Tastes Like Glitter

Weekly Weigh In #11.

2013-05-19T07:00:00.001+01:00

I've decided I don't like bank holidays. They slow down how well I'm doing. Not an excuse by any means, it just seems to be the way.

Other than that I started weight training my arms this week. I can notice a difference in weight loss there. Trying to tone them up as I lose weight will be easier than once I've lost it all. I've been doing things like this, that one in particular is a bit of a killer when it gets to the 'arm circles'. So I thought I'd get water retention from that.

I also managed to go over my weekly syn allowance and not have enough superfree the few days before I got weighed. I was really only going for a 1lb loss, though I fully expected a gain.

New In: 2st Treats.

2013-05-17T07:00:00.000+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I hit another slimming milestone. My 2st award! It's still unreal to me that I've lost that much because I can't see where it's vanished from.

Anyway. I picked up some bedsheets, a new quilt and a couple of pillows from Tesco Direct. I'd been wanting these cute polkaheart sheets since around the end of January. Whilst they were already fairly cheap, it was even better getting them when they had 25% almost all the home things.

It makes such a nice change to not be sleeping under a pancake for a quilt. Plus it's definitely helping me sleep more undisturbed through the night.

As that's not the most interesting thing to have as a treat, I picked up the Naked Basics palette. I've wanted this since it was released and I was supposed to order it for my birthday. But I never got round to doing so.

Often when I do a vampy lip and a nice thick winged liner, I feel it would look so much more put together if I'd used matte shades. Since I don't have any matte neutrals (bar the 2 in the Naked palette) this is a welcome addition to my stash.

I can't remember the quote exactly but rewarding yourself for good things makes you more likely to want to repeat them!

Work Face #3.

2013-05-15T07:00:00.001+01:00

Towards the end of last year I posted a couple of work looks. I don't tend to get too crazy colour wise. Since I had a bunch of time before I started last week, I managed to get a few photos of one of the looks I wore. I wasn't really happy with any of them though *sigh*. But I thought I'd pop them up anyway.

Face:
VIVO Perfect Skin Primer.
No7 Beautifully Matte - Calico.
HD Brows - Dark Brown (Vamp palette)*.
Benefit Boi-ing - Light.
Illamasqua Cream Blush - Sob.
Illamasqua Illuminator - Fondle (cheek highlight).
M.A.C Mineralize Skin Finish Natural - Light.

Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion.
Urban Decay Eyeshadow - Virgin (brow/inner corner highlight), Sin (all over lid), Half Baked (all over lid), Smog (crease), Creep (outer V).
Illamasqua Precision Ink - Abyss.
Nouveau Lashes Noir Mascara*.

Lips:
Revlon Lip Butter - Strawberry Shortcake.
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I actually got a ton of compliments on my eyebrows - the best kind! And just how I looked in general, which is always nice.

My lips have been mega dry the last week or so though, no matter what I've done to them. That didn't make me feel 100% but hopefully they're on their way back to normal so I can start wearing proper lipstick again.

Weekly Weigh In #10.

2013-05-13T07:00:00.000+01:00

Another fabulous week! Giving me slimmer of the week for the third week in a row. But again, my certificate is up in the board they have at group so I'll get it back at the end of the month.

Been stocking up on the superspeed foods has really helped me with bigger losses in recent weeks.

I'm 1lb off my 2.5st award, hopefully I'll get that next week.

RiRi-diculous.

2013-05-11T07:00:00.001+01:00

It seems the world has gone mad. At least the world of M.A.C fans.

This year Rihanna teamed up with M.A.C to make a staggering 4 collections, spread out over the rest of the year. The lipstick 'RiRi Woo', which is a take on the permanent Ruby Woo shade, is present in all 4 collections.

It recently went live online only and sold out in less than 3 hours. M.A.C clearly knew it was going to be hit as they'd made it 1 lipstick per order.

Since then eBay is rife with people trying to sell this. The original £14 lipstick is being sold from anywhere between £30 right up to £100. Absolutely ridiculous. It's being bought back another 3 times this year, who in their right mind would pay that?

I think it's a poor job on M.A.C's behalf that they let people place multiple orders from the same account, to the same address. Maybe that's just me but I think they should've had something in place to stop people buying 3 or 4 lipsticks and selling them for way over the odds. It's just not fair to those who did want it.

