Duck Egg Blue & Grey - Bedroom accessories and additions Spring 2015

Hey everyone,

Just a quick update for a few things added to my new room this week.

Both items are from www.MelodyMaison.co.uk

I just wanted a few bits to finish off my duck egg blue and grey theme.

I needed more storage, therefore the chest will be part make up and part random stuff storage.

I also wanted somewhere for me to burn my votive candles.
This looks even more lovely when lit next to my TV.

What do you think?

Nicola

April 2015 Primark Spring Haul

Hey everyone,

This week I did a quick holiday dash for some spring clothes for a weekend away.
Due to my recent weight loss I has no clothes suitable for this weekend that actually fit.
I only wanted essentials that I can wear in different mix and match combos.

Therefore I bought,

• Vest tops (lemon and green)
• Mint Green cardigan

• Navy striped (nautical) cardigan

• Beige cut out shoes

• Beige and black £5 skater dress

• Black Shape ware Swimming costume

• 2 pastel colour scarf's

I am planning on taking black and dark blue Jeggings / skinny jeans for the day and mix the dress etc in for a meal.

As i work 5 days a week I feel I don't get change to be 'pretty' on a weekend. Therefore I wanted simple cheap items to give some colour but without too much effort.

I am loving the pastels for spring. I want to try and transfer this over to my make-up too. As I am still on my winter browns.

What do you think?

Nicola

Diet / Fitness & Meal planning

Meal Planning:

HI I got this idea from one of blogger friends.

I am starting on 23.03.15 starting my new exercise schedule including running and cardio along with toning. I am definitely running at least 5k this summer in the race for life. Depending how the training goes between now and entering this may be me signing up for the 10k.

I am doing this to get back into fitness as this did help me physically, but also metal it helped to get on a running machine and put my headphones on for a few hours. Well the difference this time is I cannot afford the Gym membership. Therefore I have found a running buddy who will help enforce me going 3 nights a week. And I won’t be out on my own. Then there will be home workouts between for more toning and strengthening.

My aim is to get fully into my size 8 clothes. I am in some 8s comfortably, however I still have work to do on my stomach. Therefore I would love to go to a clothes shop and not have the am I an 8 or 10 debate. (I bet that sounds really vain)

Also I want to help my overall eating style. I am quite good in general due to the Coeliac nature of my diet, But I am a sucker for cake and biscuits. (gluten free of course). Therefore today with a little help from other people made a health meal plan for the next week.

This will involve batch cooking to give me easy meals for when you just cant be bothered to cook, and meals for lunch at work. Both of these factors should combine to give me healthy meals at a cheaper cost.

I have recently done a Costco Meal shop, therefore my freezer is stocked up on chicken thighs, pork loins, beef mince and stewing beef.

All I didn't buy today was fish as the Aldi selection was not great and I shall go to a larger superstore or a local fishmonger in the week to get this closer to the night of the meal.

I was surprised at how little the shop cost £36.27. But this will be of course subsidized by the meat from the Costco meals.

My fridge is now well and truly stocked up.

All with healthy meals.

The meals I chose are:

Roast Chicken salad / tuna salad

Beef vegetable stir-fry

Beef stew

Pasta with pesto, cherry tomatoes and leftover chicken

Chilli and rice

Fish with new potatoes and peas

There should be some food left at the end of the week which will no doubt be come some kind of concoction to use up. (I hate waste)

I will be very conscious about the level of water I am drinking – I even have an app on my phone. I don’t know how ill manage but I want to drop to 2 cups of tea a day. And yes that includes at work. This will be hard for me as I am a tea monster and I have at least 10 now. I have bought some berry tea for at work and hopefully this will help if others don’t just make me a regular tea.

I am looking at some health supplements to help with metabolism and fat burning. However I shall be careful with this as I know you can get some dodgy ones.

What do you think?

What meals could I add in? They need to be easy, filling and cheap.

Nic

Actiderm Makeup and products.

This week I have been contacted by a lady in my local area to see her about Actiderm products. To be honest I had not heard of the items before and did some reading online.

The products are by a British pharmaceutical company, made in their own French Labs, who work with all of the big names in French and worldwide skincare brands. They branched out and started to produce their own line, but due to contracts can only sell directly to the public. Therefore they have a brochure / party company to sell their items. There is a wide range of skin and body beauty items. However in the last 6 months they have brought out a mineral makeup range. 

Jen asked if I would like a free makeover to see more about the products myself. I went to her house where the products were all laid out on the table with their silver packaging.

She then talked to me about the products how they are all paraben free and how no talc or bulking agent is used in the items. Great for me with my sensitive skin. We then decided to go for a daring evening look. I wasn’t going out anywhere and I was still in my office work clothes but I wanted to see a change. Something I wouldn’t have known how to do at home. 

