That's the beauty of it

Does anyone actually know what size they are?

2012-01-25T14:36:00.000-08:00

I was doing some generally browsing yesterday and stumbled upon a blog post that I found quite interesting.
This one
Quick sum up - how the stores having been gradually changing the sizes so women feel better about shopping in that one store. I'm not going to reiterate the same point, as I have also read it else were, in relation to that fact women think they're healthy at a size 10, without taking into account measurements and bmi, weight etc.
I haven't really discussed weight lost for a while, as tbh, although I have lost some, I'm trying to do 'lifestyle' changes not diets.
But this post really got me thinking.
Bra Sizes.
I have no idea how bra sizes can be wrong, surely it's simply maths.
No matter where I go for a bra fitting, I end up being told I'm a different size depending what shop I've gone to.
If i take their advice and buy a bra in their size in a different store it doesn't fit.
How does this happen?
Surely as a bra size is based on inches, (I'm aware all clothes are and Rod takes issue with jeans but size 10 are ambiguous anyway) how is a 34B in one shop so much different to a 34B in another.
Yet another product that it can be more difficult to online shop as I need to try it on in the shop.
Unless it's just me that has issues with such problems.
I wouldn't be surprised as I struggle with jeans and tops anyway due to odd proportions.

benefit - Girl meets pearl

2012-01-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

I know, it has been while things seem to have been getting on top of me a little bit and before I know it a few weeks have pasted.
But here we are.
I recently (before Christmas) purchased Girl Meets Pearl by Benefit.
I have wanted this for a while, after having 'That Gal' as a primer and hearing from good friends how good their highlighters were. The only problem being that the nail polish like bottle meant you could never get what was in the bottle.
But, this girl meets pearl this is not a problem as it's in a similar tube to That Gal where it's a twist up tube.

It is meant to be used either on top of makeup or on its own to provide you with a dewy look.
I, however, prefer to mix it in with my foundation, as I have matt-look foundation (I know, surely it defeats the point of matt look to them add this too it but there we are) I find that sometimes you want a slight dewy look without getting too shiny on photos particularly after a few hours and a few drinks in a club.

I really like this, it's not something I use everyday as I don't wear a lot of make-up everyday, but it is nice for however you want to wear it.
Although, it doesn't have the same delicious smell as That Gal which is my only slight dislike as I LOVED that gal purely for that reason!

Lush Australian Igloo Scrub

2012-01-03T10:36:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in previous posts, I'm not really a bath sort of person.
This tends to mean I don't go into shops such as Lush. so sometimes it takes a good friend to go into these shops and get something for me that I like and they are rarely wrong.
For Christmas I was given the Australian Igloo Sugar Scrub from Lush, which I can use in the shower.

It contains eucalyptus blue and sugar (alongside many other ingredients), I found it to be a very harsh scrub which I actually really liked as I have other scrubs that although do the job, you really feel this one working. However, it doesn't leave your skin dry nor do you really feel the need to apply a cream after due to it's coconut centre.
It last for about 2 showers with me abut I did have to break it in half. The only thing is that it is now unavailable as it was a winter special.
However, keep your eyes out for it next year as it's worth checking out.

Benefit - They're real mascara

2011-12-27T13:41:00.000-08:00

I put on twitter that I had recently spent a rather large amount of money on some new make-up.
I have wanted for a long time the new benefit mascara after hearing numerous good things about it.
So I splashed out and here we are.
I always fear that I'm not brillant at applying make-up, I like to get a friend to do it for me when possible.

I have found that with this mascara my lashes do look longer than normal and it's not as clumpy as some other mascaras, so it doesn't leave your eyes feeling heavy which can be an issue with some mascaras.

I do however have one slight (and I emphasis the word slight) criticism. Maybe it has something to do with the make-up wipes I use as when I go to take it off I find that it is incredibly resilient. In some respect this is a good thing, but I find I have to use the harsher make-up wipes that include cleansers etc to make sure I get it all off. Yet, I don't like using these too often as for me, they can be a little bit harsh on my skin.

Other than that, I am very happy with this new purchase and would recommend to anyone who has a bit of spare money and in need of some new mascara to give it a go.