Though people have said the difference between RiRi and Ruby is hardly noticeable. So maybe it's worth checking out the original?

Glossybox - May.

2013-05-09T07:00:00.001+01:00

It doesn't seem like all that long ago since monthly beauty box subscriptions popped up. Clearly my sense of time is a bit off as Glossybox are celebrating their 2nd birthday this month.

May is all about the 'birthday treats' box*.

Caudalie - Divine Oil

50ml / £18

100ml / £27

Before I started blogging I wouldn't have gone near an oil. The word itself is attached to bad connotations for me, especially when people mention hair oil.

Caudalie are an outstanding brand and one that's featured a lot in past boxes and on peoples blogs. Everything I've tried from them I really adore.

This is a dry oil that can be used on the face, body and hair. It's made from a blend of 4 oils - grape, hibiscus, sesame and argan.

It feels wonderful on the skin, especially on dry elbows and the like. The scent is subtle and floral. The only downside to this, knowing how clumsy I am is the screw top. The full sizes come with a spray nozzle.

Givenchy - Mascara - Noir Couture

£22.50 / 8g

Apparently this mascara creates instant volume, length and curl. Whilst I got a lot of temporary length, there waas no volume or curl whatsoever. I find most mascaras will lengthen my lashes but once it dries they just revert back to being short and stubby.

The brush is much like Dior's Extase which I would prefer over this. Not a fan of this one.

Beautiful Moments Cosmetics - Prime & Create Mixing Medium

£20 / 20g

Formerly BM Beauty, Beautiful Moments Cosmetics have created a handy multi use gel. It's always good to have something that does a few different things.
This reminds me a lot in texture and appearance to the M.A.C Matte Gel, perhaps it's just a little thinner though. It makes the perfect base if you like silicone primers that get rid of any shine.
It can also be picked with foundation to give a flawless finish. You can also use it with powder blush to create a cream like product. The possibilities are endless!

Premae - Harmony Balm
£26.50 / 30ml
This is an odd one. I wrote it off as being disinteresting from the packaging. Boy was I wrong.
This little beauty is a 15hr moisturising balm that can be used as a makeup primer as it reduces excess oils in the skin and soothes breakouts.
On applying this I can not only feel a difference but I can see a difference in pore size and general skin smoothing. It's really great for layering under tinted moisturiser. As I struggle with an oily tzone, this is perfect in counteracting that if I want to go for lighter makeup.

Nails Inc. - Nail Polish - Portobello
£11 / 10ml
Nails Inc. polishes are fab and something I've bought in the past. Portobello is a bright almost neon coral orange. Perfect for summer nails.
It's very bright but if you check out neons from China Glaze then this is nowhere near as retina searing.
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I wasn't super blown over by this box. The Divine Oil is probably the star product for me and something I was definitely glad to try.

The 2 skincare products didn't overwhelm me but I'd take a pretty eyeshadow over a face cream any day. I had hoped the mascara would make my lashes look decent. To be honest I just have generally rubbish lashes so the mascara could work for everyone else but it just didn't do anything for me.

And of course Happy 2nd Birthday to Glossybox. Here's to a fab 2 years and many more to come!
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Price:
£10 (plus p&p) per month
Subscriptions also available with discounts

Where to buy:
www.glossybox.co.uk

New In: 1st Treats.

2013-05-07T07:00:00.000+01:00

I made myself a promise that for every stone I lost through Slimming World, I would treat myself to something I've been wanting for ages. I couldn't decide what I wanted straight away but I knew I had to reward myself somehow.

When a 20% off code landed in my inbox from Illamasqua, along with my 10% loyalty discount and a free illuminator if you spent over £45, it was pretty much a done deal.

I've been wanting to buy Freak for ages. It's one of my favourite scents and I've been stretching out a generous sample I received long ago.

I also picked up a new liquid liner in Abyss as mine has been slightly dead for a little while now, and I feel naked without big black winged liner. I also picked up Scribe (white) to recreate the speckled liner look.

I got an intense lipgloss in Absorb, which is a lovely nude colour which goes well with super pale skin. And the free illuminator in Fondle. Which is a lovely pink with gold shimmer.

So looking forward to trying these goodies. It's been a while since I've splurged on anything high end and it felt good!

Weekend Wishlist #8.

