Liz Earle Offer On QVC Today!

Bonjour!

Just wanted to let you know that QVC 's Today's Special Value is from Liz Earle (as if you hadn't already guessed that!) ...

The Liz Earle 8 Piece Instant Radiance Collection

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Includes...

• 1 x Cleanse and Polish (100ml full size) 
• 1 x Instant Boost Skin Tonic (50ml travel size) 
• 1 x Skin Repair Moisturiser (50ml full size) 
• 1 x Brightening Treatment Mask (50ml full size) 
• 1 x Gentle Face Exfoliator (50ml travel size) 
• 1 x Lash Definition Smudge Proof Mascara (8ml full size) in Black 
• 1 x Sheer Lip Gloss (5ml full size) in Mallow 
• 1 x Healthy Glow Cream Blush (2g full size) in Rose 
• 1 x Botanical Essence No.100 (2ml) - sample
• 2 x muslin cloths

The collection is priced at £44.98 plus P+P and looks like amazing value!   All you need to choose is which option of Skin Repair Moisturiser to go for and whether to have single or auto delivery (every 90 days - in which case you'd receive a different colour of blush and lip-gloss with the set).  You can check out full details/options directly from the QVC website here.

Will you be treating yourself to a bit of Instant Radiance 'Botanical Style'?

Jen x

Love On My Mind and Indian Food!

Bonjour!

How is everyone ...?  Been trying to get over the heavy cold that I succumbed to last week - these things do have a tendency to hang around and leave you depleted of energy once they get a hold.  Anyway, I didn't visit the gym for a week whist I was ill - that's a long time for me - so forced myself to go Tuesday night for a gentle workout.  I wasn't very enthusiastic on the treadmill I have to say ... until I heard this tune on my I Pod ...

Freemasons - Love On My Mind ...

Always loved this since it's release in 2005 - good grief 2005 - only seems like yesterday! This is a track that would have had me up on the dance floor of any club in my day ... not that I tend to 'do' clubs anymore ... nowadays it just gets me up on the treadmill...

So - enough of clubbing and back to reality!  As my youngest brother G left to return home to France this week, the other decided to turn up for a few days, so we were treated to a lovely meal Wednesday night when  Gourmet Gorman cooked for the family. Tandoori Pork, Chicken Mulligatawny and my Grandpa Richard's 'Devil Chutney' - (tomatoes, onions, chillies, mint and coriander I think!).  

Tandoori Pork/Devil Chutney/Chicken Mulligatawny

All I've seemed to want to eat recently is Indian food - it's the only thing I've been able to taste...and I can confirm that all of the above tasted bloomin' marvellous!  Thanks Gourmet Gorman!

Have a great weekend!

Jen x

Balance Me Rose Otto Body Balm - Review

Bonjour!

I was recently contacted on behalf of Skin Nutrition - sister company of the Nutrition Centre.  Both companies are based in Cheltenham and are beauty and health retailers offering - between them - a range of natural/organic skin and body care together with vitamins, minerals, supplements and remedies. In fact the Nutrition Centre is actually celebrating "40 years in the nutritional supplement world" and have launched a new website which you can check out (and give feedback on) right here!

Here's one of the products I received - Balance Me Rose Otto Body Balm...

I think most of us are familiar with Balance Me products one way or another - their philosophy is "beauty that works naturally" and the company aim "to address and resolve every day skin conditions and concerns (without causing new issues in the process) and bring skin back into balance."    

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Now I realise it resembles a pot of solid candle wax but don't be fooled my friends...!

Initially, I must say I wasn't sure this would be totally suitable for everyday use. In the main - pampering 'after-shower' time for me is a treat (Mums will know where I'm coming from).  I rarely have time to hang around rubbing stuff in - it  has to be a quick fix!  However - I was surprised at how easily the balm melts once warmed in the palms of your hands and then literally glides on in no time at all. The trick is to use just the right amount - you don't need loads - too much and it gets a little greasy (but too little and you end up dragging on your skin).  Used in the correct quantity it leaves skin soothed and silky with a veil of subtle scented rose and it makes me want to touch my arm all evening as it's so soft! (erm ... that would get me some weird looks I imagine!)

