GET SOME NUTS!!!!

 

Eating healthy is something I actually really enjoy. I'm not a fuss-pot when it comes to food, so I'm always happy to try new things and I aim to make my meals as healthy and nutritious as possible...as long as they're tasty of course. 

You may have read my post a while back about Hubby and I following the Weight Watchers program and having lost 2 stone, I can safely say it works! Super simple to follow & definitely a plan I'd recommend! 

However deciding to use the app to  log points & follow the plan rather than attend a weekly class, we feel, along the way, managed to isolate us in our weight loss journey.  Just over a year on, we have in more recent times felt a little uninspired when it comes to preparing yummy food that fits within our daily/weekly Pro-Points allowance. 

  We sussed out quite quickly when we signed up what we could make that would allow us to do the plan successfully and achieve & maintain our weight loss and then (to our detriment) literally rolled out those same meals week in/week out. As we didn't attend a class, we missed out on the recipes and the handy tips that staff and members share on a weekly basis and eventually started to feel that we were in a bit of ground hog day meal-athon. Cue boredom! 

We are both sufficiently clued-up on food to know the sensible way to follow a points system diet and thus, didn't aim to just eat our points negating the nutritional values of the foods we ate. However, in trying to stay healthy, stick within the points and get our fill, I (as did Rob) avoided certain foods for fear of going over my allowance, when really I shouldn't have cut them out all together as their nutritional benefits are pretty essential for the body. For instance, nuts. I know that most, if not all nuts are high in calories because they're high in fat (unsaturated fat, that is), so up until recently I pretty much ignored them. Grudgingly, I might add. Many types of nuts are a great source of vitamin E and fibre, as well as essential minerals, so eaten as a snack in their rawest form (not roasted or glazed) they are super at keeping you healthy and hunger-pang free. And this is where my more recent dilemma was. Did I introduce some nuts, hence reaping their benefits AND changing up my diet from the norm that I was starting to loathe but then risk exceeding my daily points for a snack or even worse, put on weight as I'd be taking in more calories? This is where, frustratingly I'm no expert when it comes to nutrition. I guess it was a decision I had to make for myself but I know any dietician would be screaming "EAT THE NUTS!!". Yes they have fat in them but it's good fat and so I did.......and low and behold, I've maintained my weight loss. Avacados were another ambiguous food for me-I recognised their health benefits but negated them for their high fat content. I eventually bit the bullet (or the Avacado!) & introduced them to our weekly fajita night & there's no going back now. They're so freaking delicious! 

I'm now more mindful of the nutritional value of certain foods and don't automatically rule them out because of their high points value (according to Weight Watchers). In order to stay on the wagon & be healthy (not just within target weight!) you have to be all about variety. Different combinations, textures & versions of your old faves will ensure a balanced diet is achieved & that you're not reaching for the nearest bag of chips through sheer frustration & boredom. 

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't Weight Watchers fault we fell into this food slump-it was down to a personal choice to rule out certain food groups purely down to their fat content. One must remember not all fats are bad & everything in moderation is not to shabby a motto to follow. We are now back to enjoying our healthy lifestyle & not beating ourselves up when we have a handful of peanuts! 

Peace out!

W xx 

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

It's All about jUice, 'bout the juice....no trouble!

This week I had the pleasure of not eating any food for three days and just drinking water and juices!

Sound horrendous? Well think again! The mastermind nutritionist behind All about jUice, Glasgow,  Natalie Blue kindly invited me to try their 3 day juice detox/cleanse and as someone who is health conscious I jumped at the chance to give it a go. 

What was involved?

I was prescribed 3 days of fresh juices (4 per day) made by the staff at All about jUice in their Dumbarton Rd shop, following a consultation with Natalie to ensure I was a candidate for doing the cleanse. Four different juices per day (to be consumed every 3-4 hours) and advice given via an information sheet on how to stay hydrated, what to expect from the process etc. 

How did it go?

Day One 

I woke up late. Not a good start to the week or the first day of juicing!

 Bit of a scunner when you wake up realising you're late AND you can't eat now for 3 days! That being said, I grabbed 3 of the juices from the fridge (brightly coloured and looking appetizing indeed) and set out on my first day as a detoxer. I took Natalie's advice and sipped on hot water (minus the lemon because annoyingly I'd forgotten to buy some!) on the drive to work and unexpectedly appeared to be upbeat despite not getting my morning caffeine fix! On arrival I opened up my first bottle of juice, richly green in colour, and I got the freshest, healthiest aroma instantly. Hints of kale, cucumber and ginger, the juice was tasty, filling and had a real zing to it. 