2013-05-05T07:00:00.000+01:00

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

Cath Kidston Spot Mini Saddle Bag - I've been wanting this bag for ages, namely for IMATS. I will have purchases and my camera to carry. I don't want to be weighed down with a handbag as well. But I left it a little too late and CK are no longer stocking this. Shame because it's the perfect size for a few essentials.

Essie Rock Solid Base Coat - I'm in need of a new base coat and I've been loving Essie lately. I prefer a strengthening base coat to keep my nails from becoming too brittle. Looking forward to trying.

Polar FT4F Heart Rate Monitor - I've been wanting a FitBit One for the majority of this year but it's a glorified pedometer. I was introduced to the Polar watch that tells you the duration of your exercise, how many calories you've burnt, your heart rate and many more things including telling you when you drop out of the fat burning zone. It seems like a really good piece of equipment and is quite a bit cheaper than the FitBit.

Jeffrey Campbell Prickly Shoes - I've been wanting a pair of these 'heel less' type wedges since they came about. Very Gaga inspired. I will get my hands on a pair at some point.

Burt's Bees Beeswax & Banana Hand Cream - I adore Burt's Bees and while pursuing the small collection of skincare goodies in the Boots closest to my work, this piqued my interest. It smells absolutely wonderful and I bet it makes the hands feel fabulous.

Ray Ban Aviators - Yet another thing I've been wanting for ages, mirrored aviators from Ray Ban. I originally lusted after the original silver ones but with the new Summer release of these coloured mirrored lenses (available in green, blue and orange) I was sold. I would prefer a silver frame as gold isn't something I tend to wear but I can overlook that.

Sleek Pout Paint - Pout Paints are Sleek's answer to OCC's Lip Tars. I've saw a combination with a couple of colours that creates virtually the same colour as Belladonna from OCC. Now discontinued but a colour I wished I'd picked up when I had the chance.

111-120/365 - Just Keep Following The Heartlines On Your Hand.

2013-05-04T19:43:00.000+01:00

Not the most interesting week of photos. I also seemed to have slipped up somewhere as I'm currently a day behind.

Weekly Weigh In #9.

2013-05-03T07:00:00.000+01:00

Completely unexpected scale smasher this week. Also, 4 awards for this week too!

I've had people questioning me at group and online on how I manage it, how I get big losses. The truth is, I don't always. I've had a couple of great losses, this week I'll probably only lose a pound as that's the way it seems to go.

I do find myself leaning towards more superspeed fruits like melon and strawberries as those are my favourite.

Truth was this week I wasn't feeling so well so I didn't eat a lot for a couple of days. I made sure to get my healthy extras in though.

I couldn't believe I got slimmer of the week for the second time in a row and slimmer of the month. It really makes you feel good when you get these kind of rewards. It can sound so silly but I can't wait to get my next sticker and certificate.

It's the little things that really motivate me to keep going with my journey. I might be 2st down but I don't really notice much of a change in how I look. How my clothes feel is a different matter but I don't really see anything. Things like certificates and stickers help to remind me how far I've come in just 9 weeks. I may have a long way to go but hell, I'm off to an amazing start.

Out With The Old, In With The New.

2013-05-01T07:00:00.000+01:00

There's a whiff of fresh paint in the air, though that's coming from the newly painted bathroom. But my blog has had a bit of a drastic design change.

I've felt so uninspired about how my blog was looking of late and wasn't happy with any changes I made to it. I needed something fresh. Something new. And none of the hassle of messing up the HTML.

I'd been pursuing a premade theme from Dana's (The Wonder Forest) blog shop - Envye. Her custom design blog work (currently on hold for the moment) is utterly amazing but I'm one of those who can't make up their mind with what they want. The 'Chalk It Up' theme really caught my eye and I knew I wanted.

I decided to take the hassle out of installation and got Dana to install it for me as she also offers this as a service.

I couldn't be more happy with how my blog now looks. It's a refreshing change to anything I've had before and I feel more motivated to blog and show my lovely little piece of the net off.

I can't recommend Dana's blog shop enough. It's full of Blogger/Store Envy premade templates, graphics, fonts, clip art and Photoshop effects. Everything to make your site even more personal. Plus she's super helpful answering any questions and helping me fix a few little things. Thank you Dana!

April Favourites.

2013-04-30T07:00:00.000+01:00

I almost missed the boat on my favourites this month. I had realised it was late April but I totally hadn't taken in just how late it was.

This month I've mostly been enjoying light, highlighted skin with neutral contoured eyes and a bright spring lip.