Healthy Little Snacks to 'Graze' on

2011-12-08T09:37:00.001-08:00

As a student, I spend hours looking for ways to be thrifty but I do also like having things that are healthy.
I found an offer for a free box from graze, they are normally £3.49, and you can get them delivered to work and if you're somewhere different for christmas and new year you can change the delivery.
Graze offer 4 different snacks, you can either pick exactly what you get or select various things to try and then luck of the draw for what you get.
This time I went for the energy box, so I didn't get any snacks that contained dips, chocolate or yogurt.
I got a selection of seeds, nuts and berries, which to be honest I quite like and none of the boxes are more than 300 calories. I can only speak for the ones I got, I imagine the yummy ones with chocolate will be more.
You can select to have boxes that don't have a particular food and select any dietry requirements.
If any of you want to try a free box then go to graze and enter in the promotional code: HZ9W411(for a limited time only)
There's no commitment, so once you've received you're first box, just cancel it before they send out you're second and there's no charge.

No 7 Beautifully Matte Foundation

2011-12-02T06:36:00.001-08:00

I know, I know, I seem to be using a lot of No 7 stuff recently, but I do find that with staff discount and various offers, it makes sense to try their range when it's at a very good price.
As you may remember, I did a post about the Maxfactor foundation that I haven't had the best luck with good foundations.
But, I have one for you.
I am someone who needs a good foundation for a night out. When I drink, I go very red, can't be helped I'm afraid and I end up rather shiny.
So I present to you, the No 7 Beautifully Matte Foundation.

Ta Dah!

I'll be honest, I love this foundation, stops me getting shiny when it's busy in a club and you know what, it even hides my rosy red cheeks.

I only need one push to cover my face as well, so it's lasts!
No 7 do have a large range, including a foundation for those who want a more Dewey look and also some with the protect and perfect formula, so there's a foundation for everyone.

Herbal Essences - Clarifying Shampoo

2011-11-23T10:28:00.001-08:00

I am aware that many of my posts are about products I've never used before and to be honest, I probably should have.

After spending many a Saturday working on the hair department and being asked for clarifying shampoo, I have always been a bit unsure as to how much they work.

Surely ALL shampoos are meant to 'clean' your hair.

However, after discussing this with my hairdresser I took her advice and decided to try some.

I went for Herbal Essences, as you know from previous posts that I do quite like it as a brand.

I used it for a couple of washes and rinses, just to give my hair a good clean, and I'll be honest, I don't think my hair has ever been cleaner!

It is best to wash you hair with this the night before you want to style it, as I found it leave my hair albeit clean, but rather untame.

I also decided to not use the conditioner as it seemed a bit pointless to give it a good clean then re apply conditioner.

I was genuinely surprised at how clean my hair felt and I recommend it. Only to be used say one a month, but it can only do your hair good to have a good clean every so often right?

If your hair starts to feel like it needs a wash more often than normal, maybe you just have a bit of a build up or your shower is as poor as mine at uni so your hair never feels fully clean, then using this does seem to revive it. Even if it does take a day or night to get to be stylable!

A quick side note, slightly off topic.

I don't know how true this is, but according to my hairdresser some of the worst shampoo's for leaving a build up on your hair, is tresemme and pantene. She therefore found it funny that both do/did a clarifying shampoo as she found them to be some of the worst offenders. As I use neither shampoo I cannot comment fully, but felt like sharing this tidbit with you.

No 7 Exceptional Definition Mascara.

2011-11-11T05:20:00.001-08:00

I just brought myself some new mascara and I decided to try some of the No 7 ones.

I went for the No 7 exceptional definition.

It has been out for a while and it has the 3 different sides to the brush, including the bush at the end.

I do like how this mascara makes my lashes look, however, I do have a issues with it.

1. it takes a while to dry, so if you put it on and sneeze or put a top on it smudges, a lot.

2. The brush on the tip doesn't really work, it gets all clogged up, so it's pointless.

Apart from that, I really like it.

When it's on an offer AND with a £5 off voucher, it is worth trying.

Epilators.

2011-10-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

Hair removal isn't something I've brought up much before, however, I have recently invested in an epilator. A Phillips one, the HP6509 satinelle soft body total, to be exact.

