ASOS Revive

Ok, this is THE winter dress.

By Asos Revive, check out this faux-fur textured cream fit and flare dress (yikes, that's a mouthful!) for £100. This is pretty pricey for something that's not 'designer' designer, but I literally cannot fault this dress. The faux fur layer is heavy and lined, excellent quality, and the circle cut waisted skirt falls beautifully from the hips. It has a decent (i.e. not flimsy!) zip up the back of the dress, and has teeny little shoulder pads to give the dress structure. I am in love <3

It is super toasty to wear, so I think this baby is going to be visiting lots of fancy Christmassy functions over the next few months - plus, it looks very 'Russian Princess on the catwalk', so it's destined for big time compliments!

Can't Live Without...

It has taken me yeeeeeears to find a beauty regime that actually works for my impossibly oily skin, and I only recently realised that I was buying some products so repeatedly that they actually must work for me! Lifetime member of 'The Chip Pan Face' club, I can now shed some light on the products that keep my skin looking matte and fresh all day - so many products are an absolute nightmare for the embarrassing shine they create part way through the day, so these bad boys really stand out...

Foundation:

Rimmel Match Perfection Gel

Rimmel Match Perfection Cream Gel Foundation, £6.99 from Boots and Superdrug

This stuff is THE NUTS. It feels so light and cool on your skin, the gel formula is fantastically suited to oily skin as it's not as heavy as your average liquid foundation - it's kind of like a cross between an air-whipped mousse and a liquid foundation. This also features blue sapphire pigments which claim to match your exact skin tone and texture for a flawless finish, and I must say, I am completely impressed! The product is formulated with oxygen too, so you're getting some of the good stuff for your skin. I've had no oil or blemish complaints since using this, and I think I've bought 4 tubs of this so far it's so good - it's an absolute rarity for me to stick to one brand usually when it comes to foundation!

Moisturiser:

Eau Thermale Avene Cleanance Anti-Shine Regulating Lotion

Avéne Cleanance Anti-Shine Regulating Lotion, £10.50 from Boots

This creates a smooth, matte and silky finish to your skin which I find works better than any anti-shine primer I've ever used before. Formulated with a high concentrate of pure spring water, your skin drinks up this moisturiser and feels nourished and healthy from the first use. If I ever skip using this before my foundation, I'm working my signature oil slick look by 11am. This is a must have for anyone with excess oil like myself.

Maintenance:

Superdrug Clarity Shine Control Papers

Superdrug Shine Control Papers

These bad boys are cheap as chips (around £2.59 per pack for 60 sheets, but are often on offer), and do the job flawlessly. Whenever I get down to my last 10 sheets I descend into a wild panic and make sure I restock straight away! They are small paper sheets which are imparted with a light layer of pressed powder on one side to absorb excess oil and restore a matte finish to your make-up. Brilliant to pop in your handbag for touch ups throughout the day.

Ahava Mineral Body Lotion

My feelings about this product are a bit up and down - it definitely functions well as a product, but I had some very unfortunate side effects from using it...details spared!

The product is by a brand I've not heard of before called Ahava, a 'mineral body lotion' which as you can see from the picture has WATER written down the side. All this talk of minerals and water made me wrongly assume that it would be a gentle product, but it is actually very strongly fragranced and - to my horror - is not exactly suited to 'delicate' areas shall we say! So...probably not suitable for sensitive skin.

However, when applied to 'non-delicate' (!) skin, this works a treat. I applied straight over freshly shaved legs and they felt super smooth and hydrated with a subtle sheen for the rest of the day. It's a nice thick consistency that you can really get to work with, but absorbs pretty quickly and is non-greasy. In my personal opinion though, the fragrance is still too strong to be suited to an everyday lotion - I had a very strong washing powder smell following me around alllllll day!

Confessions of a Concealaholic

Firstly, I love love love this! As if I wasn't a massive fan of Benefit make-up already (I'm a slut for quirky packaging), this cheeky little palette zaps those dark circles like nobody's business.

I work A LOT. I'm currently juggling a full time 40 hour job, a 25+ hour weekend job, a part time degree, and life in general. As you can imagine, not only am I physically destroyed, but I actually LOOK physically destroyed too! I was getting pretty irate with people constantly commenting on how ill I look, so it was time to take action.

Basically, it came down to either a Bobbi Brown concealer - which I've heard is pretty damn good - or this palette from Benefit. Being the savvy girl that I am, I went for the more cost effective Confessions of a Concealaholic, which houses 6 products, 2 brushes and a cute how-to guide.

