Holiday Hair Tips

I am so, so careful with my hair now when I go on holiday to hot places because I totally ruined my barnet on a holiday to Croatia a couple of years ago.  I stupidly didn't bother applying a protective spray or taking care of my hair properly and that resulted in my hair experiencing REALLY bad breakage at the roots.  I had so many 'sticky up' bits that earnt the nickname 'Mo' for months afterwards (as in Mohawk!).  It was so embarassing and no amount of serum or hairspray concealed the problem.  My poor hair took about 8 or 9 months to recover completely from the damage.  Here's a close up of a pic that was taken when I got back...

So now I take EXTRA special care over my locks when I jet off to a warmer climate.  I just wanted to share some of my tips for making sure your hair looks great on holiday and doesn't get damaged by the sun like mine did!

First up, here's some ideas of how to wear your hair when you're heading down to the beach on holiday:

I will be experimenting with all of these hairstyle ideas when I'm on my honeymoon.  Whatever the style, I think the most important thing is that it looks laid back and doesn't take hours to achieve.

Here are my tips on smart holiday hair care:

• Everyone wants their hair to look effortlessly great on holiday so it's best to get your hair coloured a couple of weeks before you go to ensure your hair has time to replenish itself before you subject it to the sun's rays.  It's also a good idea to get a trim at the same time as these are the oldest parts of your hair so they are also the most parched.  If you get a trim, the ends of your hair are less likely to get frazzled.  You could also get a deep moisture treatment at the hairdressers while you are there to make sure your hair is as hydrated as it can be.
• It's best to take a more hydrating formula of shampoo and conditioner with you because your hair will require more moisture than usual.  Concentrate the conditioner on mid lengths to ends if you have fine hair though as you don't want your roots to go limp and lank.  Also go easy on the serum as this will also weigh your hair down.
• If you find that you have gone a bit overboard on the protective spray or serum and your hair looks or feels greasy at the roots, you can always apply a dry shampoo like Batiste to give your hair it's volume back.  They also have a formula for darker hair colours to avoid that 'grey' look.
• I often apply my protective spray/cream on my hair in the morning and pull my hair back into a ponytail.  This protects your scalp from being burnt as well.  Always try to let your hair dry naturally if you have the time.  Obviously don't go out in the sun with soaking wet hair as it will be more likely to frazzle.
• You can also twist sections of your hair up into a loose chignon during the day after applying your protective product and hit the beach.  Then at night time when you want to look more dressed up, you can let your hair down and reveal really pretty soft waves.
• I always use an intensive treatment every day on holiday after a day in the sun - you can do this after a shower or apply it on dry hair and leave overnight.  Although this would seem like overkill in any normal circumstance, this is the time when your hair really needs a chance to repair itself.
• I like to wear a hat or head scarf on the beach to protect my hair and scalp but this can result in really bad hat hair! If you are heading out directly after being at the beach, the best solution is to spray some root volumising spray on your hair then whack some rollers in at the roots to give your hair body and lift.
• I never ever use straighteners or any other kind of heated appliance on my hair on holiday.  I might use a hairdryer if I'm really in a rush but ultimately I try and avoid it.  Using heat on your hair just stresses it out even more and will increase any damage so it's good for your locks to give them a break from that type of thing.  Call it damage limitation!
• If I'm on a particularly long flight, I like to treat my hair by applying a hydrating leave in conditioner before I fly to ensure that my hair doesn't become dried out by the aeroplane's dry, stale air.  That way, you will arrive with your hair feeling great.
• If you forget your protective spray/cream for your hair, then an alternative is to mix your leave in conditioner with your body SPF.  It will have the same effect and will buy you time until you can find a shop that sells what you need.
• I never use hairspray on my hair when I know it will be subjected to alot of sun because this results in the product being 'baked' into your hair and this can be very drying.

I hope these tips were helpful and if you have any tips of your own or great summer hair products to recommend, please let me know in the comments box below!

Review of Biodroga Mineral Foundation

When the summer months hit, I am always open to new foundations with a lighter formulas so a mineral makup promising to give me radiance whilst caring for my skin sounds good!  To give you guys a bit of background on the Biodroga brand, it's a European skincare company based in Germany which concentrates mainly on skincare but the advantage of this is that their foundation will condition your skin as you wear it.  I don't know about you but I hate it when foundations dry my skin out and make it look dull.

The glass packaging feels expensive and features a pump which is always a plus point with a foundation as it saves on mess.  The only downside to a glass bottle is that it can be slightly more cumbersome for travel.  The consistency of the foundation is almost mousse-like and I found that you don't need alot of it when applying it with your fingers.  It blends into the skin seamlessly and makes my skin look softly radiant, streak free and natural.  This is a great foundation for daytime when you want your skin to look healthy and fresh.  It feels really light on the skin and after using it for a couple of months for around 3 days a week, my skin is looking very clear and healthy.  It's hard to say if this was predominantly because of the conditioning properties of the foundation because I am incredibly meticulous about my skincare however it's worth saying that it didn't break me out or irritate my skin in any way. 

The foundation has good staying power and I found that it held up for around 8 hours on a summer's day without having to be retouched.  The nicest thing about this foundation is that your skin feels like it can breathe and retains it's natural texture.  Some heavier formulas feel like they are clogging your skin but this one is great for days when you the lightest possible formula with good medium coverage.

This foundation isn't cheap at £30.75 (stockist is http://www.bcidirect.com/), so if you aren't that bothered about foundation and it just isn't your 'thing' or don't like spending alot on your foundation, then this probably isn't for you.  However, if you like trying new foundations, especially mineral ones, then this foundation is worth a look.

