Pants, Sweat, Wine and Michael Jackson!

Bonjour!

If you read my blog you may be aware that I like the word 'pants' ... to express my displeasure (I do, on occasion use a choice few other words, as I'm sure we all do, but don't feel they're suitable for airing on the net!). So ... pants it is then... pants pants pants pants!!! I'm sorry but did I fall asleep during what seemed to be the promise of Spring only to wake up mid-Autumn during this half term? Cold, grey, dull, rainy, damp and miserable at the end of May = nothing but pants in my book!

It's a darn good job I have Michael in the car to Rock My World  - you can't beat a bit of MJ to accompany you into work - makes you want to throw your shapes all over the car - impossible/dangerous whilst driving!  I have loved this track forever! It's not too fast, not too slow, just so laid back an groovy (which is what I would like to be!) ...

Michael Jackson - You Rock My World

 

So ... MJ chills me out and then I walk into the office to be hit by a mini heatwave. The air conditioning is broken so myself and my colleagues spent the day in full sweat mode - stuffy and stifling...!  I felt so fuzzy and spaced out at the end of the day that I went to the gym to clear my head and sweated a load more - it was a whole day of sweat all round - nice!

And now the last half term of the school year is at an end - bizarre! Both my brothers have been around in some capacity this week and the youngest came back from France bearing (French) gifts - most welcome gifts ...!

I can't even fit the entire length of this monster bottle into the pic! It's so tall it won't fit in the fridge so ice cubes it is! The Rose (in the box) is honestly the best I've tasted in ages - I'm not a massive drinker but this just slips down so easily! The hubby says it's because the French save all the best stuff for themselves - true in this case! And on the end is a 'normal' bottle getting in on the act - just for the sake of perspective!

Hope you've all had a good half term despite the pants weather (there I go again with my pants!). What's your favourite MJ track?

Jen x

A Current Wishlist!

Bonjour!

This wishlist thing - it's an ongoing and somewhat dangerous affair isn't it? Mine is as long as the Great Wall of China but I've tried to narrow it down a little, as you do ;)

A Current Wishlist! by beautyandthebiryani featuring black shoes

Hats - after reading Sharron's (Style At Every Age) post here I think I could do with a new hat to protect my kite and my newly coloured barnet! Was thinking of a trilby but I'm also liking this bright floppy number!
Shoes - I'm blaming my daughter for the Vans - she's kept on and on about wanting a pair and now I want a pair - plain black with a chunky sole, that'll do me!
Brows - currently obsessed with all things 'brows'! Desperately want to try the Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade, reckon it'll be the perfect Summer brow product as once it's on it's on - no more melting brows! Unfortunately there's a pigging waiting list for Dark Brown - for crying out loud! Also need an angled brush to apply it - shame it doesn't come with one!
Nails - mine have been splitting vertically so a couple of bits I'm hoping will help OPI Nail Envy and the Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File please!
Hair - a couple of weeks ago my hairdresser wacked a bit of the Color Wow Root Cover Up on my random greys which pop up all over the place and as if by magic they temporarily disappeared! Then Nic from Strawberry Blonde Beauty Blog raved about the Color Wow One Minute Transformation Styling Cream here - it sounds ideal for my summer frizzies! It must be a sign that a travel size of the Styling Cream is included with a Color Wow purchase from Feel Unique (with free delivery too!) - a sign I tell you!
Blushers - I wouldn't sneeze at either of these two beauties, my brother toured round the USA recently with Boy George (yep it's alright for some isn't it!) and I nearly asked him to pick me up a Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush (but obviously didn't in the end - stupid me!) - also loving the sound of this Smashbox Halo Long Wear Blush which gives a 'luminous, lit from within' look - I'll have some of that please!

So that's my lot for the moment - I'll have to continue working overtime at this rate! Have you used any of these beauty products? What's on your current wishlist?

Or should I say what 'isn't' on your current wishlist?

Jen x

Laura Geller Baby Cakes Baked Blush Palette - A Firm Favourite!

Bonjour!

I bought my Laura Geller Baby Cakes Baked Blush Palette a couple of years ago  from QVC.  I've mentioned it before with a view to 'Shopping my Stash' but I'm so into it I thought it deserved a little post of it's own!

