New Year NOTD - Beauty UK Glam Nails - Gunmetal

Bonjour and Happy New Year's Eve!

In years gone by the hubby, myself and friends would be out every New Year's Eve at a (not so local) pub for the disco and New Year's party. Was brilliant - I remember dancing (with the other girls) on the chairs and silly string being squirted up my skirt by some nutter - resulting in my hubby threatening to 'take him outside' in no delicate fashion! We then walked a considerable distance home having had a 'skinful',  in all weathers (snow one year), didn't even feel the cold even though I was usually unsuitably clad - ah the benefits of youth!

These days it's just me, hubby and Jools Holland on the box (kids and dog asleep!).  Haven't been out on New Year's Eve since having kids  for all the usual reasons ... and I do miss it sometimes ... anyway ... I thought this would be a fitting nail choice for this time of year ...

Beauty UK 'Glam Nails' in Gunmetal

Love this - I don't possess many metallic effect polishes but sometimes a bit of good ol' silver/gold is fine for a night out or just to brighten things up - and the way the weather's been today we've sure needed it!  This would actually have gone really well with my silver dress or skirt that I wore to go out in years and years ago!

Anyway - I love Beauty UK polishes - they go on fine and last pretty well and at only £1.99 you can't go wrong!  Full range of groovy shades from their website right here or from Superdrug.

Right - I'd best sign off and start peeling potatoes and vege for tonight's dinner! Have a brilliant evening everyone whatever you're doing - Happy New Year!


Jen x

Compliments of the Season...

...to you all!

Just wanted to share a few seasonal pics here from the last week -  what a surprise there are several of food...!

My brother Gourmet Gorman's tasty (leftover) Turkey Biryani and Mum's marvellous dhal...

  Gourmet Gorman's Honey Glazed Gammon and the dog looking reluctantly festive ...

Lovely L'Occitane pressies from Mum ...

Erm - I suspect we have enough confectionery to last until Easter ...!

Hazy pic of some of hubby's pressies...!

Went to see The Hobbit with hubby, kids and brothers - fantastic movie...!

Right - I'm off to have a large Chinese Takeaway with the family!  

What did you get up to last week? 

Jen x

Festive Friday Track - Bill Haley and the Comets - See You Later Alligator!

Greetings!

Thought I'd share one of Mum and Dad's favourites tunes that bring back memories of their Christmas Season and courtship days in 1950's India....and some of the history behind it...

My Dad tells me that back in the day...around the 20th December there would be a long queue outside the doctors, all there for mostly the same reason - to convince him that they needed the fortnight off work! Once signed off  (which I understand wasn't too difficult - don't ask!) festive celebrations would begin with the 'Bachelor's Ball'  on 23rd December (all the bachelors in town would each make a small contribution towards the 'do' and everyone else was allowed free entry). They had Christmas Eve off to attend Midnight Mass and then the partying started again with dances every night from 25th December through to 1st January! The dances would finish most nights at around 4.00 am usually (little ravers!).

Dad played in the band for most of these 'dances' (sax and clarinet) and said he did a number called 'Saxema' where he would leave the stage and weave his way between the dancers playing to them and performing his sax solo...I never knew that before...!

Dad's Clarinet Solo

Dad with the band and his Sax! 

Mum was a brilliant dancer and would jive the night away partnered by her brother Jack. Uncle Jack was in the Navy at the time and when he came home on leave for Christmas he apparently brought all the latest 'jive steps' back with him which he taught to Mum! Their dance routines with all the lifts and swings often turned in an exhibition in the middle of the dance floor - 'Grease' style... and they won several competitions - wish I could have seen that...!



Mum and Dad both love 'See You later Alligator' - Mum  can't listen to rock 'n' roll music without wanting to have a little shuffle and Dad just wants to get up there and play his sax!

Bill Haley and the Comets - See You Later Alligator!