I got it while on offer, I was able to pay for it with my boots points.

I thought that as I spend so much money whilst at uni on razors and that, that in the long term, this might be more cost effective.

so here we are.

And it hurts.

I knew it would, it's like plucking your eyebrows so after awhile you'll get used to it, I hope.

I find that I can only really do the calves and my knees, because it hurts doing my thighs.

The other attachments (some as seen) include a massage and hair raising thing, to help and a shaving head with a clip to make the hair shorter so it's not as painful when you epilate. However, you can just use the shaving head as a lady shaver and this I prefer for the thighs, bikini line and underarms.

It's best to epilate at night, as for the first few (some people say 6-8) times you get lots of red bumps on your legs and can be a bit sore, but it goes down over night.

I have yet to get ALL the hairs on my legs when I've done it, maybe it's my technique that needs perfecting, I'm not sure.

But it does mean that you don't get the horribly stubble, as the hairs grow back nice and soft.

It feels worth it at the moment, maybe once my technique is better i'll be more sold on it, but I'd say it's worth a go

Soap and Glory - Flake Away.

2011-10-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

Due to one reason or another, it's been an awful long time. And for that I apologise.
However, I am back. So here we go.
Soap and Glory's Flake Away.
As you know, I normally LOVE all S+G products.
But I'm not loving this.

It is designed to help with dry skin on your legs as a scrub.
It does work, I'll give it that but it's very greasy.
I used with whilst having a bath and found that it made all the water go very oily, so when I got out of the bath I was covered in the residue.

The smell is nice, but not my favourite of all the S+G products.
Even if I use it in the shower, I'm not keen on the greasy feeling that it feels on my legs.

So for me.
I wouldn't buy it again and I'm not recommending it.
I will just use a basic scrub (probably the Breakfast Scrub) instead and just use some body butter to help with the dry skin.

I give it 2/10

No 7 Moisture Drench Lipstick

2011-07-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

I have recently brought myself a selection of new lipsticks from the new No 7 range.

I'm normally quite bad with lipstick, I end up having to constantly re-apply it.

However, I have found with these that I don't.

I have brought myself some of the darker shades, I'm not that keen on bright pink lipstick, it just doesn't suit me, so I was more worried about leave stains on everything and when I kissed my boyfriend that he would be leave with marks on him.

Once it's been applied and allowed to dry (if dry is the right word, obviously if you have a drink straight after applying it will come off slightly, but after a few minutes it's fine).

There were no stains on my cup of tea or on m boyfriends cheeks.

I find that the colour lasts a long time and applies very smoothly and hence the name, it doesn't leave your lips dried out unlike some of the other lipsticks can do.

Next time there's an offer on or the next lot of No 7 £5 off vouchers come out, I will be looking to get some more.

They do come in a wide range of colours so there is something to suit everyone.

Wish List.

2011-06-21T12:19:00.000-07:00

Due to my distinct lack of money I have been unable to buy any new make-up.
Salt in the wound is that at work we have numerous new make-up counters being put in place, so there's even more temptation.
There are a few things that have really caught my eye however (mainly benefit, as their counter has been updated so of course, I had to take a look).

1. Girl meets pearl.
A mix between the high and moon beams with that gal primer.

2. Erase Paste.

3. Play sticks.
Cream to powder foundation

4. Maxfactor False Lash Effect Fusion.

5. Smokin' eyes Set.

How difficult is it to stick to a work out routine?

2011-06-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

My answer: Very.

Don't get me wrong, I do actually love going to the gym. I got into my routine, I could see myself improving and I was having to up the weights and the difficulty on the cross trainer.

Then I started getting hours at work.

I should have remembered from last year when I started working more that time in the gym goes down.

This year is more difficult as I don't have a car so when work ring me to go in, I can't get from the gym to work as easily.

However, I've started wearing a pedometer to work, so I have found there are ways to keep fit at work.
On a standard 9 hour shift (with an hour and a half break) I walk around 18000 steps.
In other shifts, I can make it 20000 or more by going the long way round as much as possible, getting the stairs instead of the lift unless necessary. This makes me feel less guilty about not hitting the gym, as I spent a lot of time constantly bending down and standing up, there are times I will wake up the next day and ache.