If anyone else has tried this foundation, please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments box below :)

Korres e/s, Exercise Tips and a Ramble

Hi Guys! I hope you are all having wonderful weather like us in Aberdeen! Finally, I've been able to break out my summer clothes from hibernation and actually wear them! Hallelujah! I love summer (doesn't everybody?) because the sunny days just make you feel lighter and more care-free. 

First up in this post, I just wanted to show you guys some new Korres eyeshadows I got because you know how much I love Korres!  I am a big fan of their Wild Rose foundation, powder and Lip Butters.  I generally favour the shimmering eyeshadows because they are the most pigmented and buttery ones.  These shades are all gorgeous neutrals that are perfect for creating an 'everyday' eye...

The swatches didn't come out that well on camera and look washed out but they look alot nicer in real life.  I especially love the Golden and Golden Brown shades.  I have been wearing these two shades on my lids with golden skin and coral/pink lipgloss (MAC Pink Lemonade looks amazing with these!).  It's a really lovely paired down, quick, summery look. 

Pictured below is a MAC palette (top section removed) which now holds my Korres eyeshadows.  I found by removing the top section, it creates alot more room to house larger eyeshadow pans.  My favourite shades in this palette are Sky Blue, Silver and Golden Bronze.  These shades in particular have CRAZY pigmentation and they are so, so velvety smooth.  They have a gorgeous sheen to them and in my opinion, they are probably the highest quality eyeshadows that I own. 

As I mentioned above, I adore the Jasmine Lip Butter that comes in a little tub...it has a gorgeous pale pink sheen to it and smells of creme brulee...yummy! I'm loving the Mandarin Lip Butter in stick form because it also smells lovely and have a sheer pale pink tint to it.  It's so handy to chuck in my bag and I much prefer to wear light tinted lip balms in summer, in the daytime than full on lipstick.  It just enhances your lips without lookinf like you're wearing too much makeup.  It also leaves my lips really soft anf smooth.

I have just done another vid for my YouTube channel on Exercise tips as promised.  It's not a video about the technicalities of different exercises, but more tips on how to stick to your gym visits and feel better about your body.  I think if you're looking for professional advice on exercises and how to avoid injuries, then it's best to go to a trainer at your local gym.  They are equipped with the knowledge to get you started.  I just wanted to share a few little things that have helped me persevere with my fitness program.  I hope they are helpful!

I weighed myself as normal yesterday and I have lost another 1lb in the last week.  Although I was hoping to lose 2lbs, I noticed that my fat % has gone down and my muscle % has gone up significantly.  So as I said in my weightloss video, this shows me that I have made more progress than just losing 1lb.  I have another dress fitting at the bridal store on Friday, but I still have 4 and a half weeks until the wedding to work my ass off and get in the best shape I can.

On a completely random note, I am LOVING this song by Plan B at the moment! I love the echoey-retro feel to it, like some of the old motown records...

My Weightloss Tips

I was getting a few requests for videos on weightloss and exercise.  This is the first of two videos, the first one is full of tips that I have personally used to lose weight.  The second, which I hope to do on Monday, will be about exercise.  I am not an expert on either subject but I am speaking from my personal experience and I really think I have a healthy attitude to weightloss and body image.  I have learnt alot over the past couple of years, both through trail and error and also with extensive advice from my trainer at the gym.  I hope you enjoy the video and if you have any questions or any video requests, please feel free to contact me.  I am always happy to hear from you guys!

Burberry's New Makeup Line

When I first heard last year that Burberry were launching their own makeup line, I was interested in seeing what they would come up with.  We have already seen the delectable offerings from D & G which I am STILL coveting.  I'm not a huge fan of Burberry clothes, especially the infamous tartan, as this has been hijacked in the UK and is often worn in spades by people with no style whatsoever.  You need evidence? Here you go (avert your eyes if you are of a particularly delicate disposition)...

However, I think people's perception of the brand has recently been transformed from a stuffy, traditionlist insitution to a young, fresh and dare I say it, pretty cool label.  Ever since Emily Watson was brought on board to star in their ad campaigns, I have been lusting after my very own iconic trench coat.  I really like the messed up hair, teamed with edgy smokey eyes and a nude lip...

I was flicking through the latest copy of Elle magazine yesterday and came across some pics of the new makeup line.  I have to say it left me feeling cold and all seemed a bit too beige and 'blah'.  Even the packaging looks boring to me.  I think there's are just too many muted shades, especially considering it's being launched in the summer months.  I know the concept was to base it on the clothing range but this is the time of year when us beauty addicts start craving neutrals with an edge...a golden glisten, a hint of sheen or a monochrome finish.  It just seems like Burberry have gone down the unadventurous road when they could have surprised us all with a Emily-Watson-inspired fresh take on things.

What do you think of the collection?

My Everyday Makeup Essentials

Hello lovely ladies! I hope the weather is brilliant where you are, it certainly is here (for once!).  Here are my latest videos that have been posted on my YouTube Channel going over the products that I love using every day.  I'm really sorry that I had to split them into 3 videos but I couldn't fit everything I wanted to say into one single video.  I obviously talk WAY too much! Hope you guys enjoy them and please feel free to comment either on here or on YouTube.  If you have any questions or requests for future videos, as always, just ask!

Good Times/Bad Times

GOOD TIMES

1) The weightloss is going so well and I lost another 1lb this last week.  Since I have been on the Slim Fast, I've found that my stomach has shrunk alot and I eat much smaller portions.  I've found that I can have a couple of 'bad' days a week and still lose 1-2lbs regardless.  For example, at the weekend, I can have a nice lunch out complete with a latte, a fry up in the morning or a big sunday roast with a dessert and as long as I go to the gym 3-4 times a week, then I still lose the weight.  I love the fact that I'm not on a strict regime and most of it is just being consistent with my visits to the gym.  I'm currently doing an hour long session, 4 times a week (5 times on a really good week).  I do a 5 min warm up/stretches, 30 minutes of cardio, 20 mins of weights and 5 mins cool down/stretches.  This works a treat for me and because I change my programme every 4 weeks, with the help of a trainer (a free service), I can always ensure that my body isn't getting too used to the same routine.  I think this is the key to consistent weightloss, keep pushing your body and surprising it with new exercises.  I'm really getting into the Green Tea too, I actually really look forward to my two cups a day now and I hardly drink any normal tea or coffee.  The Power Plate is also working wonders in toning my upper body!

