NOTD - Barry M Matte Nail Paint in Crush

Bonjour!

I've been intrigued by the Barry M Matte Nail Paints for a while now but faffed around (true to character) picking 'em up and putting 'em back (as you do) and mulling over the problem of a topcoat etc  before I bit the bullet the other week when they were on offer in Boots. I ended up with a couple of the Mattes and this one is 'Crush' ...

*Note the collaboration shot just above with sleeping pooch!*

I haven't used a matte polish before but this was easy enough to apply. I needed two coats as just the one was streaky. Drying time was about average without my usual super-quick dry (but obviously glossy) topcoat.   Unfortunately it didn't last too well once on - just over a day before some wear on the ends - but my hands are constantly in and out of water when I'm at home. My young friend at work said it lasted approx. two days for her before she had to go over her nails again with another coat to patch things up. Neither of us used a topcoat. I found it very easy to remove, however, if that's any consolation! ;)

Regarding the finish, if we were talking Dulux I'd say it's more of a  'soft sheen' rather than 'flat matt'. The colour of a good red grape with a smooth leathered look to it (reminds me of those dark red Dr Martens I'm still lusting over!) there's a slight edgy vibe going on don't you think?

So ... despite the 'not so good' wear time I am quite taken with this polish - it has a different look to it which appeals to me and is reasonably priced at £3.99 (mine were £3 each on offer) . Going 'topcoatless' is not a practical option though so I've bought a matte topcoat this weekend which I'll be trying out shortly. Will keep you posted.

Have you tried the Barry M Matte Nail Paint? What did you think?

Jen x

Pumping Up!

Bonjour!

This week I managed to get down to my Body Pump class for the first time this year after a spell of several weeks!  Hubby was working away, then Christmas got in the way and then I couldn't get into the darn class after Christmas - in fact all the classes I usually attend are brimming - funny how people flock to the gym in January!

So ... there I was the other night ... brandishing my bar during the bicep track complete with puny weights to match my equally puny frame, watching my little muscles trying to get a bulge on - remembering the bloomin' pain!  My upper body is not my strongest point when it comes to muscle workout (my abs are pretty useless too actually!) and I have to remember to stand correctly with back straight, shoulders down and relaxed (as much as you can in these situations!) and core strong to support the whole shebang!  I'm reassured by my teacher - who incidentally is tiny, smaller than myself and yet can lift what seems like the weight of an ox - that the burn I feel in the centre of my calves whilst performing our lunges is a good thing ...!

I'm not naturally strong or flexible but despite all the pain/burn malarkey I bloody love it - I do! I love the toning and strengthening that comes with it - although the task of trying to stop my bottom going south at my age is getting increasingly difficult - must do more squats!  Exercise, challenging though it is at times, gives me such a buzz that very often after this class I've told the teacher I'm on such a high I just want to bounce out of the class and go straight onto a club! There's a lot to be said for those old endorphins! Anyway ... as we're on the subject of pumping ...


Technotronic - Pump Up The Jam

Yes I was jumping around to this in smoky nightclubs since it's release in 1989 - and yes I bet some of you weren't even born ...! Good grief doesn't it get you going? Once a pumper always a pumper I guess!

Do you like a bit of Body Pump? What's your favourite exercise?

Jen x

Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment - Review

Bonjour!

I received the Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment  in a  QVC kit ages ago (I don't know what I'd do without QVC at times!) ...

Comes in a little (rather serious looking don't you think?) grey bottle with a dropper/pipette ...!

A little info directly from the Elemis website here for you ...

"Super-active padina pavonica and blue flower linseed helps smooth and firm, targeting fine lines and wrinkles, for a more youthful appearance. A super-light formula that packs heavy-weight results!

A sophisticated amino acid complex of natural humectants which attracts moisture into the deeper layers of the skin. Combines exceptional moisturisation with added protection to support the fragile skin around the eyes, without overloading them."

source

Now we all know my eye area is getting on a bit (along with the rest of me!) and whilst it's difficult to turn back time in this department, anything which helps halt proceedings - so to speak - can only be a good thing. I'm not a fan of anything heavy around the eye area - it just introduces more problems into the equation. Stands to reason that a light serum which is absorbed almost instantly and keeps the skin around my eyes hydrated, whilst helping to ward off wrinkles and saggy bits (dang those blasted saggy bits!) would always have been a welcome addition to my skincare routine!

