Beauty and the Beats

Nails of the Day: Barry M Nail Paint - Passion Fruit

2013-07-04T09:26:00.001+01:00

Love love love my new polish by Barry M in Passion Fruit - its my favourite coral red colour perfect for summer. This was bought as a present for me along with some other nail bits and bridal magazines by the girls at work while I was ill. This was a really thoughtful gift - one of them must have been in hospital to know - as you're not allowed flowers anymore, and after nine days in bed my nails had gone absolutely crazy and I was desperate to tidy them up! The bride magazine also had a "How to pick the perfect dress guide" which was ultra thoughtful too as I'd missed my first appointment to try on dresses while in hospital.

Now anything coral is my go to summer colour - looks fantastic on fingers and toes, aind despite only costing £2.99 this Barry M polish has a great high gloss finish, looking good after the two coats I applied in the photos. Compared to other more expensive polishes, I would mark this down for the brush - its very small so personally found it more difficult to apply, but for the low price tag I accept this.

Especially as I realised this is the perfect dupe for one of my favourite polishes - its virtually identical to OPI Cajun Shrimp, so a real bargain for the price!

You can buy Barry M products in Boots and Superdrug. This is the first time I've tried a Barry M polish but I'm definitely going to go and see what other colours they do!

Lindsey

9 days lost...

2013-07-01T09:47:00.001+01:00

I suppose you may be wondering what's happened to the final two weeks of my Bootcamp Pilates Beach Body Challenge?

If you read part 2 (here), you'll know that I'd been suffering with severe abdominal pain. I now realise that hadn't been severe - the severe bit was yet to come! On Tuesday 18th June, I was rushed back into hospital and diagnosed with appendicitis. They were so concerned I wasn't allowed to go home and was admitted to St. James' in Leeds for routine keyhole surgery the following day.

What followed wasn't so routine at all. Because my condition had been left for 9 days undiagnosed, my appendix was a mess - they found acute necrotic appendicitis - very bad infection, and my appendix had flattened and was partially attached to my bowel. This basically meant the surgeon had to open me up properly to remove the appendix and repair the join with the bowel. So major surgery in the end!

The day after the op I was surprisingly ok (anaesthetic, morphine and adrenaline might have had something to do with it ;) but this lulled me into a false sense of security that I was on the mend. How wrong I was.

Due to the severity of the infection, my body still had a massive fight to get better and I took a turn for the worst on Thursday 20th June. I'll spare you the gory details, but I was very poorly. I could not eat for the next five days (major problem for me!) and was on a cocktail of intravenous drips with painkillers, antibiotics, antisickness drugs and saline and glucose fluids.

Eventually I turned a corner on Monday 24th as the antibiotics started winning the fight against infection and I was finally allowed home on Wednesday 26th, after losing 9 days of my life in hospital.

1. Cannulas in my arm
2. Bandages post op and the snazzy surgical paper knickers!
3. Larking around even when ill - that sick bowl definitely had the last laugh though
4. My hospital companion Winnie
5. Kate Middleton in the bed opposite - my fiance constantly managing to cheer me up
6. The shark bite
7. Lovely thoughtful gifts sent from the girls at work - especially the Bride magazine wedding dress special. I had to miss my first wedding dress trial appointment when in hospital
8. Came home to bunting and a ridiculous amount of cards and flowers

I'm now home and slightly more sane, but still have a long recovery process after such a big operation. As you can imagine, for someone so sporty and active this is already frustrating and I still have four weeks off work to get back to strength - even getting up and having breakfast is exhausting!

So my body is going to take a little while to catch up, my mind of the other hand feels cleansed. I've had a lot of time to think in hospital, and been in a dark place in parts. It really has put a lot of things in perspective for me as I've recently become someone that has been very stressed out by work and some now seemingly small and insignificant things. I've been overwhelmed by the love and the well wishes I've received in the last two weeks, from my fiance who didn't miss a visiting time - twice a day everyday for nine days, to my parents and family, to all my amazing friends. It really has been a life changing experience for me leaving me with a new more positive outlook.

I'll obviously have a bit more time to blog over the next month so will keep you updated with my recovery and things I'll be doing to keep me occupied while I rest up!

Lindsey

Bootcamp PIlates: Beach Body Challenge Week 2

2013-06-16T09:51:00.003+01:00

After the excitement coming out of week 1 (read about it here), week 2 of my Beach Body Challenge with Bootcamp Pilates really didn't get off to the best start.

On Tuesday I found myself in A&E with severe abdominal pain. No, it wasn't my abs recovering from my first session with Ivo (his nickname on the Bootcamp website is Evil Ivo), but I was diagnosed with gastritis - inflammation of the stomach lining, generally caused by excess acid, which is very commonly brought on by stress. Given the last few months I've had at work this doesn't come as much of a surprise.

My stomach is still sore and very bloated, so not looking great on the results front but I'm not going to let this stop me from completing the challenge. I'm not allowed alcohol, spicy food, fatty food, caffeine - basically any of the fun stuff is banned so I'm going to use this as a good opportunity to stick to a super healthy diet for the remaining two weeks of the course. Personally I always find exercise is also a great stress buster so there is no excuse!

Despite the tummy pain, I made it to two of Harry's classes this week. I really enjoyed working out first thing in the morning and how good it made me feel for the rest of the day, particularly the 7am class as it meant I had time to run to and from the studio to squeeze in some extra work.

I've had classes with six of the instructors at Richmond, and whilst you are guaranteed an all over body workout with everyone (abs, glutes and arms are the order of the day), each instructor puts their own individual spin on the class. Some like it more dynamic and intense, others slower paced but more fluid with less breaks in between exercises. This helps keep the classes really fresh and challenges me in different ways each time. You can read more about the instructors sporting backgrounds and styles on the Bootcamp Pilates website here - Meet the Trainers.

I have four classes booked in next week so its going to be tough. Come back next week to find out how I got on!

Lindsey

Bootcamp PIlates: Beach Body Challenge Week 1

2013-06-09T21:06:00.000+01:00

I’ve never been a massive fan of yoga or Pilates. Call me a cardio junkie but I feel a bit cheated if I’m not red faced, hot and sweaty after a workout. Sweeping generalization here but all that spiritual breathing stuff isn’t for me.