2) The weather seems to have picked up today and the sun is well and truly out.  I was popping into town for a few things this morning and thought "oh I'll chuck on some sandals" and then realised that I hadn't painted my toenails...hate it when that happens.  I can't stand getting my toes out unless they are painted so I just had to wear my usual shoes.  Is it just me or is everyone that particular about their tootsies?

3) I'm really indulging in some guilty pleasures at the moment.  These are always things that you are often too embarassed to tell other people about because it might seem silly, over indulgent or just plain embarassing.  I am hooked on a few shows that I know, in reality, are downright ridiculous and not true to life but hey, it's escapism of the highest degree.  These shows include Jerseylicious, The Hills, The City and Four Weddings.

This is a clip where Tracey shows us how to get 'The Perfect Tease' and also how to poison yourself with over-exposure to hairspray! So funny...

I dunno what it is about trashy, reality tv that appeals to me but I love the drama (albeit fake) and general over-the-top-behaviour.  I think anything that's a big departure from your own lifestyle is entertaining...although Chris doesn't agree and often moans that my brain cells are slowly going to be melted away by watching these kinds of shows!

4) I'm loving all the free gifts that magazines are giving away at the moment! We are very lucky in the UK that we get so many lovely things with our mags.  First it was Glamour giving away Benefit pencils, and now I've spotted that Red are giving away a free full-sized Jemma Kidd Make Up School lipgloss worth £14 with their latest issue (available in their 3 top selling shades...I have the peach one and it's AMAZING!). 

I bought Elle magazine at the weekend and got a free navy blue and white Reiss beach bag.  It's available in animal print or stripey navy/white as well.  I love the cotton bag and I'll definitely be taking it on my honeymoon!

BAD TIMES

1) I'm on top of the world this week so there ARE no bad times! yah!

Video Montage of Wedding Hair Trials

As promised, here's a collection of video clips of last night's hair trial.  I must apologise for the amateurish editing and graphics but I'm still learning how to use the software.  I'm sure I will get alot better at doing it as time goes on and hopefully it will appear more sleek once I've mastered it! I left the silly bits in the video because well...it's more fun that way!  I'm laughing alot in this video because I can't keep a straight face around my mum...she cracks me up.  She's mad as a brush but I love her for it.  There are still a couple of things that need to be tweaked about my hairstyle like fluffing up the ends of the hair more so they don't look so separated.  But overall, I love the volume it created!  I wish my hair could look like that everyday! Hope you enjoy it and feel free to ask any questions.

Summer Sandals for My Honeymoon

Lately I have been keeping an eye out for clothes/shoes that would be suitable for my honeymoon in Kuala Lumpur, Borneo and Hong Kong.  I'm sooo excited that we are going 5 star all the way because I NEVER travel first class and certainly never stay in 5 star hotels.  But I guess thats the whole point of a honeymoon...to make it special and something you will remember forever.  To give you an idea of what we will be doing in each place, here's a quick rundown:

4 nights in Kuala Lumpur - We will be staying in the Shangri-La Hotel pictured above, which is within the Golden Triangle with great views of the Petronas Towers.  This first part of the holiday is just going to be a chance for us to explore the city, relax in the spa and generally enjoy all the perks of being on our honeymoon!

5 nights in Borneo - We are booked into the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort which is right on the beach with 400 acres of tropical jungle behind it.  I can't wait to be sipping cocktails and looking out on the beach sunset like the pic from the hotel website above! AMAZING.  This is going to be the super relaxing part of the honeymoon but we have a couple of day trips organised to go and visit Turtle Island and the Orang-utans of Sandakan.  We both love animals so this is a great chance to see some amazing creatures in their natural environment.  We may also go to the Poring Hot Springs and Kinabalu Park.  Neither of us can sit on a beach for 2 weeks because we both get bored.  I mean 3 or 4 days of beaching it up is enough for us.

4 nights in Hong Kong - Although this may not be the most relaxing end to our holiday considering it's a bustling metropolis, we decided that we couldn't pass up the opportunity to go since it was in the general area.  We will be staying at the Kowloon Shangri-La so our room has great views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island...the room looks out of this world.  I've heard the shopping malls are well worth a visit so I will have to drag Chris along to one of them!  We both want to check out some Buddhist temples, country parks and off course the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak. I can't wait! Judging by the look of the hotel, I may have to take some fancy dresses with me or I may feel out of place!ha ha.

I'm sorry if I seem like I'm boasting but I'm really not, I'm just really excited about the whole thing!

So as you can see, this honeymoon will require a varied selection of clothes!  So for starters, I thought I better stock up on some beachwear so I found some sun dresses from H & M a while ago to throw on over bikinis.  I have cut up some of my old jeans that are a bit big for me now after my weightloss and made them into little shorts.  I have some gorgeous, embellished, colourful sheer kaftans from Monsoon as well that will be perfect for beaching it up.  I picked up some black, gladiator-style summer sandals yesterday for £12.99 from Shoe Zone...bargain! It isn't a well known store but it's basically just somewhere you can get cheap shoes that may not last for years, but hey, they only need to last as long as my honeymoon for that price.  You can check out their website here and find out if there's a store near you.  I have seen almost identical sandals in the likes of Dune, Faith and River Island for 3 times the price.  To be honest, I won't be wearing these for very long when I get back to Scotland because everyone knows our summers aren't the greatest so I don't see the point in spending large amounts of money on something I won't be wearing alot.

