Mini Sales Haul meets 'Fly London'!

Bonjour!

Not had much time to blog this weekend - the hubby is ill with a chest infection so I'm holding the fort (as you do) and running around like a mad woman.  So ... just a quick post to share a few bits and bobs I obtained in the sales pre-spend ban.

Couple of fragrances half price (around £15 each) from Debenhams:-

Calvin Klein CKIN2U her Eau de Toilette - bit fresh/bit floral/bit citrus - will be ideal going into Spring.
Philosophy Summer Grace Eau de Toilette - as the name suggests smells of summer (not in this country!) - warm and floral - my little girl says it smells of summer flowers.

Couple of items from Boots:-

James Brown Protect and Nourish Kit - contains Colour Enhance Shampoo and Conditioner (each 75ml) and Intensive Moisture Mask (full size 150ml). I've not yet tried any products from the James Brown range -this was a complete bargain at half price of £5 -the mask is worth around £8 on it's own.

17 Fast Finish Nail Polish in Navy Glint - not a sale item although these are on offer at the moment down from £2.99 to £2.00.  I feel a NOTD coming on...just need the bloody time to paint the darn things!

And last but not least ....

I've been wanting Fly London's for ages (as my lovely blogging 'boot and bag obsessed' buddy Claire from Another New Day knows)!  I was after the high wedges but these 'Fly London Women's Mol' in black leather were reduced in the Amazon Boxing Day sales from £135 to £70 so my hubby bought them for me as he'd not really got me much for Christmas...still have my eye on those wedges but will have to save up! These are really comfortable although surprisingly snug around the calf (boots are usually too big for me in this region) so they must be quite a slim fitting but should give with wear. I've not even worn them yet - you know when you keep getting them out and looking at them ('said the mistress to the bishop!') and putting them away again because you don't want to get them dirty - ridiculous or what?

So - that's my lot - spending ban in full force now ...!  Did you bag any sales bargains recently?

Jen x

The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again!

Evening!

This has been a long week - and a long day ... thank goodness (or something slightly stronger) it's Friday!

My hubby is a huge Smiths fan and was playing their 'Singles' album in the car earlier in the week ...I think this is one of my favourites...in fact it may even be my favourite...?

The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again

Released in 1986 from the album 'The Queen is Dead' - my hubby had all The Smiths' albums on vinyl - think he still has them knocking around somewhere...

"Now I know how Joan of Arc felt...!"

Everyone's familiar with Morrissey but it's the un-mistakable Johnny Marr's guitar rifts and strides in this track that I love - absolutely superb - it just bounds along and takes you with it!  Have a listen if you like your acoustic guitar!

How scary is it that 'Bigmouth' is over 25 years old? Still sounds as fresh as it did then!

Which is your favourite tune from The Smiths?

Jen x

Beauty Resolutions 2013 ...

Evening all!

I've really enjoyed reading the posts on 'Beauty Resolutions' for the coming year - most recently by Sasha from Ramblings of a Beauty Bird and Jayne from Miss Jayne Becca.

Here's mine...

Sleep ...  You know you need more sleep when the first thing that enters your  mind as you drag your weary body out of bed early morning is 'I can't wait to go to bed tonight'.  I've always needed a lot of sleep but these days seem to just get by on 'nervous energy' (think it's a 'mum' thing).  I'm so guilty of cramming far too much into each evening and am often to be found in bed - laptop on knee - typing up a blog post late at night (in-fact this was my location as I typed this post - 11.30 at night/husband is snoring - too much info?). Also, our dog has the weakest bladder on the planet and cries to go out usually around 5ish - even though my hubby gets up to let him out I always wake and sometimes can't get back to sleep easily - which doesn't help the situation.  Must make more of an effort to go up earlier (minus the laptop), try to read (a book) and somehow get more shut-eye.

Feet ...   I'm so very guilty of 'ignoring' my feet at this time of year - well nobody really sees them and they're shoved away in socks and boots most of the time - no excuse I know!  I'll put a bit of cream on them (occasionally) before bed but am usually too tired or just forget! I can't remember the last time I used a foot scrub either (think it was in the summer) - shocking isn't it? So - more of an effort to scrub up and apply a foot cream is needed here - otherwise I'll be peeling layers of rough hard skin off my feet come springtime - nice!

Neck ...  and decolletage - now I'm getting older this is really an area which I can't afford to neglect. I've always just cleansed and shoved on whatever cream is to hand but think I now need to invest in something more potent.  I can't do much about my necklace lines - I've had them forever - but probably need some sort of firming throat gel to help prevent all that baggy skin from accumulating.  Ah the joys of age!

Face Masks ... another procedure I'm often guilty of skipping.  I have quite a few masks in my possession (as you can imagine!) but again am too tired most nights to faff about. This is the time of year when my kite could do with some extra brightening/pampering/hydration/moisture etc so another reason to get upstairs earlier and read in bed with that mask on - hubby won't even notice!

Make-Up Storage... basically all my daytime make-up is crammed into several large containers.  So irritating in the morning fumbling around by lamplight.  A major bit of organisation is needed so will have to invest in some storage and get sorted (and find the time of course!).

