July Favourites:

July Favourites:

July has been a strange month, with lots of things happening all at once and then big gaps of time with nothing. I thought why not put a short post together to let you know all about it.

Favourite place visited: This month I had a few good days out. I loved the day at Wentworth garden centre. I liked how quite it was. But I think the top day this month was the day at Donnington Formula-e. It was an interesting day with lots to do and see.

http://nicolasnewthings.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/days-out-donington-race-track-formula-e.html

Favourite food: This month I discovered I like Pomegranate. With the warmer weather at the minute I have been enjoying lots of salads. I hate them being boring, therefore I have been trying to introduce new flavors to help keep my interest. I have now tried, Avocado, balsamic dressing and Pomegranates.

Favourite photo taken: This would be the image I took whilst at Wentworth Garden centre. I like how pretty and inviting the bench is. I know how long I was sat on it after this image was taken. 

http://nicolasnewthings.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/days-out-wentworth-garden-centre.html

Favourite Beauty product: This would be my Jergens Ultra Healing Body Moisturizer. This was featured in the Feb Favs video. I have recently been having a hard time with excama and this cream has worked wonders to get rid of this and give me soft skin. http://youtu.be/QxZiXpJTnH0

Achievement this month: I have just finished my First Aid course. I am the nominated first aider at work and needed to fulfill the course again. I am glad to have passed, especially when this time 3 people on my course failed. I am glad I have the knowledge, however I do not want to have to use it.

General - Aim for next month: 

I have been trying to do something everyday that makes me happy. I have been doing well I think with this. I want to keep this up as I can see a difference in my mood and general wellbeing. I may even do the 100 days of happiness tweets to keep track of this.

Goal for next month: I am training for my Race for life - by the end of august I want to be confident about running the full 5k at a decent pace. I would also like to have received more donations towards the cause.

http://nicolasnewthings.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/i-am-going-to-get-muddy-for-charity.html

Days out: Meadowhall Shopping Trip

Shopping Trip:

Well this week I needed some essentials. Well I think they were essential. 

With the warmer weather and changes in by clothes size after loosing weight. It was time for some essentials shopping.

Its rather warm at the minute, and I hate feeling warm when I sleep. I now have a fan in my bedroom but many of my pajamas are long trousers. I therefore popped into Primark for some shorts and top style pjs. I picked up 2 sets at £5 each. Ideal for popping on and keeping cool.

The stop after was Next, If you have seen my February Favorites video in there I had the small handbag sized Next’s own brand perfume in Sparkle. I have now used most of this up and purchased the 100ml version. A bargain at £14. This still reminds me of a clean washing smell. 

Afterwards was Superdrug, Here there were a few products I wanted to buy that have not yet made it into stores. I have been trying to lighten my hair colour. I purchased the Loreal GlamLights kit in shade 3. (not yet used) I don't like it when my hair colour changes to a reddy tone. I love the Superdrug own toners, I picked up the cool blonde bottles. The result is not a platinum colour as per the bottle, it just tones down the redness and makes a cooler ashy colour. I also bought trusty long lasting nail files. And after using a colleagues the John Freida misting gloss. This makes my hair feel soft and glossy and in no way sticky.

Finally was Debenhams, (I don't know how to word this bit.) I have an unusual Bra size and I:

1. have difficulty finding the size to start with, 

2. it be pretty, 

3. be in a set, 

4. not cost the earth. 

Well This was my lucky day, there was a sale on, pretty, my size, and they had the matching sets. Therefore for less than £30 I got 2 bras and 2 pairs of matching bottoms for each one. I usually pay £30 for just one bra. 

I had gone wanting to purchase some of the new makeup revolution items, and a new pair or sunglasses. But I think otherwise I did well.

Do you go shopping with a list of things you want and then go on a mission to find them? Or are you a wanderer?

Speak soon

Nicola

Days Out: Wentworth Garden Centre.

This is not your typical garden centre. There is lots and lots to do. With the garden centre, shops, lovely cafe, Large gardens, and Farm there we spent about 4 hours here.

I have previously been here but only on a short visit and I had said I would like to go back when the weather was better to have a look around the gardens.

On arrival we went and paid our admission, this was £3 for 2 people and off we went. Picking up a map as we went. 

