self care

The stress has eased and now I am just grateful

Advice, Personal Experience, Planning, self care

I feel better now

I do

I have been having a few rants and stresses lately. I know when family get involved it can all get a bit much but it’s important to know that they are here for you.

Mine have been amazing

And when I say my family that also includes my friends and people that are in my life.

I have said before that me and Gavin are very different. He hates excluding people and always feels like the bigger the better. He also welcomes new friends into his life all the time. I never have to worry about being late because Gav will have made a friend at the bar or on the way in.

He is so welcoming and I am but not as much. I don’t go out of my way to make new friends because the friendships I have had for years are so precious to me. I don’t get to spend enough time with them so without being horrible I don’t need more friends.

I hold them close to my heart and I would do anything for them. And I know that they would do the same.

The stress has eased. It may have to do with the fact that we have got a lot done. The list has halved. Things have been ordered and arrived and there are just a few makes left to do.

Monday is a prep day

Tuesday is a family day

Wednesday is when I completed the seating plan

Thursday is organise the house day

Friday is set up day

Saturday is the day

It’s almost here and it’s too late to worry about things that are out of my control.

Dear Mother Nature please don’t rain!!

My friends and family are banding around to make this day magical for me and Gavin. I took out my mother in law and mum for a prethankyou so that they would know how much there roles in my life mean to me.

I am feeling really grateful that one, Gav decided to marry me and two, that my friends and family are here to support me and Gavin.

Because we need it.

We need them here with us. I am starting to get excited now!

Gym skin my routine has changed

Beauty, self care, skincare

A few years ago when I joined the gym I didn’t see much improvement. In fact it got worse for a while.

But now I am training regularly and showering at home I have seen improvements. When I was showering at the gym I decided to mainstream my beauty products. Let’s face it I went from 5 items to an entire shelf.

Slimlining

I have gone too far with my beauty routines and products. I haven’t bought anything new in about 6 weeks.

I mean I wanted to, I just didn’t.

When I went to the gym I had one bag that I used and since then I have been using the same products every day.

  • Cleanser Sunday Riley
  • Matryxal the ordinary
  • B-hydra Drunk Elephant
  • Elemis Toner
  • C Tango serum Drunk Elephant
  • Azaleaic acid The Ordinary
  • SPF Drunk Elephant

That’s is!

That’s all I need in the morning.

I cleanse in the shower. I have started taking a bit longer really working the cleanser into my skin. Massaging it and giving myself a bit of a facial. I love it.

Then I go in with either my mytrxal or my azelaeic acid. The two don’t appear to like each other when I layer them so I just alternate then on a daily basis. Then I use my Bhydra and CFirma mixed together for ease.

My last layer is of course my SPF. This needs time to settle down it does make my skin appear white and greasy but it soon fades down.

I generally don’t wear makeup to work unless I feel like it or I am going out afterwards but generally I am bare faced with my skin fully protected.

Gym help

I have seen improvements in my skin from going to the gym. This is down to consuming more water but mainly it’s down to me eating less sugar.

I know that there is no direct link to chocolate and bad skin but my skin always reacts to it if I have too much which I often do. My choices in the last few weeks have been healthier.

Smarter with a few mistakes thrown in for good measure.

I am not drinking ale before the wedding! And am eating a healthy lunch every day. I still drink Diet Coke but it’s my vice!

So that’s it. After the wedding I won’t be trying as many products just repurchasing what I like and what I use.

Beauty products for a weekend in the sun

Beauty, Planning, self care, skincare

Madrid in the sun is glorious but I need to be careFul about what I pack in my beauty products. I need to be a bit more minalist when it comes to packing. It is only a few nights so I don’t need much and In the Frow sorted me out with a cute travel bag full of products.

what I need to pack for

  • Protection
  • Skin
  • Hair

Sunscreen & essentials

A bit over the top but I will be taking my body spray factor 30, my little diddy handy sized Lacura one which I love because it fits in my hand bag. My latest edition my Drunk Elephant SPF for my face. I will also be taking a mini can of mosquito spray just in case. I don’t like to travel any wear hot without my bug spray. Mosquitos eat me alive.

Prescription sunglasses. I bought these a few years ago and haven’t looked back.