The next two pairs of sandals are ones I got from Ebay.  They are both from Dune, brand new and never worn and I got them both for £9.99 plus £2.50 P & P.  I thought that was an amazing deal because when I checked on the Dune website, the tan leather ones are currently priced at £55.00 and the wedges at £38.50 (sale price).

I love the tan ones because they will go with EVERYTHING, they are really comfy and really support my feet, with an easy zip up back and a very small heel...perfect! They are simplistic with a hint of detail which makes them perfect for all my cute little beach dresses.

I don't normally like this type of gold shiny material because it can look cheap but these will really go with the clothes I have bought for Malaysia.  Alot of the stuff I have from Monsoon will go with these perfectly and they will be great for night-time when I want a bit of height.  They are mega comfy and also not too high so I won't have a problem walking in them for a few hours.  Dune shoes always feel so high quality so these are ones that I can keep for a long time and store them in my wardrobe until next summer.

Have you picked up any summer bargains recently? Are you going on Honeymoon soon?

Can A Strapless Bra Change Your Life?

Hmmm maybe not your life but the one I bought today will change the way I dress forever! I was in town with my mum sorting out some wedding stuff and we happened to pop into Debenhams to check out the underwear section.  Mum has been looking for the perfect strapless bra for her wedding outfit.  Now, this is easier said than done when you are a lady with a larger bust.  Both myself and my mum are 34E and holding those babies up is no mean feat! To be perfectly honest with you I never wear strapless bras because I've never found one that I can rely on.  I always end up hoicking it up all the time in fear of it falling down, plus you get that double boob effect which is always oh-so attractive!  This all meant that I generally never wear strapless dresses/tops and I hated the fact that I had to restrict myself to garments with straps...it gets boring wearing the same styles all the time.

My mum was going on about a new strapless bra from Wonderbra called 'The Ultimate Strapless' that she had seen online and I kinda thought "yeah, yeah, I'm sure it's great...for smaller chested girls...but not for us".  I saw the bras hanging up and I started to change my mind because they instantly looked alot more structured than your run-of-the-mill strapless.  The whole concept behind these bras is that they will stay in place throughout jumping/dancing/wriggling around, twisting your body etc.  It has a patent pending design that mimicks your hands pushing your boobs up and together...sounds funny I know but you can see on the inside of the bra there are rigid structures on both sides that look like moulded fingers!  Creepy and cool all at the same time! (see the pic of the back of the bra above).  I wasn't even looking for a bra for myself but since mum was trying it on, I decided to try one on too so I could say "see, I told you it doesn't work".ha ha.

I got into the changing room and quickly realised that these bras are made quite small around the back and more generous in the cup size so instead of my usual 34E, I had to get a 36D instead.  I could not believe it when I fastened the bra up, it made my boobs look amazing! We're talking serious cleavage...remember that ad...Hello Boys! I've NEVER tried on a strapless bra like this before.  My boobs were lifted and pushed together exactly as if I was doing it with my own hands.  So basically there's no underwire under the bra, just a rigid deep plate that sits very securely into your body.  All the structure is in the cups.  The bra is so comfortable to wear and has the usual rubber lining to keep it in place.  It gives your chest a really nice shape, with smooth lines and no double boob effect!  I couldn't resist jumping up and down in the changing room to test it and I'm amazed to say that it stayed perfectly in place.  The staff must have wondered what the hell I was doing in there. I can testify that the bra makes you feel incredibly secure.

I am not exaggerating when I say that this bra is unlike anything I've seen before...it's INCREDIBLE! Everyone needs one of these babies.  It comes in black and 'skin' which is a creamy beige so I got one of both.  It comes in A-F cup sizes and normally costs £32 but the bras are discounted at the moment and are currently priced at £26.40.  I went home and tried on a few strapless dresses and tops that I don't really wear normally and they looked great with the bra underneath.  I am so happy that I can get more use out of my clothes now!

If you want to read more about the bra, then you can check out the website here where you can view how it works, watch videos of them testing it out as well as a few other things.

This is going to totally change the way I dress from day to day, especially in summer.  Finally I can wear strapless dresses and tops! Hurrah!

N*E*R*D ft. Nelly Furtado - Hot N' Fun (Teaser)

Pharrell N*E*R*D r bac....

sneak peak new clip...... pharrell styln & killn it as usual..

My first 'proper' YT vid

I finally decided to do a proper YouTube video because I did my first 'makeup collection' one ages ago and then I kind of chickened out and didn't post anymore.  I guess I just find it a little bit daunting to put myself out there on YT.  BUT I have been getting a few emails asking me to post videos so I thought I would oblige. 

I will never get over how weird it is to see myself on camera, how different my voice sounds once recorded OR how my face looks weird when I talk.  Any of you who do YT videos will know what I'm talking about! Its very strange watching yourself but I guess that's because you never really get to see yourself the way other people see you...if that makes sense?!  Hopefully I will get used to it. 

I'm sorry about the poor sound quality...I will get that sorted out for my next video so just bear with me! I am planning on doing alot more videos featuring reviews, cosmetic and clothing hauls, tags and just general ramblings about my life.  I hope you guys enjoy it! (They really do focus on the worst stills for the vids don't they...)

Review of Lancome Hypnose Precious Cells Mascara and an Update

As promised, I wanted to let you in on my thoughts on the new mascara from Lancome...Hypnose Precious Cells.  It promises magnified volume and it's their first mascara to be based on their research into lash conditioning using plant cell extract.  With regular use, it claims to make your lashes stronger and look denser and fuller.  I own the original Hypnose and Hypnose Drama mascaras and I really like them both for their lengthening and volumising effect.  I'm always looking to improve the strength and condition of my lashes so a mascara that can offer those benefits is definitely something I want to look into.  I do use Loreal's Lash Renewal Serum every night and this has done a fantastic job of filling out my lashline but this mascara could work as my daytime treatment.  I don't use the Loreal Serum in the day as it goes a bit stringy and clumpy when you apply mascara over it.

