DIY vs Stuff That!

 Each time I tell friends we are doing some home improvements, every single person says the same thing to me....  

'You're ALWAYS decorating!!!!!' 

And although I think it's a slight exaggeration, I guess in comparison to others, hubby & I choose to play at Changing Rooms a fair bit it would seem. We've lived in our house for 10 years & have decorated the living room 4 times and the kitchen 4-5 (One big overhaul post-flood & then several colour scheme changes over the years) which actually I don't think is excessive. A fresh lick of paint & new cushions on the couch is enough to transform your surroundings. Like with your wardrobe, your tastes are everchanging so it makes perfect sense to me to alter the colours & 'themes' of each room in the house through time.

 Hubby & I normally are very hands on & DIYers when it comes to decorating. Not that I love agonising over staying perfectly within the lines when painting an entire room with the tiniest brush to ensure precision but it's always made sense to us to just muck in & get the job done-although a few hours in you can bet we're both regretting it big time. I always assumed I could be costly to have a decorator in, however for the first time ever we recently decided to get a professional in to do the painting, wallpapering & glossing of both our living room & kitchen. This has afforded us the luxury of being able to ponder over colour schemes, soft furnishings & the finer details of how each space should look post-decorating. There's less chance of 

the novelty wearing off if I don't need to clutch a roller & don my painting clothes for 3 days straight, my back breaking throughout. Needless to say, I'm excited....and relieved! 

A few months back we decided to overhaul our bedroom which was crying out for a little TLC. I have a real love affair with grey (the hallway is grey, as will be the kitchen!). I don't know what it is but I really do love the 50 shades of grey that you  have to wade your way through in the shop to finally select the right one! Keeping it cool & light, we aimed at making the bedroom a minimal, bright space to chill out in during the day but then a cosy Inviting hub to curl up in at night. 

 

I absolutely love spending time in our bedroom now. It's my favourite room to be in. 

Paint: Dulux Chic Shadow 

Curtains & Metal tiebacks: Dunelm 

Photo frames: Ikea (wallpaper samples inside!) 

Bedding: Tesco 

 Our living room has been very green for the last 4-5 years with a busy, stripey featurewall dictating the overall theme of the room. It still looks pretty fresh actually & certainly not dated but I felt it was just time for something more mellow. 

 Opting for oatmeal, neutral tones this time, I want the room to feel spacious, bright but have a comfy, cosy feel to it like the bedroom. We're adding a coffee table which immediately changes the whole look of the room as it's such a large piece. 

 I plan to add lots of different cushions to our leather couches to give it the comfortable vibe we're going for & a new statement chair which I'm in love with (it actually inspired the whole look of the room!)

I picked a few ornaments fronTKMaxx the other day. It's such a great place for finding one-off, unusual pieces that will just finish a room. 

Wish us luck! Will post on the finished rooms asap! 

W xy

New-Found Faves (pssst, that don't break the bank!)

Well hello there, long time no see! 

Been a rather hectic few weeks work-wise & I guess something's gotta give when life gets in the way...sadly it was blogging. Sad face. 

But HOORAY, Mimi & I are back & have lots of favourites to share. 

Here's my recent purchases...

First up, is Johnson's Baby Oil! Yup, I've been slathering myself in it over the last month (nothing weird, I promise!) and I'm really feeling the difference in my skin. Don't know what made me buy it actually but I'm real glad I took the plunge & splurged (heehee!). I can be real lazy when it comes to caring for my skin sometimes but this is so easy to apply straight out of the shower or tub & gives you a real sheen that looks especially sexy on sun kissed/fake tanned skin. I'll be sure to continue making this a part of my daily routine to ensure I'm ready to bear some more flesh as the sunshine arrives (it'd  better appear pronto!) & as it's a major bargain purchase I don't need to use it sparingly. Result! 

  I am always (like most girls I know) on the hunt for the perfect mascara. One that lengthens, thickens, separates, cooks the dinner & does the dishes. Well not quite, but one that is a triple-threat but doesn't break the bank. I've tried umpteen brands over the years & have accumulated a few favourites that I do go back to but I'm always open to trying new ones.