L-R/U-D: That Gal, Erase Paste, Boing (#1 and #2), Eye Bright, Lemon Aid, Brushes 

That Gal Primer

This is a pearly pink brightening primer lotion. Lots of people love this product, and it definitely made my complexion smoother and foundation went flawlessly on top, but unfortunately it was just no good for my oily skin. What is great about this product though is that it works brilliantly as a highlighter as it's pretty much the same colour as Benefit High Beam, or you can layer it over the under-eye concealer for a dewy, bright eyed look.

Lemon Aid

This product is designed to balance out purple and red discolouration on the eyelids with its yellow tone - it's pretty thick, so it really works at waking up a tired complexion and is a great base for eyeshadow and eyeliner to cling to, lasting all day.

Boing

Described by Benefit as 'industrial strength' concealer, they've got that right! Boing comes in shades 1 and 2 to match fair to medium skin tones, but you can obviously mix the two together for a custom colour. This is fantastic at covering dark circles, and like Lemon Aid, it is thick enough to last all day.

Eye Bright

I found this one a bit tricky to work onto my face and out of the palette, as it has been adapted from the original formula which comes as an eyeliner/shadow stick - it is too thick to get much off it with the little brush they supply, so I really don't know why they didn't just lob in a cute mini pencil? But, when you can get it out of the palette, this is a frosted pink product designed to be used on the inner corners of the eye to give that 'bright-eye/bushy tail' look I've been missing for a while. Such a simple product gives a great and lasting effect, and can be used up to the brow bone for highlighting or to lightly trace your cupid's bow (the little 'v' bit of your upper lip) and make lips appear larger.

Erase Paste

I'm sure I tried this in store back when it first came out and wasn't massively impressed with it, but if that's the case then I'm definitely converted now! Erase Paste works as a creamy concealer to brighten the under-eye area - it has light reflecting particles in it which give an impressive dewy, wide-awake look. I am really happy with this as shade #2 is a perfect match for my dark circles, and the fact that it comes in its own little pot means you can take it out of the palette and pop it in your bag. Brucey bonus!

I am really happy with all the products in the palette and think it's fantastic value at £29.50 - the concealers will last you for aaaaaaaaaaaaages, and I can't see any of the other products running out too quickly either. For me, the brushes are a bit of a waste of time since I think concealers blend better with fingers, but they are pretty sharp and precise so they're not bad quality. If that's your bag.

Blog Break

I have been a bit of a willy when it's come to updating my blog recently, especially after finding lots of new buys to write about! 

I have just spent a very enjoyable weekend in Windsor. I've not really ventured down south much other than the odd trip to Bristol and Exeter, so it was a nice little break to go somewhere completely different. This is the first full weekend I've had off since beginning of May, so the various pub lunches, dining out, drinks in Windsor and Ascot and walks around town was the exact R&R I needed :)

I can't say that I'm too enamoured with the London Underground, but I'm sure I will got used to it! I can't wait to go down again soon.

So, back to work it is! I have a few more reviews etc to update you with this week, so the plan is to try and blog every day *fingers crossed* I have yet another GlossyBox to share with you, which is always exciting stuff!

Upcoming Reviews

I am trying to work my way through (and photograph!) a LOT of new products I've been trying out lately. My August GlossyBox arrived about 10 days ago, and as it's mainly skincare and haircare products this time, I felt I should give them a few weeks testing to allow them to really do their business!

Soooo...upcoming reviews from my GlossyBox goodies include:

Daniel Sandler Jumbo Jet mascara

Ahava Mineral Body Lotion

KMS California Colorvitality Shine & Shield

Murad Time Release Blemish Cleanser

...they also came with some really gross snake-print nail wraps, but I daresay they're not my cup of tea!

I've been trying to make some changes to my general skincare and make-up over the last week too, as more and more people have been commenting on how tired I look all the time! So, more upcoming reviews include:

Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic

Bare Minerals Overnight Transformation Treatment

Stay tuned! :)

Shoe-gasm Part Deux

I think by now it's pretty obvious that I like shoes. Just a little bit.

I ordered these Sam Edelman bad boys for a date at the weekend, paid extra for Saturday delivery and everything, and guess what?! Didn't fit. Major sad face. It's my own fault though for thinking that I should order strapless shoes shoes in a smaller size so I don't pop out of them and embarrassingly fall into the path of an unsuspecting victim. Not the first time I've said this within the space of a month, but you live you learn eh?!

Pure filth! And at £180, I think they've got style to rival Louboutins and a Balmain kind of edge to them.

So now I have to send them back and re-order (obviously I cannot be without them). But now the question is...which ones do I go for?