   As lunch time arrived I wasn't dreading 'eating' with my colleague as much as I'd feared. My second juice of the day was entirely different in colour and on my first taste was definitely a different combination than the first. Carrot, beetroot and possibly apple, this was another winner and filled me up, so much so, that I did struggle to finish it in our short lunch break. 

  The last two juices of the day were equally enjoyable, tasty and didn't leave me hungry, though I did however start to feel a little headachy and tired on the drive home (could have been the day's workload though!) and had to catnap on the sofa before hubby got home from work. This was to be expected and was explained in the information notes given, so I bowed down to it and slept it off. 

Day Two

A breeze! 4 lovely juices, some different to the previous day, with my favourite being the berry soya breakfast juice which I could have drank lashings of. No sign of headaches (I did try to drink more water than I would normally to avoid getting them) but the fatigue set in on the drive home again and another catnap was in order, this time on the living room floor where hubby found me. I went back out to work that evening, last juice of the day in hand and leisurely sipped it as I worked. I was more perturbed at not getting my cuppa that evening I have to say but food wise, I wasn't left craving anything terribly or seeing people's heads as chicken legs like in the old cartoons.

Day Three

Probably the toughest in terms of wanting food as in the back of my mind I felt like I was nearly done, even though I still had a full day of cleansing to go through. A little grumpier, a bit tired but certainly, I wasn't starving as the yummy juices were again filling. I enjoyed drinking each new flavour and felt a sense of accomplishment that I reached the third and final day. 

The Honest Bits

I do admit I was a little more irritable on occasions but nothing that anyone else would have noticed (I hope!). Yes, I did have a few moments of 'Mmmm, I could eat something!' but they weren't long lasting or too tempting to sway me.   I never had a terribly rumbly tummy nor did I have the muscle cramps that can be expected from detoxing. if anything, in terms of side effects, all I would say is I was a tad more tired than usual at the end of each day. Nothing 40 winks on the couch or an early night didn't sort out. I didn't threaten to eat anyone and I didn't dislike any of the juices! They were all really tasty! And that really was all I'd been worried about...not liking the juices. No chance of that here, as each All about jUice juice was delicious 

How Do I Feel?

Great! Personally I know the extra boost of vitamins will have been an added bonus to my normally healthy week. I usually get around 5-9 portions of fruit and veg a day but getting it in copious amounts through a juicing detox can only serve me well. Ditching any processed foods, caffeine and alike for a spell had been something I'd been wanting to do for a while to restart my system and give it a well-needed break. For all that I am a healthy eater who is mindful of what I put in my body, I do have my 'treats' sporadically throughout the week and my vice, coffee, daily. I don't drink alcohol though. 

  

The last two days I have felt more alert for sure and that sense of accomplishment that started to creep in on the third day has only increased. I'm pretty chuffed that I saw it through and didn't cave when hubby cooked Super Noddles on Wednesday night. There was no real huge struggle in it for me but I appreciate everyone will deal with it in their own way and come up against hurdles. 

 As I lead a relatively healthy lifestyle some may wonder why I bothered to do the detox in the first place. Are the results dramatic enough to merit the, what some may deem, extreme sacrifice of giving up food for 3 days. Well I'd say, I don't know, as everyone embarking on a juice detox will no doubt have different goals, expectations etc. This is where the expert that is Natalie comes in. The initial consultation prior to any sort of cleanse or detox will determine if it's right for each person and the proper advice, including to consult your doctor beforehand, are set to ensure your experience is a safe and enjoyable one.  Natalie will ensure you're supported throughout the 3 days and your specific needs are adhered to (allergies etc) so no need to worry. In terms of weight loss, I lost a substantial amount actually. 6lbs in 3 days but have already put some of that back on from starting, albeit healthily, to eat again. i wasn't doing it to lose weight, although it was a given as you're likely to lose something when you're not eating for 3 days. The objective behind a detox is to rid your body of impurities and give it and your mind that reboot or kick start it's craving. It then should encourage you to start or continue to eat healthily. And sometimes we all need that little kick up the bahookie eh?! 

