Sunday 30 December 2012

Sanctuary Spa Hand Cream

This is a hand cream post written by an outdoors-y person. Dog walking, horse owner, manual labour kind of person. Oh, and I get really annoyed by gloves when I have to do things. Result? Ridiculously dry hands.

So when Boots had their 3 for 2 deal on, I knew it was the perfect time to try out some hand creams. One of which is this little beaut.



The Sanctuary Spa Hand cream is actually fantastic. As everyone knows, Sanctuary Spa sell all the products that they use in their treatments.

The hand cream contains shea butter and sweet almond oil, ideal for softening hands. I have the 30ml tube which is ideal for handbags. The smell is absolutely DIVINE. It's a grown up scent, but still flowery and fruity. Seriously, it is truly like having a tiny spa treatment with you; the smell just lingers all day...in a good way obviously! It's a little bit of indulgence when you need it. After using this cream, my hands feel so much  softer and nourished.

I cannot stress how good the Sanctuary Spa products are. They are really worth investing in, especially over the sales period! Half price box sets...I am struggling to say no!


Buy Sanctuary Spa products directly from them here or from Boots here.




Can I get an encore?
Do ya want more?
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My honest opinion of Christmas

At this time of year, I would be called a Scrooge. Or a misery guts.

The truth is, I don't enjoy Christmas.

I used to ADORE Christmas, I loved the excitement of the lights, the tree, the food, the presents...but then one year it just disappeared. My spirit had gone.

Now this kinda sounds like a kids story about the quest to find my "spirit". It's not! I know when I lost the spirit. It was when one year, my Mum was too depressed to bother putting the tree up with me. She told me that I was too old for it anyway. I remember that year being sat at the dining able with her, eating our roast dinner, where she then said that, "all this Christmas stuff is pointless, it's just another day." Then as the years went on, there were more and more excuses. Then my dog Billy-Ray got quite old and putting a large obstacle up in the living room, when your dog is deaf and blind, isn't very kind. Bless him. <3

Now each Christmas, I find more and more difficult. My mother is heavily judgemental and criticises everything. She says the right words, such as, "oh it's fine...go and have dinner with them if you want." But will not let me live it down for years. She judges everyone close to me. If her presents aren't quite what she wants, she will be in a bad mood til next Christmas. She makes bitchy comments about everything. Years of this behaviour have made me quite tiresome and I long to be alone or elsewhere for Christmas. I get offers from many people to spend the 25th and 26th with them, and I long to be there, but I know that I will pay for it all year and I spend my whole time there worrying about how I am treated when I am at home.

This year was the same as any other. Except I saw the day in VERY drunk with my gorgeous friend Danni. Which helped the day along, I have to say.

I also made a decision. I was thinking back to last week. Jamie's family were decorating their tree and his Mum was telling the story about all the different decorations; where they came from, who they came from etc. I finally felt like I was in a homey place.



So now I am going to look to the future. Jamie and I already have a Christmas tree after finding one in Reading. It has lots of lovely decorations too; bows, beads and dangly bits.



My Mum gave me a gorgeous bauble the other day too, that she got from Liberty.

I am going to collect decorations over the next years, which have stories to go with them. Then when I am lucky enough to have my own home, with Jamie, we will have Christmas together, then we can visit everyone. One day we will have our own family too, so there will be children to have the Christmas spirit. Maybe then I will get mine back?!

All I know, is that the thing I most like about Christmas is making other people happy, whether it is through gifts or actions. I look forward to doing that in the future for my own family!



This is Christmas, Christmas my dear.
The time of year to be with the one that you love.
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Tuesday 25 December 2012

Freebies of the week! #15

A very overdue post! There was only one freebie last week, so writing this post completely slipped my mind!


It arrived just in time for the prep for my work Christmas party too! Hurrahh!




A fallen angel with a broken arrow,
She came for me and eased my troubled mind
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Saturday 22 December 2012

A week in photos #7

It's been a busy one!


Being a good girl and having a massive brush cleaning seshwaaaaan!

Candy looking less than impressed with her new bib.

Left: Oh Finlay, do I apologise for your photos, or should Jamie apologise for the hat?!
 Right: Fairy light chaos in the Smith household!

Sunny boy helping with wrapping pressies

In PJs nice and early. I miss getting promotional alcohol tshirts from uni. I <3 Coors.

Got my car cleaned. It is looking DENCH.

Present I got for Grandma's birthday. Check out the website here! Gorgeous olive wood too.

Present from Mum!

Jamie's Liberty present. He's rather chuffed!
My present from Liberty.

How kind!

Jamie's not so lil bro playing Joseph at his school's nativity. His girlfriend was Mary. Too cute!

A rather muddy end to this week's photos!



Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight?
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Friday 21 December 2012

No. 7 Goodies

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that a few weeks ago, I was given a few freebies from my Mum after she received a goodie bag worth £24 after buying two or more No. 7 products at Boots. The original post is here. Obviously she picked out the bits that she wanted(!) and gave the rest to me to try.


Now I am a MASSIVE sucker for eye make-up. Also, my current lipstick is running low. (For some reason I only ever have one lipstick at a time) So when Mum gave me these, I was VERY excited!


No 7 Stay Perfect Metallic Eyes Pencil

It has been a long time since I used an eyeliner that came in a pencil format! In fact, I cannot pinpoint when I stopped using them...I just remember Mum presenting a jar of Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner and a brush to me and never looking back! Must be over five years ago, easily. 

This eyeliner could actually change that for me though. It is a smoky grey colour, with a small amount of glitter in it. Perfect for the party season! It applies nicely too. Another thing that I love about this, is that it is retractable. I could just pop it into my handbag on a night out, if I wanted to reapply, without worrying about shapening it, or whether it will make a mess in my bag!

No 7 Stay Perfect Lipstick

I THINK this colour is Classic Rose? I can't quite remember because I gave it to my Grandma.

Yep, you read that correctly. I was really excited about this lipstick because I want to try brighter lipsticks, but it just didn't work. The colour looked odd on me, but also I just did not like the consistency. It almost felt too hard to be a lipstick?! It was very odd. However, I remembered my Grandma wearing this kind of colour when I was little, so she took it off my hands!


No 7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow

So it is also a mystery as to which colour this is too. The case isn't labelled and the Boots website doesn't really show the colours very well. Never mind. They can be forgiven because their shadows are still excellent.

This is a gorgeous dark grey, which has gold flecks of shimmer. When you look at it initially, you'd be forgiven for thinking it almost looks green. In regard to swatching, my gosh you don't need much product to produce a sexy, smouldering, smoky eye! I will most certainly be wearing it for my work Christmas party tomorrow!

A mascara was also included in the goodie bag. To recieve the goodie bag, just buy two or more No 7 products. The kit is basically a Christmas Party face! I will always recommend saving your No 7 purchases until they do these free bags because they are FANTASTIC value! The shadows are amazing...my favourite khaki No 7 shadow was a freebie from about 5 years ago and I am only just near finishing it.



What's your ultimate Christmas Party make up product? I expect lots of glitter from you girlies!



So, so what?
I am a rock star,
I got my rock moves,
and I don't want you tonight.
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Wednesday 19 December 2012

Best of 2012 JolieBox

I have never had a JolieBox. I also have never had a subscription to any beauty boxes, mostly because I have a limited income and I would want to guarantee a decent box for my money! However when I noticed this best of 2012 box online, for £20.00, I couldn't say no. If anything, I can say that it was an early gift, spent with my Christmas money from my Father!

Bless my lovely postman. He brought my bin down the path and left the box in there so that I could have it immediately!


Exciting!


So many goodies!



So Susan Wide Awake Palette - Full Size
Joliebox Make Up Brush



Dr Bronners Magic Soap Sachets - Citrus, Peppermint and Unscented Baby



Yon Ka Protective and Vitalising Cream - 50ml
Etat Pur Salicylic Acid - 15ml



Wen Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner - 60ml
Yellow Twistband
Redken Align 12 - 30ml


L'Occitane Creme Radieuse - 15ml
Balmi Peppermint - Full Size


Lindt Chocolate bars! YUM!


I am SO impressed with this box. The way that JolieBox have mixed known brands and a few unknown brands is really good; it's nice to try new things, but there is still the reassurance of products that you recognise! All of the products are exactly what I need for this time of year, especially the skincare. The added chocolate bonus is cute too!

This has inspired me more now. If I can, then I would be tempted to sign up for a JolieBox subscription. From the presentation, to the products, I can tell that it is a very well thought out Beauty Box!




Only shooting stars break the mould...
Hey now you're an all star...
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Monday 17 December 2012

Nails of the Day #4

Now this is a typical winter colour for me! Always Bon Jovi inspired.

 (Accidental music pun there for you Bon Jovi fans!)

Rimmel London's 60 Seconds - Rapid Ruby

For me, this is my favourite kind of red nails. Bright in the morning, darker by the evening. The formula for this polish is fantastic; it truly does dry in 60 seconds...although don't get too excited for top coat on the 61st second, I turned my top coat brush pink! DOH!

Oh, and talking of brushes...


Huge brush!

The brush for this polish is insane! Smaller nails are done in a second! Honestly, I wish more companies would do this. I would buy nail varnishes more often if the brush was this size.

I love this colour, the coverage, everything! I really want to try more of Rimmel London's varnishes now.




Paint a smile, on your lips.
Blood red nails on your fingertips.
A schoolboys dream, you act so shy...
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye.
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Sunday 16 December 2012

Freebies of the week! #14

Once again, what follows a full week of freebies, is a quiet week!