It took me ages to reach the decision that black was a more sensible option since they'll go with everything, but I am head over heels (see what I did there?) for the putty coloured peep toes. And the boots are kick-ass, and winter is around the corner. Hmmm. The peep toes weigh in at £180, and the boots priced at £200 from http://www.coggles.com/

No Arms, No Legs, No Worries

I watched a fantastically inspirational dvd yesterday featuring motivational speaker Nick Vujicic, called 'No Arms, No Legs, No Worries'.

Nick was born without any arms or legs, and after years of being teased by children, suffering depression and dealing with the public's looks of pity, he has had the strength of character to look past his situation and start spreading positivity.

Nick is an inspirational speaker all over the world, spreading his message that we should learn to love and accept ourselves exactly as we are, and never give up on your dreams.

Please check out some of his stuff on youtube, this man is a hero and teaches us that we are responsible for our own happiness whatever the obstacles:

You can also check out his website at http://www.attitudeisaltitude.com/

Liberty Love

Oh. My. Days.

I am in love.

With this...

Barbour Classic Beadnell with Liberty Print Floral Lining, £219

As if I wasn't obsessed with Liberty prints enough already (not that I actually own anything yet), this little bad boy popped up on ASOS this weekend and it's love at first sight. Barbour, notorious for the classic waxed jacket, have collaborated with Liberty on a select few jackets in their collection to put a playful lining and injection of colour into some classic pieces.

I'm usually more of a fitted trench coat kinda gal - a few years ago I wouldn't be seen dead in anything that didn't fit tight around my figure like a bandage - but THIS...this is a deal-breaker. I actually really love the tomboy style and think it kicks any parka's ass as a Winter cover up.

Ahhh, here's the rub. Yes it is rather pricey at £219, but you're paying for a quality wardrobe staple that will only get better with age, as well as an iconic piece of Liberty magic. And as if I need to convince myself further with the lure of a detachable faux fur collar and hood...

Available now from ASOS at http://www.asos.com/

Epic Blender Fail

Well, boy did I get a good start to my Friday morning! In tribute to Wifey (who has abandoned me for 2 whole weeks to go 'home' to USA), I russled up a batch of experimental chicken soup last night and left it in the slow cooker, happily bubbling away till this morning. I was like a kid at Christmas when I woke up this morning to fresh soupy smells, so after my shower I plonked it all in the blender ready to whizzy it all up for lunch. And this is the part where it turned into 'epic fail'. Even with my hand placed firmly on the lid, the lid FLEW off and coated myself, Joben the cat and my walls, floor and ceiling in scalding chicken soup. I'm guessing that's why you're supposed to leave it to cool first? Luckily the burn marks on my arms, tummy and face have started to go down now, so I am a little more open to seeing the funny side of it! You live you learn eh? It was still fun to make, and more than mildly comical getting a second shower and hairwash done this morning to blast shredded chicken out of my hair.

Luckily, the experimental soup tastes pretty good!

Sent from my Sony Ericsson Xperia arc

Autumn/Winter in August

It's become something of a ritual of mine to check out my favourite clothes store websites on a daily basis, and I mean daily! Yep, Dorothy Perkins, River Island and ASOS get a cheeky morning visit off yours truly. So, I was somewhat surprised when I saw the fab new AW/11 collections flying into stores but couldn't resist the allure of some cosy knitwear!

After having a traumatic week (yes I'm being melodramatic) of doctors appointments, blood tests and the possibility of having intestinal parasites picked up on holiday in Turkey, I decided a cheery shopping spree would help mend the blues :) of course it worked.

From good old Dotty P's I picked myself up a pair of navy blue leggings (£18) seamed down the front, which are smart enough to wear to the office with an oversized white shirt or girly blouse, or will be great for weekends under new season knitwear and ankle boots.

Next up, I am an absolute whore for stripes and picked up this beauty for £28. Light enough to wear through autumn and winter, stylish enough to avoid looking like it belongs to Grandma. I particularly love the little frills on the shoulders :)

Dorothy Perkins £29.50

I've seen a lot of other knitted lovelies on the high street that I'm dying to pick up...



Intarsia Cape, Dorothy Perkins £25



Cable Brushed Lace Top, River Island £25



Fairisle Jumper, Dorothy Perkins £32



Striped Poncho, Dorothy Perkins £35


...and just because they're too pretty to overlook:



Lace Belted Dress, River Island £35



Tapestry Brogues, Dorothy Perkins £32

I have absolutely no idea what I would wear these brogues with, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE them.