Alpha H - Liquid Gold*

I've been using this periodically the last 6 or so weeks. I use it after cleansing and as the bottle suggests, apply it every other night without moisturiser for a more intensive treatment.

I'll do a more in depth review on this soon but my skin seems less oily but also less dry. It helps your skin produce more hyaluronic acid which keeps your skin super moisturised. My skin seems less angry since using this so it's become a bit of a staple of late.

Blistex - Intensive Moisturiser

I swap and change between lip balms. Purely because after a while I don't find them as effective as when I first started using them. This is a lovely light balm that glides on to the lips and locks in moisture without leaving behind a heavy, greasy feeling.

OCC - Lip Tar - Queen

I love lip tars and Queen is one of my favourites as I have nothing like it in my collection. It's so damn hard to photograph though. It's a bright neon coral with a hint of pink and the perfect colour for brighter days.

Benefit - High Beam

I've never really got into the habit of highlighting on daily basis. But since the sun has decided to make regular appearances lately, I've opted for matte but glowy skin as it looks a little more natural.

This month I've been switching between High Beam and M.A.C Lustre Drops. Both are perfect dotted under the brow, along the cheekbones and on the cupids bow, to really give that glowy look.

Crabtree & Evelyn - Hand Therapy - Somerset Meadow*

I've talked about these numerous times on the blog so I won't repeat myself but these little tubes of hand cream are amazing. I've kept this one by my bedside for night time moisturising so I can keep my hands and nails in tip top condition.

Illamasqua - Cream Blush - Sob

I can't remember the last time I used a powder blush. I've been using this every time I wear makeup lately. It's the only cream blush I have but it's perfect.

Sob is a cool, candy pink with a dewy finish so it's perfect for teaming with super highlighted cheekbones.

I've just noticed this is no longer on the site, which is a real shame as I love this colour. It's the perfect blue toned pink for pale skin.

Bed Head - Candy Fixations - Sugar Shock

I couldn't get this to work for me when I first go it but lately I've found a way of using it to my advantage.

This spray gives a lot of body so I spray it on the top lengths of my hair (avoiding the main bit of my fringe) and blow dry. It helps give my hair volume and stop it being so flat.

Urban Decay - Naked Palette

The original Naked palette is always a favourite of mine but it's all I seem to be using lately. Whether it's for a barely there eye, something nude with a hint of bright colour or a full out smokey eye. It has the perfect colour selection to help you with any eye look.

Weekly Weigh In #8.

2013-04-28T07:00:00.000+01:00

I had such a good week food wise. I got in lots of fruits and veggies. I'm so glad to see British strawberries back on the shelves. I love them, even more so since knowing they're classed as a 'superspeed' fruit.

I lost a fabulous 4lbs in total. Giving me my 1.5st award. I also got slimmer of the week but my certificate is up on one of the boards where they have our group.

Since I joined we only had a temporary consultant as the proper lady was having a little bit of maternity leave. She's back now and really lovely. I was a little apprehensive as I'd gotten used to the previous consultant and wasn't sure how the new one would be, but she's really nice. :)
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Week 8 also means another set of measurements:

Upper arm: -2cm (6cm lost in total)
Neck: -1cm (3)
Boobs: -2cm (12)
Waist: -2cm (12)
Stomach: -4cm (9)
Thigh: -2cm (3)

Not as much off as last time but still a great deal!

I don't have any goals for 'next week' as this is slightly delayed and I've already had my results. Will post those shortly.

101-110/365 - Nothing But A Shadow In The Night.

2013-04-27T19:18:00.000+01:00

I am so behind at posting these (along with any kind of reviews) of late. I didn't feel at all well last weekend and most of this week. Along with lots of overtime and not enough sleep, it's not the best combination.

I still have some more 365 photos from the last week but I'll save those for another post.

95-100/365 - I Should Be Over All The Butterflies.

2013-04-19T22:28:00.000+01:00

Ooops. Been a little overdue on the 365 posts. I've barely had time to edit the photos, let alone sitting down to a write a post. Hopefully the overtime should ease up soon.

The weather is so nice lately. The bright early mornings and long drawn out evenings are delightful and much better for photo ops. There's still a hint of winter crisp in the air and the odd unpredictable April shower but spring is certainly here and I am beyond glad. After the freezing winter, I will hold my hands up and say I will do my very best to not moan at how hot it gets because I welcome it more than the cold.

