Getting to know me - 5 post challenge

OK so time for post 2 of my Getting To Know Me series.

This one has proved to be quite difficult. Mainly because, and I'm going to throw it out here now, I'm not really a music person. My taste in music is questionable to say the least, and I am not the type of person that insists on having noise around me all the time, in fact I would prefer silence or an episode of friends/sex in the city in the background. I suppose it is just not something that I get excited about.

1. Always Something There to Remind Me - Dionne Warwick

Who didn't love Heartbeat on a Sunday night, a family friendly Police drama set in the Yorkshire dales. Great sixties fashion and a soundtrack to go with it. We had the Heartbeat album in the car on cassette (I know), and for some reason I just loved this song. Whenever it came on, I would want the music up full blast and would screech away. Inevitably the whole family joined in. So I suppose this reminds me of family nights around the tv and family road trips singing along. Good times.

2. Stronger - Kelly Clarkson

Just my favourite song of the moment, to my husbands despair when the radio goes on full blast and I sing at the top of my lungs. I just get a real sense of empowerment from the lyrics even though it is not a situation I can relate to, I know it is a situation some of closest friends can, so I suppose I sing it for them.

3. Never Forget - Take That

This song just happens to appear at key moments of my life. It was definitely one of the last songs that was played when I left sixth form, and university. It is a song my hockey team request at the end of every hockey festival that we attend over Easter and it has been played at the end of every Dinsdale family party and wedding, including my own.

At my own wedding, it was very strange. All of a sudden we were encircled by all of our friends, all singing at the top of their voices and there was just this huge sense of excitement, emotion and love - it was wonderful.

So I suppose it now has a great sentimental value to it, because this was honestly one of the happiest moments of my life.

4. Mr Brightside - The Killers

Who doesn't remember this song from many a student union night. It just honestly reminds me of fun, fun drunken times with my uni besties. Puts a smile on my face just thinking about it :-)

Inspiration

It is less than a year since the hubby and I brought our first little house together in Bristol. We had the usual initial enthusiastic burst when it came to decorating and then the pot ran dry on both cash and enthusiasm. Life took over and a few things remained unfinished.

Well I am happy to report that the decorators are booked for tomorrow morning and the house will be finished by this time next week. You know what this planning means...lots and lots of looking around for inspiration to design the room. 

This is the best bit!!! 

I have been pinning like crazy on my dream home board on Pinterest, reading lots of home style magazines and catalogues and wandering round all types of shops looking for some design ideas. We don't have the biggest space so it is a balance of getting some great style with also the practicalities of storing all of our stuff and making sure it is well hidden but accessible. 

It is a guest bedroom, and I want to add some hotel style in a relaxing, calm and light room, after all I want my guests to be happy. We have decided on a pale blue colour, with cream accents, something quite neutral that I can add character to with accessories and some styling. 

So below are some of the photos that have inspired my/our future design. 

Hope that you like. 

 Can't wait to show you all the finished product.

Until next time...

Skin Savers

Skin care is not easy for me, I have very dry and very sensitive skin so I tend to have to introduce things slowly and even things designed for sensitive or dry skin can cause a reaction which can be bit of bugger. As a result I tend to stick to what I know.

Over the last few weeks I have introduced and been using with great success the products pictured above; Boots Botanics Ultra Calm Serum, Garnier BB for sensitive skin and Avon's Anew Reversalist Night Cream.

Boots Botanics Skin Relief Serum - Ultra Calm

I love the Botanics range and really like the re-designed package which I think is much more modern and fun than it was before. I've been wanting to try a serum for some time and to be honest had my eye on the No.7 version but at £22.00 I felt that I needed to save up a few more advantage points.

So I found this on the shelf, it is currently on an offer so is £4.99 and then when I checked the Advantage card machine I had a 300 points voucher for any purchase from the Botanics range, it is like it was meant to be.

The consistency is a little watery compared to some of the other serums I have tested on my hand but it smooths on easily to the face and is quickly absorbed which is great, because I did worry that it would sit around and make my face look greasy. I have been using it morning and night, as directed before putting on my moisturiser for a week now. My skin tone is definitely more even, my face is less dry and I think it is just genuinely looking in better condition.

I would buy it again, and would happily make it part of my everyday routine going forward, but next time I might buy a different serum and see if it makes a difference. It is definitely a good choice for a start.

It has also made me think that I want to have a better look at this ultra calm range given that I have had no negative skin reactions to the product, as well as a look at the facial oil and the Rosewater Toning Spritz from 2 of the other Botanics ranges which are getting such great reviews at the moment.

Garnier BB Cream for Sensitive Skin

I'm afraid I am a bit behind when it comes to BB and the benefits of them. I have my favoured Bobbie Brown foundation, but it is dear and so I wanted something to wear to work, that would provide a little coverage and would be suitable for the working day. I work in a corporate environment so over the top make up is not really appropriate.

