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

Being single again

Well, I'm back in the world of being single again. I have just come out of one of the most normal relationships I have ever been in. He was kind, and funny and lovely and sensible. At a time when my life was spiralling into crazydom, he came along and pulled me to to a world that other people seem to always have.

He is definitely what I needed to help me bring back my faith in humankind. I enjoyed the simple things we did and even if once in a while, I went back to my loud self, he didn't even flinch. So I began to think that maybe there could be a future with him.

But as I said, he is sensible. Far more sensible than me. He does not live in cuckoo land like I do half the time. Staying together was not realistic. Too many sensible reasons to go into but needless to say that I am very sad about it.

I wish we were able to work things through and live happily ever after. But it was not meant to be and I can leave this relationship not having any bitter feelings for him. Because we ended it before it got too messy and before we ended up resenting each other.

I am so glad I met someone like him and I am grateful for the time we spent together. We did the usual 'lets stay friends', I wish we can but.... maybe not now.

I have always felt detached from the real world and with him, I felt like I was part of it for that short while. He probably doesn't know how much he means to me at a whole different level. There is no point in telling him. He'll forget me in a couple of months as people do in the real world, and I will be so jealous of the girl he eventually settles down with.

I just hope my girlfriends pull through for me during this time. I don't want to go back on the dating scene, as I don't think I will find anyone as kind as him. Also, trying to meet someone is so exhausting. I don't know how anyone else does it. Even one of my mates who has been virtually a hermit for the best part of four years found a man who wants to be in a serious relationship with her the moment she went out of the house!

This post is dedicated to those of you who are single, or those who have ever had to let go of the best thing that ever happened to you. And this post is also dedicated to the boy who will never read this.

Space NK Private (not so private) Sale

Yesterday, Space NK held a private sale for their Indulge card holders. I couldn't make it because I was in the mud in Hyde Park, with seven other merry friends, dancing away to WHITE LIES, PAUL WELLER and KINGS OF LEON.

Drunk Caleb!!

Fantastic day beginning to end. I digress...

So, from today until saturday, this sale is open to everyone. I popped down there today for a browse. They have some amazing Laura Mercier makeup and it took all my strength not to buy any because I really should finish up what I have.

In the end I picked up a couple of skincare products from a line I have never heard of before - Zelens
The sales assistant was raving about them, saying how great they were and that the reason why its so cheap now is because Zelen is repackaging their products. I don't know why, so I believed her. And picked up the eye cream. Was originally £121, on sale £60. This is still the most expensive eye cream I have every bought in my life. But I am desperate for a miracle cure for my troublesome dark circles.
Its full name is intensive triple-action eye cream, and comes in a box. Inside you get a leaflet and 15 ml worth of product in a sturdy glass container.

 The other thing I bought for £25, originally about £150 is the advanced luminescence serum. I still am in love with the Darphin Serum which I am still using, but I just got sucked in and got this. I'll probably use this one at night as my Darphin serum also acts as a great base for my make up.

I have just got home and looked for reviews on Zelen products. There are not a lot, and they are mixed. I have put my faith in the Space NK assistant and hope I haven't just squandered £85 down the pan.

I'll start using this stuff tonight and let you know how it goes. In the meantime, if anyone has had any experiences with Zelens Skin Science products - I would be really interested to hear your thoughts.

UPDATE - Sept 2011
Both products now used up. Pretty quickly may I add. Absolute waste of money.

Quick note

Just to say, I haven't stopped blogging. There are loads of new things I have picked up and want to write about. Loads of different experiences I want to share. Its just, I don't know where time is going at the moment.

I am hoping to sort myself out over the next couple of weeks and re-start the blogging again

Have a lovely bank holiday everyone :)
xx