Yet, I do miss the gym.
I'm working 4 days next week, I intend to hit the gym on 2 of my days off. I just want to go back on the cross trainer, rowing machine and weight machines.

Work and Money or Weight Loss and Fitness.
Tough call.

Marc Jacobs - Daisy Eau so Fresh

2011-06-12T01:21:00.000-07:00

I got this for my birthday from my wonderful bf.

I'll admit I am slightly addicted to Marc Jacobs perfume, whether it's the original or a new version of Daisy or Lola, I'm going to end up having it on my dressing table.

I think this is perfect for the daytime. It's nice and light for the summer time. Something to change it all slightly (after I had to the original Daisy 2 years in a row). I would recommend to most Marc Jacobs fans. It isn't just a different version of Daisy but I think it's a great perfume on it's own.

I love the design as well, it's in keeping with all other Daisy bottles. The bottle is slightly taller than others, those familiar with the Original Daisy will know that the bottle is quite small in stance.

If anyone has a special occasion coming up whether it be birthday, anniversary, anything, ask for this!

It's between £40-£60 depending on size of bottle and where you buy it. At boots it's £62 for the 125ml bottle. Other places will vary.

Low Calorie recipe: chicken pasta soup.

2011-06-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

Just as a little warning, the pictures I have taken do not show the recipe as I will give it to you for 1 reason.
My mum brought the wrong pasta, so instead of it being 'soup pasta' or the really little bits of pasta, I have scooby doo shapes.
However, if you can discard that slight error and focus on the rest it would be much appreciated, as it tastes wonderful regardless.

I found this recipe when I was looking for chicken noodle soup, I always have it as a cuppa soup and thought why not just make a proper soup, homemade for plenty of goodness.

so for this, you will need: 115g of skinless chicken
225g of closed cup mushrooms
4 spring onions
900ml of chicken stock
fresh parsley
2/3 of a glass of white wine
50g of soup pasta
Serves 4-6 (I made 4 portions)

1. Bring the chicken stock to the boil then put onto a simmer.
2. Slice the mushrooms and the spring onions, add them to the stock.
3. Slice the chicken (if skinned remove the skin) and add to the pan and simmer for 2-3 minutes
4. Add the pasta and leave for 7-8 minutes.
5. Before serving add the wine and chopped parsley. Heat for 2-3 minutes and season to taste with pepper (as you see fit).

Not only is a quick to make but (made with the right pasta), it's 130 calories per portion. What more could you want?

That one perfume you love but never/rarely wear.

2011-05-26T05:09:00.000-07:00

For me, it's my mum's favourite one.
Something about it brings back lots of memories for me. It's Dior's Poison.
It's the perfume my mum wears when we have a special meal or go to the theatre.

It definitely has a distinct and heavy smell that makes it difficult for everyday wear.

But it is beautiful.

I always mean to buy myself some to have for that 'special occasion' like my mum has, but I always seem to get something like Chanel's Chance.

I love it, but feel that at the moment it's a bit 'grown up' for me. if that makes sense.
So maybe in a few years this will be sat on my dressing table top :)

I want to know what perfume you love but never wear and why?

One little tip to savvy.

2011-05-26T00:48:00.000-07:00

This is one of them things where I can't believe that I never thought of it before.
And for those of you who do this, I know it's weird to think that people haven't thought of this before but I honestly didn't until the other week after listening to the podcast.
I've started cutting things open.
I did it first with my soap and glory sit tight. I do tend to roll up the tubes try to get it all out that way. I never thought of cutting it all open. When I did, I had enough for the 2 more applications.

I've started doing it with numerous things now, hand cream, shampoo and conditioner etc.
John Freida products have LOADS left over.

This is something that particularly as a student, needing more work and generally ore money this is a godsent.

Now I just can't believe how much stuff I've thrown away with loads of product left it in.

For those of you who don't already do, give it a try :)

Benefit Lipstick - Nice Knickers

2011-05-19T13:34:00.000-07:00

I have not been wearing lipstick for that long.
I got into mainly after my best friend brought me this to go with my new hair (I had gone from blonde to brunette and was unsure about what would suit my new look)
I always feel a tad odd wearing dark lipstick if I'm not going out somewhere special e.g. nice meal or night out.

