Things I'm loving at the moment

No7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser

I have been coming home quite late a lot recently and this is what I keep reaching for on those evenings. It takes off everything, really quickly and causes no irritation to my skin whatsoever. I really love the fact that you can see how much product you have left (unlike the Liz Earle cleanser tube - only downside I hasten to add). Its about £9 from Boots.

Aloe vera gel 
Especially for 'the time of the month'. I slather it on my breakouts at night and seems to calm them down by the morning.

I get mine from Holland & Barratt

Batiste Nude Dry Shampoo

I love how I can volumise my hair with this when applied to the roots. I end up with  a messy, wavy head. Great stuff. You can get this from a whole bunch of places.

Green tea

I thought all green tea tasted the same. But I was wrong. I am trying to cut down on coffee because of my inability to sleep for more that four hours in a row. I have taken to drinking more water, and try and drink at least two cups of green tea a day at work. I bought these from a stall at a Japanese festival I went to recently. Green tea is the only ingredient in it, and it is delicious.

Bloomin' October Heatwave

So this crazy heat wave during October in London has come and gone with a blink of an eye. Fingers crossed we get another one before the year is out (I am trying to ignore the global warning issues for this moment). All the John Kettley and Michael Fish successors are hinting at it.

The heat and lashings of sun had actually caused my orchard plant to flower - first time in two and a half years. How gorgeous are they?

This weather has also made me discover Pink Lemonade from Marks & Spencers. I am addicted to the stuff and it looks very pretty too.

There is something about the sun that makes people happier and fluffier and nicer. For me, summer of 2011 was that heatwave in October.

Two

Xx

Lazy weekend

The weekend has been hot, hot, HOT. In fact the whole week has been scorching although I missed most of it as I have been stuck in the freezing air conditioned office.

I went up to Hampstead Heath with some friends for a picnic and sun-lazing. It was not as heaving as I expected it to be which was great. Hampstead Heath is gorgeous. A friend of mine got chatted up by some random stranger who was walking around with a massive tear on the side of his sorts. So huge that you could see his underwear. It was hilarious watching.

After an outdoor lunch, we made our way to Shoreditch and hung around for a bit until we ended up at this place where the band below were playing.

I've got to say,  Black Manila Flamingo Drive nearly burst my ear drums. I am sorry to say they were sooo bad live. But sifting through the bad guitars and keyboard, the guy has a pretty good voice and the music did sound a bit Jam-esque. Maybe it was the sound system that made my ears bleed, but I think I will google search them to see what they are really meant to sound like.

Sunday, lazed around with the little nieces in the garden eating ice cream and watching them ruin my make up brushes and eye shadows because they were giving each other makeovers. I didn't even have the energy to scream at them so they carried on and demolished a whole eyeshadow palette with their fingers. The six year old nephew later ran into the garden and jumped on top of me whilst I was snoozing to show me his latest Dr Who purchase and searching for my iPhone to play City Farm (I only found out recently that the cheeky little monkey made a separate folder on my phone for his games). Again, I did not have the energy to get him off me so I just lay there for half hour whilst he rambled on about sonic screwdrivers. In the evening I managed to get ready and head over to my friends for a Shisha, indian tea and movies.

It was a pleasant weekend, but I did feel a bit weird at times. Could not put my finger on it. I think it must be me trying to settle down being single again. Or maybe I'm worrying myself how quickly I think I am getting over it. I have made sure I have kept myself busy since it all happened, once I slow down then I can have a think of what the heck the next chapter of my life needs to be. Because this new freakin' chapter has been a long time coming.

Anyway, hope you are enjoying the heatwave in the UK, as we have been told to bring out the wooly scarves and thick coats for the end of the week!

Lots of love

x

Bargain buys

I have been trying to go to the gym regularly now for the past seven months. I decided to join one next to work so i wouldn't get lazy and not go after work if I joined the gym near home. I haven't been too bad actually as going with a buddy does help. Well, I'm trying not to think about the recent 5 week lapse. I'm getting back on it. 


I don't know if anyone else has the same problem, but my my gym bag seems to be really heavy with products - I carry around so much stuff other than just the gym kit such as shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, crams, lotions, makeup etc. I did use to carry small decanted bottles around me but somehow the fuller size products seem to have creeped back into my bag. 


Anyway, as I don't want to take my expensive things to the gym with me, I have come across some real beauties that are dirt cheap. So here are a few of my proud finds:

Boots Coconut and Almond Shampoo

This cost freakin' 99p! Amazing stuff. It leaves my hair soft and clean and smelling lovely. I haven't tried out the conditioner, but I tend to use my Moroccan oil after coming out of the shower anyway so that works as my conditioner. 

I am pretty fussy with my hair, with all the dyeing and blow drying damage, and I think this stuff works great

Natural High Brightening Eye Cream

Contains Organic Rosehip Oil, and other things to help brighten the eye area. I have to say, it does help. I love how it easily sinks into my skin after the shower and brighten it to make me look fresh-eyed. I don't know if it does anything more that provide a temporary cosmetic effect as I have been using it only a couple weeks now, but I really like the effect it gives. Bargain at £2.49 considering the most I have spent on an eye cream has been over £80 and did crap all to improve the dark circles around my eyes.

Sleek Makeup I-Divine 12 Piece Shadow Storm

I had initially bought this because I wanted easy to wear eye shadows and a good black. Most of the bottom ones have broken beyond repair due to it travelling in overnight bags etc. So I thought I'd have it in my gym make up bag for those times I go out straight after a workout. They are very well pigmented and I find that they apply really well with just my fingertips. These palettes are great value for money at under seven quid. 

So these are my bargain finds. I would really be interested to know what people take to the gym with them so that it will give me inspiration on how to pack lightly!


Side note: I never thought I'd say this ever, but I really enjoy the gym and I can see a big difference in my mood if I haven't been for a while. To be honest I probably am not doing enough to actually lose weight as my diet and general lifestyle is still rubbish, but when I feel down, down a strong coffee and spending twenty minutes on the treadmill really helps bring things to perspective. 


Hope you enjoy your weekend what ever you do.


xx