Once inside the gardens we attempted the Maze. I don't have the best of luck with mazes and I am scared I will get lost. (I have once been in a maze for 2 hours looking for the exit) This one wasn't too bad we were out in 15 mins.

Then as you are all probably aware I have a thing about benches, I not only take pictures of them but I love to sit and have a rest and enjoy my surroundings. Well there were lots of lovely benches and surroundings on this trip.

We spent about an hour in the gardens and had a nice time seeing all of the varying areas. Well worth the entry fees.

Then dinner time, off to the cafe we go, there is a large selection and at good prices. The food is not the quickest but is made to order so is very fresh and hot. With a large indoor and outdoor seating area. On this visit I had learnt that I like pomegranates but I don't like Pims. All finished off with A pot of tea and a Jam and Cream scone.

After this we went to the farm, the farm is £5 for 2 people and 40p for animal food. There are a number of animals. My favorites being of course the piggies followed by my friend the counting pony. Also inside the farm there is a children's play area that is not as busy due to being for people who have paid for farm entry.

The garden centre was well stocked, but I think the prices were quite high, (even for a garden centre) There was a local fruit and veg stall, butchers and a deli on site.

There are a number of things you can do in this area. I would give yourself a few hours if you wanted to do the whole centre. I will be going back.

http://www.wentworthgardencentre.co.uk/

Speak Soon

Nicola x

Days out: Donington Race Track - Formula-E Testing day.

Days out: Donington Race Track - Formula-E Testing day.

I was lucky to get tickets to see one of the last testing days of the Formula E at their UK base before the start of the season in Beijing in a few months.

I have been a fan for traditional Formula One racing about 10 years ago. I never got to go and I wasn't too bothered either as I had heard a few bad things. 

Such as sitting around waiting for hours and only see something happen once every 3 minutes when they come across in-front of you. Also the noise, I am not the

best person when it comes to loud noises. I jump a mile at thunder and a balloon bursting.

As you are aware I am very proud to be an EV owner and driver and taking a sport I am interested in, advancing the technologies and making it more environmentally friendly was interesting to me. Therefore when I got the chance to go and find out more I was very excited. I was really excited to see another Renault Zoe actually registered and on the road. (up to now all we had seen were dealer demo cars) and then later in the day another one in the car park. We have gone 7 months not seeing another Zoe and then 2 in one day. Then much to my husbands delight he saw a right hand drive Tesla Model S parked right next to it. 

There are lots of statistics and information I could go on about but my highlights in a nutshell. The cars are engineered the same, same tires body etc. Therefore it is down to the computer tuning and the driver skill. I like this as no one team that can afford better gadgets have an unfair advantage. The cars are still very fast, A ‘normal’ formula one car would still have the speed advantage. But they have been racing years, and this is year one for formula-E. The noise, this was a strange one between our group I think we decided between, a loud remote controlled car and a a small jet engine. It was quite a whiney noise. 

One the day we all picked out favourite cars, I of course went for the shiny silver car of Virgin racing. The boys liked the matt black car that looked a cross between kit from Knight Rider and the Bat-mobile of team Trulli. I also liked having a few drivers that I knew who they were in the mix. 

After a coupe of hours watching from the grandstand everyone went on lunch and we got to go for a Pit Walk, this was a chance to get close to the cars and see the technology in the bays. This is also where I go some nice closer images.

After this we had our lunch and a walk up the hill to another vantage point. Through the day there were a few cars spin off and the safety car and crane were out. I guess this is part of the plan with the testing to get the drivers used to the cars.

After we had finished we had a look around the museum, (with our tickets we got 50% off entry making this £5) I think this was a good way to pass the time, but you wouldn't miss much if you decided not to go. There was a random war section at the beginning with tanks and old bikes, then it went on to race cars. There were lots of old cars and then through to modern cars. It was good to see how the aerodynamics have changed and the styling over the years. I then got to see a number of cars from back when I was watching Formula One in about 2000. Spotting the names of my favourite drivers and feeling like a child in a sweet shop.

I know there are only a few UK testing days left, but I would recommend going if you can. from going to this I am planning on following the Formula-E races. Now I just have to pick a team. With 2 UK teams to choose from I will see. I have a sneaky feeling it will be the Shiny Cars of Virgin Racing.

http://www.fiaformulae.com/en.aspx

http://www.donington-park.co.uk/

What do you think.

