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.

Better Late Then Never: My Little Parisienne Box

I ordered this box at the start of September, after seeing so many favourable reviews about its contents.

I've been erring towards getting a beauty box for a while, but until now had never taken that leap.

This one seems a little bit different. A mix of beauty and stationery. I love my stationary.

In my first box I got these bits, I apologise for the photos the lighting today is just horrific... a bit like the weather.

I'd almost given up hope of it arriving, but I'm so glad it did. On a rare day off too.

How gorgeous is this box. Each one promises to be a keepsake all of it's own. Roughly A5 in size.

This is what greets you as you take the lid off. A gorgeous print all wrapped up in a bow.

First thing that I find is an A5 notebook with a few pages telling you a little bit about the company,

Some themed stickers, I mean just how cute are those sticky people.

The next goody is a notebook/ipad case. Absolutely gorgeous... and well times as my eldest poured a mug of coffee over my current one yesterday.

And finally some little beauty goodies, some dry oil by Nuxe, foundation primer by Laura Mercier and a My Little Box brightening pen too. I'm a very lucky girly today.

I've loved opening this little box, and for £15 a month I am really looking forward to my next delivery. It could be here in a moment of days. I wonder what it's theme will be this time?

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. 

Anti Gravity Mascara

I'd like to introduce you to Avon's latest mascara the Aero Volume Mascara. 

The blurb says that the formula is inspired by aerospace technology, and that the star-shaped brush gives volume without adding bulk. 

They also promise that lashes will stay lifted and volumised all day.  

I've spoken about my lashes before. They are pretty much non-existent and hard to see unless I wear several layers and many types of mascara. On an average day I could wear as many as 3 different mascaras. So I thought I'd give this one a go. 

I found the spooly to be easy to use. It gets right in at the base and grips on to your lashes and gives them an even coats of the formula. Which, as if by magic, begins to curl up your lashes.  

But you don't have to just take my word for it... look at the evidence. 

I used Aero Volume mascara in brown/black. Also available in blackest black. 

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.

Skincare and Stress

Beware make up free photos at the bottom of this post.

I've been through a stressful couple of months.

And boy you can tell when you look at my skin and nails, they've both been peeling again, and I've had lumpy painful spots on top of lumpy painful spots.

So I've come to the conclusion that I've got to get strict on my skincare routine again.  I have had a few weeks holiday from wearing make up to let some of the welts go down and heal.

First I've looked at all the trash I've been eating, so from on I am adding more veggies in, especially after it's been decided that we now should eat at least 7 pieces of fruit and veg a day - rather than the 5 it was previously - I have some chomping to do.

After some research I have found that the following foods can be beneficial for the skin's appearance:

Dark chocolate
Greek yoghurt
Walnuts
Peppers, yellow and orange ones are able to decrease sensitivity to the sun.
Sunflower seeds boost vitamin c
Kidney beans have zinc in which can prevent spots
Green tea can help reduce redness in the skin tone.

The other thing I need to do is stop picking. As soon as I'm aware a 2nd head is sprouting from my chin I'm constantly touching it, prodding and poking. How I don't have loads of scaring I just don't know.

This is the current starting point, and I will report back on how it's coming along in 2 weeks.

Product Trial: Colgate Max White One

Over the years I've had lots of things done to my teeth. 

From fixed braces, stretching bars, retainers to the prospect of having my jaw broken and reset. All before my late teens. In fact, I was training as a secretary at college when I had my fixed brace, I was 17.

Thankfully, all the metal work did the trick so I never did get to have my jaws reset. 

All this because my bottom jaw stopped growing before the rest of me! I think I was about 12. 

What I have been left with though, as well as an overbite, is a resigned hatred of dental work and things being in my mouth that shouldn't be. I'm not scared of the dentist, so it's not a phobia, but definitely an intense dislike. 

So couple that with an extreme dislike of anything minty, that's not covered in chocolate, and a strong gag reflex you can probably guess brushing my teeth is a daily ordeal. 

This should however highlight that I meant business when I decided to test this product out. 

Colgate is a brand I like, and more often not their products aren't reactionary to me, which made this slightly easier. 

The blurb says: "One shade whiter in one week with Max White One, with whitening

accelerators it safely removes stains and prevents tartar build-up. 
Continued use will help keep them whiter for longer"

I decided to test this claim, I used it in conjunction with the new MaxWhite toothbrush with whitening star. Which promises: "Brighten your smile with a unique tooth-polishing star. Colgate® Max White® is proven to remove stains to help reveal the natural whiteness of your teeth."

The instructions say to brush your teeth for a full 2 minutes, 3 times a day. 

So basically not that different to usual. Apart from the extra lunchtime session, so for me this worked out as getting ready, getting in from work then finally before bed. 

I found the toothbrush much firmer than my usual medium bristles, so my gums were sore for a little while, on day 4 this started to die down though. I liked the squeak that you got from the silicone polishing star that is in the midst of the bristles. It's even managed to shift a stain I've had since I was 19 when my fixed brace was removed. 

I didn't change anything else. I'm happy with the results for just one week. 

Before using The Max White

 After using The Max White for 7 days

this is a bad flash shot but again you can see the difference.

For £5 at Boots for both products I am more than happy with the result. I'm going to be sticking with this toothpaste for the foreseeable future.

