Advice

Looking after me, skincare update

Advice, Beauty, confidence, skincare

My mum is proud of me because I know more about skincare or at least the latest skincare since getting engaged.

I have become a little obsessed with my skincare, I have mentioned that before. I don’t wear a lot of makeup. But I have started buying a wee bit more.

We went to SpaceNK on Kings road and I am so happy we did, there was a lot of staff ready to help and we did a sweep around the store trying the sample and planning the next purchases for my Nydulge card.

I can’t wait for payday I am out of B hydra and the CFirma serum. Or I could just buy the Elizabeth Arden serum oh I still don’t know.

Skin type: I have

  • Combination skin
  • Oily tzone
  • Large pores
  • Millia
  • Blocked pores
  • Broken veins
  • Dry patches on my eyelids

How sexy do I sound! You probably think that it’s strange that I don’t wear makeup. If I go out at night then I put eye makeup, a red lips and a wee bit of blusher. I have a Lancôme tinted moisturiser with SPF. Which doesn’t smother my skin.

So with all these issue I now have skincare staples.

Morning

After reading drunk elephants skincare routine from the littles I have learned that after cleansing at night I don’t really need to cleanse in the morning as I was my face in the shower. So afterwards I just use a vitamin serum and a moisturiser. Then after that has set into my skin I use an SPF.

At night

I cleanse my face. Then I use a serum and then a retinol and sometimes a moisturiser or a night oil if I think my skin needs it. I cant get along with sheet masks. Maybe I am the ones I am using the wrong ones but I don’t really understand them. I use a face mask once a week I would use it more but I don’t want flakey skin to add to all my other issues!

I do like to mix and match

My favourite products are

  • Elemis Rose balm cleanser
  • Indee Lee Toner
  • The Ordinary Matryxal 10% +HA
    Drunk Elephant Whip moisturiser
    Alpha H retinol
    Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil
    Elemis night moisturiser
    Drunk Elephant BHydra
    Drunk Elephant C-Firma
    Drunk Elephant Babyfacial
    La Roche Posay Anthelios SPF 50+

I own a lot more products but these are my favourites.

I will go into more detail on what the products do for my skin in a later blog and will try not to repeat myself. If you want any information about Drunk Elephant click here but Baby Facial isn’t there because I hadn’t bought it yet. Plus it deserves its own blog, I love it so much.

My mum is proud of me because I care about what goes on my skin. I am worried about my makeup on my wedding day. I understand that preparation is key.

So I am looking after it now.

Last blog of the month: hopes for it

Advice, Organising, Personal Experience, Planning

Day 30, hopes for your blog, 30 day blog challenge.

Oh I am so proud!

It was not as tough so much as time consuming. But I loved it. I do need to take the time and go back through and recheck it, as I know there are a million mistakes but I am so proud of the work I have put into this.

30 day blog challenge it’s done.

There is a hundred day blog challenge but that will have to wait until next year! When I have more time and I can focus on it properly.

My hopes for the blog

Well obviously I want it to be a success. An organically grown success. I want my readers to comeback because they enjoy the topsy turvy world I live in. I want to travel and explore. I can’t wait to write about Japan and New York. I feel like I now have a fresh perspective. A real thirst for blogging more.

I have learned a lot about what are my most popular topics. It’s not what I thought. You appear to love food and self health as much as I do. Which is refreshing. I also learned about popular times and postings.

I am definitely inspired to write a few more blogs so I am challenging myself to 3 a week.

We will see.

This will probably harder then everyday just because more planning has to be involved with set days. When you know you have to write and publish everyday you just have to get it done. 3 times a week is not quite the same thing.

Sharing

This blog challenge has been a lot about sharing who I am and what my goals are. The theme of this blog is great. I am happy to write it.

I wrote in my goals what I wanted to achieve and my blog was a big part of it. But I am a dreamer so I know if I want to achieve this then I have to keep putting the work into it!

I sometimes felt that some of the questions were silly or irrelevant but I guess the whole point was to give you a point of view or subject to write about.