I've been a fan of Laura Geller baked products (especially her blushers) for a while now. They start off as creamy liquid pigments, are baked (in Italy I believe) for 24 hours and formed into compact domes. These blushers have the most amazing silky texture - soft as a baby's bottom, glide on effortlessly, are extremely blendable and packed with those crazy pigments - so much so that you have to remember to go easy on application! This particular palette comprises one matte blush  - Sugar Free Raspberry and three shimmer blushes, Pink Grapefruit, Golden Apricot and Sunswept - when I say 'shimmer' I'm not going down the big chunks of glitter route, but more of a subtle, gleaming affair, makes you look healthy and glowing (not in a sweaty way!). You can restrain yourself and use just one of the colours at a time or swirl the brush very lightly round a couple or even the whole lot to create a lovely mix!

You know when at first you hold off using a product because it works so well and you don't want to use it all up too quickly? Well, I'm past all that now and have been wearing these blushes for work and nights out (unfortunately the former being the more frequent activity!) - they are so long lasting, applied in the morning they last for much of the day with hardly any need to touch up! I wondered whether this was a bit pricey when I bought it at around £23, but looking back it's been well worth the money and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. Sadly I don't think it's available in this combination over in the UK at the moment so will have to bide my time!

Have you tried any Laura Geller Baked Blushes? What's your favourite palette?

Jen x

Mally Volumizing Mascara - Review

Bonjour!

Mally Beauty products are described as high performance and bulletproof, used by A-listers and busy mums alike! The Volumizing Mascara has been part of my ongoing stash for a couple of years now - you know when you keep going back to that certain something because it just works for you? Can't believe I haven't blogged about it before now!

Mally's mascara includes a combination of natural waxes blended with powders to create a formula neither too thick nor too runny. As you can see from the above pic. the brush is of a standard size with fairly closely packed bristles. The two work really well together to create hefty black lashes with volume, length, definition and curl with minimal transference to the lids! It stays in place all day with no flaking, smudging, melting or running until removed - and as long as you use a decent eye make-up remover it comes off fine. You can also add further coats throughout the day should you want to 'up the ante' - I have to confess I have done just this on occasion before a night out, reapplied more mascara over the top and just changed the make-up around it! Do all mums take short cuts like this or just me? As with all the Mally products I have so far tried, I find this mascara easy to use, it's gimmick free and delivers great, long-lasting results with no faff or fuss. There is also a waterproof formula available which I imagine would be ideal for water babes on holiday. It's not cheap to buy alone at around £17 but mine have all been included in QVC kits so I've never actually paid full price!

A couple of coats on (regular readers will know how puny and pathetic my bare lashes are!) ...

So ... another winning product from Mally - it's easy to handle, does the job with minimal fuss, is reliable, a great all rounder and sticks around (until you need to get rid) ... a bit like some men!

Have you tried any products from Mally Beauty? Which is your most 'reliable' mascara?

Jen x

New Specs Haul!!

Bonjour!

Totally blaming my new specs (below) for this one! Had to pop into Boots to pick them up (check for fit etc) - it's been 3yrs since I last had my eyes tested so new specs were overdue. Of course, any 'normal' person would just walk out with their new spectacles but not me - oh no ... it's like offering sweets to a child letting me loose in there ...! I don't think I'm on my own with this affliction? Correct me if I'm wrong - actually don't ...!

To be honest everything here (apart from the nail files) was on offer. 3 for 2 across haircare - my hair is mis-behaving at the moment so I went for the No Sulphate Nourishing Care System - can't wait to try it out! The hand cream was down to £1.99, selected Original Source Shower products are down to £1 (why did I only get one?!) and the Rimmel Salon Pro by Kate Nail Polish had a quid off so only £3.49 ...

I bagged the Trilogy Rosehip Oil and Bourjois Cream Blush in 'Pink Sunwear' with my Boots points - don't you just love those Boots points!

So I actually didn't spend that much believe it or not (even my specs were half price) and it gives you such a warm feeling inside when you walk out of Boots with a large carrier bag of goodies ... doesn't it?

Have you bagged any Boots bargains recently or are you 'normal' ie able to walk out empty handed?

Jen x