Just a note re the photos...I really don't like these close ups of the eye area because you start discovering wrinkles you didn't even know you had!ha ha.

 So onto the product...well the brush is very slim with quite short bristles which really helps to get right down to the lashline without poking yourself in the eye.  This mascara wand is great at grabbing every single lash and creating alot of definition and for that reason, I do think it works better as a daytime mascara.  Simply because I like uber thick, dramatic and glam lashes for night-time.  It gave my lashes good length however I wouldn't say it created a whole lot of extra volume (I applied two coats int he pic above).  There are days when I want to go for a more natural look and this mascara is perfect for that.  The formulation is actually brilliant, it doesn't budge at all during the day so there's absolutely no flaking or smudging which is a huge plus.  You can just apply it in the morning without any need to keep checking it during the day.  It's also very easy to clean off at the end of the day...I hate it when you have to keep rubbing your eyes with eye makeup remover to get the damn stuff off.

So my overall thoughts on this mascara are that if you like the more defined, fanned out natural look to your daytime mascara, then you will love this.  If however you go for the more dramatic, fuller lash look then you would be better sticking to something like Lancome Hypnose Drama, Rouge Bunny Rouge Amplitude or YSL Faux Cils (the original formula!).  Keep in mind though that mascaras such as this one are great to create a base to define lashes before adding a more volumising mascara over the top.

I also wanted to update you guys on my weightloss.  I have been absolutely dedicated to my gym programme (I go 4-5 times a week) but I have also been having one day off every week when I can have some wine or eat what I want.  This seems to actually help my weightloss and I think it's because if you don't eat enough then your body tends to store more fat because it thinks you are starving.  However, if you have a day off every week and eat slightly more than you would on normal days, it seems to trick your body into making sure your metabolism burns everything off.  Put it like this, when I did slim fast every day I was losing 1lb a week, then when I started having a day off the slim fast, I started losing 2lbs/2.5lbs a week.  I think the evidence speaks for itself.  I have also been doing 15-20 mins of the Power Plate exercises 4 times a week and while this doesn't really assist much in the weightloss, it certainly helps to tone up your body REALLY quickly.

I lost just over 2lbs this week so I'm getting close to an overall weightloss total of 3 and a half stone! (56lbs).  I have done this over the course of the past year and a half so it's been a slow process.  I'm getting so excited seeing my body shape change, getting fitter and more toned and generally feeling really healthy.  I think the Green Tea has made a fabulous difference and it has really helped me in my weightloss.  I really think the only way to lose weight is steadily over a long period of time.  It's weird looking back at pictures of myself from a couple of years ago because my face looks so different.  I really feel like I'm in the best shape of my life and that's a really good feeling knowing that I am in control of my own body and doing it in a healthy way.

I have my wedding hair trial part 2 on Friday and my mum will also be geting her hair done so I can't wait for that! It's the first time I will get to see my hair styled with my newly highlighted hair extensions.  I will take some pics and let you guys see how that works out.  It's now only 6 and a half weeks until the wedding so excitement levels are high!

CDWM, Great Products & a Big Disappointment

Hi guys! I'm back after a busy weekend.  The Come Dine With Me night went really well and all three courses turned out the way I wanted them to, although I was so busy trying to make everything perfect that I forgot to take pictures of the food!  Luckily someone else did so there's photographic evidence that I didn't stuff it up! However, I did remember to take pictures of the layout of the table.   Please note, I removed the bed sheet that was drying on the washing line before anyone arrived!  The dogs seemed to like lounging around the heat of the Chiminea... 

As I said previously, I held it at my parent's house because they just bought a new pergola for the garden (for anyone who isn't sure what that is, it's basically a fancy tent!).  I really wanted to create a nice atmosphere for me and my 5 gal pals to have a nice meal so I tried to make the table as pretty as I could.  I embellished the menus with gems, I got place name cards, cushions on with the seats, candles etc.  I set up my laptop with speakers too and made a great playlist on iTunes with songs that I knew everyone would like.

I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to this type of thing so I wanted everything to co-ordinate nicely.  We didn't have the nicest weather for it but it certainly wasn't too cold to sit outside and we had the blazing Chiminea to keep us warm! 

I had big faux diamond ring napkin rings but since my napkins were paper and too small, I had to just use them as decoration...but they DID come in handy later on as props when we were all prancing around to Beyonce's Single Ladies! ("If you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it!")

I am relieved that my turn is over and done with because it's really hard to relax when you're constantly watching the time for things in the oven and trying to make sure everyone's wine glass isn't running dry.  Chris has demanded that I make the meal for him at some point since it went down so well and our 3 year anniversary is coming up in July so we'll see...

Onto some beauty stuff I have been loving of late.  As I have said before, I have become slightly obsessed with 'prepping' my skin before the wedding and ensuring that it's as blemish free as possible before the big day.  So that means no picking at spots no matter how tempting (gross I know but everyone does it!).  I always just want to expel any badness from my skin and I end up leaving it looking worse than it did before.  So that's a cardinal rule running up to the wedding day because we all know that it takes some time for blemish scars to fade.  One product that has really impressed me this month is Loreal's Perfect Clean Foaming Gel Wash:

I used to be devoted to Neutrogena's 2-in-1 Visibly Clear Wash/Mask but this product has replaced it in my daily morning skincare routine.  It seems to be alot more gentle on my skin and slightly more effective when I do get blemishes.  Since using this, my skin has been so clear and the Salicylic Acid is great for exfoliating any dry skin patches.  It's a clear gel that you apply with the soft rubber scrublet that is attached to the bottle.  I was dubious about this 'scrublet' when I first saw it because I thought it might be uncomfortable to use or feel weird but it's actually a good tool to work the product into your skin.  It's not going to exfoliate your skin like a muslin cloth would but it helps to work the wash into your pores to lift out any dirt.  I LOVE this!