For me a huge plus point was that this juice detox was hassle free. When hubby and I attempted a DIY juicing cleanse a while back, we caved through sheer exhaustion caused by the relentless, monotony of juicing all the fruit and veg ourselves. It's phenomenal how many bloomin' carrots and apples are needed to fill a glass and Rob and I were completely  and utterly fed up with the, what felt like, hourly run to Aldi and the bomb site that had in fact become our kitchen by day two. All about jUice takes all that away from you. No fuss, no mess...no trouble! It reminds me of the Father Ted episode where Mrs Doyle 'likes the misery of making tea'......at All about jUice, they'll be your Mrs Doyle! 

So in conclusion......

Did they taste good?                                      YES, they sure did!

Did I manage three days relatively easily?        YES I did. No biggy really! 

Did I feel good afterwards?                            YES  and I still do. In body and mind.

Would I do it again?                                       YES definitely!

A huge thank you to the Team and especially Natalie at All about jUice!! If anyone has questions for Natalie do not hesitate to contact her, she'd be thrilled to hear from you and to help! 

Check them out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter too! 

 

 

Making a Right Meal of Things!

As someone who would openly admit to not being too confident in the kitchen, I'm always dubious and very self-doubtful when someone suggests I try a new recipe. I'm not one for collecting cookbooks and getting all creative when it comes to cooking for fear of making a right royal mess over anything remotely edible. That being said I do enjoy tasty, nutritious meals but tend to rotate a small selection of dishes that I know I can make and that taste good. The same dinners every week can get a bit on the boring side though, so when a friend recommended and sent me a free trial of Hello Fresh I couldn't resist, in hope that I'd find something healthy to cook to add to my culinary repertoire.

  I ordered my Classic Box on the Wednesday to be delivered the following Monday and eagerly awaited it's arrival. The well-packed, presented box came by courier brimming with tasty ingredients for 3 meals for 2 persons, with recipe cards for each dish inside a wallet for safe keeping. 

I choose to make Roasted Pork Loin with Sweet Potato Mash and broccoli on the first evening. The step-by-step recipe card was easy to follow and had photos to accompany most of the instructions. I actually enjoyed following each step to the letter and although the actual meal itself was a pretty straightforward meat, carb and veg recipe, making the sweet potato mash with crème fraiche was something I would have never have considered before. Being a Weight Watcher, I'm keen on finding healthier options to things like cream and butter when cooking so this was perfect and a tip I'll be taking on. 

The second night I attempted what I thought would be the easiest or at least, blip-free recipe of all three. Mozzarella Stuffed Burgers on Ciabatta bread with Salad.  Again I couldn't fault the recipe card for the clear instructions given and although I conquered  each preparation step with great success and dare I say it, finesse, it was in the cooking of the the burgers that I came across a problemo......in that they wouldn't (cook, that is!) due to the amount of cheese that I had been instructed to stuff in to each burger. 

  You're given the exact amounts of each ingredient (except the herbs of which there was more than what was needed) and so I hadn't considered that here may be too much mozzarella in each.  What ensued was me dissecting and inspecting each burger, cheese oozing out of every possible gap and a good while later (well over the recommended cooking time) ciabatta baps with chunks of the burger carefully packed inside....no burger shape in sight after all the dissecting. Hubby ate it all the same (as did I, disgruntledly) and remarked on it's delicious taste and not the poor presentation.  

Note to self....next time put the cheese on the top and not inside!

Hubby's birthday marked and third and final evening of our first ever Hello Fresh experience and this dish was the one I was most unsure about- not because the recipe looked complex but the Birthday Boy aint always the biggest fan of fish. 

Fearless Pan-fired Tilapia with Choritzo Roasted Potatoes- a really simple recipe to follow and THE favourite of the week with both of us. Our first time trying tilapia which we loved and the choritzo potatoes were awesome! So tasty and definitely something I'll be making again! 

 So all in all, a great experience. Simple recipes with not too much faff or prep and cooking time (around 30-40 mins all in for each meal!) that produce tasty, filling meals. The fresh ingredients and hearty portion sizes were faultless and the recipe cards perfect for storing away in the cupboard to pull out and use when I'm looking for other dinnertime options. 

  In this instance I didn't pay for my box (Linzi kindly sent me a free trial) but at £39 for 3 meals for two persons (£49 for 5 meals) some may argue that this is an expensive subscription. I guess it depends on what you would normally spend on your evening meals and what you're looking for from joining Hello Fresh. If you want to opt in and out of ordering you can, so it means you're not paying or receiving unwanted food every single week.  Your online account allows you to mark the weeks you'd like to receive a box and so it's entirely up to you how often you splurge. Remember you're not just paying for ingredients but are receiving new recipes that you can recreate time and time again (arguably with cheaper ingredients if you shop around). If you don't fancy something on a particular week's menu then you can swap one of the meals for something that appeals more to you palette. There's vegetarian and family box options and they seem to be adding a whole most of recipes each week so you're unlikely to have to order the same meal twice. If you don't like the look of one week's menu, don't order it! Simples!