Time to save some new season pennies ;)

I already got some bargain cream crochet brogues in the Dorothy Perkins sale for £15 which I think would look cute with this dress and a denim jacket chucked on top.

cute huh?

You can find all of the above items on http://www.dorothyperkins.co.uk/ or http://www.riverisland.com/

GlossyBox

I returned from a wee holiday in Turkey on my own last week (not nearly as sad as it sounds!), and had completely forgotten that I’d effectively treated myself to a new present every month. Enter http://www.glossybox.co.uk/

I first heard about GlossyBox on another blog and thought it sounded like a fantastic idea. You set up a profile on their website where they ask questions about your skin tone, hair colour, make-up routine and skin concerns (etc.), you pay £10 per month for your subscription and then each month they send you 5 FULL SIZE brand new products to try based on your profile. Well, I’m sure you can appreciate that it didn’t take long for me to part with my £10 and sign up straight away!

I was so impressed when Mr. Postie presented the package to me that I think I may be guilty of letting off a small girlish squeal. Just look at the packaging!

When I opened it there was another beautiful gift box inside (which I will be saving to put Christmas presents in!), and in that box the products were delicately wrapped in sophisticated black tissue paper and white grosgrain ribbon. It really did feel like my birthday. Inside I found...

Illamasqua Pure Pigment eyeshadow in Involve

Ciate Paint Pot

Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil

LP Skin Therapy Lip Rescue Gel

Ultrasun Anti-Ageing SPF for Face

L-R: Ultrasun Anti-Ageing SPF, Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil, Ciate Paint Pot, Illamasqua Pure Pigment, LP Skin Therapy Lip Rescue Gel

The Illamasqua Pure Pigment came out way better than I expected. Having green eyes, I am personally a fan of purple eyeshadows but find it a struggle to find one that’s not the colour purple you find in a children’s paint palette. Yeps, definitely more of an aubergine/plum kinda gal. I would say that this is the perfect mid-point between a lilac and a plum, and really makes my eyes pop – the shimmering particles really help to brighten the eye area. The formula is soft and super blendable, and you can use it for a wash of colour or build it up to create a strong smoky catwalk look and coloured eyeliner. We all know berry tones are so AW11 ;) It has come out a lot brighter in this image than it looks in true light, so don’t be put off!

Next up is the Ciate Paint Pot. I’ve seen these being sold on ASOS for a while now, but given their low price I always suspected they would be one of those cheapy nail varnishes that are a waste of money. How wrong could I be! This bad boy puts my Chanel and YSL nail varnishes to shame, just 2 coats was all I needed for a flawless finish and it has hardly budged in 7 days of wear. The colour is fantastic, it’s bright orange and fits in perfectly with summer’s colour-blocking trend (and my Turkish tan of course). The only thing that lets this down is that I can’t find the name of the colour on the pot!

Equally impressive is the Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil by Weleda. I find body oils such a pain in the bottom because they’re messy, greasy and can take an age to absorb into your skin. Luckily, given my peeling post-holiday skin I ignored my anti oil instincts and used this twice a day to keep my tan in tip top condition. It is ultra moisturising and you really do get the feeling that your skin is hydrated...plus it smells DIVINE. The scent reminds me of a clove and orange essential oil that I burn during Winter for that Christmassy smell. Another trick I’ve been using this oil for is as a replacement for shaving gel – seriously, this gives the smoothest legs ever!

This GlossyBox really has not let me down, because I adore the next product too. LP Skin Therapy Lip Gel (developed by TV psychologist Dr. Linda Papadopoulos) is a lip gloss that plumps, moisturises, softens and even contains a herb extract to reduce anxiety and calm you down! *It is my new best friend* I usually hate lip glosses for that ever seductive ‘hair-stuck-to-face’ moment, but this isn’t sticky at all – your lips just feel sort of waterproofed. It does exactly what it says on the tin, the packaging is grown up and elegant, and it tastes like orange Opal Fruits! (they will never be Starburst to me, only Opal Fruits!).

I must admit that given the somewhat dull Liverpool weather we’ve had since I got back from the 44-50 degree heat of Turkey, I haven’t bothered to test out the suncream. If we are ever awarded with the rest of our summer I’ll be sure to test it out and review.

All in all, I was massively impressed with my GlossyBox. Considering these are all full-size products and the Illamasqua eyeshadow would have been £14 just on its own I think this is fantastic value and means I get to refresh my make-up bag with new products every month. Plus, when you log into your online account and review the products, you get one ‘glossy dot’ per review – when you have collected 100 you qualify for a free GlossyBox. Winner!

