Time after Time

We all know I'm a whore. A product whore!

And if you're reading this, chances are you know that 'I've accidentally stepped in to Boots and o-m-g what is this? New pRoducts and I must have them!' feeling.

HOWEVER.

Despite all that excitement, there are always those 'fail-safe' products you're going to reach for. You've probably been using them for at least a year or two. They might not make it in to your look every day, but they're like your parents' home- they'll always be home, you know?

So, without further ado, I give you my 'time after time' products.

TA-DA!...okay, okay, so they don't exactly win any prizes for excitement. But when I win an award for being fabulous, you know this little lot are behind it!

First up- My Cetaphil cleanser.

I've gone through three bottles of this in just over a year, and I loveeee the stuff. It's gentle, it gets all the crap off and it's great for troubled skin.

And Then- Boots Cucumber Face Mask.

I have written about this range before- you can get all your skin essentials for the best part of a tenner. Sound.

Aside from the fact this costs about £1.89, it's actually a great face mask. Whever my skin is feeling run down, this gives it a massive lift.



For Hair- Batiste.
There is not much I like more than hair- big, glossy, wonderful hair, to be precise.
But one thing I do like more than hair, is sleep. Mainly, of the lie-in variety.
Unfortunately, lie-ins are not conducive to the lion mane look.
So when it's lagging, needs a refresh or a volume boost- you've got to love Batiste.
A can of this is always on my shelf...just dont mistake it for your deodrant...which yes, I have done before...

And if you've bothered to actually wash your hair- Mousse is where it's at.
The one I'm using at the moment is L'oreal Elvive- I have to be honest, it's not the best I've tried, but it does the job.

And to make your new 'do stick- Pantene Hairspray.
Shamefully, I'm known as the hairspray queen in my circle of friends (and yes, it's a small circle. And yes, the fumes make me happy). Sure it could be any, and usually, when you're as dang-nabbit broke as I am, it will be any. But Pantene is my absolute fave. It's the smell :)

Skin- Baby Oil.
Cheap, good for hydration, excellent in the shower, great if you get shaving rash (and hello, sensucal massage, you dirty dog!)

Palmer's Cocoa Butter.
Great for dry skin all over and as a sink-in leave-on face treatment at night. I constantly go back to this, especially in winter when the elements can be so cruel!

And For The Face-

For a feline flick, I use this thick liner (unbranded).
For lashes, it has to be Maybelline Colossal Volume.
I've tried so many mascaras and for me, none match up for this. Unlike with the other products mentioned, I won't just buy another version to save a few pennies- it has to be this one.
 (Plus alot of curling, to the point of almost snapping my lashes off. Aahhh, the favourite part of my morning....)

For Lips- Despite having like, a gazillion lip products- and despite loving a classic red- I always venture back to Rimmel's Be Bold. So much so, that I have a spare. I think it's because, teamed with a feline eye flick and glossy locks, I can at least pretend I look a little bit like Jameela Jamil.

Book Review- All the Hopeful Lovers

I have thumbed this book good and proper.

*tsk* Keep it clean, ladies and gentlemen- I mean this is a proper page-turner. And although I told you to keep it clean, the book doesn't necessarily....

You know that old adage 'don't judge a book bu it's cover?' WELL- this is a classic case.

I picked this up on the grocery shop. It was £1.99, I love a good trashy read, Bob's your uncle.

There it sat, unassuming on the bookshelf. And actually, this is my one big problem with the book.

*shield your ears*

WILLIAM NICHOLSON, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING LETTING THEM MARKET YOUR WONDERFUL NOVEL LIKE THEY HAVE?!

On the cover are the words 'Playing away. You thought of it first. Then he did it. Would you forgive him.'
Oh right, you're thinking, a simple book bout adultery. Two main characters, beginning, middle and an end. Capiche.

NO. NO NO NO NO NO.

The book tells the stories of several characters- ranging in age, affluency and outlook- who are all linked to one another.

The main theme of all their stories? Love, desire, and where we all fit in to the world.

The one thing that I like most is Nicholson's ability to write with such conviction from every view point. In one chapter he's inside the mind of an 80-year-old man- the next he's telling the story of a teenage girl.

Apart from the odd 'hmmm, no self-resecting 19-year-old would ever use that word, mate' he does it very convincingly.