Will I pay for and use Hello Fresh again..... yes, definitely! No more boring repetitive weekly eating for us! 

Weesse x

If You Could Do One Thing......

A few weeks back, Rob and I were in Edinburgh and as walked down Princes Street he randomly stopped and started speaking with a homeless man. Rob asked if he was okay,  if he had somewhere safe to sleep, what was his dog's name etc. He then went on to give him about £10 for food. The man gracefully accepted and seemed genuinely appreciative of this random act of kindness. 

But Rob hadn't just given him the money...he'd taken the time to stop and chat with the man.  As we walked away I burst in to tears. I was sad for the homeless man and his unfortunate, desperate situation but I was so moved that I'd witnessed someone showing kindness towards another and I hoped that for just even a moment, that man had felt that someone cared and that he mattered. 

 It seems fitting that on the same week as Valentine's Day, it was International Random Acts of Kindness Week (check it out!). Yes some will argue that you don't or at least shouldn't require a specially dedicated event to be kind (and yes they'd be right!) but I don't think it does us any harm to remind ourselves of the joy that being kind brings....not only to the recipient but to the giver!  Kind is to be considerate, benevolent, helpful to others and in this cray cray world we're all battling through, being kind to others can unfortunately go way down on the TO-DO list. For all it may be on the list, sometimes it just doesn't get ticked off it. But if you could do one thing to make someone else smile, or make them feel appreciated, or help someone out just because you can...what would you do??

It seems there's a hashtag and a greetings card for everything these days and as much as I love celebrating life and the fabulous peeps I share mine with, I don't feel compelled to send a card every day of the week to a family member or friend to tell them I still love them. I tell them on a regular enough basis that I don't think a card is necessary to labour the point. It starts to feel a bit gimmicky and suspiciously like a clever selling point from the card companies who try to guilt us in to sending a different card every week.  And we all know the price of stamps these days! Day light robbery!

 Saying that, I do think it's so very important to randomly (whenever wherever the feeling takes you) to be kind and if kind means sending a card on 'Grandparents Day' then who am I to judge?! It's just that I think there's so many ways to show kindness to another human being (even to ones you don't know) that you should never be done finding ways to spread the love...surprising others with a little ray of sunshine to brighten their day. 

We'd all like to think of ourselves as kind. In fact, if someone were to describe me and my character I'd hope to be thought of as kind above other amorous qualities. I get pleasure in making being happy or taking the load off someone or doing something that I know someone will at least appreciate even if it doesn't make them ecstatically overjoyed. From opening a door for a stranger, to telling a friend they look good, being kind doesn't have to cost the Earth (not even the price of a stamp) and it's often the recipient's obvious appreciation that inspires you to continue on your quest to be as kind as you can be.  I also like to see others being kind too hence why I was so moved by Rob's #RAK that day. 

 So jumping on that hashtag bandwagon, I've recently been noting some of my #RAK contributions as well as those of others. Random being the key word. No pre-meditated niceness....it's all about the in-the-moment-let's-be-kind kinda kindness. 

Here's a few examples of what you could do to spread the love.... 

* Hoovering out my car when the neighbour's car won't start. I offered to jump start it or take him to wherever he was going. We tried but sadly were unsuccessful as his battery was capoot.  He seemed happy enough that I offered to help and made an effort to start his car. 

* I felt the urge to compliment a cast member of a production I'm involved in. She's hard working, dedicated and super talented and I just wanted her to know I think she'll be spectacular on stage. She was well chuffed.



* My colleague Eilidh woke a man asleep next to her on the bus to alert him that his stop may be coming up.



 * Rob visited a neighbour who has just had an op. He came back and immediately looked out a bottle of whiskey and the Soprano's box set and took it over to the man to enjoy as he recovers. Some guy! 


* My friend Linzi sent Rob and I an email for a  FREE trial of Hello Fresh meals(healthy ingredients sent to your door with recipe cards for you to make each meal). How lovely! 



* A woman randomly stopped Mimi to tell her she loved her haircut and that she really suited it as she has such a lovely face. Mimi really appreciated the compliment.



* Something that I do 5 days a week.... I take my colleague Eilidh tea every morning. She gets the train to my home town and then I drive us to work. 
She always appreciates a cuppa at 7.35am. 