In other news, I have just 4 short weeks left of my Invisalign Refinement! Given that my dodgy incisor has finally decided to move into place, I am confident that this will be the end of my treatment. So watch this space for before and after pictures when I get my retainer J

Sleep In-a-Box

No dear reader, this is not a suggestion or a command, but rather a review of a fantastic new line of products released as part of the Boots Sanctuary Spa range.

For a mere £12.75 in Boots, you can buy a gift box of generously sized samples of the recent additions to their already popular brand, and ‘Dreamtime Sleep In-a-Box’ is 4 products designed to aid restful sleep and recuperation. And we all could benefit from that I’m sure!

Each product contains the essential oils ylang ylang (for reducing stress and tension), frankincense (to calm and clarify the mind), and patchouli (to reduce anxiety). They smell DIVINE. From using the body butter right before I get into bed, I can still catch the scent on my bed sheets when I wake up in the morning. I MUST OWN THE CANDLE.

First up, we have the Soothing Bath Float. Basically, that’s a fancy pants name for bubble bath. A couple of dollops (love that word) of that under running water leave you with the frothiest bubbles fit for a princess – Kate Middleton, you heard it here first. It also suggests that you can rub the formula on your skin prior to getting in the bath for an extra luxurious skin treat.

Next, we have the Smoothing Silk Scrub, which is a nice thick cream with flakes of coconut shell in it to really shift those dead skin cells. I’m used to using a sugar body scrub with a higher concentrate of scrubbing particles compared to this one, but I was pleasantly surprised that my skin felt super smooth and nourished after use. The Sanctuary also recommends that this product can be used on dry skin prior to bathing/showering to polish your limbs to perfection.

The 4 in 1 Restoring Body Elixir is a cheeky treat in the range, since it really is as multi-functional as it suggests! It can be used as a bath oil, as a nourishing body oil applied neat to your skin, triples up as a hair mask applied to damaged ends, and can also be used as a massage oil. I think I’ve found a fifth use for this, because it works great rubbed on temples, wrists, and the back of the neck before bed time to send you into a deep slumber. Bonus, non?

Last but by no means least is the Cocooning Body Butter, which has an intensely thick formulation. The best way of me describing this is as a ‘balm’, but it sinks into skin quicker than I expected. I really think this is one of the best body butters I’ve ever used, and I can’t get enough of the smell...sometimes I undo the lid and steal a cheeky sniff for no reason, but that’s just me.

From what I can gather, in addition to the Sleep range there are also ‘unwind’ and ‘energise’ sets available. I would highly recommend this set to anyone, it really does help you get a good night’s sleep and I feel so much happier when I’m well rested. Since using the products I’ve become completed addicted to baths and had 4 in a row last week...United Utilities are well onto it!

Concert Review: Kings of Leon

On Sunday, with itching anticipation, I got to witness the event of the year I have been patiently awaiting since I bought tickets last November...Kings of Leon at Lancashire County Cricket Club! After rumours were rife that the last tour they performed would be their last ever, I was epically pleased when they released latest album Come Around Sundown and announced dates for this tour. With the threat that they may never perform live again, I would have sold my favourite arm to bag tickets (we all have a favourite arm, right?!). And I got them, without having to sell said limbs!

The whole day was fantastic. Unlike gigs I have been to in the past, the venue opened at 4pm and support acts commenced from 6pm, meaning that we had a full afternoon and evening of entertainment and to bask in the sunshine of the grounds. What glorious weather we had! First up was a band called Mona. I hadn’t heard of them before, but after watching them play the only way I can describe them is as ‘Kings of Leon wannabes’...not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. Next up was White Lies, which I was really pleased about, but missed all but the first song of the set due to a 40 minute wait for the toilet queue. Angry face. When I returned, it was Zane Lowe on stage doing a DJ set, which I thought would be promising, but instead turned out to appeal to the army of chavs at the concert. You know, the ones who recognise that one song Sex on Fire and think they’re die-hard fans. If you played them my favourite track Milk I’m sure they’d have a seizure. So to be honest, was not impressed with Zane Lowe!

Finally, the band we had all been waiting for graced the stage at 8:30pm, and I was more excited than a kid with a cardboard box. They belted out tunes Molly’s Chambers, Radioactive, Crawl, Be Somebody, Closer, Fans, Use Somebody, and many other favourites. I nearly died when they played On Call – my chest aches with how much I love that song. While the band did not have much banter with the crowd, it did allow them more time to play songs and every performance was flawlessly executed. Every time I saw Caleb’s little face pop up on the big screen I fell ever more in love. If I could’ve swapped my cat for a cheeky wink off him I SO WOULD.