Again I have to be aware of the condition of my skin so chose the version for sensitive skin in the 'light'. What can I say, I love this product. Time is of the essence in the morning so the fact that this will moisturise and give me coverage is great. The coverage is sheer, but does even out my skin tone, and 2 light layers gives sufficient coverage for a work day and a great dewy glow. It also works well as a base for the make up that is already in my collection so definitely a great purchase. Again, a great first go at a BB, and I will be really keen to try another, perhaps from a more premium brand.

Anew Reversalist Night Renewal Cream

OK I'm not going to lie this is a cream for 40+ skin, which is obviously something I don't have but I found this on my mums dressing table and tried it and knew that I had to use it. When I purchased it off Avon I got a great discount, usually it costs £21.50 but I got it for £12.99 along with a complete miniture set of a Renew range, so definitely great value.

Because of who it is aimed at, it is really rich but given that it has around 8 hours to soak in that is not a problem for me and it is definitely helping me combat the dryness that I suffer with. I wake up in the morning with plump and very soft skin, giving the perfect base for my make up.

I think this shows you can't be too black and white with the use of products. Yes this is for 40+ skin but it works for me and certainly earns its place as a skin saviour!

Tell me what your skin saviours are, or if you have any products that are working for your dry and/or sensitive skin?

Until next time ...

Posted with Blogsy

Getting to know me - 5 post challenge

As I am a new blogger I thought it might be worth sharing a few things about myself to help you get to know me better. I'm sure that many of you are familiar with this tag, and hopefully it will give you a little insight into me.

1. I partly use another language.

In a previous life I worked at Sense, the National Deafblind Charity and worked with colleagues who communicated with BSL so I started learning it. I loved trying (which is the operative word here) to learn it and loved that every week I was better able to communicate with my colleagues, whilst learning a new skill. Unfortunately moving to Bristol and changing jobs meant I never even made it to my level 1 exam and I rubbishely never picked up the course when I got here! So I can only partly use another language.

2. I met my now husband when we were only 14

He was playing hockey and I was watching. We met and agreed to meet up at a party that night, after a few little kisses I text him off my 5110 asking him to be my boyfriend and the rest as they say is history.

3. I didn't pass my driving test first time

Yes I am a member of that club!

4. I will always choose the nutty praline over the soft centre

Why wouldn't you?

5. I am addicted to stationery

My current obsession is Paperchases Paradiso with its vintage styling, birds and flashes of fuschia pink a lot of this will be making its way onto my birthday wish list!

Some Bank Holiday Organisation

Hi guys, how was your bank holiday? I hope you were doing something exciting. The husband and I had a lovely date night on Friday, followed by a day of shopping for me on Saturday! The last couple of days have been spent doing a bit of DIY and organising, and that is what brings me to this post.

Mr Nicholls and I moved into our new house less than a year ago and we are still sorting through things. I have yet to find the perfect dressing table, so I have had jewellery hanging around all over the place, kept in random pots, and hung on plastic hooks, which unfortunately has not related to the perfectly styled shabby chic look.

So I looked to the good old interweb for some inspiration. There are lots of great ideas out there for displaying jewellery but I don't really have the right space for this yet, so was intrigued by The Little Black Dress Jewellery Organiser. I had a quick look around, and found the cheapest version on Betterware.

The fabric is a very thin black canvas, that slips onto any hanger like any other item of clothing. There are 39 plastic pockets on one side and then 24 hook and loop velcro tabs on the other side - oh the organising possibilities. 

I was able to add in all my costume jewellery earrings, and rings into the plastic pockets, and looped my bangles, rings and necklaces onto the velcro tabs. 

I also had some brooches and some stud earrings which I thought looked better pierced through the canvas towards the collar. 

 OK, so it is not the most aesthetically pleasing of displays, but I love the fact that it goes into my wardrobe, and once closed the clutter is gone. Not only that, it is going to be so much easier to find what I'm looking for including some of my favourites...

. Butterfly Necklace from Accessorize worn at my brothers wedding . Initial necklace from Topshop . Silver and blue ring given to me by my husband when I passed my GCSE's . Gold and Sapphire Ring my Grandmothers eternity ring, worn at my wedding as my something old and something blue .

15 minutes of my bank holiday Monday well spent!

If you have a great way of organising jewellery, let me know as I'm still looking for inspiration.

Going for Gold

I am generally a very active person, despite having a desk bound job, although unfortunatly my body image reflects my love of food more than my love of all things active.

Recently I have been really suffering with painful calf muscles and a tightening around the ankles when I have been running or playing netball. I found that yoga and body balance (another post on this soon) have been helping to stretch out the problem and keep me a little more supple but I wondered if I was using the right equipment?

Don't get me wrong in order to keep fit, you don't need a fancy gym membership or even any fancy equipment, a simple pair of trainers, some shorts and the great outdoors would more than tide you over. However, I am aware that the trainers you put on your feet can make a huge difference, and I didn't think my £20 pair from Sports Direct were quite cutting it.