Whilst on this challenge I actually wrote 3 blogs that are sitting in my drafts waiting to be published which is a nice situation to be in.

For this blog I know I have to so find the right photos.

How do you photograph hope?

Thank you so much for being on this journey with me.

I couldn’t have done it without you!

Regrets, I’ve had a few

Advice, Uncategorised

Day 25, biggest regret, 30 day blog challenge

In saying that I regret the small things is true but honestly I can’t regret that much because it lead me here.

To this place.

Here

I made mistakes, I jumped into love, I jumped into moving to a place I had no idea about. Then I got my heart broken.

And I moved back to London with a single small suitcase and started my life here. In London surrounded by friends and family. And now my family has grown, through my sister in law and my new in-laws.

So my silly mistakes lead me here

I am so proud of what I have achieved. I have a home, a house. Bricks and mortar that has my name on the mortgage. Renting in London is hard.

I have two gorgeous fur babies ( still hoping Manhattan comes back) so we are a pretty perfect little family. We have our ups and downs but we work. We love each other.

These silly mistakes and little regrets will never make me actually regret where I am.

And who I am.

I wish I hadn’t put up with a bully at work for so long. I regret not leaving my retail job sooner but again would I be here? Would I be doing a job I love if it wasn’t for those mistakes and regrets.

behaviour

I do regret my unkind words, my thoughtlessness that hurt people.

If I have ever been rude or unkind to you and it still hurts it because I didn’t know the power behind mind own words.

I am sorry.

It’s only as we age that we understand how hurtful we can be.

I don’t want to be hurtful so that definitely is a regret.

If you can make me laugh, I am yours

Advice, Personal Experience

Day 24, what attracts you in love, 30 day blog challenge.

Laughter is the way to my soul

It this supposed to be about love but actually it is about all the relationships I have had.

All my friends make me laugh, they all have funny stories to tell and we love seeing each other! There is often a bottle of wine and a catchup involved.

Humour makes the world go round

I grew up in a house full of laughter and joy! So when looking for a partner I wanted the same.

Gav makes me laugh like no one else. Belly laughs, teasing. Chuckling, snickering even Nelson Munst Ha Ha.

If a day goes buy without a snicker then that is a really odd day.

He is very funny, often crass, sometimes offensive which I don’t find so funny. If something silly happens we can often just look at each other and know what the joke is and why we find it funny.

Gav took this photo, it was a lovely cold sunny day and the coldest gust of wind blew

Things in common

I don’t think you need to have everything in common but a level playing field is always important. Gavin is a geek, he loves games: computer, board games, role play. He tries to include me but it’s not my cup of tea.

We do however love comic book shows, movies and Sci-Fi. So we look forward to going to the pictures ( cinema) ets and watching Netflix series!

We love food! We like eating out and cooking, take always. You name it we like to eat it! I link my favourite foods here.

Politics

I don’t want to get in to politics too much here. I am well versed in my opinions. Gav is a bit more conservative and I am more liberal but actually with Britain in the mess it is now we are definitely on the same page. Brexit brought us closer together and we read a lot about it, watched debates and followed all the lies. We were really passionate about it and still are.

We are firm remainers. We believe that we should never have been put in this position in the first place. Cameron was lazy and thought it was a given, Boris lied through his teeth and quite frankly should have been sacked. He bafoonery and bravado don’t stop me from seeing the coiled snake beneath.

Wow that was a little deep for what do you find attractive in someone but it’s true. Having someone who has the same core values not necessarily the same political party is intrinsic to a good relationship.

Can you be tall please

I also like tall men. It’s nothing to do with being heightest but actually that I am almost 5″8 so I am pretty tall myself.

I will never be cute in height but Gavin is 6″4 and to me the perfect height.

We met online, after my last relationship to an Aussie I new I wanted a relationship with someone British. I didn’t want to have to move again. So I asked for a Brit, which probably sounded xenophobic but was just about me not wanting to move again!

I also asked… could you be tall please?

Romantic conclusion

Laughter is truly key

Core values are similar

We love food and travel

We like our own space

What attracts you in a partner!