   My mum recently recommended I try her go-to mascara. She's also tried & tested a heap of different makes but loves the SEVENTEEN Waterproof Mascara which I concur is pretty darn fabulous. It does all of the above tricks (aside from the housework part), doesn't clog on the lashes & is another purse-friendly find. A new fave indeed. 

Recently I decided to road test Johnson & Johnson's Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion Sensitive in attempt to up the ante in my ever-fluctuating skincare routine. When I can, I love to use Dermalogica products & recently I have been trying to have a salon facial every 2-3 weeks to keep my skin blemish free & in good condition. After all, it's always nice to let an expert take over & do the job right. 

 Johnson & Johnson's Clean & Clear Exfoliating Daily Wash has been a firm fave of mine for years so I hoped the Deep Cleansing Lotion Sensitive would step up to the mark. It did not disappoint! Although the exfoliator is pretty thorough at getting all my make-up off, the lotion clears away the remaining debris & seems to be keeping those pesky zits at bay. Hallelujah! Although it's more a toner-like formula it doesn't leave my skin feeling too taut or stripped of moisture. I wear full coverage make-up everyday so anything that gently strips my face bare at the end of the day & helps fight off any spots threatening to emerge gets my vote. Another cheap purchase alert....can't beat it! 

 I'm the kinda gal who buys a lippy in 'not my usual colour' & then ends up not wearing it. Aside from a pillar-box red for when I'm performing, I tend to opt for a similar shade of lipstick time & time again as I find I don't suit many of the colour palettes out there. A while back I bought Rimmel's 'Vintage Pink' & adored it, wearing it religiously.  I aimed to pick up another when I'd reached the very last dregs of the bullet but kept forgetting, until a few weeks back when I was patiently waiting on a prescription in the pharmacy. Sadly they didn't have it in stock but I discovered another beaut in the shade 'Asia' from their Lasting Finish range which I now wear daily. It's my perfect lip colour & as a brand I find Rimmel's lipsticks not too drying & sufficiently long lasting. 

How would I describe the colour? Mmmm not sure, so here's a photo! 

  Next up, is not one but TWO Loreal new faves. It's fast becoming my go-to brand. Quality without the price tag of higher-end versions.  When it comes to bronzer I don't have an extensive list of demands-as long as it's not too shimmery & not too drying on the skin (and the perfect shade of course) I'm a happy camper. Like so many of my other cosmetic purchases, I'm a creature of habit & tend to stick loyally by the same few brands for each of my make-up routine products. For years I was a Benefit Hoola girl, then I went on to a more Drugstore budget & returned to Rimmel's Natural Bronzer on repeat.  

  If you read my January favourites post, you'll know I discovered & fell head over heels (as did my purse!) for Loreal True Match Liquid Foundation as a more affordable dupe for my Estée Lauder Doublewear Foundation. It was with this find that I also decided to try out their Glam Bronze Powder Duo, taking advantage of a '2 products for £14' offer in Boots, which meant I had nothing to lose venturing out my bronzer comfort zone. Again, I wasn't disappointed. Ticking my must-have it boasts a gorgeous shade of bronze, sturdy packing (that means, like some others I've tried, doesn't risk you smashing it in to smithereens if you take it out & about with you!) & a handy slim-line contouring brush that I've been using to give definition in to the ol' cheekbones. Can't grumble with this one & I can safely say, having partially hit pan now (bought it in January so that's good going!), I'll be repurchasing this for sure. 

Again, through circumstance (and by that I mean the offers in Boots! A girl can resist a bargain!) I also, more recently, ended up buying Loreal's True Match Concealer. I had found a real favourite in Miss Sporty's version (also available in Boots) but the thicker consistency and lasting power of the Loreal one tips the barrel. I choose the the lightest colour as I mostly use it for under-eye correction and highlighting. 

 And there you have it. A perfectly formed collection of affordable new-found faves of mine that I'll be taking with me right in to Summer. 

Until next time. Peace out.

W x