But I find that this is good to wear during the day.

It has a nice silky finish, I tend to find that some lipstick leave my lips feeling rather dry so I end up adding lipsalve on top. But not with this.

I love the colour, it's a dark pink, it looks a lot darker before you put it on (as you can see from the pictures)
I do think it suits with my blue eyes and dark brown hair.

I like having the a soft colour, that has a shine to it, as I have problems with lipgloss (see earlier post)

I honestly just adore this. You're not left with any staining around the lips, if you slip up when putting it on (I am rather accident prone when applying make-up).

My boyfriend also prefers this one to others as he doesn't end up with lipstick marks on his face compared to some of the others.

I will be trying out some more benefit lipsticks for you once I'm back working and back on a payroll!

Soap and Glory Mist you Madly.

2011-05-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

I adore this spray.
There, my cards are on the table.
I am one of them people who finds that I feel the need to have a body spray in my bag.
I do feel like, particularly after the walk to uni or to work, I need something to freshen up.
I would normally have one of them cheapish spray in my bag, but I always felt a bit self conscience, when you walk into a room then know people can hear the sound from the pressurised can sprays.

Since I brought this, I have no intention to go back.
Not only does it mean that you don't have to horrible pressurised air sound, but it smells amazing.
It's not a heavy scent. It's fresh.
I honestly adore it.
The technical descriptions of the scent (courtesy of boots.com) 'A flirty, floral, fragrant body spray featuring notes of Bergamot and Blackcurrent, Magnolia, Freesia, Vanilla and Musk.
It lives in my handbag now. I find particularly for the summer months this is perfect. Light, fresh, floral, what more can a girl ask for?
And for around £6-£7 for 250ml it's pretty good. I would highly recommend it.

What a week.

2011-05-10T00:44:00.000-07:00

This week has not been good weight wise.
I was able to lose 2 pounds and get down to 84.3kg last week.
However, as there have been various dramas and stress at my house due to living with a teenage sister who has an incredibly dramatic life and the stress from exams (my first of which is tomorrow and I'm terrified).
I have gone back up to 85.3kg.
In 2 weeks today I have my last exam so I can start hitting the gym. I am going to go tomorrow after my exam as I won't start revision for the next exam until Thursday.
I've been eating well, I admit not getting to the gym like I want to, due to needing to revise.
I also realised part of the reason why despite getting down to 81kg it's gone back up because I'm no longer at University so I don't have to walk the mile and half to uni then the same back again each day.

How does having exams/coursework in affect your weight?
Are you like me and find that the stress makes you gain weight, or do you end up losing more weight?

The scales are not my friend.

2011-04-27T00:22:00.000-07:00

I've fallen off the wagon recently.
I have gone from 81.5kg to 85.1 kg + 3.6 (or about 8 pounds in about the 2/3 weeks)

I know that I have only just started going back to the gym and that with exams being very close it is limiting the amount I can go at the minute.

However, since it has been a while from when I was last on the scales, I have found that this past week is when I've felt happiest with myself, it's just when I go on the scales I start to feel about it.

I do intend to lose it again and hopefully get to 78kg. It didn't seem that difficult when I was at 81.5, so hopefully I can get back down again and stick with it.
If I could just get to under 85 this week I'd be happy, then it's moving in the right direction at least!

Dove Summer Glow Lotion.

2011-04-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

Before we start, I just want to say that I hope everyone has had a wonderful Easter :)

I am not someone who tans.

I never have and to be honest I never will. I have used tanning oil, I've been on sun beds (I just came out red after) and I burn very easily. For example, a few weekends ago, when the warm weather had just started and we were having highs of 19/20 degrees C, I went for lunch in a playsuit with a bit cut out at the back, after 2 hours of half facing the sun, I was burnt. It doesn't go into a tan after I go from white-red-white.

However, nor am I a fake tan person.

Whether it be spray or wipes, I also end up with streaks and because most people know I don't tan, it makes it more obvious that I have fake tanned.

But I have a solution.

I have tried the Johnson's one but it makes me look really orange.

But the Dover Summer glow body lotion I find really works.

This is meant to gradually build up a tan so it doesn't look fake if you one day turn up a lot darker than the day before.