The product that I have been using before bed is the Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash which leaves my skin feeling divine.  It's really gentle, removes 90% of my makeup, it's anti-ageing and you only need a small amount in each application.  My skin looks and feels really radiant when I use this product and it really makes a difference to the texture of your skin.  I'm all about refining skin texture because makeup only looks good when the base is good.

Because I am wearing a strapless wedding dress, I really wanted to work on my upper arms where you can get those little bumps, which apparently are a build up of keratin in your pores.  I have been exfoliating my upper arms every day in the shower to try and smooth the skin out and my scrub of choice has been St Ives Deep Cleansing Apricot Body Scrub.  This stuff is absolutely brilliant for getting rid of those bumps because it's designed for 'oily, blemish prone' skin which overall I don't have but this is perfect for my upper arms.  My upper arms are now lovely and smooth so I will keep up this routine until the wedding day to ensure they stay that way.

A product that works really well with that scrub is the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E.  Now I have used this body moisturiser before but I had forgotten how amazing it was at smoothing the skin and fading any scars you may have.  This moisturiser has done a fantastic job of softening my skin and I now use it every single night before bed.  I had some scars on my elbow from Psoriasis and it has totally faded them out in a matter of days.  I think sometimes I try so many different products trying to find the perfect one, that I overlook old classics that really do the job.  I am going to stick with this from now on because nothing else has made my skin look and feel the way this does.

Now for the disappointing product...YSL Faux Cils Noir Radical mascara.  I was SO excited when they brought this out because I love the original Faux Cils mascara and the concept of a sooty, intense black version for more drama sounded amazing.  The original Faux Cils formula creates amazing length and volume, doesn't flake or smudge and really lasts the distance.  It's only downfall is that it dries out quite quickly but that never bothered me because I loved it so much.

However, this Noir Radical formula is NOT the same as the original.  The problem is it smudges within minutes of application and not just a little bit of smudging, but LOADS.  I ended up with panda eyes on the outer AND inner corners of my eyes, where it bled into my lower waterline (I only wear mascara on my upper lashline).  What a nightmare! It looked awful, messy and it made me look tired.  I just can't use this mascara.  It's almost like they added coal dust to it or something because it has no staying power and just migrates all around the eye area.  I read Lollipop 26's comments that maybe it was because of the shape of her eyes, but no, I can confirm that it's just that the mascara's formula is not up to scratch.  This is really disappointing because usually I love YSL's products.  I won't be touching this again so I will be sticking to my mascara faves...YSL Faux Cils original formula or Rouge Bunny Rouge Amplitude mascara.

Have you tried the Noir Radical mascara? What are your thoughts?

My Summer Wishlist

Now that the wedding isn't too far away, my thoughts have turned to the honeymoon and the fact that I really need to stock up on my summer clothes! The shop I usually turn to for colourful summery clothes is Monsoon, I love the middle eastern feel to the embellishments and colours.  Since I will be spending most of my time next to the beach and chilling out on the honeymoon, light cotton sun dresses are probably my best bet and this one from Monsoon caught my eye! I love the fresh colours...

I also spotted these gorgeous pewter sandals that will go with just about anything...

I have been reading all the travel info for Malaysia and even though it says not to wear bright colours as it attracts Mosquitos...I just can't resist a splash of colour for my holiday.  I will just have to rely on my jungle insect repellent! I love this beach dress from Accessorize, it would be perfect to throw on over a bikini...

I also had a wardrobe clearout recently and found two pairs of jeans (one cream and one dark denim) that are too big for me since I lost weight.  The waist is 'comfortable' rather than too big but the thighs on them were massive so I cut them with scissors to make cute little shorts.  I also tied a colourful silk scarf to the belt loop of one of them just to give it a nice edge.  I love it when you can make use of old clothing that you never wear anymore.

I love big beach bags that you can just throw everything into so this one from Gap is perfect, plus it will go with pretty much any outfit since it's a neutral cream. I love the cute little bow on the front...

I have to say that I never buy expensive sunglasses because I'm too clumsy and I think I would cry if I sat on a pair of Guccis or Ray Bans! So I generally just buy cheap ones every year from places like H & M or Oasis.  I tend to favour Aviators because they suit my face shape and I think they look pretty cool (I think it's because it's reminiscent of Top Gun...yeah I know...I'm a geek!).

I went to see the nurse yesterday at my local medical centre to chat about which vaccination I will need before going on honeymoon.  She told me I would need a Tetanus booster and I can still remember how much that injection hurt and it was about 15 years ago! It left a huge lump on my upper arm so hopefully this one won't do the same.  There were a few others she mentioned and I have to go back and get them all in one go...ouch! I am not afraid of needles per se but it's not my idea of fun to become a human pin cushion.  I was moaning about it on Facebook and one of my friends reminded me that's it's really not the worst problem to have...he suggested that sipping cocktails on an exotic beach would ease the memory of the pain!ha ha.

I will be having a busy weekend so this is the last you will hear from me until next week...I have a review of the new mascara by Lancome 'Hypnose Precious Cells' so stay tuned for that.  Have a brilliant weekend everyone!

We Are The People Jimmy2sox Remix by Jimmy2sox

We Are The People Jimmy2sox Remix by Jimmy2sox

Hair Extensions Update, Wedding Makeup Trial and my Search for the Perfect Wedding Lipstick

Oh my god, things are getting so crazy with the wedding plans! It's only about 7 and a half weeks to go now and I'm finding myself getting increasingly busy sorting out the details.  I'm loving every minute of it though and I'm really trying to enjoy every second of the build up to it.  I know it will be over so quickly. 