Kings of Leon came back on stage for an encore, and rounded off the evening perfectly with roars from the crowd as loud as the fireworks that accompanied their last performance. Best £52.50 I ever did spend!

WOLFMOTHER Rocked!

With that cheeky Bank Holiday thrown into the mix, I've been so confused about what day it is that I've ended up blogging a day late *big slap on the wrist*

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend anyway! I spent some quality time with my younger sisters 'the twins' (I don't know why I feel the need to put that in inverted commas since they actually are medically classified as twins). Took them for a fancy meal and cocktails at Chaophraya, where it was fruity curries and deep fried ice cream a-plenty, and then we had an enjoyable night out in town. The following morning we mopped up our alcohol abuse with a bang tidy breakfast from Moose Cafe (my all time favourite place to eat), and then went to see The Hangover Part 2. Happy days!

After months of patiently waiting at home, e-ticket in hand, Tuesday 31st May brought me the heady delights of Wolfmother live at The 02 Academy Liverpool!

I love music, I love discovering a new favourite band, and more than anything, I cannot think of a thing in the world that beats the buzz of watching a live band rocking out on electric guitars and the heavy bass vibrations in the core of your chest. So yes, seeing live music always makes me happy :)

This video is looking a wee bit small, but it gives you a sneaky peek of their hit Vagabond which is featured on the film and soundtrack of 500 Days of Summer.

Oosh, what a lovely little week I'm having!

Sick Day

Being ill sucks face. The End. I have been ill for 10 DAYS now with a pesky cold, of which I'm experiencing some most unsavoury side effects - sparing you the details!

Buuuut...here are a few things I think are particularly awesome about being forced to take the day off work:

1. Watching David Bowie in The Labyrinth - my fave children's movie. Although, there is something more than a little bit suggestive going on in the trouser department, which was mildly distracting to say the least!
2. Eating Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough (for medicinal purposes of course) until you feel more sick than you originally did. Case in point.
3. Becoming feverish and having a lengthy conversation with my new Siberian goose-down feather pillow. Ch-yeah!
4. Lift! Instant Lemon Tea with a big old dollop of manuka honey in it.
5. New Covent Garden Chicken Soup...oh my days, this is THE NUTS.

All in all, I didn't have a bad day off work yesterday despite some obvious 'vom' issues. Probably cookie dough induced, so I'm not complaining!

In other news, I am now at the refinement stage of my Invisalign treatment and have been given another 10 whole sets of aligners! I can cut down to wearing each aligner for 10 days, so fingers crossed, I should only have 93 days left of brace face ;)

And...got another cheeky tattoo at the weekend to show my love and support for my beautiful younger twin sisters - our family are separating, and I am going to miss them like hell when they are moved back down to London. Keeping my chin up, we will be celebrating by going for a meal and a hella messy night out in town on Sunday! Whoop!



Natalie Day!

By jove it has certainly been a while since my last blog! Had to take a break due to revision for a psychology exam, and I am incredibly happy to say that it is all over with now! Yay J no more study until October, when I will be studying a creative writing course...could not be more excited!

So, I have had plenty to keep myself busy with over the last few weeks, and have had many ups and downs that I promise not to bore you with! In typical Natalie fashion, whenever I have anything on my mind I either attempt frantic obsessive-compulsive cleaning or change the layout of my bedroom. This time I did both, and I also painted two feature walls in my living room and used the same colour throughout the hallway. I now have Dulux Banana Smoothie walls, and the apartment is looking super cheery!

off a work friend to cheer me up :)

The main thing that has really cheered me up though was the invention of Natalie Day (not my idea!). I came home one evening after a particularly rough weekend, to be greeted by two friends with presents who excitedly informed me that they had decided it was Natalie Day. I was bought some beautiful flowers, an AMAZING teapot with chickens on it, and we ate Ben & Jerry’s and watched Grey’s Anatomy all night. Perfecto. How blessed I am indeed to have such supportive friends J

this is one of my all-time favourite gifts now. Look at the chickens!

Other than that, I was doing fantastically with my meditation up until last Thursday, and I haven’t done it since *big slap on the wrist* But, I am starting Ashtanga Yoga tonight with the wife, so I plan to meditate as soon as I get home from my cheeky yoga sesh!

I will have loads more to update you on asap, I just had to get the dreaded ‘first-blog-in-weeks’ post out of the way. My dear friends, procrastination has a hell of a lot to answer for!

unrelated, but I had so much fun at the show with my Dad

Headspace

Talk about emotional baggage...I honestly don't know how they let me onto an aeroplane with my ready-to-burst suitcases of weighty issues. It really is so incredibly easy to get caught up in your own thoughts and give all your energy to feeding your problems.

