Clinique Anti-blemish Solutions

So to me this is super exciting!  I never get freebies so I'm so so

happy to have received this amazing one from Clinique. Especially as it is absolutely what I need! It's a sample kit of the anti-blemish solutions 3 step system.

I've had really stressed out skin since before Christmas.  It's been nearly half a year of feeling like a teen with an appalling complexion. As soon as I get rid of one large bright red monster,  it's cousins are here to stay with no invite! I feel like I've tried everything, including pro-activ which I had high expectations off, with no avail. The kit includes a deep cleaning soap, a clarifying lotion to unclog pores and an all-over clearing treatment. 

I'm unsure as to how long the samples will last me, but I promise to use this religiously and do a follow up post on my experience with these products
Please let me know if you have had any experience with this 3 step system and how it worked for you. 

Thanks for reading and thank you Clinique! I hope you can rescue my skin *crosses fingers*

Fibromyalgia Awarness Day

So I briefly mentioned in my recent nomination post that I have a condition called Fibromyalgia. It's a chronic pain conditions that I have, since being diagnosed, realise is a lot more common then I'd have imagined. Especially considering it was something I myself had never heard of before! It's a confusing condition which I still don't fully understand. It affects sufferers in many different ways and can be triggered by so many different things. What i do know, for me, this means alot of pain, alot of fatigue and annoying short memory loss. Or as i call it fibro fog.

For me it all started at the age of around 16. I would get terrible aching pains in my knees that would keep me awake at night and cause me problems throughout the day. After many trips to the doctor and several arthritis tests later the doctor simply put it down to growing pains. So my knees, at the age of 16, decided they still were not big enough? OK so I'm going to have some giant knees. Obviously I always believed there was more to it then that but then the pain would go and I'd have no trouble for months. Just when it's a thing of the past and completely forgotten about, there it was. Back in my knees causing me the most misery. I'd return to the doctor to have the same tests and eventually be sent away with nothing more then a few pain killers. This was a cycle I lived for a good few years.

It took me away from alot of the simple joys in life, the things I really had interests in like my sports. I was a sprinter, rounders player, netball player and more. These became things I just couldn't do and I slowly got more and more unfit and unsure as to what I would be able to do.

I found my niche in cake decorating and that became my new talent that I really enjoyed. I always knew I'd never be the office type and was happier being creative. I started a course in cake decorating as I really wanted this to become a career. I wanted that bit of paper at the end to say that this is something I definitely can do. Half way through my course, and during an extremely bad fibro flare up, I started to get a familiar achy pain but in my wrist and elbow. It took me a while before I could let myself realise this was the same thing. I could no longer do the most basic tasks required in my course, to kneed and roll out icing. The pain was just too much. I went back to the doctor. A different one as I'd recently moved and again the same cycle of blood tests. I hoped it would be different this time as i was seeing a different doctor in a different surgery. But instead I was told all was fine but given folic acid and vitamin d to help my bones. I was also given arthritis medication even tough they confirmed that that wasn't what I had. So no surprise this didn't help. I dropped out of my course and lost interest because it just made me very sad. I still make cakes on rare occasions for friends and family when I feel I can but it upsets me so i avoid it.
I was determined to see different doctors during different flare ups. One even prescribed me gym sessions for sports injury which will never make sense to me. I felt unheard and given up on so many times over.

One day, after a terrible sleep, I woke up in such a bad way. I couldn't do simple tasks like put my self through the pain of standing up. That one second to bend my knees to be upright would put such a block in my mind that I'd sit there for 5 minutes just thinking about doing it. My shoulders had gotten so bad I'd need help with simple dressing as by this point the pain was there to. This flare up was the longest and worst I'd ever had and I called the doctor after giving up for a year before. The doctor I saw was not one I'd seen before and was just taking the emergency appointments for the day. I sat down and gave him the run down of the last few years and he straight away said "this sounds to me like fibromyalgia". I'm sure he could tell by my face I had no idea what this word meant as he started printing sheets of information. He checked pressure points in my back and explained my symptoms, some of my personal triggers that i myself had noticed, such as weather change, and it all just made so much sense suddenly. I finally had an answer and it was relief but terrifying. Chronic pain? Likely to get worst? No treatment? Lovely. But even so I was so happy to have an answer and not be turnt away. He explained to me some options I did have such as counselling and even antidepressants. I chose to not take any of these options as I feel I've lived with it for so long I'll just carry on. At least I now can say when I'm feeling bad, I'm not just 'tired', 'lazy', 'unfit' or many other horrid and hurtful things that don't describe me at all. I actually have a condition and despite all the trouble it gives me I still live my life and am a great parent to my 2 children.