I've also used the balm as a concentrated overnight hand treatment. Having had a heavy cold recently -incurring all the necessary 'extra' hand-washing - my hands have been going through one of their extra-dry phases.  At times like this my hands can be quite sensitive to products which are overly-perfumed or cosmetic as such - natural products suit best and don't irritate them further. This has therefore been ideal to slather on last thing and let sink in overnight.  It seems to have done the job as my hands haven't started cracking and bleeding this time round!

The Rose-Otto Body Balm is priced at £20 per 170ml pot - which is more than I would usually pay for an 'everyday' body moisturiser. However - given that you only need a small amount at a time it should last for quite a while so will be something I'll probably put on a Christmas/Birthday list!

You can check out Balance Me products and other organic/natural ranges together with current offers on the Skin Nutrition website here and for vitamins, minerals, supplements etc visit the Nutrition Centre on their new website here.

Have you tried any Balance Me products - which is your favourite?

Jen x

April Favourites and Empties ...

Bonjour!

Better late than never... some empties, some favourites ...

Ojon Damage Reverse Shampoo and Conditioner - a duo I've been using on and off for a while (nicked it from my mum!). Tend to save it as a treat for my poor old hair - full review to follow.

Marks & Spencer Essential Extracts Coconut Hand and Body Lotion and Shower Gel - £1 each for pity's sake - you just can't go wrong - brilliant every-day shower gel. Body lotion sinks in really easily - both do their job and smell great - will re-purchase without a doubt. Did I mention that they're only £1 each?!

Impulse Loving Words Body Fragrance - I usually pick up a couple of cans of Impulse whenever they're on offer at £1 and always carry one in my handbag for a quick spritz! I'd like to say it's an ideal fragrance now that Spring has arrived as it fresh and fruity - but of course we've had our 2-3 days of sun and warmth ... (not that I'm bitter or anything!)

Revlon 'Just Bitten Kissable' Balm Stain in Honey - been a favourite for a while and is always in my handbag, so much so that the writing has worn off the tube. Really want to try out another lip stain - you can see my full review of this particular shade here.

17 Va Va Voom Mascara - great volumising mascara - full review here. Unfortunately it's been used for a while and dried up so will have to chuck. Would re-purchase as it's really well priced at £6.29 only I don't need any more un-opened mascaras just yet! Am I getting sensible in my old age?

Avon Glimmerstick Eyeliner in Cosmic Brown - this is a re-purchase and is coming to an end. It gets used most days if I'm honest for definition on the upper lid whether on it's own or mixed with another colour. It glides on dead easy, doesn't drag the skin and stays put all day. Had this in 'Blackest Black' as well (and seem to have lost it - very mysterious!).  Great price at around £6 (but usually on offer for less) so will re-purchase again.

Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream - kept this at work in my desk drawer to use as a hand-cream. Smells good, hydrates and softens. Will re-purchase but only when I've used up some of the other myriads of hand creams dotted around our house!

This is a favourite with me and the kids (and the girls at work too!) - hot bubbly chocolate - what more could you want?

So that's this month's lot - do you reckon by next month's Favourites/Empties we may have actually have had some decent weather for more than a few days?

Jen x

Paul Weller - You Do Something To Me...

It's Friday ...

If truth be know I've felt like a 'pile of pants' this week. Dizzy spells (at the Sainsbury's check out of all places!), annoying tickley cough which has had me up coughing the night away wrenching stomach muscles all over the place, got a cold now (I don't get colds very often so must be run down), eczema flared up, got spots, hubby's been away with work, house is a tip, there ain't enough hours in the day and so on and so forth...! Thank goodness it's Friday. The family are coming round tonight for a fish and chip supper from our local chippie - don't reckon my brother gets em proper whilst he's over in France!

So...it's a laid back tune as I really don't feel like bobbing about to up-tempo music tonight ...

Paul Weller - You Do Something To Me ...

Released in 1995 from the album Stanley Road (which we have knocking about somewhere) ... I've always loved this track  ...

... it's one I hope to sing one day with my mate Dave (whom I used to work and jam with) on keyboards - or my brother Mike of course - but he's always too busy living the musicians high life! If there's one (and only one) advantage of having a cold it's that my singing voice always comes out husky - which suits this tune - in my opinion - bet it would sound particularly fetching with a bit of coughing and spluttering thrown in for good measure too - not!

I'm just grateful for my Bare Minerals Foundation which has helped conceal all manner of sins this week and extra soft Kleenex!

What sort of week have you had - what are your plans for this weekend?

Jen x