I've felt like this recently. Questions of 'What if?' and statements of 'I don't understand' and 'if you look at it this way...' were consuming me, and in all honesty I've had a face on me like an unloved pug.

Yep, major case of sad eyes. Oosh! A change is gonna come!

I read about Get Some Headspace in an old copy of Elle and thought, 'Oh boy, this could be the ticket to fixing my internal monkey!'. Just so you don't think I'm a complete loony, I had a conversation not so long ago with someone about our internal monkeys - you know, the little monkey inside your head that reflects your personality and mental wellbeing etc. My internal monkey was lying in the corner of my mind in the foetal position, clutching a handful of crayons. And it didn't really look like a monkey, it looked like one of those weird goblin things off the old Sprite adverts...

Bad times eh?! So yes, internal monkey needs therapy.

Get Some Headspace was founded by Andy Puddicombe, expert in meditation. He has put together a fantastic website with tools and voice recordings to guide you into the habit of meditating each day. I wasn't really sure about the whole meditation thing to begin with, but after following his 'Take 10' programme I could definitely tell the difference. In 'Take 10', Andy encourages you to take just 10 minutes out of your day for 10 days to sit quietly and clear your mind. Once you've completed this, you then have the option to move onto 'Take 15' and 'Take 20'. I'm currently up to Day 9 of Take 15, and I feel fantastic. I cannot praise this website highly enough, and there's so much helpful information on there. No more sad eyes, no more fixating on things I cannot change. Just a clear mind, better sleep, and being much more productive at revising for impending Psychology exam - cheeky bonus! Women and children first, emotional baggage overboard.

For more information or to start the Get Some Headspace 'Take 10' programme, please go to

http://www.getsomeheadspace.com/

p.s. You can even link it to your Facebook account so your friends can track your progress

p.p.s. my internal monkey is now sitting up and happily scribbling away in her colouring-in book

Showcase This

Yesterday I was worried I'd have absolutely nothing notable to blog about today...and then I went to 3rd Degree Festival in Liverpool.

I went to support my very talented friend's band Evelyn.Is, and boy did she rock that stage! I felt like a proud mummy when she introduced the set by playing her harp, intimately draped on the stage floor. Her sound is atmospheric and moving, and needless to say, I was an emotional wreck 45 minutes later when I greeted her off stage!

It made me so happy to see someone I love doing something that they truly live for and were born to do, and not only that but kicking the ass out of it. You can follow Evelyn.Is by searching for them on Facebook.

In other less interesting news, I was so pleased today to realise that I have reached Aligner 29/29 for my Invisalign treatment, which means I potentially only have 2 weeks left until my dream smile!

I started treatment in March 2010, and since changing aligners ever 2 weeks from that point I really thought this day would never come! My bottom row of teeth finished months ago and look fantastic - in fact, when I smile, I can hardly believe they are my own after years of hiding my spacing issues and being called 'gappy' by an evil ex (is there any other kind of ex?).

I have my review in 2 weeks to see if I need any refinement - you Invisalign geeks will know what I'm talking about! If the result is perfect, then I will have all my attachments removed and move onto the retainer stage. So, I will keep you updated and hopefully have some super shiny before and after pictures to show you soon!

If you have any questions about Invisalign please feel free to ask - I could honestly go on about it all day long.

Shoe-gasm

Today has been a happy day :)

Today was the first time (drumroll please)...

a fellow blogger commented on one of my posts! Not just a friend that I have emotionally blackmailed into following me *fake enthusiasm*. A person found me, and liked me, and is following me. I am WELL CHUFFED. And that's how I started my day at 7:47am!

Please go and check out fellow blogger Ashley's blog at http://www.ashleyborysewich.blogspot.com/ - I am such a whore for beauty blogs so this is right up my street, naturally.

Another reason I am super smiley today is that I can't wait to go home to my new babies. After much deliberation about whether my credit card could handle a manic depressive shopping spree, I splurged. And oh baby, did I splurge good and hard.

Love at first sight, right?

And if I didn't have a damaged tendon in my ankle I would be wearing these to the supermarket, to work, to play, and even to bed. If I trip over the damn cat again, I swear it's war!

These beauties are £79.99 in River Island - they've sold out online, but you can still pick them up in store if you're hot on it ;)

Guess What...?

Aaargh! I can hardly contain my excitement to tell you, that I simply cannot wait until my usual blogging day (Wednesday) to hopefully spread some cheer.