But when a friend recommended Bootcamp Pilates to me, she insisted that this was different. She told me "there is a machine with all sorts of pulleys and straps involved", and she assured me it would definitely be a tough workout.

Sounds odd but it’s actually a dynamic workout using a machine called the Reformer which uses resistance to help you exercise and stretch.

So last week I decided to sign up for their Beach Body Challenge at the Richmond studio (they have four in total across London) which involves completing 16 classes over a 30 day period. I don’t have any holidays booked but I’m still trying to work off the damage from my last holiday where I over did it on the bread and aioli and the mojitos!

I had been to two classes prior to the challenge – Bootcamp studios run a really great intro offer for newbies at 2 for £12 – and my friend had indeed been right. This was totally different to anything I’d tried before and definitely wasn’t easy! Think Pilates meets TRX meets high intensity circuits… Even after two sessions I’m sure I could feel something happening – taller, tighter, leaner, and I liked it.

So the Beach Body Challenge seemed like the great opportunity to whip myself into shape but also put the Bootcamp Pilates concept to the test. Last week I weighed in, took all my measurements and I’ll be tracking them over the next month while I complete the course.

Here's my 'before' pictures I took at the start of the week:

Now I don’t live in Richmond, or London for that matter – I only work down there in the week. This means that to fit in the 16 sessions in a month I have to complete the 4 sessions back-to-back weekdays whilst I’m down there. After the first session last week this prospect was quite daunting, but by session three I was excited about my daily class, and as per my previous experience the tummy was already feeling tighter and flatter.

In addition to the Pilates classes I will be trying to fit at least one run in. Week two starts tomorrow and I can’t wait to get back into the studio…

Follow my progress here over the next 3 weeks and I’ll share with you the results (weight and inches, hopefully) at the end of the challenge.

You can find out more about Bootcamp Pilates at their website www.bootcamppilates.com

Lindsey

Live What You Love

2013-01-23T19:42:00.002+00:00

Illustration by Chrissy Welsh - check out her 365 day project form 2012 here

Within twenty-four hours of completing Tough Mudder, the hardest thing I'd ever put my body and mind through (read about it here), I was already contemplating my next challenge. I've clearly caught the extremely contagious obstacle racing bug that is spreading around the world faster than a bad strain of bird flu.

Having only ever run 8.5 miles in training prior to finishing the 12 mile event, I began wondering that if I could get through 12 miles with obstacles, then would I be able to do a half-marathon straight running without the obstacles?

A major symptom of the aforementioned bug includes not questioning 'why the hell would you want to do that?' but 'I wonder if I can do that?'. With this in mind I have entered myself into the Liverpool half-marathon on March 17th.

One of the most satisfying feelings post-Mudder has been generated by inspiring others to have a go. My fiance wants to do a TM but is not a runner at all. Fair play to him though, he's been out in the cold starting his training and we've entered into a shorter obstacle race as a warm up before going for the big one later this year. The event Major Series is hosted by British Military Fitness and we'll be doing the 10k course at Bramham Park near Leeds on March 2nd. Give me a shout and let me know if any of you are taking part!

In support of his efforts (and to help me be more understanding than bossy), I've also decided to take up a new sport - in my case swimming. Of course, I can get in water and not drown, but this is very different to being able enter into either a fun or competitive swimming event. The ultimate dream will be to eventually participate in, and complete a triathlon. Having started back in the pool for about a month on and off, I realise this will be a lot harder than I ever could have anticipated. More on this later.

2012 was a fit year for me. In fact, it was the fittest and healthiest I've been since I was at school and competing in county level athletics. This isn't something I'm about to let slip away easily. Have no fear, I'm not getting old and boring, I've just realised how much better I am at everything when I'm fit. Getting up in the morning, energy levels throughout the day, sleep patterns, mental energy at work and general motivation and zest for life. If I could bottle it and sell it, I'd be a frigging billionaire.

With the realisation of just how important diet and exercise is to both my physical and emotional wellbeing, it seems a natural progression for my blog to cover more on these subjects. So for 2013 you can expect to see a lot more in the way of health, fitness and food.

I'm neither a fitness professional nor a nutritionist so don't profess to be an expert but this is something i'm passionate about. I'll be featuring a wide range of exercises and training regimes I'm trying and testing, recipes, reviews of sportswear and equipment, supplements, books/articles/people that motivate me along with my journey to hopefully achieving my goal of taking part in a triathlon.

I'll still be covering beauty and music but wanted to give you a warning about the squats, squash and sweat that you'll notice more of round here from now on...

I hope you'll stick around and here's to a fit 2013!

Lindsey

Kérastase Resistance Bain de Force Shampoo

2013-01-21T21:02:00.000+00:00

'I can't grow my hair' or ' My hair just doesn't seem to grow' are moans and grumbles that I hear from friends and read from girls up and down the country all the time. I have been guilty of this myself in the past.

However, there is an answer to this common female problem, albeit a more than slightly patronising one.

Stop getting your hair cut.

Ok so nothing groundbreaking so far but please bear with me. If like me you have coloured and over-styled hair (mine is straightened or curled on a daily basis) then prolonging the visit to the hairdressers might be easier said than done.

You can find your erosion level here on the Kérastase website by completing a number of questions about your hair type as well as exposure to elements and different heat styling. My rating comes out at Erosion 3 - Fibre damage. Damaged and rough hair, breakage, split ends.

Spot on. My hair is thick but definitely has a tendency to feel straw like, dry and rough and I do get split ends when I know I'm due for a cut.

This review is the first in a two part of my must have products that have helped me leave a few more weeks between cuts each time by vastly improving the condition, look and feel of my hair.

Kérastase describe Bain de Force as 'a reinforcing and refreshing shampoo for weakened hair. Its strengthening formula will gently cleanse whilst adding body and vitality to leave your hair stronger and shinier and with improved health. Kérastase Bain de Force is formulated with Vita-Ciment which instantly rebuilds the internal substance of the hair fibre and Vita Topseal which mimics the hair’s natural cuticle layer and seals in the renewed strength. Your hair is left stronger, shinier and extremely supple.'