My lovely hairdresser, Leigh, just dropped off my hair extensions today after highlighting them for me (ok, the way I phrased that made it sound very celeb, having my own hairdresser, but you know what I mean!).  Leigh added a slightly darker tone through the extensions underneath so it just shows through slightly and gives them depth.  She also added some blonde highlights so they would blend into my hair colour more.  I have to say that I am absolutely delighted with them and they now match my hair EXACTLY.  They really are great quality extensions and Leigh was saying the same thing so I would highly recommend you take a look at the FoxyLocksExtensions website if you were thinking of buying some.  She treated them with an intensive conditioner so they are really soft and they smell gorgeous...like coconut...yum!

I can't wait to have my hair trial with her next Friday so I can get my hair done with the heated rollers like the inspiration pic of Petra Nemcova I had previously shown you guys...

I really want my hair to be loose and natural looking, I really don't like it when curly/wavy hair looks too contrived so I think heated rollers is the best way to get the look I want.  I might test the look out on my hen night in Aberdeen since I use any excuse to get glammed up! Me and the girls are heading out for an Italian meal (where you get to dance on the tables to Euro pop at the end of the night...I know...classy! But a hen night is no place for being classy).  We are then heading off to a lovely bar for some cocktails in our VIP area and then onto a club for some serious dancing! That reminds me, I need to stock up on some Scholl Party Feet!  Better dig out my bride sash and L plate again...

I promised you guys an update on the makeup trial I attended last weekend in Glasgow.  Myself and three bridesmaids headed down on Saturday to the makeup artist's flat and unfortunately we missed an absolutely gorgeous day in Aberdeen...sod's law!  The makeup artist, Laura, has worked on the Mobo awards, fashion shoots and often travels with a dance company.  She did a great job on everyone. I won't go into too much detail about the trials but one thing I will say is that I've decided that I am going to apply my foundation myself.  I took along my Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation and Laura said she uses it alot on brides so that settled my mind on whether it worked well with flash photography.  She applied it on my with a foundation brush but the result was quite uneven and patchy.  This foundation seems to react alot better to being applied with fingers so I decided I would do that myself on the day as that's how I can get the most flawless coverage.  I am such a perfectionist when it comes to my skin and I really want it to be perfect on the day.  So I will be doing that and my concealer, whilst Laura does everything else.  I have decided to go with individual false lashes since they give the most natural effect and there's less chance of them peeling off at the edges like strip falsies.  I unfortunately forgot to take pics of the finished look but it was sunkissed with pale gold and bronze eyes, flicked brown eyeliner and natural lips.  She did put brown liner on the outer part of my lower eye but it really didn't suit me and made me look tired so I won't be doing that on the day.

I have mentioned before that myself and my friends have been doing Come Dine With Me nights...there's 6 of us and this Saturday, it's my turn! I've decided to have it at my parent's house because they just got a new pergola and chimnea in the garden so we will be dining all fresco!  I have really enjoyed planning the menu and all the little details.  I really love cooking for people and entertaining in general.  Here's my menu that was emailed out to the girls on Monday...

I won't let on too much about it because I know that some of the girls involved read my blog so I don't want to spoil the surprises for them.  I will post some pics of the night next week so you can see how it all went.  I have my fingers crossed that it all goes well!

I have been on the search for the perfect wedding day lippy for all my professional photographs.  Now you know I am a huge fan of nude lips so for the rest of the day, I will be rocking a nude lip (probably my YSL Rouge Volupte in no.1 or Estee Lauder Pure Colour lippy in Vanilla Truffle).   It's a well known fact that you have to wear a darker lip colour for the proper photographs otherwise you're lips become lost and don't stand out.  I will only be dabbing on the darker lip colour as I'm going for a natural effect so I don't want to slather it on and make it obvious that I'm wearing a lip product.  I think I may have found the perfect slightly darker pink based nude that's not outside of my comfort zone.  I often find that darker lip colours just don't suit me but this Estee Lauder Pure Colour Crystal Lipstick in Crystal Baby seems to be just the right colour to define my lips in the photographs without making me look really different...the last thing I want is to not even look like myself in the photos.

I love Estee lauder lippies, they are just so high quality, smooth to apply and long lasting.  They are also non-drying and feel creamy on your lips.  Crystal Baby may be the perfect shade to avoid the washed out look in my wedding photographs.  I was looking into Mac High Tea but it seems to be just slightly too brown for what I'm looking for.  I have heard that Mac Jubilee is a good shade but I haven't got that one in my collection yet.  I was going to wear Mac Angel but I decided that a nude would look better with the pale gold/bronze look I was going for.  It's all about finding the right shade for your skin tone, because lipsticks can look so different on different people.

So that's all my news for today, I must warn you that I may not be posting as often as I normally do because I am so busy at the moment but I will do my best to check in with you guys and give you updates on how everything is going!

Bye for now!

Gorgeous Summer Lip Gloss and Wedding Shoes

Hello, hello!  I just got back from my latest wedding dress fitting and thought I would give you an update on how it all went.  My dress is all ready to go but I just have one more fitting on 3rd July to make sure it's perfect.  I find myself falling more in love with the dress every time I see it.  It's amazing.  My mum took along my wedding shoes today so I could see them with the dress and I couldn't remember if I had shown you guys what they look like.  They're a kind of champagne colour, the perfect heel height, slightly darker than my dress with the obligatory glitzy edge! You know me, I have serious magpie tendencies!...