Click here for similar products in the offer. 

March Favourites

Okay I must have blinked... where did March go? It seemed to be over quicker than February.

This last month has been a bit of a basics month for me.

I've loved my new 'bobbles' from Claire's Accessories. These ones are a simple black band made from a ribbed material (similar to cuffs on t-shirts). They are really comfy and don't pull on my hair. Perfect for a headache free day!

My Boots No17 Volume Mascara has been used pretty much everyday this month. I add it on top of my lengthening mascara so it doesn't leach down my cheeks.

Diet Coke - this is a staple on my desk during early shifts. It reaches parts that coffee and water cannot.

Jillian Michael's Podcast: I've been a fan of this podcast for a while. The trainer from the Biggest Loser is all about living your best life and offering the tools to get the best from yourself, in whatever you want to do, in this offering.  The message is it's yours, if you want it go and get it. It really revs me up for a day in the big wide out there. I have a few of the free downloads on my ancient ipod in the car for a my commute to work.

Haim's album Days are Gone: This has been on a lot too. I first was given this as I needed to write a piece on them for a preview in the Metro, I have continued to play it long after the blurb was published and the gig was played. They are a heady mix of Stevie Nicks and 90s pop. Perfect for a festival feeling summer.

Dolly Mixtures: I keep these in my care for a quick energy jolt while driving. I used to work long and late shifts and got pulled over on a couple of occasions for suspected drink driving - I wasn't drunk, just really tired. These are a god send! Also learnt the lesson don't drive when tired.

Cheese Puffs, Wotsits you probably get the idea there. This month my snack of the day are these day-glow/neon orange crispy-melty witchetty grub of cheesy junk foodness have been my go to snack. There is something rather satisfying in sucking them until the dissolve in a an almost chain-smoking frenzy.

Showy Flamboyant

I've not done a make up review in a while and I recently got my hands on this little beauty.

The Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Showy Flamboyant - 220.

I've been hearing lots of good things about this product range.

I've had matte lipsticks before and found them tricky to apply. I've even resulted, with one certain stick, to leaving it on the radiator to melt a bit while doing the rest of my face before applying and I always have to put a lip balm on underneath.

But there is none of that palaver necessary here. For a matt product it is positively creamy and easy to apply. I've worn it on a number of different occasions and find it difficult to smudge and transfer on cups and glasses when drinking is minimal.

And then there is the packaging. So simple and sleek. I love it. It now has pride of place in my handbag's make up bag as it is my lippy of choice for the office.

Now I have found this range, I will be going back to try the others Revlon have to offer.

DIY Thursday: 5 minute up do

I am a great lover of quick and simple things.

Be it cooking, make up, hair... I think you get my drift. So once I discovered the bun ring life on bad hair days became that bit more bareable.

This is a look you can dress up for going out or keep au natural for the school run or office.

So here we go, excuse the picture quality.

Brush out your hair.

Put into a highish ponytail.

Thread your pony through the bun ring. Tuck those spiky ends in underneath (my pic of that has got lost/deleted somehow). Then roll your bun ring down, continuing to tuck in any stray hairs.

Give a quick spritz of hairspray and you're done. You can choose to anchor it down with a few pins but I find that gives me a bit of a headache after a while.

February Favourites

I can't believe that February has gone already to the big calender in the sky.

This month I have loved so many items it was hard to choose just a couple.

From Avon this month I have been obsessed by the Apricot and Shea products. Fresh and fruity withotu being overpowering. The fragrance spritz and hand & body lotion have been everywhere with me from the sleepover at the Deep to the office.





My candle from Harper's Bizarre has been hit this month.

On a whole I burnt this while reading the Tea Dress Shop series by De-ann Black

Three fantastic novellas, there will be a review coming shortly. 

I loved my night at the Deep too... that one will be difficult to top. 

I also discovered these chocolatey beauties by Cadbury. Basically a Dairy Milk sandwich with either LU biscuits or Ritz crackers.

5 Minute Spring Make Up

The mornings are starting to get that bit brighter, and the weather has finally appeared to turn a corner... just wait, now I've said that the snow is going to fall in earnest isn't it?

This is a quick look suitable for busy mums on the school run and for work too.

Starting with my usual base, I use Avon's ideal flawless cream-to-powder foundation in Shell and primer in light beige. I also use the primer as a concealer.

On my eyes I used the MUA Immaculate Collection palette. I used shade 18 on the inner corner, swept shade 12 over the lid and finished off with shade 2 in the crease. I added a little shade 14 to add a bit of a bronze sparkle to keep it on trend. Eyeliner is Avon's blackest black glimmerstick and mascara is Avon's Mega Effects. Usually I would also fill in my brows at this point, but as I recently had them tinted I tamed them with a bit of wax.

On the cheeks I added Avon's blusher bronzer duo in pink glow.
On my lips I used the glow 3-in-1 stick and topped with a coral lip gloss.

The Finished Look

The products I used:

You can see by the photo how much I have used the Immaculate Collection palette, I love it and love the fact that they have re-released it for spring. You can get your palette here http://www.muastore.co.uk/24-shade-immaculate-collection-palette-24-shade-immaculate-collection-palette or at Superdrug.

It's great value and you can create so many different looks very easily and the colours last well too.