This shampoo is advised for erosion levels 1-2 but it was recommended by my hairdresser for my hair type because of how it rebuilds the hair fibres it would be perfect to help me grow out my shorter layers. My hair is very thick so I can only use it for a maximum of 1-2 washes per week because of how much it thickens and boosts my hair volume. I'd love to see what this can do for those of you who feel your hair that your hair is fine, thin and flat. They do actually make a specific Bain Volumactiv product that is designed for those with fine hair but I haven't tried this one so may be better if this is your hair type.

It smells lovely - I'd liken it to almost a watermelon sort of smell - not too sweet but a bit fruity. It lathers amazing well and you don't actually need a lot unlike some cheaper brands.

Depending on where you buy, this shampoo costs between £10-15 (current cheapest is £11.13 from Active Beauty). Whilst this might seem pricey for a shampoo, if you are a regular reader of my blog you'll know that I'm an advocate of products that deliver on what they say - for me that represents true value for money in that you are getting what you pay for. I'll definitely be repurchasing along with the conditioner that I've not tried yet.

For me this product has transformed the health of my hair and has enabled me to last up to 3 months without getting it cut. I'll be reviewing the second product that's helping me on my quest for the perfect wedding hair for next year soon...

What shampoos have you been impressed with and would recommend?

Lindsey

Tough Mudder: The Day I Conquered Everest - Part Two

2013-01-16T19:14:00.001+00:00

In my first post about Tough Mudder (you can read it here if you haven't already), you learned that I survived - but now I'd like to share a bit more about the experience...

If you are about to complete your first TM and don't want to know more then stop reading here. I purposely didn't do any research, read any blogs, watch any videos prior to completing the course, but that's just me. Reminds me of the time I have a tooth implant - when I'm about to undergo something a bit scary, I prefer to know as little as possible and just get on with it. Ignorance, for me, is most certainly bliss. However, if you've come for some pre-game insight then continue - may contain spoilers :)

Dirty protest? Check out the guy in the mankini...

What can I say? It was tough. And muddy. Certainly no danger of Trading Standards getting involved. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen mud quite like it. Soft mud, hard mud, deep mud, thick mud, thin mud, sticky mud, slimy mud, cold mud, warm mud, mud that steals your trainers, slippy mud. Oh and did I mention mud that stinks of shit. Mud glorious mud.

So now I have a new found affinity for mud, and whilst trying to avoid as much cheesy American psychobabble as possible, I'd like to explain how the Tough Mudder experience has changed me forever.

I said I didn't do any research prior to the event, that's a small fib. I had investigated the different kinds of obstacles I would face on the Tough Mudder website when I signed up (and on a few occasions afterwards) and permanently imprinted onto my brain the ones that petrified me. Arctic Enema, Electric Eel, Everest, Electroshock Therapy. Need I say more?

As I mentioned in my first post, I encountered Arctic Enema between mile 1 and 2. Fortunately enough, the adrenaline was still pumping high when I queued up to climb into the skip full of ice, put my head under to pass a wooden bar and haul myself out again. Yes you heard right. As this was the first of my bogey obstacles, I expressed my fear to the guys behind me, who then adopted me as part of their team.

I don't have any pics of me doing this one but here's an official photo

Arctic Enema. The verdict. Not as bad as I thought it would be. I was in and out very quick, it wasn't horrendously cold even on such a cold day- again I think at this early stage the adrenaline gets you through.

The next few miles were actually quite fun. I learned very quickly that the guys at Tough Mudder were sadists. Or should I say, at the very least they like to fuck with your head. I remember thinking, this is going ok so far when I passed the mile 1 marker. Until 10 minutes, several obstacles and a whole lot of mud later, passed 'the real mile 1 marker'. This was the first in a series of head fucks that I can now look back on and have a little giggle but definitely called them bastards at the time.

Here's a low down and videos of some of the more interesting obstacles:

Walk the Plank / Underwater Barrels

I had been nervous about Arctic Enema and not given a second thought to either of these obstacles. Clearly I'd underestimated the natural Cheshire rivers on a freezing November morning. The man made ice bath had nothing on these bad boys.

Walk the Plank was a jump of a 5m board into a pond. I was ok with jumping off but I was completely unprepared for what would happen to be body when I hit the water. The cold, the confusion, disorientation and my sudden inability to either breathe or work out how to swim were unexpected to say the least. I remember watching a programme about soldiers that had to cut holes in ice and jump into frozen lakes as part of training and all I remember thinking was that I had about a minute to get out before I was done for. Ha nothing like a bit of an over reaction but I was so grateful when a new team mate dragged my up the cargo net that I simply didn't have the energy to climb myself.

After that experience I approached the river to tackle the underwater barrels with extreme intrepidation. I remember getting in and saying 'oh its not actually that cold' which i regretted after about 30 seconds and the water sapped every bit of my body heat. The cat-like body language says it all. At each of the sets of barrels I was instructed to 'PAUSE, DEEP BREATH, DIVE'. Nothing prepared me for the feeling (no not even Walk the Plank). This was different. You know the brain freeze you get from eating too much ice cream? That, times 1000. My head literally felt like it was going to explode. By barrel three I thought it had. Getting out of the river (about mile 7) was my absolute low point - but I'm sure I still managed a smile...

Going, Going, Gone.

Electric Eel

First electric obstacle I had to face. And my fan club / support crew were there so I couldnt chicken out. This one didn't zap me but Keith next to me felt it. Feels good watching this back as I manned up and got the job done without hesitation.

Everest

So I passed the mile 12 marker. The guys I was running with were buzzing at nearly finishing. All I could think was that we still hadn't done the two obstacles I was dreading. I was cold and wet. My legs felt like lead (the furthest I'd ever run before this was 8 miles). And then I heard it. The hum of the finish line - the music, the MC on the mic talking to runners as they crossed and the crowds - cheering people on as they attempted the most gruelling challenge of them all. Everest.

I wanted to do this more than anything. My fan club had assembled here to watch me do it and I was so worried about letting them down. Aside from that I don't think I could have faced what I thought would be humiliation at this stage. The queues for this obstacle were ridiculous. We waitied about 30 minutes - freezing cold, soaking wet and knackered to even have a first shot at getting over. I nearly gave up. In fact, it took every ounce of grit as well as persuasion from both my team and my boyfriend not to quit. I've never felt so cold in my life despite the hand warmers I'd bought (they did fuck all) and my boyfriend donating his ski jacket. My advice to anyone else would be to try and go in an earlier start time wave if you don't want to queue.