Jen went through the stages and told me what she was doing and how she applied this.

At the end I got a sheet with a link to her website and what products were used. There was no hard sell, but this is due to the products selling themselves.

I have never found a red lipstick for me, and Jen worked her magic and did in the shade strawberry. I also really likes the brow wax she used. I am currently using MUA with a wax and powder combination. But I think I’m going to convert. I was also interested in the cream to powder foundation. I have never ventured away from straight liquid, or my mineral powder. Never one that changed between, however the coverage was smooth and I can build it up if I have a bad skin day.

I have since spoken to some colleagues at work about the skincare range and they want to know more, due to the lifting, tightening and plumping that some offer. (I don’t think I’m ready for them just yet)

In conclusion:

•          I like Jen, she was lovely – if your local to Doncaster / Retford get in touch with her.
•        I like the products and they opened my eyes to new items to try
•       I like the idea of the company with their ethics of not bulking out the products and being paraben free.
•         I’m not an Actiderm convert, however I shall be adding items to my routine. I would like to learn more about the daily skincare range.

Nicola

Links:

Jens facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jensactiderm/

Jens Website: http://www.actiderm.co.uk/me/jenny-driscoll

Whats happening / Happened

Sorry for the lack of post last week.
I have been busy and will get back on track.

I have finished decorating my flat
Bought a new car
Done a Partylite party - helping lead to more bookings

I know this wont seem like allot, but is on top of working full time and running 2 companies of my own.

I shall be next week having a makeover using some lovely facial products and I shall be writing a post about this later this week.

What have you been up to?
Nicola

February favourites 2015

February favourites:

Well it has been a year since my first (and only) YouTube video which was about this.

This month I have been liking a few things not all product based but I shall share.

Food: I have since the New Year been very conscious of watching what I eat, I can say I have been proactive in the search for Gluten Free products to replace the items I loved in “normal” food. This month I have found I like Genius Multi seed bread rolls and Newburn Bakehouse (wabertons) sliced white bread. I also have really liked finding the Tesco finest New Gluten free cookies. I know my diet isn't the cheapest but I do like to have a treat.

Body: Perfume is still my love and I have many bottles on my dressing table, but the same as last year I am still reaching for Next Sparkle. I have also gotten out the pink grapefruit body mist on the few days my arms have been out towards the end of this month.

For my birthday I got the Soap and Glory bumper box set (xmas gift set) I have been really liking the Orangism shower gel from this, With the citrus scent and creamy texture this is a great fresh way to help awaken me from a morning shower.

Face: I have fallen in love with the Nivea facial product range. I have been using daily the express hydrations primer. I can hand on heart say this is making my face look better before my make-up and giving me longer wear time. In the matching style tub of my day and night cream for £3.50.

Home: I have been trying hard to arrange the last few areas of my flat. The flat is vastly lacking in storage but I have been keeping on top of washing and cleaning which is making me put items away and therefore keeping the house neat and tidy. This mean that I am getting more me time to sit back, read a book or watch TV. (I am grateful of this)

Hair: this month has seen me cut off lots of my hair, this was a big change to start with but I now love that it takes less than 15 mins to “fully” do my hair. To me this means blow dry and straighten and under 5 mins from shower.

What have you been doing? And liking?

Nicola

Mid week – Tesco mini shop.

Well this is a first, I had a day off today and this was full of errands, including Dentist, Hospital and Letting agent appointments.

The house needed a quick stock up on a few things.

I like to go to the big supermarket when I get chance mid-week and in the middle of the day as everywhere is a lot quieter.

I get to have a browse around the clothes and offers in peace without trolleys going into my heels.

Also this helped me see some of the special offers on items I actually wanted to buy.

Here are the images:

Household:

I like the house to be clean and hygienic, I also like it to smell fresh. I had run out of own brand antibacterial spray and wipes. I then saw the Dettol range on offer and this was double the size of the usual spray I get for 5p more. Also the wipes. I wanted the citrus fresh for a change. Also as well as my candles I like the fragrance stands in most rooms to keep them smelling fresh. Therefore I bought fresh cotton. I am getting a new car this week and got the matching car scent too.

Food:

Gluten free purchases, Bagels, pasta, sliced white bread and very yummy looking cookies.

Beauty:

I this week ran out of primer and my make-up doesn't last all day without it, this was on offer with all other Nivea items. Therefore I stocked up on essentials at the same time.

I do like Tesco big stores as they have a clothes section as well as a nice home wares section. Today I saw a nice wall clock and cute pillows. As well as useful and practical holders for in my bathroom. I think I shall save next months and get them. Just to help the living room and bathroom feel finished.

Speak soon

Nicola