Paramore's 4th studio, self titled album dropped last week and I was so stoked for it! I've not listened to a single thing since. It's so so good. There seems to be a massive divide between the fans either loving or hating it. I think it's a lot more mature than previous releases and I can't stop singing along. So pleased for them that it got to number 1! Very well deserved. Especially as the band was apparently going to fail without the Farro's.

I really can't think of a way to close this. Other than the fact I know beauty related posts are a little thin on the ground this week. I had planned to schedule some up for the weekend but I just haven't had the time.

Kallo Rice & Corn Cakes.

2013-04-18T07:00:00.000+01:00

Not too long ago I had an email of a different kind pop into my inbox. One asking me if I wanted to try Kallo's new spring rice cake flavours*. I've always been a Snack A Jack girl so was up for seeing if these would sway me.

The new flavours are 'blueberry and vanilla' and 'caramel'.

I wasn't a fan of the blueberry ones so I passed them along to my dad and asked instead for his opinion. He said they reminded him of Rainbow Drops (I don't like those either) and that he thought they were really delicious.

I opted for the caramel ones. They are a little thinner than it's Snack A Jack counterpart and weighing in a little less on the calorie front. These are 40 calories each where as SAJ's are 50. If you're doing Slimming World, that half a syn can make all the difference.

I love these. They aren't overly sweet or stick but along with some tea or a glass of water, they are super filling. I've only had them plain but I've heard of people topping them with yogurt and fruit.

These are currently available nationwide from Tesco at just £1.69 a packet.

They're definitely worth a try if you want to try something different. I will be buying these caramel ones but I will still be SAJ's, namely the salt and vinegar ones. I love those!

Blistex Intensive Moisturiser.

2013-04-17T07:00:00.000+01:00

Something I've found I need to switch up occasionally is my choice in lip balm. I can find something that'll work really great for me but a month or so down the line it's just not working as well as it once did.

I recently picked this up whilst I was out all day as my lips were getting dry and I needed to get something on them.

What www.blistex.co.uk says:

A long-lasting daily moisturiser bursting with ingredients to rehydrate your lips intensively. Shea butter for conditioning, allantoin for deep-down protection and camphor for that soothing touch.

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This is a lovely little balm. If you can even call it that? It's a white cream, scented with mint. Other lip products I've tried can feel sticky, wet or thick on the lips. This is like none of those. In fact it's like nothing I've tried before.

The tube comes with a slanted applicator so you just squeeze a little out and massage all over the lips.

I've definitely noticed a difference since using it. My lips haven't been dry at all and I really like using it. Definitely a staple of mine. It's a good price and you only need to use the tiniest amount.
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Price:
£2.59 / 5g

Where to buy:
Boots and Sainsbury's

Weekly Weigh In #7.

2013-04-15T07:00:00.000+01:00

I was really going for 2.5 off this week but my 1.5st award, which I feel like I've been banging on about for weeks now, shall have to wait till (hopefully) next week. But I was glad to get a loss after lasts week little blip.

I took before photos and I took some again a few days ago and I can already see a massive difference. This is something, for now, that I'll be keeping to myself.

I think when you look and see something everyday you don't notice and appreciate the small changes. I honestly can't see much of a difference when I'm wearing clothes, besides the fact my work uniform is a lot looser. All things take time after all but it's nice to be able to see the difference in photos.

An 'opportunity' has come up and it's something with both a positive and (possibly) negative outcome. I'm not entirely certain if I plan on taking it up yet but we shall see closer to the time.

Glossybox - April.

2013-04-13T07:00:00.000+01:00

As the UK moves over to 'British Summer Time' everyone's in the mood for spring. With that Glossybox bring us the 'spring fever' box*.

This time around they've shed the regular pale pink box and instead teamed up with designer Pearl Lowe, to create a floral limited edition box.

Nip + Fab - Dry Skin Fix Body Butter - Pistachio Sundae

£9.95 / 200ml

I was so hoping for the coconut scent when I opened my box so was quite disappointed with the one I did get. I'm not a pistachio fan in food form but this butter actually smells like some kind of cookie to me so I don't mind the scent so much.

It's not thick like The Body Shop kind and doesn't leave my skin tacky. It sinks into the skin without any effort at all.

They have a cherry version I'm definitely keen to try.