For some reason, my dress makes me look really tall, it must be something about the floor length dresses that create that effect (hey, I ain't complaining!).  I was happy to see that I won't have to do too much more work to be in the best shape for my wedding.  The panic started because I originally thought I was going to go for a lace up design at the back but when the dress was being made, the seamstress phoned to say that the dress would really suit a zip and buttons more because it created cleaner lines with the style of the dress.  The shop has measured me for a lace up so they make the dress a bit smaller so everything is nipped in.  However, since I switched to a zip, when I got the dress, it turned out to be VERY snug i.e. I could hardly breathe when it was done up!  I had a bit of a blub after that fitting because I felt a bit crappy.  The I pulled myself together and got on with toning my body up at the gym.  The last time I got a fitting I had chubby bits under my arms and 'back fat' as it's so fondly known.  The snug fit of the dress just accentuated that...not pretty.  I swore to myself that I would start a plan at the gym to tone my upper body and it has definitely made a huge difference.  The dress looked so much better on me this time so I only have some fine tuning to do.  My mum is taking her Power Plate over for me to borrow until the wedding.  After seeing how amazing her figure looks now after only a couple of months of using it, I wanted in on the action! So I am going to use it every day for 10 mins in the morning and 10 minutes at night (same thing my mum does).  I will keep you guys updated on whether it makes a difference.  I will still be going to the gym and doing cardio etc but this is just an extra thing to make sure I look my best on my wedding day (and the honeymoon!).

I also wanted to share a couple of amazing lipglosses with you guys, they are both gorgeous colours for summer.  The first is Jemma Kidd Makeup School Hi Shine Silk Touch Lipgloss in Petal - a milky peach shade.  When I first saw this, I though of Holly from The Yummy Mummy's Beauty Blog because I know how much she loves peach lipglosses...well, Holly, you would absolutely adore this product.  It's such a brightening colour that looks so fresh and summery.  I can imagine it would look great on any skintone because it's such a soft, flattering colour.  If you are scared to wear bright corals that are in at the mo, then peach is a great alternative.  You could also wear it over a coral lippy to tone it down a bit for the daytime.  I LOVE this lipgloss, the formula is great and doesn't have the sticky feel.  I am wearing it today with slightly golden skin, pale gold eyeshadow and brown flicked eyeliner and I really love that combination.  The second gloss I am obsessing over is Estee Lauder's High Gloss in Honey...a perfect name for this shade.  This gloss looks incredible over any nude lipstick! It's got slight shimmer to it but it's so fine that it just shows up on your lips as a shiny effect.  I like to wear it over Estee Lauder's Pure Colour Lipstick in Vanilla Truffle (my all time favourite nude) or YSL Rouge Volupte in no.1 Nude Beige.  It's a gorgeous gloss for any kind of sunkissed, bronzey look...like the Charlize Theron look from my previous post.  The best thing is you get loads of gloss for your money...15ml!

That's all for today but I will be posting something on Monday to update you on how I got on with the wedding makeup trials (hopefully with piccies!)

Have a brilliant weekend everyone :)

Ramble

I'm getting to like these ramble posts! It's just a great chance to get all my weekly thoughts out on one post...and it's very cathartic!

1) SATC 2 - I went to see this last night with my friends and we did the whole cocktails thing beforehand although that resulted in me having a splitting headache by the end of the film...I think that's because it was pitch black and my eyes got strained.  I won't say too much about the film as I know not everyone has had a chance to see it yet.  What I will say is that I don't think it deserved to be slammed by the critics.  I think if you take it for what it is (which is an extended episode of the show) then you will enjoy it.  It's silly at times, but enjoyable silliness.  I am a huge fan of the show and I wasn't disappointed by this film, there were loads of really funny bits.  I now have a huge crush on the older man in the film, the Danish guy that crashes over the sand dunes in a jeep...I don't normally go for the older guys but he is a fox! ...sigh.  I don't think it's as good as the first one which was more of an emotinal rollercoaster but it still had the SATC magic.  So my advice is, go see it...don't listen to th critics, I mean it's not supposed to be profound like Schindler's List...it's a fun film to be enjoyed when you're tiddly on Cosmopolitans!

2) The weather is finally looking up again in Aberdeen, the sun is actually out and it's warm outside! The above pic was taken in a park in Aberdeen...I know, hard to believe!  This phenomenon has been apparent for the last couple of days and long may it continue! The only downside to the lovely weather is that it's really warm at night time so I haven't been sleeping that well...waking up all sweaty is never pleasant. (some people are never happy!ha ha).  I am hoping to head out to my parent's place for a BBQ on Sunday...ahh bliss!

3) Two shows that I'm OBSESSED with at the moment are The Wire (of which I have acquired the full boxset) and The Pacific.  The last show I really got into was The Sopranos, what is it with HBO? They have the best shows! I have really been enjoying The Pacific...I used to love Band of Brothers so when I heard this was made by the same people, I knew I had to watch it.  I love the way they integrate the real soldiers at the start of each episode to remind you that this stuff all happened, it's not fiction.  To be honest I wasn't aware that alot of this stuff went on in Pacific, not to that extent anyway, but I think that was the whole point of the series, to highlight the great number of soldiers who lost their lives in these battles.  It's very emotional to watch and I often find myself close to tears.  It's good to remind yourself of how lucky you are to have had such a sheltered life.

4) I really need to get back in the swing of my exercise program at the gym.  Because it's so warm outside, the gym is sweltering at the moment! There was actually a point on the cross trainer yesterday when I was finding it hard to breathe because I was so hot.  It's so hard to get motivated when it's so sunny outside!  I have also been struggling a little bit with the Slim Fast thing in the past couple of days.  For ages, I had been sticking to the 2 shakes and a main meal but I have cheated for the past two days and only had one shake, a big snack then dinner.  I think I just need to be a bit more strict on myself and get myself back on track to lose the weight before the wedding.  I still have about 7lbs to go before I reach my target for the big day.  I have about 8 and a half weeks so it's more than do-able if I buckle down.  Overall, I'm more interested in being toned than losing weight.