The crowds queuing for Everest.

So we stood and watched. For half an hour. While many tried and many failed. Watch the video below to get a sense of just how difficult it is and how tired people were. But not a dot of humiliation in sight. Everyone was rooting for you to do it - at the bottom, at the top and on the side lines. That's the great thing about this event.

And then there was my turn.

I'd told myself I only had to try once. If I couldn't do it, it didn't matter as long as I'd tried once. But trying once wasn't good enough.. As you can see, giving my other half a face full of verbal was clearly all the motivation I needed to get the job done. This was my proudest moment of the day. I get goosebumps just watching this back.

Remember the guy with the mankini? He conquered Everest too - thankfully first time for his sake!

Electroshock Therapy

The final obstacle. And on a high from completed Everest, we sprinted through Electroshock. I got zapped about 15 times getting through but I stayed on my feet, others were less fortunate. I'm not going to give anything away about this one - its a feeling like no other I've experienced, that's all I'm going to say... you'll have to face this one on your own!

So what did I learn?

Your parents/teachers try will tell you from a young age that 'you can do anything if you put your mind to it'. I always knew (ok, hoped and prayed) that I would finish Tough Mudder. Sheer bloody mindedness more than anything would get me through. But the feeling of pride and satisfaction when I crossed the finish line was unprecedented. I did it. I trained for months. Often in the wet, in the cold, before 7am. (Thanks to those of you who follow me on social media for still following despite me being a total gym bore). But it was worth it - I had put my mind and effort to something and achieved everything I had aimed for. That feeling didn't end there... I was riding high on the crest of a confident wave for days and weeks after. When my team won the pub quiz the following week I knew I was unstoppable. Ok so joking aside, the sense of 'what next' was definitely high on my agenda and I wasn't about to put it to waste.

My buzz definitely rubbed off on others with friends and family motivated by my tales of adventure with many signing up for other obstacle runs this year. If me being involved (and boring you with training tweets) has inspired even one person to dust off their trainers / enter into an event / push themselves a little bit further than before, then this would be the as satisfying an achievement.

Did I learn anything else?

Raising £962 for charity feels really good. Thank you to everyone who sponsored me.

People notice the details. (Yes I coordinated my nail varnish with the Tough Mudder team colours). No reason why I couldn't bring a bit of glamour to the operation right?

The face of a nearly broken but very happy lady. And not a nail out of place ;)

Find out what challenges I've set myself for 2013 in my post coming soon... but would I do it again? Hell yes.

I'd love to know if you've ever taken part in any obstacle runs or if you're taking on any new challenges this year?

Lindsey

Tough Mudder: The Day I Conquered Everest

2012-12-17T20:35:00.002+00:00

Apologies it has been a few weeks (again) since my last post. I'm sure you've all been fraught with concern for my well being, but I am pleased to confirm I did survive Tough Mudder.

Not only did I survive. I absolutely loved it. Never before have I felt so proud and such a sense of achievement in either my personal or professional life. And I'm already planning my next challenge.

But first, let me share with you ,my experience of the magical day I earned that coveted orange headband.

The temperature had been fairly mild (10-12C) in the weeks leading up to the 17th November, but my biggest fear had always been the potential cold, more so than any of the obstacles (ok, so the electric shock and ice bath were slightly nervewracking too). On the Saturday morning of the North-West Tough Mudder UK I woke up at 6am to a frost and an outside temperature of no more than 7C.

The first challenge I had to face was actually getting into the venue. The traffic and entrance system into Chelmondsey Hall was an absolute joke, and shattered my nerves. Yes that's my excuse for peeing in between two cars in a pub car park, but I challenge anyone to queue in traffic for an hour and a half whilst wearing compression leggings and needing the loo. I'd like to add at this point that the pub was closed. Credit where it's due though, despite missing my start time because of the queues, I was still allowed to participate - it appears the start time is merely to stagger the crowds rather than be a fixed time.

My best friend had dropped out due to injury, and her friend was stuck well behind me in traffic so I decided to get stuck in and start alone. At this point I'd like to thank the woman I spoke to in the queue for the portaloos that told me I was crazy for doing it on my own. Definitely helped the nerves.

Reality kicks in with what I'm about to do...

So I was off. But only after having cleared a 10ft wall into the holding pen, jumped up and down and shouted a lot and realised that yes, in fact, i was the only person stupid enough to even be here on my own.

Regulars on my blog may be more used to reading about mud face masks and what I wore on a particular day, so I hope this post doesn't disappoint.

As I mentioned before, I was extremely nervous about the unknown element of the cold, so I'd frequented the TM forums to swat up on hints and tips for the obstacles as well as what kit I'd need. I didn't want to invest in a wet suit so opted for the recommendation of Under Armour clothing. I wore the compression base layer top and leggings in addition to the Cold Gear top and leggings (suitable for temperatures below 13C), so I was hopefuly the double layering would keep me warm enough. Accessories included my weight lifting gloves for the gym and a neoprene swimming headband. The clothing was all excellent quality and came with glowing reviews on every website I looked at. I also looked like a cross between a ninja and a cat burglar - what more could a girl want?

Outfit of the Day ;)

After the first mile, and upon reaching the pleasantly titled obstable "Arctic Enema", my survival instincts had kicked in and I realised I was in no way going to be physically let along mentally strong enough to make it round the course alone. A casual exchange of words with the guy behind me ("not looking forward to this one, if i get stuck, please help me out") turned out to be a master stroke and from then on I was adopted by my new Scottish team mates.

You can read Part Two of Tough Mudder: The Day I Conquered Everest to find out how I got on with the course, whether my clothing stood up to the cold, and some videos of me in action here.

Lindsey

Tough Mudder

2012-11-12T14:00:00.002+00:00

Those of you that follow me on Twitter and Facebook will not that I'm a bit of an exercise freak, but my latest venture has proved that I'm perhaps a little crazy too. It seems like all I've been doing for the last few weeks and months is running, eating, training, eating, sleeping, running, repeat to fade.

Well all of this is for a good reason as this weekend I will be attempting to complete Tough Mudder. For those of you who haven't heard of the event, take a look at this video to see what its all about...