What makes you happy

Advice, Personal Experience

I think is pretty simple what makes me happy.

Gin

Friends and Family

Frank and Manhattan

Honesty and kindness

Nights in and nights out

My home and garden

Planning

Traveling

All about my tummy

 I think by know you know how much I love food. I will try anything twice, I say twice because you should always try something. Just because you don’t like it one way doesn’t mean you wont like it another.

I always try tofu, why I don’t know. Its gross. I have tried it fried, in soups. I will always try it but I just can get my head around it. Sorry, its just not worth the calories.

Lie no more

I love my bed. I used to lie in till 10-11 most Sundays. That was until we got frank. Who is happy to sleep in too but only if its near to you and he snores. So every weekend I am normally up at 7-8am which is completely unlike me. I love my bed. Its huge and high and my bedding is mostly from Jigsaw because they do the best linens.

My future Husband

Gav loves how simple it is to please me. He doesn’t bring me flowers home. He brings me La Duree macarons, blocks of cheese, Chinese buns, Portuguese custard tarts, BBQ Dreams noodle salad, tea stained eggs. We love food. We love eating out and he loves me to cook for him. I cooked a chicken aubergine curry the other night with baked cauliflower and he loved it. Said was the best aubergine he had ever had. As he hates aubergine. Now I have to make him eat courgettes again because they are my favourite.

He knows that although I have my eye on a few designer bags that actually what I really want is an amazing backpack. That is smart enough, but also if I want to run home with it is fits me well and doesn’t open or jiggle about too much. Gavin likes to tease.

He loves to torture me constantly in fact, this means that we end up laughing all the time. Not chuckling but belly laughing. He can also be very sweet and sensitive when he needs to be.

The fur babies

Manhattan was a rescue cat, she is the sweetest most loving cat anyone would want. Unfortunately she disappeared and I still can’t really talk about it.

She has got me through a lot in life and has been with me for 10 years which puts her age at 12 ish the vets didn’t know. Hopefully she will come back.

Frank was also a rescue. He didn’t come from a bad home but he does have some behaviour issues. We think something may of happened to him when he was a pup. He is joyful and sweet and completes us as a family.

Just the four of us is pretty perfect!

Honesty and kindness

I sound like a sap, I know but being good and kind is all that matters. People smiling makes you smile so why wouldn’t you want to perpetuate that!

Nights in Nights out

am not much of a social bunny.i live my friends but I don’t need to make more. Making time for you friends is so important. I do love going out but we generally tend to go for a nice meal then cocktails! We do dress up but we are not clubbing people.

I left my dancing shoes after university. I did go out a bit in Edinburgh but most of the time we just went down to the local which always closed when we were ready to leave!

But I always loved going home to my bed!

Home and Garden

I am a home bunny. I love going home from work. I love my nights, get home walk the dog, make dinner, eat watch Netflix. Talk about the wedding, I put on YouTube, Gav plays some games online. Wash my face and do my skincare and head to bed!

Although at the moment there is a lot more writing and photography involved.

Rinse, repeat and love it.

Me walking home has ended up with us meeting for a quick pint before we head home and then planning the weekend!

Planning

Oh how I love to plan. My bullet journal is my life. I have mentioned it before so I won’t keep harping in about it!

My favourite movie,

Advice, Uncategorised

Day 19, favourite movie, 30 day blog challenge!

There is a few

Calamity Jane, is probably my absolute favourite!

Princess Bride is a close second!

I love watching films! There is something very satisfying about being transported into a different time and place! I love transformation films.

When Calamity Jane gets a makeover as well as her cabin to the sound of ” a women’s touch” I love it. Even the feminist in me doesn’t care so much about the meaning of the song but Calamity Jane was the ultimate feminist not that this is what this film was about.

I live a makeover in a film.

If you asked me if I liked musicals I would say no, not really my cup of tea, but I do love them.