Nicola

What have I bought now? The Body Shop

The Body Shop.

Last week I was very lucky to receive a code for 40% off the website and in store. Also over the weekend there was a high cash back amount available on TopCashback.

I do have a love for Body Shop products, for various reasons. I love the quality, and how sensitive skin can use many of their products without having a breakout.

I also love how good their things smell. My only issue with The Body Shop can be the prices. Which makes it more of a treat purchase rather than regular. I ordered on Sat pm and this was delivered on wednesday with their standard free shipping.

A few months ago I bought a body butter and shower gel from the then new Pink Grapefruit fragrance range. I was looking at other items in the range at the time. But was good and opted for only 2. Well I can safely say I love the smell and wanted more. This was the first section I went to online. Sadly the body mist was already out of stock and this was the only other item I wanted for my collection.I purchased, the eau du perfume, the lip butter and the hand sanitizer. They all smell great and I cannot wait to use them. Whenever I use my current lines the whole house smells great for hours.

I also bought another of my trusty all in one face base compacts. I would love it if the body shop just did the refills of the powder rather than having to buy the whole set every time. As this seems like a waste of packaging. But I love this product, It gives a light to medium coverage, and if you wet the sponge you can make a heavy coverage.  This is great for in a morning when I need to wear some makeup for work but don't need to go fully with foundation. Simply put some on the sponge, glide on and go.

Hand cream, I do work in an office and a warehouse and my hands are often dirty. I do wash my hands often which makes my skin dry and I always have a good hand cream around. Also from handling money in the shop to using a delivery drivers pen, I like having my hand sanitizer too.

I also like that the body shop packaging is all recyclable. But I wouldn't really have expected any less.

What products are you loving? What do I need to try next?

Speak Soon

Nicola

New things: New Car

Over the last few months I have been looking into selling our second car and upgrading it. In theory there was nothing much wrong with the old car, It was getting on in years and a few things were niggling us about it. Therefore I thought time to look into changing it.

I have had bad experiences with cars and dealerships in the past. As I am the buyer and the name the finance goes in etc. I want to be the one the dealerships speak to when going to test drive etc. Usually the dealers wont speak to me and only speak to my husband. This annoys me very much. Another annoyance is that the dealers think they know what I want as soon as I go in. No I may not want the top of the range sports model car, but I may not want pink and shiny either.

I went to a number of local dealers, some of which were your usual salesey car garage, asking too many questions, taking way too long and not letting you even sit in a car.

Then I found Toyota, well this was a different experience altogether. I called on Friday and asked what the opening times were for sat to test drive the car. As my husband worked until late in an evening this would not be suitable. I was trying to rearrange a date that was suitable and was drawing a blank. The helpful sales may said no problem, can you pick the car up on sat afternoon and  then bring it back on the sunday. That way you can both drive the car and see what you think. This was a great idea. On the saturday I went to pick the keys up, I was literally 10 minutes signed 1 piece of paperwork got shown the car and off I went. Me and hubby drove the car and made a few decisions. The next day I went back to drop off the car, getting ready for a million questions and salesy pushy tactics. 

This was not the case, I simply sat down, he asked if we liked the car, and he showed me a few pre worked out figures on a new and nearly new car. He asked what I thought and off we went. I was very happy with all of the figures and decided to go ahead there and then.

This was when the fun began, I had been telling my husband we could not afford a new car right now and that now we had made the choice I would save some funds and buy in a few months. We I can say now this was a lie, I knew the maths and I was pretty sure before taking the car back that the deal was possible. This is when the suggestion was made to pick up the car on the very next day. This was a good plan, and helped with the surprise element. However caused me a problem, the car being part exchanged was the car my hubby takes to work. I arranged to collect him from work, so no problem.  I even got a bunch of flowers from the dealership to say thank you for the order.

To cut a long story short, I am now the happy owner of a Toyota Yaris Hybrid. My hubby had a very nice 5th anniversary present.

I will be completing a post of all about the car as I know a few people have asked for it. But as I have driven the car twice since it ws purchased, I think I need to know more about it, before I write it up.

Speak soon

Nic