Essie - Nail Polish - Cute As A Button

£7.99 / 13.5ml

This is my first Essie. I've been meaning to try them for ages but I was so overwhelmed with the colour choice, I wasn't sure where to start.

Cute As A Button is a strawberry/coral shade, perfect for summer nails. It was very almost opaque in two coats, a third completely got rid of any visible nail line.

I really like the formula and flow of this polish. It dries pretty quickly and comes with a pro wide brush (favourite kind, makes any polish a winner in my book) so makes application a breeze. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future collections to see if anything takes my fancy.

Yves Rocher France - So Elixir Purple EDP

£44 / 50ml

How cute is this little bottle? I usually don't like perfume vials but this mini bottle is lovely.

I'm rubbish at describing scents but this has a floral/woody scent. It smells like a bit of an 'older' fragrance and I don't mean in that in a bad way, I just can't see it appealing to a whole lot of younger people. But you never know.

Illamasqua - Medium Pencil - Paint

£13 / 1g

I've not had a chance to try this properly yet but I've loved everything I'd tried by Illamasqua. This is described as a vibrant, canary yellow. It's quite creamy and easy to apply, doesn't tug on the skin at all and has a matte finish.

I have a few looks in mind to try with this and will post my results if they're any good.

Crabtree & Evelyn - Hand Therapy - Somerset Meadow

£14 / 100g
This hand cream has featured in Glossybox in the past (November). This is a different scent and I enjoy it just as much as I did last year.
Somerset Meadow is a brand new fragrance launching on the 29th of this month. It contains macadamia nut oil, shea butter and vitamins C and E. I can't quite place the fragrance but it's very fresh smelling and not at all overpowering.
It's a thick cream but absorbs into the skin really quickly. When I had this last time, I couldn't stop applying it because it was lovely and moisturising.
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This has been my favourite box in a while. I got to try some new things I'd been meaning to try for ages but never got to round to. I also got to try things from some favourite brands too.

I wasn't super fond of the perfume, seems a bit too grown up for me but I shall be using everything else to prep myself in time for spring.

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Price:
£10 (plus p&p) per month
Subscriptions also available with discounts

Where to buy:
www.glossybox.co.uk

Carex Antibacterial Hand Wash - Chocolate Orange.

2013-04-11T07:00:00.000+01:00

I know this isn't one of the more regular products I review but I had to blog about this, because it's just delicious!

I am ~~a bit~~ ok a lot of a freak when it comes to hand cleanliness and bacteria. I go through hand wash like it's going out of fashion. So when I saw numerous posting about this on Instagram I knew I had to get my hands on some.

Carex recently bought out two new fragrances aimed at helping encourage little ones to wash their hands. Strawberry Laces which I tried to start with (can be seen in this post). I wasn't super fond of the fragrance to start with but as I used it more, it really grew on me.

The second fragrance is bar the best - Chocolate Orange. It smells amazing, perfect, just like a Terry's Chocolate Orange. Many times I've come so very close to licking it because it smells delicious, almost good enough to eat. Though I'm pretty sure it wouldn't taste as nice.

I can't stop giving it a cheeky sniff every so often, right as I type this review. I'm glad I stocked up on this recently whilst it was on offer as it's become a firm favourite in my bathroom. It's absolutely perfect. I'd choose it over clinical soap scents any day!
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Price:
£1.84 / 250ml

Where to buy:
Sainsbury's and Tesco

Currently just 92p at Sainsbury's until May 7.

Click to read more »

Weekly Weigh In #6.

2013-04-08T07:00:00.000+01:00

So the weekend before last was Easter (if you didn't know) and on the Sunday I went paintballing with some work friends. I had no control over what I ate that day, as I was out for most of it and someone else was doing lunch for everyone. The eating facilities at Delta Force leave a lot to be desired. Pizza, chocolate and high sugar fizzy drinks was all they had to offer, so that was a total no go.

Usually I plan in advance and can food optimise the best I can. For example I saved up syns for the roast dinner I had at my nan's for Mothers Day and took along my own dessert. In theory I should have said I was going to take my own lunch, but never mind. White bread, full fat cheese, crisps, chocolate and cola were what I had to have.

After that I tried to superspeed the best I could. Even though I usually eat melons and strawberries on a daily basis. I fully expected a gain but with it only being half a pound, I am more than happy with that. As my dad said, if I had to gain anything at all at least it was only the tiniest amount. In the grand scheme of things half a pound is not all that much when I look at how much I've lost in just six weeks of changing what I eat.