Not usually one to blow my own trumpet, but attempt #2 of making le macarons KICKED ASS! So here's me, blowing my own trumpet. Parp!

I don't like to be rubbish at anything, I take it very personally and last week's failed attempt left me with a throbbing vein in my head and an insatiable desire to eat the entire contents of my fridge to lift my spirits. Onions excluded of course. So when my little babies grew feet and started to rise, I smiled wider than a kid with a cardboard box. Big time.

Filled with Baileys buttercream to make them extra special, I gave these as a gift to Mama Gill for her mummy's day - and the mega squidges she gave me tell me they were a hit :)

Other than that I'm still feeling pretty pants at the moment. I keep having incredible urges to do the classic Ron Burgundy "I'm stuck in a glass cage of emotion!" scream from Anchorman (incidentally one of my favourite films), but fail to see a way to adapt this into a suitable expression of emotion in the office environment. Another day, perhaps.

So I'm off to buy shoes instead...oh my, I can already feel the rush!

Sweet Treats

Baring in mind that this is a blog about Happiness, I feel it prudent to mention that I haven't exactly been in the best of spirits for the last week or so. I'm finding that it doesn't matter how much of a 'naturally sunny disposition' you have or how much you try to look for the little things that brighten your day, there are always going to be times when you're completely overwhelmed by life - but it is ok to feel this way! I have somehow managed to progress from an unwillingness to leave my duvet to being short-tempered with cheery salespeople on the phone at work, but, progress all the same.

Last night, trying to put a smile on my face and also take my mind off things, I decided to try and recreate some of the Parisien magic I experienced almost 2 years ago in the shape of...macarons.

don't you feel more cheerful just looking at these beauties?

Oh, le macaron!

£30 worth of equipment and two attempted batches of basic recipe later = EPIC FAIL. Now, I do feel I should mention that macarons are notoriously difficult to make, so I'm not beating myself up massively over it. But...I also fear that my less than savoury performance has pushed me one step closer to a complete emotional breakdown!

I have spent my afternoon googling tips, so with fresh spirits I will be going home tonight to start a 3-day-prep-mission for attempt #2.

Other than that, I plan to pick up my spirits over the next few days by - 

• attending a fundraising event called JapanTease - in a Hawaiian themed bar with special guest Burlesque acts for the night - for the tsunami appeal
• hopefully, successfully creating at least one edible batch of macarons in time for Mothers Day
• causing a sensation at work by wearing inappropriate floral trousers
• going to visit my family for the weekend
• consumption of Cadbury's creme eggs

*duvet optional.

Look at the shiny shiny!

I can't believe that after many months of writing about things that make me happy, I had forgotten about the biggest thing that brings me daily joy...

This is the hummingbird necklace by iconic jewellery designer Alex Monroe. I literally cannot survive the day without wearing my hummingbird, even though it spikes me in my sleep and gets tangled in my disgraceful gypsy hair.

Those who know me well know that I have a bit of an affinity with hummingbirds, as not only are they beautiful, colourful and majestic (a bit like myself obviously) but they symbolise gratitude - you know, that thing I keep banging on about!

So my little friend serves as a daily reminder to me to be grateful. And it's pretty :)

I am lucky enough to also own the double lily ring which was a gift for my 21st birthday, but am lusting after many other items including the crow feather ring. Check out http://www.alexmonroe.com/ if you fancy having a cheeky peak inside his treasure trove.

Bristol :)

I was wrong. Making statements like 'Bristol is always sunny!' are particularly dangerous when you have an impending trip planned. At one point I was wearing jersey body, tights over jersey body, leggings over tights, socks over leggings, t-shirt over jersey body, cardigan over t-shirt, leather jacket over cardigan, and snood 3 times my height wrapped over everything. Quite the picture of trampy chic!

Obvious complaints about weather aside, I had a brilliant time with my chum doing lots of Bristolly things (I'm aware that's not a word)...





The awesomeness that is Swinky's sweet shop

More Swinky goodness

Traditional Morrocan Mint Tea - yum!

The Morrocan Tea Room in Bristol Market

From the pictures it largely looks like my trip to Bristol was nothing more than a celebration of food and drink. Point taken!

Because my Blackberry is such a willy these limited photos are all that I managed to take and are working Blackberry's signature blur and muted colours - winner. But, we did have plenty more fun times doing very touristy things and hanging out in nice independent joints, which makes a refreshing change from the chain-store saturated Liverpool. On a side note, did you know Phil Potts (the sandwich extraordinaire) is part of a chain? No corporate cucumbers please!!!