Improve Posture ... if you happened to read my Posture Perfect? post back in June (if you didn't and really want to you can do so here) you'll know that this is a weakness of mine.  Pilates has helped so much but I've not attended the class for a while - the teacher (who was brilliant at helping us to stretch things out, improve core stability, posture and shoulder alignment etc etc etc) left and the new teacher didn't have the same approach to the class - it turned into more of a workout and just didn't have the desired effect. I really need to get back to a good class before I end up a hunched up little old lady and have found an alternative I can attend so am starting this week!

So that's my lot - more a beauty/lifestyle mix I suppose - let's see if I can stick to them!

What have your beauty-related resolutions been for this year?

Jen x

2012 Favourites!

Evening!

My monthly favourite posts are always running late - stands to reason that the annual favourites would be too! Just a quick rundown of my stand-out products of the year...

I'm not going to waffle on too much (for once!) about each product because I've either reviewed or mentioned them in past favourite posts:-

L'Oreal Revitalift Perfect 10 BB - still my favourite everyday BB, ideal for my olive skin-tone - full review here.

Tresemme 24 Hour Body Sky High Plumping Powder - from my June Favourites, I use this regularly - adds much needed extra oomph to my ever-diminishing amount of hair - thickens it up and adds texture.

Gatineau Defi-Lift 3D Revolumising Lip Care - my favourite lip treatment from this premium French brand. I use this at night for plumping and helping to control fine lines around the lip area. Tend to re-purchase when it's on offer at QVC. Full review here.

Emma Hardie Moringa Balm - gorgeous product - love it for evening cleansing - full review here.

Rimmel Kate Moss Matte 110 - a lovely orange-red tone, great pigment, feels great on and lasts well - full review here.

17 Peep Show Mascara - I've tried other mascaras but keep going back to this and have re-purchased - lengthens and provides the 'flutter factor' better than anything I've used for a while - a great price tag too - full review here.

Revitalash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner - again, from June Favourites, this has improved the condition and length of my lashes no end - if you think they're rubbish now you should have seen them before - I've not had to use eye-lash curlers since I started using this last year.

Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex - if I run out of this I'll be panicking - I use it every morning to wake-up my eye area - it's helped brighten and ride the area of milia.  I love that it can be applied all over the lid (top and bottom) and right up to the lash line. I'm finishing off my first bottle but have another in reserve - thank goodness! Full review here. 

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer - brilliant iconic pre-shampoo treatment - so easy to apply and leave for as long as you like - the longer the better but even 5 or 10 minutes has some benefit - adds much needed condition and smooths out frazzled hair. I'll not be running out of this any time soon!

A couple of randoms:-

I love this garlic puree - I use it a lot on roasted meats - joints and portions - makes a tasty caramelised topping - my kids love it!
 

I'm completely obsessed with Cumin Seed - it's just so aromatic and versatile - have to stop myself from overdoing it when I use it!

So my first lot of 'annuals'.  Some of these may end up 'perennials' - you never know!

What products have been your favourites from last year?


Jen x

100 Day Spend Ban? - I Must Be Mad!

Bonjour and Happy New Year!

The other day I read that Sam from Honey-Go-Lightly was embarking on 100 day total spending ban - it's something I've never considered - I mean 100 days without shopping?

So - on New Years Eve after chatting on Twitter (and having had a couple of glasses of wine I might add!) I suddenly decided to join in the 100 Day Spend Ban Challenge suggested by Sandra of  The Black Pearl Blog ...don't ask me why - I just did...!

No - seriously - I have so many products to use up just thought it would be a good opportunity to do so and save a bit of cash too! In all honestly my problem is not so much clothing/shoes/bags but more beauty and hair products so this is the area where I'm going to concentrate my ban!  I haven't really bought much in the sales (pre-ban) just a couple of gift sets from Boots and some perfume from Debenhams so I'm going to try to control my spending until 31st March (not exactly 100 days I know but better than nothing!). I have enough skin and haircare products to last to the end of March and more than enough make-up so going to try to use as much as I can without adding to my stash!  January is my weakest time 'spend-wise' - always feel low after Christmas is over and my brothers return home so I usually go for 'retail therapy'!  I'm still getting my Glossybox each month (for the time being) and may buy the occasional magazine if there's a decent freebie included.  My birthday is also on the horizon so there's a dilemma in itself!

Some of the other lovely bloggers taking part in the challenge are:-

Sandra - The Black Pearl Blog
Alice - Bright Town Girl
Shona - Fresh Beauty xox
Jo - Beauty and The Books
Sandra - Beauty Balm
Marvelle - Blog of Shadows
Grace - All That Slap
Sarah - Writing and Rambling
Natalie - Natalie Roseanne Nails and Beauty Blog
Katie - Fashion and Beauty

Although I'm not 'banning myself' as much as some of the lovely ladies above (some of them are really going for it!) but just concentrating on my biggest weakness, it's better than 'a kick in the teeth' and with the money I save I'll be paying the good dentist for a filling that I need - oh the joy!

Wish me luck!

Jen x