I'm currently going through physio as so many years of compensating with my body, to avoid pains, has fatigued alot of my muscles. So on top of fibro pain, I have a painful back and damage to my shoulder and knee muscles too. The physio won't help with the fibro but will help give me the tools to repair muscles and correct my posture which will take away alot of the pain I currently have. I wish I'd had this option earlier but am so glad that I have it now. I've also been offered some pain therapy to help me deal with it all alot better.

I'm aware this post sounds very pitying but as its fibo awareness day i wanted to share my personal struggle to diagnosis. I'm in a very positive mindset now and I'm grateful to have the help and support that I currently do. fibromyalgia does not define me, but it is a huge part of my life. None of us know the day to day struggles a person goes though. Not all conditions are so clear to see or even understand.

Happy awareness day to all my fellow sufferers! 

Red Cherry Lashes Review

I wanted to write this  briefreview because I have always used eylure lashes. they've never disappointed me. They don't flick at the corners, they're easily applied and they can be used over and over! But even though I couldn't be happier with them i find I'm always trying different brands. This is for one reason and one reason only, the price. At around £5 a pair that may not seem super steep and there's definitely a lot out there far more pricey but hey, I'm a bit of a cheapskate! I often try others but find that you basically get what you pay for. Back to the eylure.

For me, lashes are what make my make up feel 'done'. I don't wear them every single day but the days I don't, I always feel that my makeup looks weak. So when I do have them on I want them to stay perfect and look great.

While browsing amazon for lashes I came across the 100% human hair red cherry lashes. They have so many more options to choose from and around £3 with free postage I decided to give some ago. I bought styles #217 #218 and #1 (let me just add these are currently only £2.39 on amazon now with free shipping). I love these eyelashes, they did not disappoint me in any way what so ever! I used my own eylure eyelash glue with them and they were so easy to apply. The bands are thin enough to easily get the corners down well and they stay put all night long. Even though the bands are nice and thin, they didn't become misshaped when removing so I can reuse them easily. I even like the packaging because its designed well to store them between uses. 
I'm sure I'll find myself back to eylure here and there but these are currently my new fav and at nearly half the price. I'm loving them!
With so many choices I cant wait to try more!

Do you use these lashes? What are your current favorite red cherry lashes style? 

Keeping Kids Busy On a Budget

This is my first mumsie post but i know its something I've always struggled with.
My children, like most, are constantly needing some kind of entertaining. You may have thought, like me, that having two kids would mean they always had company and someone to play with. Nope, not at all! mostly for me that has meant always having constant bickering going on when there is nothing else to do.
Half term can be an expensive time when you have two kids. All the day trips, entrance fees, travel expenses and lunches add up.
Here's some of my favourite things to do with the kids without breaking the bank.
Firstly a pack lunch will become your best friend. No need for anything fancy. A bag and a frozen bottle of water to keep it cool (no need for an icepack) and of course a huge selection of food. Buy some sandwich bags and fill them with homemade sandwiches, fruit, veg, crackers and a few sweeter treats with a bag of crisps. Think out the box a little too (try little pots of tuna pasta or potato salad and chicken) so you don't get bored of the typical lunch box food. Your already saving money.

If your local to London The science museum is great for kids. Not only is it free, but it has something for all kids of all ages. The toddler area is AMAZING and my daughter can spend hours there. its called the garden and is aimed for kids 3-6yrs though we've been taking my daughter since she was two. There's lots of fun hands on lights and sounds activities a climbing frame and a really fun water area where the kids can play with boats and watch them drop down the current. aprons are provided! they also lave large over sized Lego bricks too. my daughter enjoys building towers big enough to sit on. check it out here

The Garden. My partner is a big kid

For the older kids there is so much to get involved in hands on too. For ages 5-8 they have the pattern pod. It encourages learning through play without them really realising! Again so much hands on interactive fun. They encouraged to make pattern prediction while playing. You really cant not

love to learn in that place. Check it out here.

for the 8-14year olds they have the launch pad. Its full of 50 interactive exhibits and even live shows and demos. You can again find out more here

Its so fun that the kids always ask to come back, and lets not forget FREE.