In brief, its a 12 mile obstacle course designed by the military and includes such delightful obstacles called "Arctic Enema" - an ice bath you have to jump into and once submerged, swim through the ice, under a wooden plank and pull yourself out on the other end before you become hypothermic, and "Electric Eel" and "Electroshock Therapy" which involve running or army crawling under dangling wires charged with 10,000 volts.

Throw in a few Berlin walls, a slippery quarter pipe and a whole load of mud and you've got yourself the Tough Mudder course. Oh and did I mention they make you sign a death waiver?

Electric shocks aside its the cold I'm really not looking forward to. I've bought myself some decent compression cold gear and waterproof socks but the nerves are really starting to kick in now there's only 5 more days to go.

I am quite a determined person anyway but I know there will be times during the course where I struggle. There are two things that will get me through. 1. The amount of curry I can order when I get home. Guiltfree. 2. The fact that I'm doing it for a great cause - I'm raising sponsorship money for Help for Heroes - a charity that works providing support for soldiers transitioning back to civilian life including stress recovery programs, adaptive sports programmes, benefits counseling and employment services.

Friends and family have been more than generous and its a massive motivation to complete the course, but I'd always like more! If you'd like to sponsor me (I know this is a big ask!) but however little it would be greatly appreciated.

You can sponsor me at the following link: https://register.toughmudder.com/fundraising/donate.aspx?event=6570&fundraiser=r5746961

If you can't stretch to a donation, your good luck messages will be welcomed! Hopefully this won't be my last blog post and I look forward to letting you know how I get on on Saturday!

Thanks

Lindsey

Track of the Week: Maxxi Soundsystem

2012-10-25T21:36:00.001+01:00

Man of the moment Huxley can do no wrong and my latest track of the week that he's put his hand to with a remix is no exception.

I don't expect many of you to recognise the sample but I know it from speed garage anthem It's the Way by L.J Project. Huxley brings it right back up to date with a house crossover that retains the garage elements showcasing a style that's big right now that you can hear in stuff coming out of the likes of Disclosure and Eats Everything.

Introducing Stella's Way - Maxxi Soundsystem (Huxley Remix), released on October 25th on vinyl, with a potential digital release soon.

Hope you enjoy this one!

Lindsey

Nails of the Day: Dreamy

2012-10-18T08:40:00.000+01:00

Photos 1-3 in natural light, Photo 4 inside under spotlights

I popped into Superdrug at the weekend as I was running extremely low on my Fashionista concealer and was pleased to find they had loads of offers on. Not only did I get the concealer half price for £3 they also had nail varnish available at 2 for £6. This is a great deal when they are usually £5 each!

I'vI love my usual pinks, corals and reds but have recently been experimenting with different colours (you can check out a gorgeous turquoise Maybelline varnish review here and I have an amazing orange from OPI coming soon!).

I picked up shade 4 Dreamy instantly - there was just something about this colour that was very different - a gorgeous creamy blue toned purple. For a value high street brand I was very pleased with the application - the brush and the varnish were easy to work with although I did find it streaked quite easily if you used too many brush strokes so it was best to apply quickly and boldly. I have three coats on in the pictures above but you could definitely just put on two.

I've worn this varnish all week at my office and had two compliments on both how nice and how different the colour is. I loved that I can still look professional in a massively corporate world but incorporate a bit of my own personality into my daily look.

I can see me wearing this colour throughout Autumn/Winter but also being perfect into Spring - definitely worth buying now if you the deal is still on,

Do you like the colour?

Lindsey

OOTD: Sunshine on a Rainy Day

2012-10-13T20:20:00.000+01:00

Coat: Joy

Beaded collar top: H&M

Cardigan: George at Asda

Jeans: Miss Selfridge

Boots: Urban Outfitters

As a complete sun-lover, I'm definitely not one to embrace the winter season - the dark mornings, freezing cold, wind and rain definitely aren't massive selling points for me. So in order to soften the blow and make the transition into winter, I have treated myself to a new coat.

When i first saw this coat I really liked it but really wasn't sure even though it looked nice on. Its definitely different with the leopard print coat and cream faux fur collar. Whilst I love Joy, the only issue I have is that they still haven't stepped into the twenty-first century with their returns policy and only offer exchange or credit note. At £120 for the coat, I had to be 100% sure I was happy before I was willing to take it home. This was one of those items that I definitely had down as a man-repeller - girls love it but blokes would hate it, however my other half said it was different and he liked it... so I took the plunge and bought it.

I'm so happy that I did as every time I've worn it I've had nothing but lovely compliments or comments - so at least its getting noticed and makes a change from the usual black or navy.

I wore this out for a walk in the park today - hope you like the photos and the coat!

Have you invested in a new coat this season?

Lindsey

Weekend Hot Mix: Dusky

2012-10-13T13:44:00.001+01:00

Unfortunately I was out last night so missed the latest Radio 1 Essential Mix from two of the hottest producers out there at the moment, Alfie Granger-Howell and Nick Harriman - better known as Dusky.

The good news is, if you missed it too, its free to download on Soundcloud!

The two hour mix is packed with so many good DJs and producers including Huxley, Bicep, Midland and Kerri Chandler to name a few and showcases a current sound that I'm loving at the moment.

The mix is up-tempo deep house and I can't fault the tune selection - love their own track Numerical, and how can you resist a bit of MJ Cole - Sincere.

These guys were already building a great reputation but this Essential Mix has ensured they'll be a big thing...

Enjoy!

Lindsey

Wedding #2 - The Ibiza Wedding

2012-10-12T17:04:00.001+01:00

Back in June I was privileged enough to spend ten days out in Ibiza, enjoyed the clubs, the music and the beaches as usual. But this was no normal holiday as we were also spending time with my friends to celebrate the marriage of two of them.

After going to the most perfect marquee summer wedding I could imagine less than two weeks previous (you can see the write up and what I wore here), I was excited to be going to completely different and non-traditional nuptials.

Nick and George got married at Cap d'es Falco, a stunning beach restaurant near the southern most tip of Ibiza. Having spent time on the island nearly every year out of the last eight and recently getting engaged in Ibiza, I completely understand the magic of this place and why Nick and George chose to get married here.

