dot skirt: This is a simple skirt, I have my eye on wearing it to work with either a long-sleeve black top or white shirt.

Asymmetric dress in caramel with dark brown stripes: this I have earmarked to wear with my skinny jeans or leggings and some ankle boots. Again this is earmarked for none work mummy days. School run appropriate I do believe.

What do you think of these items? I still can't believe all 3 pieces only cost me £15 pounds.