I do enjoy having a morning routine of moisturising as particularly during the summer I do tend to suffer from quite dry skin. I find that with it being a lotion I don't end up with streaks and people think I've just 'caught the sun' a little bit.

I like the smell of this product as well, I'm not that keen on creams that remind me of anything the doctor would prescribe you (I've had various creams from the doctor for things like eczema and that when I was younger that I can't stand it now).

It comes in 2 bottles for fair to medium or medium to dark. I was skeptical at first of how much of an impact the fair to medium would make, but after a few days I can really notice the difference.

It applies easily but I do find it a pain having to wait for it to dry, as it seems to take a long time before it becomes absorbed and you feel comfortable putting clothes on.

I am however, finding that I have the typical signals of someone who fake tans, despite washing my hands (I'll admit not straight away) but I do have a slight orange look in the webbing of my fingers, also, the distinct tan to white that there is n between my wrist and my hand. Yet, I do have to think that when people tan they don't tan evenly (hence tan lines). I have a feeling a lot of this is due to my status as a novice when it comes to applying things with any sort of tanning products.

I will be using this product more and more over the summer particularly if the weather stays like it is, then I can apply suncream on top as it does not offer any sun protection and as it's on offer at the moment at both Boots and Superdrug (for around £2.50 rather than the £5+ why not). But, a friendly word of advice, when it is at normal price at these stores, if you go to bodycare, it's around the £3 mark, so you can save a bit of money there!

Soap and Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker.

2011-04-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

As most of you ~~may~~ should know, I adore my soap and glory products.

However, this one.

I just had a bit of a problem with.

I'll admit though, I'm not that much of a lip-gloss person. I don't mind it every so often but I'm more of a lipstick girl myself.

And the main reason why I choose lipstick is why I can't stand this product.

Lipgloss can be sticky. fact. I can't deny that.

But I find this is just too sticky.

My hair is constantly getting stuck in it and it gives you that horribly lips sticking together in a gloopy sort of way.

I find that I will put it on then within 5 minutes take it off again.

I will only wear it if I mix it on my hand with some lipstick then apply, but once I've done that then there's no point me wearing it as it no longer really causes my lips to become any fuller. It makes your lips fuller by causing a slightly ~~stinging~~ tingling sensation in your lips and it makes them fuller, I spend enough time putting creams onto my legs to make them thinner that tingle, let alone applying onces to my face to do the opposite.

However the colour is nice and I do like a bit of shine and sparkle.

I'm jsut glad that I got this within my Pink Bag soap and glory bag when it was on offer (the whole bag of stuff should have been £60 but got at boots for £25 BARGAIN!)

Maybe there are girls that can put up with lipgloss and all it's sticking side affects but I'm definitely not one of them, and sexy motherpucker lipgloss is just far too sticky for me.

Day 1 back at the gym.

2011-04-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

I'll admit, I'm doing this post for 2 reasons.
1. I had every intention of posting after I started back at the gym.
2. I should be researching for my essay but I cannot bare it as the more I read the more stressed I'm getting.

But, yes. I went back to the gym.
I said I would and I have.
I just had to unfreeze my account, pay them a little bit of money (£28 for the rest of April and all of May, not bad eh? I have a student off peak account which is £19 for one month)
Then I got back to work.
However, I did find that the bit of card that had everything I should be doing and what weights had gone. I know I have been there in around 8 months but still.
So I did what I could from memory.
It was good.
I forgot how good a full body workout feels.
I'm ready to go back tomorrow (if I don't ache)

I'm hoping this summer body should come quicker now and that my motivation doesn't leave me anytime soon.

But as this essay research continues to call and refuses to do itself, I must leave you.
I hope everyone else is keeping up their gym and/or diets and its going well!

Wish me luck.

2011-04-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I've never really got into the blog giveaways before.
But I cannot resist this prize.
For those who have never checked out theVEROblog, she always blogs on beauty products but mainly nail varnish and I lovelovelove the ones in the giveaway.
So...hopefully, beginners luck might mean I win.

I could really do with some more nail varnish, I'm getting a bit bored of mine and just look at the selection!
I'm crossing my fingers, cross yours too for me!