On sunny days my favourite place to take the kids is dukes meadow in Chiswick. Its a fun paddling pool with a fountain in the middle. Its gated up so you can let the kids run free. It also has a large sand pit and a massive park with so much to do. For the football loving kids there is a huge field, so let them bring a ball. Make sure you take your costumes, towels and a blanket to lounge on. There is a slightly pricey food hut here, though its all free to use so bring your own lunch and your golden. Buy yourself a snack or an icecream to help continue keeping this place open to the public as i believe they are not government funded. It would be a real shame to loose this attraction.

Oldie But A Goodie

Saturday mornings (and even sundays with some branches) local cinemas show films for around £1 a person any age. These are usually films that have just been released on DVD or left the cinemas a couple months ago. That has never been a problem for my kids though. They love re watching their favs. Avoid the cinema food and pop into your local supermarket for some low cost sneaky snacks and drinks. 

Me and the kids love a day out to bushy park. The play area is massive and has a huge sand pit. The play equipment is designed for all age groups.
There is plenty of field space too. The best bit for us is getting up close and personal to the deer that run free. But if your find them too intimidating, like my daughter, feeding the ducks entertains the little ones for ages. So bring a picnic, a blanket and a load of bread and find your self a nice sunny spot to spend the day.

Lammas park in staines is also great. It has a dry play park and a wet play park. Theres a river to feed the ducks and a large field to picnic on, fly kites or play football. Me and my partner like to set up a badminton net so we can keep ourselves fit too! The wet play park is great fun with lots of water squirting everywhere. Though this is only on certain times of the year so you'd need to check that if you plan on taking costumes and towels.

The Wet Play Park

I Love These Pics 

Lets not forget all our own, more local, parks. Pack all the balls and bats you own, let them take their bikes or scooters and take yourself a flask of tea and a good book perhaps. It gets the kids out the house for a couple hours and gives yourself a break too. 

If you want a day in during the week insure there is enough at hand to keep them occupied and of your case. Event fun games that will make them work together, leave you alone for a bit but also make them feel that your more involved then you may be. Tell them to hide an object around the house and draw you a detailed colourful map that you can follow to try find the item. Hopefully that will occupy them long enough to get some of your own chores done. Then you'll be more willing to play along later, to find the item. They will feel so clever too! make some homemade play dough with them and then leave them to play with it. Heres a very simple recipe. You can also decorate cakes together or get them to help with the cooking :)

With all the money you've saved you can maybe splurge out on a trip to the farm or your local pool. These usually tend to be reasonably priced and with your packed lunch, you wont be breaking the bank!
Sorry if you found this blog very photo heavy but hey, I love my babies! hehe :)

Please share with me some of your cheap day out ideas or link me to similar blog posts. I'd love to hear them!

Thanks for reading, I hope this gives you some inspiration xx

Liebster Award Nomination

I'm so happy and excited to receive a Liebster Award Nomination from the lovely Shani over at Fierce Obsession. I love that you've read and enjoyed my lil old blog here! Thanks you so much, it means alot :*

This award is given to up and coming bloggers with under 200 followers. It is a great way for bloggers to recognise each other and simply say "i enjoy reading your blog and would like to direct readers to you"

The rules are as follows,

1) Link the blogger(s) that nominated you.
2) Answer the questions that the tagger set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you’ve tagged to answer.
3) Choose 5-11 other bloggers with less than 200 followers and link them in your post.
4) Go to their page and tell them.

Heres my questions given to me by Shani and answers. Hope you enjoy finding out a little more about me.

1. What’s the one bit of advice you would give to someone starting a new blog?

Not to put pressure or high expectations on yourself. Write because you love to write

2. Who inspires you? 

My mummy :) she doesn't see herself as a strong successful person but she is truly incredible. The things she's gone through in life are terrible by anyone's standards and of every awful experience she's created something amazing. From a tough childhood she's become an amazing mother. From an awful life threatening relationship, she started a help line that supports millions of women today. She has always proved to me that nothing can stop a person because she always succeeds in her goals regardless how small they may seem in her eyes. Even to see herself through uni as a single mum with two small children after everything else she moved away from. What she today sees as her biggest weakness, I see as her proof of strength. [*Weep*I love my mum]

3. Where in the world would you most like to live?
This one is easy for me. Holland. Because that is where the majority of my family lives. and when I'm there around them,  it feels like home

4. What do you do in your day job?

School runs? Housework? Erm... clock watching? Lol. I'm currently stuck in the 'my kids are all grown, yet my daughter annoyingly attends 2 and half days at nursery so it's hard to work around' stage. I always knew I wanted to be at home to see my kids through to full time school.