The day was perfect starting with drinks - the white wine sangria was so refreshing in the heat. This was followed by a beautiful ceremony overlooking the most amazing view.

After more drinks at Cap D'es Falco, we headed to a seriously premium villa for the reception. The food quality matched the surroundings with a slap up barbeque with a little something for everyone - steak, lamb, fish - we really were spoiled for choice. And once again, all of this set on the back drop of amazing Ibiza views.

The bride and groom had chosen a simple beach theme for the finishing touches which looked great!

All that's left to show you is the outfit I wore. Mint was on-trend this summer, which was lucky given that I'd actually bought this dress the year before when I received the wedding invite - I knew it was perfect for an event in 30 degree heat and it certainly didn't let me down. I kept the outfit simple with some gold accessories and sandals, and of course the sunglasses were necessary!

Dress: Warehouse

Earrings and Ring: Topshop

Bracelet: Accesorize

Belt: H&M

Bag: New Look

Sandals: George at Asda

Sunglasses: Christian Dior

Me with the groom (left) and my groom to be! (right)

Lindsey

Track of the Week: Mat Joe

2012-10-02T22:43:00.003+01:00

After two holidays in Ibiza this summer and a considerable amount of time away from this feauture I'm hoping not to disappoint you this week with my latest find on OFF Recordings - if you've not heard of the label, hopefully you've heard of German rising star Andre Crom. Was gutted to have missed him play for the Love Not Money guys in Leeds recently.

I'd like to play you my favourite track off German duo Mat Joe's latest EP, Heart to Find. Its called Safe Flight and all the remixes are wicked - my preference goes to Audiojack's Closed Eye Hallucination mix... I love the pitch bend he's thrown onto the end of the chord sequence in parts...

For those of you interested this track was released back on 22nd August and is available to download from Beatport at this link.

Its nice to be back and sharing some music with you!

Lindsey

A quick hello...

2012-09-29T19:49:00.000+01:00

I'm actually embarrassed looking at the last date that I wrote on my blog... my only excuse is that its been a ridiculously busy summer.

So what have I been up to?

I started a new role at work back in June, with the first phase of a big project going live two weeks ago, I've been to visit friends that moved out to Marbella, I'm training for a crazy event in November, I've had the pleasure of going to four weddings of great friends, oh and the small matter of getting engaged myself in Ibiza!

All in all, I have a lot to share with you - outfits, make up, products I have tried and tested, plans and my soundtrack to the summer... so bear with me (I bet you haven't even noticed I've been gone!) while I catch up and get back in the swing of this blogging malarkey as I have a lot of great posts lined up!

Hope you've all had a great summer....

Lindsey

Nails of the Day: Turquoise Lagoon

2012-08-11T11:52:00.000+01:00

I normally play it pretty safe when it comes to nail colour - reds, corals, purples, browns - I'm not sure why, I just think I avoid looking like I'm a 13 year old with badly painted nails, but there is such a great selection of more interesting varnish shades out there at the moment that when I saw this colour I thought I'd try something different.

I'd had my eye on a gorgeous light blue Deborah Lippman varnish but I'm trying to reign in the spending so had a look Superdrug and came across a little beauty by Maybelline called Turquoise Lagoon. It truly is turquoise as it really depends on the light as to how blue or green this colour looks.

This took 3 coats before I got a coverage I was happy with as it does apply fairly translucent and streaky on the first 2 coats. I found the brush good and it felt like it was better quality than a £4.09 drug store product.

This varnish is in their Express Finish 40 second range, but I still used Sally Hansen Inst-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat. I'd been looking to buy Seche Vite as I'm usually really impatient when it comes to waiting for my nails to dry but then I saw the Sally Hansen product reduced by £1 to £3.99 and thought it was worth a try. This top coat is brilliant - dries nails in 30 seconds as it claims and kept my nails chip free for about 5 days - this could be a combination of the quick drying Maybelline formula though.

Its essential you wear a base coat with this varnish - I didn't and after having 3 coats on for a week when I removed it I have been left with a natural griege tone... nice!

I loved wearing a different colour on my nails, especially with a bright top that I wore to the Olympics last Sunday... I felt like it represented by personality better and put me in a good mood just looking at them! Ha! I'll definitely be going back to Maybelline to see what other colours I like.

Operation Nails SOS - The Results

2012-08-07T06:45:00.000+01:00

About five months ago I started to trial a nail strengthener, nail/cuticle oil and hand cream to see if I could repair my badly damaged nails and restore them to a healthy condition. Over this time I think I've given them a fair chance to work and have really put them to the test given the previous state of my nails. You can see the original post here and an update after the first week here, but here's a reminder of what they looked like back in February...

And here are my nails now...

I will be posting this Nails of the Day shortly...

You can find the OPI Kiss Me On My Tulips post here from June

As you can see I had an issue with weak, brittle nails that easily split and peeled, and I suffered with a problem of my thumb nails breaking very far down the nail on a regular basis. It may have taken longer than I expected to get results but its been well worth it in the end.

In my quest for the perfect nail I was testing the following products; Duri Rejuvacote nail strengthener, Elemis Exotic Frangipani Moisture Melt and finally, Aveeno hand cream.

The Verdict
In short, I absolutely love all of these products. Independently they are fantastic - from smell, texture to functionality.

Aveeno hand cream - as far as hand creams go, this ticks the boxes for me. Non-greasy, rich enough to tackle my dry skin but quickly absorbed and light feeling. It is paraben free and unscented but still manages to smell nice. This is a great drugstore product (retails for around £5 for 75ml) but there is currently an offer on at Boots for £3.40. I would definitely repurchase.

Elemis Exotic Frangipani Moisture Melt - This is a multifunctional oil that I was told was great on nails and cuticles and this really feels like an indulgent home treatment product. You need to warm the bottle (not directly) in order to melt the oil - hence the name - and I do this by standing it in a small bowl of boiling water for about 30 seconds. The result, a warm, fabulous smelling oil - think sweet almond and vanilla massage oil - that when rubbed over nails and cuticles really moisturises and softens and helps manage the hard skin (that i bite from time to time) around my nails. This is an expensive product to just use as a nail treatment - retails at £29.70 for 100ml, however as this can be used for body and hair as well it is a good investment. If the price tag still seems too high, then you could always do what I did and get a smaller bottle as part of the regular offers that Elemis run such as pick five travel size products when you buy two full size.