This week however is a competition win!

Rimmel London had a competition on their Facebook page to win Lip Butters. I have wanted one for AGES but I won one instead!

Now to be a meanie, I am just posting a picture of the package it came in...a full post about the actual product will come soon! Muahahahahaa....!

Although the flavour has kinda been given away now. Drat.



She's my cherry pie,
Cool drink of water, such a sweet surprise.
Tastes so good, makes a grown man cry.
Sweet Cherry Pie...
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Saturday 15 December 2012

My Haircare Routine

Many years I have spent trying to figure out what products are best for my hair. I have also spent years trying to get my hair to a place where I am happy with it too!

Currently I am content with my hairstyle. It is long and naturally dead straight. It is a mousey brown; in the summer it gets blonder and much darker in the winter. However I now have more blonde highlights as I tend to need the brightening up in the winter; personally!



My hair...very straight!

In terms of haircare, I keep it simple. I suffer from psoriasis on my scalp which is worsened when I am stressed. Obviously this means that I end up with dandruff and greasy hair. Gorgeous...

Naturally, my hairdresser told me the best products to use that will combat these problems. She recommended that I use Paul Mitchell's Shampoo Two. I'd say it is like a daily deep clean; it cleans everything from your hair, leaving it squeeky clean, without leaving it dry. Look Fantastic says, "Shampoo Two is formulated with wheat-derived conditioners and extracts of chamomile, henna, and rosemary, aloe vera, and jojoba that add body, fullness and shine to your hair." So true. 

However the ends of my hair do tend to get quite dry, mostly because I usually rinse and repeat with Shampoo Two daily and that I am lazy when conditioning. I use Paul Mitchell's Super Strong Daily conditioner to fix my ends. It is exactly what it says; super strong conditioner that can be used everyday. It definitely does not weigh it down either. Look Fantastic say that it, "rebuilds and protects hair that has been damaged by chemical, environmental, or thermal abuse." Thermal abuse...that's you lot with your straighteners and no product! Mind you, I do the same. I have my hairdryer on the hottest settings.

The best trick with conditioner is to always put it on the ends of your hair. Your roots don't need the extra moisture! Oh, and ALWAYS leave your conditioner on for at least a minute; give it a chance to work! That's another bad thing I forget to do.



My favourites!


Don't be alarmed; I buy my shampoo and conditioner in salon sizes. It works out far cheaper and lasts longer too. It is so worth doing...buy the pump too! You use the correct amount if you do.

Shampoo Two can be bought here for £21.50
Super Strong Daily Conditioner can be bought here for £35.50

That's all the products that I use! For a girl, you would expect more! The only other products that I am known to use are L'Oreal Elnette hairspray or TIGI Bed Head Styleshots Epic Volume conditioner. If I have a bit of extra cash, I treat myself to a tube of it. It smells like sweets and leaves my hair soft and shiney. In the meanwhile, for a pick me up, I use sachets or samples of various leave in treatments.





Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you,
When you think everything's okay and everything's going right...
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Friday 14 December 2012

A week in photos #6

Pizza Express leftovers for brekkie. Once a student...

An investment, but so worth it!

Notes for my appeal

Linda McCartney veggie burger with mushroom & pepper topping

Awkward magazine articles.

Not so awkward magazine articles...want!

Heheee...cheeky carvery with the ConstructionLADS

Celebration snacks after my appeal...a lot of voddy in that! #DrunkOnTheTrain

The last Linda McCartney veggie burger for breakfast. Oh it wins.



These could be the best days of our lives,
But I don't think we've been living very wise
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Nails of the Day #3

Today's nails are painted terribly, I must apologise. But I think the gorgeous colour makes it forgiveable!


OPI - Unripened


This is a very dark, glittering green colour from OPI's Goth collection. I adore this colour! It is a shame that I am so terrible at painting my fingernails with miniature bottles; my toes always look better! I'm sure with more practice I will get better at it; the problem with having long nails eh?!

I have started to use Sally Hansen's Double Duty Base Coat which has kept my nails intact for longer. Thank you to Tiffy from xtiffyxx for suggesting it to me!

Next week is my work's Christmas Meal, so expect lots of NOTD posts whilst I try to figure out which colour to wear...or what clothes to wear?!



So if you want to love me, 
Then darlin' don't refrain.
Or I'll just end up walkin'
In the cold November Rain
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Monday 10 December 2012

Nails of the Day #2

How festive is this colour?!

I usually wear darker, bloodier coloured reds on my nails, but this bright red had to be purchased. I'd like to say it is more of a Ducati red. 

Models Own - Red Alert


I might try this colour again in a few days with a glittery top coat. When I was about to paint them last night, I found a 17 base coat, so am attempting that today! Although I think I will find myself stopping off at Boots later to find another one.

Who else is going for bright red Christmas nails?




You took something perfect
and painted it red.

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