All you need is a drop lightly patted around the orbital bone - it's very concentrated and the dropper makes it both easy and economical to use.  I started using in the mornings last summer and am only just  finishing it off (both AM and PM during the last few months) - it's kept going for ages. It has a cooling, soothing and slight firming feel to it and my eye area feels comfortable and moisturised (yet not overloaded with product) - and stays that way all day with no puffiness.  I'm not going to be completely wrinkle free at my age but I do think that using a quality product such as this helps to keep to keep the situation under control and treat the area in a suitable way.  I'll let you know if things start to slide after I finish this little bottle ...!

It is pricey at £39.00/15ml but no more so than any other premium product I've looked at.  I do have other eye products to try out but want to repurchase this at some stage as I feel it works for me. Wise to wait for another QVC TSV or kit though as it can end up costing a fraction of the full price and actually there is an Elemis TSV due on 16 February ...!

Have you tried the Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment? What's your favourite eye product of the moment?

Jen x

A January Haul ... ?

Bonjour!

I don't know if you can call this a 'haul' as such - more of a sporadic gathering of bits of over the last few weeks.  I didn't have much in the way of presents this Christmas as my plan was to treat myself in the sales... unfortunately I didn't manage to bag that many official bargains so ended up just picking up things in dribs and drabs ...

Can you believe this is all I picked up from the half price beauty gifts in Boots?

Managed to get these leather pumps from Next though - a bargain at £12 ... but that's it for the 'proper' sales!

Because I'd been so good (or bad - whichever way you look at it!) sales-wise - I picked up some bits from Boots last week - all on offer mind ...!

Barry M Matte Nail Paints in Crush and Mocha (buy one get 2nd half price)
Max Factor Wild Shadow Pot in Burnt Bark (reduced to £3.99)
L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara (on offer at £5.99)
17 Peep Show Mascara (an old favourite - couldn't resist as all 17 mascaras were £4!)

A few cheapie t-shirts and scarf from Primark (the stripey one was only £2) ...

And then when I went to Sainsburys last week all this lot was on offer so I satisfied my domestic yearnings and treated myself - go me! (Actually can't wait to try out the saute pan - as I say go me!).


So what did you get in the January sales? Bet you did better than me!

Jen x

Leftover Lamb Fry (Anglo-Indian Style) ...!

Bonjour!

Breaking from my music tradition decided to 'do a foodie' today - as if you hadn't already gleaned that from the title!   What now seems like eons ago - in between Christmas and New Year the family came over for yet another meal (there's a surprise!) and I cooked a large leg of lamb.  We don't have lamb very often as it's so expensive but it's my mum and hubby's favourite meat and was on offer in Sainsburys (another surprise!).

There was a good plate of meat leftover and so I used it the night after to rustle up a quick and easy curry or 'fry' as my grandpa and many Anglo-Indians have called it. My mum describes a fry (loosely) as 'meat fried with onions and masalas to make a curry with a dry(ish) sauce'.

So here's the plate of  cold lamb ...

and I used the following ingredients...

1 medium red onion chopped or sliced, couple of teaspoons lazy garlic and ginger (or you could use fresh), 1 green chilli sliced, 5 curry leaves, 3/4 teaspoon turmeric, 3/4 teaspoon cumin seeds, a few cherry tomatoes (or you could use half a can),  also a couple of tablespoons oil for frying.

Fry the onions, garlic, ginger, chillies and curry leaves in oil for a few minutes to soften ...

Add the meat and spices and fry for a further 5ish minutes (without burning Mum says!) - if it starts to stick to the pan I usually add a little water from the kettle ...

Add in the tomatoes and enough hot boiled water from the kettle to just cover the meat and spices, bring to the boil and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the meat is heated through thoroughly (probably not such a good idea to take a steamy photo at the same time!) ...

After the water has reduced down you're left with a 'fry' ...

This amount serves 2  - we had ours with leftover biryani (yes it was leftover night!) and yogurt and onion salad ... very nice it was too ...!

It's a great way to use up leftover meat from your roasts and as usual you can add in pretty much whatever you like to the mix in the way of additional spices/vege etc! We're having beef this Sunday so may be able to rustle something similar up next week ...!

What's on your menu for this Sunday?  What do you do with your meaty leftovers?

Jen x