Mum didn't/doesn't drink. Dad likes a drink occasionally but says back then no 'official' boozing took place due to prohibition in India at the time.  The band apparently 'got away with it' - due to the trombonist being a police radio officer...! I understand 'in his day' Dad drank some illicit concoctions which - in his own words - tasted like French Polish...!

So you see - we think we've 'done it all' but often our parents have often 'been there and done that...' many moons ago...!

Hope you enjoyed this little post Mum and Dad - love you loads!

Jen  x

Treacle Moon Winter Special - I'm Loving those 'Warm Cinnamon Nights'!

Bonjour!

Those lovely people over at the Treacle Moon factory have only gone and done it again (check out their full range of mouth-watering recipes right here!).  Understandably I was over the moon (so sorry for bad pun) to be asked if I'd like to try out their new Winter 2012 Special Edition ....

Warm Cinnamon Nights Bath and Shower Gel...

I have to say I'm a little obsessed with Treacle Moon products and this has definitely lived up to all expectations!  I wish there was such a thing as 'scratch n sniff' on blogger because I'm sure this would be a real winner.  It's a real 'happy fragrance' - smells good enough to eat - well, drink actually - although that is obviously completely out of the question and highly un-advisable (blogger told me this should be 'inadviseable'! ).  It reminds me of bathing in a vat of fruit punch - and smells of warm sweet oranges, apple, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and honey with a bit of zest thrown in! I absolutely love it and my little girl does too! It's the ideal fragrance for use over this freezing cold (I can't stand the cold) winter season and I can see me reaching for it well into the New Year to perk myself up - after all the Christmas hustle and bustle - when we all feel a bit down etc.

What I also love about Treacle Moon products is not only do they last for ages but the entire bathroom smells wonderfully fragrant after your shower/bath (I'll not go into detail but it's not often my bathroom smells so good with two boys in the family - if you get my drift!). You can check out my reviews on some other lovely Treacle Moon products here and here.

Available exclusively at Tesco stores right now and priced at £2.99/500ml this is ideal if you're stuck for any last minute pressie ideas.  Have you tried any Treacle Moon products?  If you fancy a bit of Warm Cinnamon Knight Nights then look no further!


Jen x

Glossybox - December

Bonjour!

My December Glossybox arrived last week....I know everyone's super busy (me included) at the moment with festive preparations - so just thought I do a quick post on the contents - here we go...

So the products ...

Lemon by Mary Greenwell Eau de Parfum Sample 1.5ml Full Size - £90/100ml
I don't think I like this at all I'm afraid - smells very much like an aftershave - bit too zesty for my liking.

Sebamed Anti-Dry Night Intensive Cream 10ml Full Size £9.99/50ml
Apparently one of leading skincare brands designed for sensitive skin. Not sure I'll make full use of this sample so may be passing it on to a friend.

Rituals Magic Touch Ultra Rich Whipped Body Cream Full Size £5/70ml 
This is more like it - I've heard good things about Rituals products.  This body cream has a lovely fragrance -is creamy but rubs in easily - will be ideal for these colder months.

Seche Nail Lacquer in Iconic - Full Size £9.99/14ml
Looks like a really good polish this one and a decent full size. 'Highly pigmented colour for one coat coverage, satin smooth application...'  sound good. Not sure this particular colour is for me though - such a shame and I don't usually go for this sort of finish so will be saving this for a friend!

Sleek Make-Up True Colour Lipstick in Sheen - Full Size £4.99/3.5g
This is a nice little lippie in a vibrant red (looks more orange on my pic but it's not!). Like it.

Glossybox Blusher in Glossy Rosewood - Bonus Product
A bonus product made for Glossybox by Kryolan (Professional Make-Up) so should be a good formulation. I'm not sure whether this colour is a little pale for me so may mix it up with a bronzer.

I'd heard that last year's December Glossybox was a real corker... this one's a bit of a mixed bag for me - some good products - some not so good... anyway...

What did you get in your Christmas Glossybox?

Jen x