* I came home the other night and as I sat down on the sofa after a looooong day at work Rob gestured towards to cushion next me. I lifted it to find a packet of crisps and Tanya Burr's new book that I'd wanted to buy! He's a star! 



* I always stop to give a neighbour a lift home when I see her. She's usually carrying a lot of shopping bags!


So there you have it....random acts of kindness that bring a little sunshine in to the lives of others. It really is the little things that count. No grand gestures required...just a smile, or a helping hand can work wonders and make the world a happier place. 

And those nice folks who take the time to show another human being some kindness...

Well they probably get more out of it than the recipients. 

Be kind folks. It ROCKS!

Over and out, Weesse x

January Favourites

So, erm where did my January go? C'mon who stole it? Own up!

Honestly last month disappeared & we're a week in to February, in what feels like the blink of an eye. 

Anywho I thought I'd put the spotlight on a few new products I decided to try out last month & give my feedback on them. It's always helpful I find to get someone's opinion on a potential purchase you're still undecided on, especially when it comes to beauty products as you don't want to waste your money on things that'll end up at the bottom of your make-up bag if you instantly don't like them on application.  

Photo from www.loreal-paris.co.uk

First up was L'Oreal's True Match Foundation. I've read so many fabulous reviews lately on this foundation and had been super keen to find an inexpensive, medium-full coverage dupe to my Estee Lauder Double Wear  (which is awesome  but rather high-end in the price department!).  Doublewear for me has an unnecessary staying power and coverage for my mid-week use so wanted to find another foundation that gave similar results minus the hefty price tag. My only reservation about buying a drug-store foundation was being able to find the right colour without the help of a sales assistant/make-up artist on site. It did put me off a little if I'm honest but luckily I found the patience to trawl through their entire collection one Saturday afternoon in Edinburgh until I found the colour which I thought best suited my skin tone. I also took my Doublewear along with me to compare which did help greatly. At under £10 this foundation has been a star find for me and I've also been wearing it at the weekend's too. Think I'll be rationing my Doublewear and making it last longer by only wearing it when I'm performing or going on a big night-out.  Result!

Photo from www.debenhams.com

Last year I purchased Urban Decay's Naked 2 Eye shadow palette and although I immediately fell in love every shade, I had concern that I wouldn't get the longevity from the collection that I'd expected from a high-end company. I felt like every time I used it I was packing on the product to get the desired look-something you'd expect maybe from a cheaper brand of make-up but certainly not a palette at £40.  So when I received a few samples of their Eyeshadow Primer Potion I decided to have a go.....(but truthfully) thinking it wouldn't make much difference to the application or staying power of the shadows. WOW, was I wrong or what?! It really does work! I'm finding the application is easier, the colours pop more on the skin, the fall-down of the shadows is significantly reduced and I'm using way less product each time! I think this now has to become a staple of my make-up collection for use with any eye-shadow. For someone who always applies foundation on to eyelids I'd reckoned this product wouldn't have made much of an impact to merit buying a specialist formula for under your eye make-up but it really has and I think it would be a worthwhile investment in making my eye shadows last longer. 
  There are 3 versions to choose from (Original, Eden (nude matte) and Sin (simmering)) and to be honest I have only tried the Original and Sin thus far but would probably go for the Original when purchasing the full-sized product. 

Photo from www.muastore.co.uk

Santa left a lovely new lippy in my stocking at Christmas by a brand I wasn't familiar with. I instantly LOVED the colour 'Fawn Fancy' and being a matte lipstick (which I don't normally go for) I was keen to see what else they have to offer. On searching for MUA (Make Up Academy) I've discovered they're a extremely in-expensive brand exclusive to Superdrug. £1 this lipstick cost! £1!!!!!

Here I am wearing it!

 Honestly I ADORE the colour and I'm now going be rushing to stock up on more....at that price you can afford to experiment with colours you wouldn't normally go for! Yippee! 

Lastly, I think I've found my 'forever fragrance' in Tom Ford's 'Black Orchid'.  I can only describe this scent as 'sensual' as it has a real musky, spicy heart to it. It's like nothing else I've worn before and I can't see past it now. Lotus wood, patchouli, vanilla, balsam, vetiver infused, this is likely to become a constant in my life....trust me to pick an expensive fave! 




And that my friends are my January faves which I'm happily taking with me through to February! Let me know if you try any of the above and what you think.

Over and out!

Weesse x