Also have

  • Toothbrush
  • Sensodyne toothpaste
  • Floss
  • Venus mini razor in case
  • Ear buds for sleeping
  • Hair-grips
  • Mini Mitchum dioderant

First aid

I have my own first aid kit that I have made. It just contains pills, plasters, face shield and all sorts of things I may need.

Tech

I am just taking my iPhone and iwatch so I just need the chargers for those. I bought a Amazon multi usb plug and I love it. It means you can charge 3 usb items at once and I only need two! Also taking my European plug so I can use my charger.

Night skincare

So I am taking my Omorovitzca cleanser because I love it so much, my elemis night cream with is really indulgent but if I have any red bits of skin them this will sooth it. My matryxal from the I can be without it My azelaic acid which I use in the morning as well. I will take some of myDrunk elephant minis because I still have my Marula oil but I wont take any retinal because there will be a lot of sun there.

Day routine

Cleanser is the same

Then I will take my Mini lavender toner from elemis because its cute and gentile. I will apply my drunk elephant duo of B-hyra and CFirma. Add my Drunk elephant Spf and that should be me set for the day when it comes to skin care.

From the In The Frow Travel bag I will keep the Guerlain night mask in case I need it, the hand cream and face mister.I never really got face misters till I used this. I know that when I run out it will be replacing a long with the cleanser from Omorovizca . I will also be taking the Sleep mask and hair bobbles. I really do love this set.

Body

I have a shower gel mini from the body shop which is heaven and for my hair I will be taking my new Philip Kingsly trio, my boots cream or Sainsburies hair gel ( can’t believe it’s 50p) decanted and a body lotion for hydration.

I won’t have time for anything fancy so I will try and keep my beauty routines nice and quick.

A packing list helps

I am trying to keep it simple but I have a lot of space in my suitcase so I may through a few things in at the last minute which I hate doing!

I live by my packing lists. Planning this all out is my favourite bit and it helps me not to over pack! Although I probably still have a few too many items.

I will do a mini blog on what I did and didn’t use when I get back and see how it goes.

It will be a good lesson.

What are your essential packing bits?

The downside to negativity

body confidence, confidence, self care, Uncategorised

I have mentioned before that I got into blogging because I had to do it for work and I loved it. My work has talk me a lot about positivity!

I teach art to kids and adults and with each lesson I dread the negativity. Children especially are very hard on them selves. They turn disappointment into sadness and comparisons. My classes that have been going on longer aren’t really negative anymore. They have learned to focus on their development instead of focusing on their friends.

I often ask them if they are happy with their work and if they aren’t we decide how to tackle it next week till they are happy. As hard as children can be they don’t dwell on things if they get distracted by good things and positivity.

I was writing about how learning to draw can be daunting and then I wrote this quote down.

When I wrote it down and it made me think. Why do we do it.

Why do it do it?

I am into a lot of self care at the moment but that’s not the same as being negative about myself.

Self doubt

With work I got stuck in retail for far too long because I didn’t think my skills were good enough. I didn’t see them as transferable and did not value the actual skill set I have. Yes I had a demeaning boss but she only aided my self doubt.

Gav believed in me

My friends believed in me so why don’t I. Why are we our own harshest critic. I don’t want to be an obnoxious overconfident person but why could I not see my own potential?

Body issues

I have started self tanning, nothing severe just a nice healthy glow. A few shades darker then my white befreckled skin ( I love my freckles)

I start with my legs and work my way up. I am okay with my body. Then I get to my belly and I turn my head in disgust every time!

You are supposed to apply in a circular motion but my belly is so big that I end up swishing it around. Chasing the flesh trying to cover it in the same amount of cream.

I hate it, it’s the part of my body that I hate.

So why the negativity

I hate it

My belly disgusts me. I am trying to cut back on drink ( I still drink just not during the week (as much)) I haven’t run during the heatwave because it’s a heatwave people! But I have been walking home to burn some calories.

I am not working hard enough I know but the truth of the matter is. I am being way to harsh. My belly isn’t horrific at all.

My negativity is holding me back from helping myself and being positive. Being negative isn’t going to make me think hey get your arse in to gear. Negativity is going to make me go, your belly is already big why not have another bar of galaxy!

This isn’t something that is going to change over night but it is something I can work on and get out of the habit.

Negativity is the worst habit!

Let’s try to be kinder to ourselves!