 I like the way he pulls off *excuse the expression* the portrayal of an insecure teenage girl (we've all been there) when he's, presumably from his name, a man.

There are so many depths to this book. It's sad, it's thought provoking, and at times it's hilarious (there's a very funny sex scene about 2/3 of the way through...)

I haven't actually got to the end yet, I just couldnt wait to share this with you! I really think it's worthy of much more than its been marketed for. It should have a great big audience and be discussed by reading groups everywhere.

A Heel Away from Converse?

This kind of follows on from the post I put up the other day regarding flat shoes.

Personal taste, style, self-confidence, environment- they all develop frequently.

For me, the one that I'm trying to develop most right now is self-confidence.

I wrote about this issue here but the main mantra I'm trying to adopt in life is FIYOLO (F*ck It, You Only Live Once). Seriously- if you want to buy those printed leggings, don't worry about the size of your thighs. If you want to put on red lipstick in the day but you're feeling self-concious- why?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Just wear what you love and feel great doing it.

I've spent years feeling like I'm not good enough- don't even get me started on the subject. So from now on, it's goodbye worries hello trying new things (except for breast milk or 'down there' piercings.)

One thing I was considering to try but just-wanted-to-dip-my-foot-in-the-water-to-see-how-it-felt, were Converse. Call me Avril Lavinge circa 2004, I don't care.

Do I have the style cred for it? No. Do I have the right legs to pull it off? Definitely not. Can I justify spending £30 on something I might just wear once? LOL.

So me, my sanity and my bank balance settled on a compromise. These bad boys.

They were originally from Topshop, but some crazy fool decided to give them away on ebay for just £4!

This is my idea of the perfect 'trainer'- heel, studs, and totally unsuitable for running.

Going Flat

Up until recently, the word 'flat' was one I would never want to use to sum up any part of my look.

Everyone knows I'm on a quest against flat hair.

And as for flat shoes? Forget it.

I don't know why, but recently I've been a lot more- 'experimental', shall we say, with my look.

And when I saw the studded Topshop loafer shoes that a lot of gals seem to be rocking, I wondered what was happening to me. For I couldn't stop hankering after those flat shoes.

But am I going to pay upwards of £50 on ebay for them? I don't think so! Not when my wanting desire is most probably a 2012 passing phase and after I've worn them down so much my feet are touching the pavement as I walk, I'll be back in my trusty heels again.

During one of my recent shoe-perve sessions on said selling/ buying site, I came across an UBER cheap version of the much-coveted 'Vectra' shoe.

They were £11.04, to be precise, with free delivery from a company called solewish.

And O. M. G I'm so happy I took a punt on my flat shoe obsession and went with these bad boys.

*excuse the sh*t pics today*...also for some reason I can only upload two. I'll style and outfit of the day for ya'll...on some day when I'm not either wearing work wear or gym gear or my birthday suit, and show these bad boys in action...

I decided to go with seude because although not really ideal for the Great British Summer, ie, RAIN- they feel and look a bit more expensive than the pleather-y versions.

If you were kind of hmmm-ing and ahhhh-ing over whether to splash out on Toppers, then you might want to look these babies up on ebay here

Rings and Things.....

The last couple of weeks have been a bit hectic and I don't anticipate things slowing down any time soon.

Whilst I love being busy, really exciting times at work and all that jazz, every now and then you have to take a step back and relax or you'll implode. And self-combustion is never a good way to impress the boss.

Which is why I was looking forward to the weekend so much.

....Unfortunately, it was busier than the working week!

But on Saturday, as the rain fell, my boyfriend and I used a lull in all the hustle and bustle to CHILL THE FUCK OUT.

WITH NACHOS.

Expertly made by moi, may I add.

I hadn't had nachos for such a long time, but then I saw them on shewearsfashion and I was like I MUST HAVE THOSE. I DON'T CARE ABOUT HOW MANY HOURS IT WILL TAKE ME AT THE GYM TO WORK THEM OFF.

But what to wear when savouring such cheesy goodness?!

A denim shirt and my trusty leggings of course!...with big ol' earrings, natch. Well, when you've been with a boy with a while you've got to make them realise what they've got haven't you! What says sexy better than cheese-covered denim, ties back hair and sore ears from lugging round huge earrings?!

ALSO- and there's no other way to say this- I bought these lovely rings :)

Post on these bad boys coming soon.......................