Duri Rejuvacote - I think the most important thing I have to say about this product is that IT ACTUALLY WORKS. My nail health as improved vastly over the course of this trial and I now experience zero splitting or peeling. Obviously I still have some breakages, but my nails are no longer dry and brittle. I went for a manicure recently and even the beautician I see regularly comented how good my nails looked! The downside to the product is that it does peel off quite easily = after applying a coat every day or most days, once it starts to peel it looks really bad, but I would say this is a small price to pay for overall improved nails. Unfortunately the nail treatment has to be applied to completely dry nails meaning that it does not bind with the nail if you use hand cream or an oil at the same time, so its best to have a morning and evening routine so you can use all the products. Also the bottle went a bit gunky before I'd completely finished it so it was too thick to apply, however I will be repurchasing this product. If you were only going to buy one product out of the three I would recommend it to be this one - I bought mine off Amazon for about £10.

I am so happy, however I do still suffer with the severe breakage of my thumb nails only. As previously mentioned, this happens very far down the nail and is very painful and has occured twice since I started using these products.

So what next?
I will be repurchasing Duri Rejuvacote to continue looking after my nails, but first I am going to try another product. The lovely team over at Mavala, a beauty company that specialises in nail care, hosted a live Q and A session on Twitter (@MavalaUK) where you could pose your nail problems to their expert team. I contacted them with a question about my thumb nail breaking issue and they explained that I may have damaged the nail matrix (where the nail cells are formed) which means it has a weak point. This damage can be permanent but they suggested I try their Nailactan product which works on the matrix to produce healthier cells. They have sent me a sample which I am going to use until it runs out and of course I will report back! In the meantime if you wish to find out more about Mavala products you can visit their website http://www.mavala.co.uk/

Have you tried any of these products or which ones do you use in your nail care routine?

Lindsey

Neal's Yard Remedies Organics

2012-08-01T21:03:00.000+01:00

Many of you who are regular readers of my blog will know that one of my absolute favourite beauty brands is Neal's Yard Remedies, and I'd been thinking about signing up to be a consultant to sell through their home beauty arm NYR Organics for some time.

When I saw the offer that came out today I knew it was the perfect opportunity as NYR have halved the usual joining fee. I get the starter kit which includes the Chamomile Cleanser, Rehydrating Rose Toner, Frankincense Hydrating Cream, Geranium and Orange Hand Cream, White Tea Toning Eye Gel and the award winning Beauty Sleep Concentrate. This meant I could get all these gorgeous products, worth £130 for just £45 - a complete bargain for anyone who loves NYR products!

Part of the reason for starting my blog was because of my love for beauty products but also to learn new skills and make myself more employable to move into a completely different industry to my current "day job". Signing up to be an NYR consultant seemed like another logical step to gain even more experience in the beauty industry as well as getting to work more closely with a great brand.

I wanted to write this post to be very transparent about the fact that I will be working as an NYR consultant however the main purpose of this blog as a fun outlet for my beauty and music passion still remains the same. I will still write reviews of some NYR products I love, buy and use, but will remain completely honest in my opinions and will disclose any free samples in each post. At the end of the day I would hate anyone to be unhappy with a purchase based on duff or dishonest reviews I'd written!

More than my opinions, I'd like to use my blog to find out what you think about NYR products - both your experiences and opinions as well as ideas you'd like to see so feel free to ask any questions or leave comments on this post as usual - I love to hear from you!

You can read my previous reviews on two great products - Wild Rose Beauty Balm and White Tea Facial Mist.

If you're interested in taking advantage of the deal above you can open an account here which will get you all the products above for £45 as well as 25% discount off all future purchases.

Lindsey

Cool as a Cucumber

2012-07-26T21:14:00.001+01:00

For those of you who follow me on Instagram (theresonlyonelb) you'll have already seen I'm an expert when it comes to coordinating my face mask with my outfit but I thought I'd share it with the rest of you.

I've been working in London this week and enjoying the hot temperatures - it must have reached 30 degrees on Tuesday. To send off a work colleague, we were invited to Stein's (a Bavarian restaurant/bar) on the river in Richmond and after a few beers at lunch it was only a matter of time before we bailed from the office to take advantage of the warm weather in the evening.

Drinking in the sun for a few hours at lunch and after work as well as just general London sweaty/dirtiness left me feeling greasy, red and a bit tight-faced (despite wearing product with spf) and when I'm working away I tend to only have my essentals in my washbag so I popped into Superdrug on my way back to my hotel to buy a face mask.

My face pre-mask

Given that I have sensitive skin and I'm quite careful about products that I use on my face I opted for the Superdrug own brand Cucumber Cooling Clay Mask as it was suitable for my skin type and paraben free.

The mask has a lovely thick texture and when first applied it did have a cooling effect. After a few minutes I did notice a slight tingling - nothing uncomfortable but slightly surprising after the initial cooling sensation. Not sure if this was the product or just my sun abused face from earlier in the day!

There was far too much product in the sachet for one person - even applied liberally I was struggling to use it all up and I reckon you could get two applications worth so definitely good value at 99p.

The packet said to leave on for 10-15 minutes and as you can see, the product had barely dried after this time -again because I'd applied the whole sachet and I'm not sure this was needed.

Face Mask after 15 minutes

Face after mask

The product was quite stubborn to wash off (excuse the wet hair as a result!) but had definitely calmed my skin removing the grease but still leaving it feeling soft and calmed.

Which face mask do you use?

Lindsey

Track of the Week: Luke Larrell & Victor Reid

2012-07-24T09:28:00.001+01:00

I am SO excited about sharing my track of the week today. I first heard it a couple of months ago and have only managed to ID it last weekend! Once I'd got the details I was literally shrieking at the laptop - you can't imagine the buzz of finally finding a gem when you've been trawling through so much shit music recently.

So without further ado, I'd like to introduce London boys Luke Larrell & Victor Reid featuring Verses with their wicked track titled Serious People.

I highly recommend you turn this one up loud, its got some badass groove.

Serious People was released on 2nd July on London label Audio Rehab...

Enjoy!

Would love to know what you think?