I know where the gain came from and can move on from it. If I'd have followed the plan 100% all week and gained then of course things would be a little different. Most people in group had either a gain or maintain for this week but it was Easter so hey!

Onwards and upwards this week. I'll be on plan 100% and look forward to (hopefully) a loss. I'd really like 2.5 off to get me back under where I was and give me my 1.5st certificate.

89-94/365 - Can We Go Thrift Shopping?

2013-04-07T16:52:00.003+01:00

Isn't it fabulous having lighter evenings now the clocks have changed? Of course but the lack of hour on Sunday has messed me up all week.

I'm trying to fit in lots of overtime in for IMATS, before I'm off for a week at the start of May. That's also not helping me sleep any better.

I wasn't too happy with either of the middle pictures of this post but what can you do? It's still a photo a day, even if I wasn't happy with those two.

I finally got round to redoing my awful roots and refreshing the red a little bit. I usually get one person at work tell me they love my hair. Since redoing it I've had a ton more compliments. Lovely!

I've also been enjoying painting my nails a lot lately. Hence the two polish pictures (by accident). Hopefully I'll be able to swatch some of my new purchases soon. :)

Jelly Pong Pong Lip Blush - Cranberry.

2013-04-06T07:00:00.000+01:00

It seems lately that the convenience of the chubby pencil are popping up in every brand. Whilst most aren't as full coverage as a straight up lipstick, you still get a hint of buildable colour with a moisturising finish.

Jelly Pong Pong have recently released their take on the pencil trend. This is their 'Lip Blush'* in one of the two colours they currently offer.

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What www.jellypongpong.com says:
A moisturizing lip stain that tints your lips with just the right amount of juicy colour and hydrates like a balm. Apply liberally, purse and let the silky lightweight texture melt onto your lips. Made with beeswax and ceresin wax for a sheer, smooth application.
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Whilst these pencils won't shift my love for an old fashioned lipstick, one of my favourite reasons for liking them is that you can control how opaque and bold you want the colour. Perfect if you're easing yourself in! For my swatch I went all out.

Even just one swipe with this leaves behind a light berry hue. Going over it several times really brings the colour but doesn't look at all patchy or affect wear time.

I find with pencils if you apply and let it dry for a little while, when you do go to drink or eat you get a lot less transfer. This easily last for 4+ hours even with drinking and eating. It does start to fade off slightly after this time but leaves behind a slight stain.

The only thing I'm not a fan of is the price. It's quite a lot when the range only has two shades. Whereas you could get the Revlon Just Bitten (with .2g more) for £7.99 and it comes in seven shades.
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Price:
£12 / 2.5g

Where to buy:
www.jellypongpong.com

New In: Pretty Polishes.

2013-04-04T07:00:00.000+01:00

After having my hair cut, I nipped into Boots to check out the newly stocked Sinful Colors, all the way from across the waters. They've recently started stocking this US brand online and in store. You can check here if anywhere nears you has them.

They are such a bargain at only £1.99! Plus they're currently on the 3 for 2 Boots are currently offering. I picked up the shades - Daredevil, You Just Wait, Let's Talk, Love Nails and Pinky Glitter.

I also picked up the Barry M Gelly polishes I've been wanting to get - Prickly Pear, Lychee and Greenberry.

To make it all up to 9 things so I could take full advantage of the 3 for 2 offer, I got Rimmel's new Lash Accelerator Endless mascara. I've seen quite a few people on Instagram rave about this so I shall see how it fairs on my short stubby lashes.

Weekly Weigh In #5.

2013-04-02T07:00:00.000+01:00

Something I've learnt to do when stepping on the scales is psyching myself up for the worst possible outcome. Every week I get on and prepare myself for a gain. It seems kind of silly but it means that if nothing changes, I'm half prepared.

When I do get on the scales, it always comes as a total shock to see the numbers slowly going down.

5lb off this week! I was not expecting that at all. 2 or 3 is what I usually expect as a loss.

I'm really pleased with how my journey is going. The end is nowhere in sight but that's not stopping me. Each week the numbers are changing for the better and if I hadn't of started this, I'd still be nearly 1.5st heavier then I am currently.

I'm hoping for 2lbs this week, giving me my 1.5st award.