  • Calamity Jane
  • Moulin Rouge
  • Guys and dolls
  • Funny face
  • Fiddler on the roof
  • Hello Dolly
  • Half a sixpence
  • My fair lady

I loved them when I was younger, I guess it’s just the next step in Disney movies!

I loved Calamity so much because she was fiesty and a story teller. She was happy being lonely with her crush on Lieutenant Dan. And then she makes a mistake which turns into a friendship and the man who loves her finally steps forward and tell her he loves her.

He always did.

I am a big romantic.

I love love

I think it is completely precious and rare. So when you find it you need to either be good to it or let it go.

Movies about love are always just the beginning never the end. The beginning is the magical bit. The rest is the work and making it work part. Which has it magical moments thrown in.

I am lucky. All my closest friends have really amazing partners who I like, love and respect. We are a lucky group!

I even though I really love love and romance I do think it’s a private thing. Grand gestures mean nothing to me.

Nothing

Grand gestures are all show and no work. They are a bandaid on an amputation. If you need to do a grand gesture then there is a massive fault in your relationship.

Sorry

This was supposed to be about my favourite film and it turned into a rant about love!

Bloggers that inspire me!

Advice, Personal Experience

Blog 18, bloggers I read, I read a lot of blogs I love them so I am just picking my top 5 that I read the most!

Jungalow

I found this blogger on Instagram. Her pictures where insane. It turns out I am definitely more of a boho vintage interior designer than Scandinavian. I love her use of colour and prints and she intern introduced me to some other accounts that are obsessed with plants as I am.

Her blog and shop are successful and she has a book out and sells printed textiles all of which I love. She is not afraid of colour and her house and office is the stuff of dreams!

Anna Edit

Love Anna, love her blog, bought her book and follow her on YouTube, and Instagram. Does that make me a stalker?

I just love her life ethos and how grateful she is. She is definitely a friendly writer. She writes a lot about organising and decluttering life. She has made me think about my wardrobe choices on more than one occasion.

Less is more are definitely words to live by! Considering I am a bit of a hoarder is weird that I like her so much. Perhaps she is escapism to me.

Productive and pretty

She is a planner and has some lovely posts. Her images are what made me start following her blog and I read pretty much everything that comes into my inbox.

She has a very nice organised mindset that is a little too perfect for my life even though she talks about bad days and unproductivity. Plus I can get lots of bullet journal inspiration from her photos and blogs.

Emma hill

Maybe the funniest YouTuber out there. Emma is like a good cup of tea, it wouldn’t be right without a biscuit. Emma is way cooler than I am but with all the blog I read I probably identify myself with her the most.

She loves food, her husband, doesn’t want or need to talk about children ( it’s nonsense that people think they can ask about your reproductive parts) I love reading her blogs they can be in-depth about fabric as they are about her personal experience.

Emma is a fashion blogger which may shock you as I am not very fashion forward but she loves clothes, has a muted palette and lives in jeans and blazers! My hero! She is also the reason I posted my first blog. She did a YouTube video on how to start it and that’s why I am here.

So that’s another reason why I love her!

Gothamista

Renee is a skincare goddess, I love her because she is so fresh faced and doesn’t appear to have an agenda. Her blogs her so informative it is ridiculously good. She is my go to skincare lady.

Because she is also on YouTube I can here her voice when I read her blogs. She has literally thought about everyone’s skin type. She makes recommendations and I find myself writing them down.

I send my mum her clips and she loves them!

Hmalcorn

Was one of the first followers I had. Her blog isn’t like anyone else’s it’s more like a diary entry and sometimes I feel a little nosey when I read it.

She writes from a wounded open heart and it is easy to hear her truth in the words. I read her blog because I subscribe and her words pop up in my inbox. Sometimes I want to hold her and tell her everything is going to be alright then sometimes I was to shake her and tell her that’s not the way the world works.

Reading her blog is like listening to a younger sister talk.

I love a good blog

so I do read a few more blogs and I am happy to take your recommendations about bloggers I should follow. This would be the longest blog if I listed them all!! I love a good blog. I like that I can read them on my phone and screenshot photos and words of wisdom I love.