Lindsey

Weekend Hot Mix: James Winter

2012-07-20T14:29:00.000+01:00

The week has absolutely flown by for me, which means its time for another Weekend Hot Mix. I've got a cracking hour of house music for you from James Winter.

James has recently signed to Leeds label Love Not Money Records and is a resident for local night In:Vision as well as Apogee in London. I met him back in March when he played alongside Franck Roger at Wire and I think he's an exciting DJ and producer with an ear for a great track.

Enjoy this one folks and have a great weekend!

Lindsey

Matalan Christmas Press Day

2012-07-20T08:40:00.001+01:00

It had to be the first sunny and twenty-two degree afternoon we've had for a while on the day that I'm heading to the plush Hospital club in Covent Garden to check out Matalan's new Christmas collection. But don't think that stopped me getting in the festive spirit - it was hard not to when you set your eyes on all the gorgeous decorations and caught a sniff of the real Christmas trees!

I was greeted by Becky who offered to show me round the collection and it was great to get a personal tour and have a chat so I felt completely welcome.

What I noticed immediately about the main women's collection was how nice it was to see such vibrant and varied colours and textures. From chiffon, velvet and sequins combined with prints in the Canyon Child collection to the frosted colour palette wih metallics, embellishment and feminine edge of the Winter Wonderland collection. This dress definitely has the making of a bestseller!

Matalan is also relaunching its plus size range, Rogers and Rogers offering peplum and baroque detail as well as loads of colour and sparkle from sizes 18-30.

Rogers & Rogers Collection

Whilst there were a few pieces that I liked including the blue baroque style trousers, it was the footwear and bags that really got me excited... Gorgeous burgundy, sparkles, wedges, wedged hi-tops for under £30, as well as embellished slippers and oversized clutches both at around the £8 mark - this is the perfect collection as the nights draw in and the party season starts!

If I had to pick a favourite it would be the wedge hi-tops, available in burgundy and a stone/beige for the bargain price of £22. This is such good value and definitely a price tag I would be willing to pay for such a trendy item that may not be around next summer! (you can see how I would style hi-tops in this post).

I've also got my eye on this gorgeous maroon faux fur coat... only problem is its in the kids range! I'm hoping I can squeeze into this one as Matalan stock up to age 16. Again this is a steal at £25...

Aside from the womenswear, menswear and kidswear there were some lovely home collections including bedding, nightwear and Christmas decorations...

Overall I was really impressed with the collection - the designs are completely on trend, I love the colour palettes and they offer such good value for money. The collection will hit stores at the end of August/start of September.

Which are your favourite items from the collection?

Lindsey

Happy Birthday To Me...

2012-07-17T15:40:00.000+01:00

I'm not a girl who worries about my age or getting old (there's always botox right?) and back on the 5th July I celebrated my *ahem* 28th birthday. One drawback that people always talk about is that birthdays and Christmas get progressively more disappointing as you get older.

Well, speaking from experience I can happily inform you all that this is a load of old (excuse the pun) baloney... as this year's birthday was the best I've ever had... If you are easily offended by mild bragging of lavish presents I advise you to look away now ;)

Aside from it being a Thursday and having to work, I had a lovely evening with a meal at my favourite restaurant in Leeds, Blackhouse Grill - I had the wild mushroom tart with leek and brie, followed by the sashimi grade tuna loin. Apologies for no pics but I feel a bit awkward about taking photos in nice restaurants - just trust me it was amazing!

In addition to that, I was a very lucky girl this year as thanks to my boyfriend I am now the proud owner of the stunning Mulberry Roxanne!

The handbag is simply perfect. Whilst I get that the Bayswater is a classic, I knew it wasn’t for me – not just because everyone has one, but I’m not a fan of the slouchy leather. The Roxanne has a much more industrial feel – I love the pocket, buckle and rivet detail and the leather is a lot stiffer and I get the feeling will be more hardwearing over the years.

He also bought me a pair of leopard print Converse...

Not just spoiled by my boyfriend (major major brownie points for him btw), I also received some cash and some of my favourite Neal's Yard goodies from my family and the love continued with my best friend Helen buying me the Naked palette by Urban Decay! I'll do a separate post reviewing these soon...

A note to all girls out there - proof its always good to have a publicly documented wish list ;) Those of you that saw my April wishlist will know that I was already lucky enough to be bought the Sugarhill Boutique Cherry Bomb Shift Dress (OOTD here) so I was gobsmacked to virtually complete the set.

Lucky and spoiled doesn't even come close!

When is your birthday and what are you hoping for this year?

Lindsey

ASOS £100 Style Challenge

2012-07-16T19:18:00.001+01:00

To celebrate hitting 1000 followers on Twitter, Discount Coder (@DiscountCoder) are running a competition to win a £100 ASOS voucher. All you have to do is style an outfit made up of items from ASOS for a maximum of £100.

I've seen the competition on a couple of blogs so thought I'd give it a try myself... I have to say this was a lot harder than I thought, as despite there being a lot of bargains on ASOS at the moment, £100 doesn't get you very far when you have a full outfit including accessories to style.

Anyway here is my look...

ASOS T-Shirt with Quilted Section £18.00

ASOS Mini Skirt in Leather Look £25.00

ASOS DENY Wedge High Top Trainers With Suede Detail £45.00

ASOS Skull and Floral Scarf £12.00

Total Cost = £100

Here is a full length photo of the scarf so you can see how it would complement the outfit:

I've opted for some key sports luxe features (you can see my post about sports luxe here) - the wedge high top trainers are bang on trend and set to stay for A/W 2012 (I've seen a sneak preview of a gorgeous pair in the New Look collection on Instagram). I've teamed them with a panelled leather look skirt, again this item will be great right through to next season with the gothic trend all over the catwalk.

The scarf will also be perfect into autumn (gothic trend and weather!) and I like the floral twist on the ever popular skull print, also adding some girliness to the sporty look. I've gone for a short hemline and textured layers with the quilting and scarf to help balance out the chunky wedge trainers.

I'm really happy with this outfit and its definitely something I would like to wear... you never know, if I win the competition I might just treat myself to these exact items! I think they come together well but individually are great capsule wardrobe pieces that will carry through to next year.

If you'd like to enter the competition yourself, visit Discount Coder's website here.

What do you think of the outfit? Would you wear wedge trainers?

Lindsey