It has got to the point where any type of impact sport was too painful to continue and as my exercise levels have increased so has the pain in my right knee. Luckily a friend of mine is a physio and I had her take a look at me running, she was concerned about the way my foot twisted as I ran and suggested getting a proper gait analysis and a proper shoe to rectify the problem.

So armed with very little knowledge of what was going to happen to me, I toodled on down to Moti on Whiteladies Road in Bristol. My physio friend had recommended them to me, although I had initially heard of them via my fancy gym, as I got a 10% off voucher in my starter pack.

You don't need an appointment or anything, you just turn up. Chris was my server and he was so helpful. He first put me on the treadmill in a neutral running shoe, I ran for about 30 seconds and then he showed me the film. It was unbelievable! I could see my whole knee and foot twisting on both sides as I ran, although it was more pronounced in my right foot. No wonder it hurt so much to run.

He then gave me 2 different shoes to try, but with extra arch support and wizzy a whizzy chusioning system typ thing in the soles which he said would make it more comfortable. I got on the treadmill again with each pair and whilst I couldn't feel the difference in my running technique in such a short space of time, the difference on the video was amazing. My foot fell flat with very little twist at all!

I learnt a couple of things whilst I was there. First, that trainers used for exercise should be brought at least half a size bigger than your usual shoe size, and 1 whole size bigger would be ideal. This is to allow for your feet to swell as they warm up during your exercise routine, and to stop your toes bashing against the ends and causing damage to your nails. Also, that your trainers should be changed regularly, and no matter how often you use them at least within every 2 years as the grip and the wizzy compression pads will just not work in the same way.

I was really impressed with the customer service in Moti, they were very knowledgeable about running styles and about the products in the store. As an added bonus, by subscribing to their e-newsletter in store you get a 30 day guarantee on your new shoes and if they are not very comfortable or you do not notice any particular difference you can take them back (provided they are not covered in mud or really damaged).

I eventually chose the Asics GT-2170, which are a limited edition in podium colours for the London Olympic Games as they have subtle flashes of gold, silver and bronze. They weren't cheap but I got a 10% discount with my voucher, although they will give the discount to anybody who comes into the store armed with their gym membership card.

If you are thinking of starting up an exercise routine or running, or have already started running and would like a little more advice I would 100% go and get this done, I know that loads of running stores do the gait analysis so go and give it a try.

The 5 things I hate most about dieting!

1. Food guilt

That cheeky hot choc from Starbucks (other overly expensive, ponsey coffee shops are available), that reduced cake in Tesco, or even a Friday night takeaway. There will come a point after you've thoroughly enjoyed devouring every last morsel when the food guilt will set in. This is the point when you will start to feel low, disappointed in yourself and usually bloated!  All of a sudden that satisfaction you had previously obtained has dissipated in a single second and you have to look for your next happy fix….

2. Food food everywhere and not a drop to eat

All of a sudden you think, sleep and dream of food. It is everywhere, flashing up on your internet home page, adverts on the side of a bus and that Express supermarket that you could previously walk pass without as much of a sideway glance is suddenly giving you a large fluorescent light smile and talking to you "look at all the lovely goodies I have in here for you"! Everything becomes a mission; retail therapy, a weekend away and a Sunday lunch with the family becomes a minefield of shoulds and most importantly 'should nots'. 

3. Skinny girls

Not only is there food everywhere you look, but you only have to turn your head to see a skinny. You start to compare yourself to them and feel you are being judged by them and you think to yourself "B***h, why does she get to look like that and God has dealt me this hand…not fair!" The worst type of skinny girl is most definitely the gym bunny. They are disgustingly toned, wear make up at the gym (I mean what is that about) and they will always stand at the front of the class, showing off their enviably pert bottom, while you flail around looking like a large sweaty hippo at the back. After class you will over hear saying how they feel awful they ate 6 extra grapes at breakfast this morning, so they might head to the cross trainer. You think…T**T!

4. Exercise

I like my sofa, actually that is an understatement I love my sofa. On the other hand I do like playing netball and I do like gym classes like Zumba and Body Combat. But the thing with dieting is the rule that you also have to exercise. It is drummed into you from day 1, eat less, exercise more and you will lose weight. Nothing wants me to curl up in my slanket with 10 re-runs of Come Dine With Me more than having to get up, put on lycra and
stand in front of mirrors, jump around and get sweaty!

5. Failure

So far I have never succeeded at a diet and this is an unusual trait for me to recognise. I usually succeed, I have a good academic career, a career, and to be honest I do usually get what I want. However, I have been 'dieting' since I was 20 years old, and I am now 25 but I have put on weight every year. I start in earnest as we all do, not always in January but I become the perfect WW or Slimming World participant or Slim Faster but eventually it fizzles out and I don't make goal. I've never really reflected on my failure, but probably because I always find a way of justifying it to myself and those closest to me, that is "well its just not my priority at the moment, I'm focusing on wedding/house/career/getting to world 8 on Super Mario/watching The Hills" or whatever BS I can think of at the time. The truth of the matter is I hate failure in whatever guise it comes in, but so far failure has always been part of my dieting experience and I don't like it.