5. If you could only eat one meal everyday for the rest of your life what would it be?

Omg.... erm.... wow... I'm literally so obsessed with food that most my friendships are hugely based around it! If we can't obsess over food together we frankly won't ever be besties. I think I'll have to say roast? Because I can alter that each day!

6. Besides blogging, what’s your favourite thing to do?

I get anxious when I'm alone for too long and my most favorite thing to do is to force myself upon friends and family at every possible opportunity

7. What's your favourite type of music?

I really can't give this a simple answer. Every day I wake up I want to listen to diffrent music. I could listen to afro beats one hour and then placebo the next.  It's that eclectic.

8. How would you describe your style?

I feel I still haven't found my style. I wish I could wear pajama bottoms everyday to be fair. Im Not brave enough to wear what I'd like to alot of the time and 5 days of the week I'm likely to be in leggings a top and trainers.

9. If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?

I hate this question lol sorry. I have had a lot of dream careers that for one reason or another have been almost taken of me it feels. I wanted to be a personal trainer because I used to be obsessed with sport and fitness but falling pregnant with my son meant being kicked of the course. My best skill i'm most proud of is novelty cakes but I have a condition called fibromyalgia, and a major three month flare up meant I had to drop out my course. Now the first option is completely  out of my reach too.
My answer might feel boring as there are so many amazing fashionistas and incredible unacclaimed MUAs on here with huge goals. I'm just really hoping that by September ill be working in a nursery and starting a career as a nursery nurse. the one thing my condition has never stopped me doing is being there for my own children so I'd like to do that for other people's too. That right now is my dream.

10. What is your one beauty must-have?

Sleek eyebrow palette! 100% I feel alien with out my eyebrows

11. If you could ban a word or phrase from ever being used again, what would it be? 

Easy! 'YOLO' I cringe and die a little inside when ever I hear someone seriously say this. 

So now ladies its your turn!

i would like to nominate,

Jade at Rotten Red Cherry

Hannah at Blogger Hannah

Mellisa at Poppy Bird

Jade at Her Little Loves

Amy at Amys Life Of Beauty

Here are your questions!

1. How did you come up with your blog name?

2. Who is currenty yout favorite blogger?

3. What made you decide to start writing a blog?

4. Tell us something about you that we would never know from reading your blog?

5. What is the most Spontaneous thing you have ever done?

6. If you could meet any celebrity in the world, who would it be and why?

7. How, in your opinion, is the best way to spend a saturday night?

8. Share with us your biggest fashion disaster

9. What are 3 of your favorite things about yourself? Promote the self love ladies!

10. What have you done in life that you are most proud of?

11. And my favorite question i answered, Who inspires you?

Let me know when yours are up and posted as i cant wait to read!

much love xxx

L'oreal Nude Magique CC Cream UPDATED

This is just a quick post on my first impressions of a product. I'm talking about the the L'oreal Paris new nude magique CC cream. A 'colour correction beautifier' in anti-redness green.

The claims on the packaging sound amazing! ...but don't they always. it says 'transforms into foundation, neutralises redness for a perfect nude look' and all with the added benefits of SPF 20 may i add. Anyone who's read my previous posts may have picked up on my annoyingly red face grrrrr. I always photograph redder then my friends and it irritates the life out of me. When i look in the mirror i don't feel i look red but yesterday when sharing this with my darling partner he in fact told me "yeaaaa it is quite red" hmm straight into Superdrug i go! 

so on the back of my hand when i squeeze a little out it comes out quite watery and green then rubbing it in it instantly turns into a lovely nude shade that's first wonderfully creamy and then into a nice matte, almost powdery, feeling finish. it doesn't have much of a scent that i can tell which is great for me as anything perfumed seems to put me right off. especially when it comes to foundation. 

so far so good but lets face it, I'm not going to be wearing this on my hands so i'll get on with my make up and then see how i feel the results are on my face!

Aaaaaaand I love it!

I didn't expect much coverage from a cream but it actually covered brilliantly.  I felt no need to add extra foundation other then my beloved mac pro longwear concealer under my eyes. It felt lovely on my skin and doesn't seem to be settling in any creases. As for the anti-redness and staying power, that will all be put to test tonight as I'm in my way to Drake at the o2 eeeeeek! There's bound to be plenty of sweating and photos. Fingers crossed because so far I'm really loving this.

Let me know if you've tried this product and whether you felt it worked for you

Thanks for reading! Mwaah! Xx

UPDATE
I just feel like I owe it to anyone reading this to update this post and tell you all just how amazing this product really is. Its the day after and i got in just before 2am. This CC cream out done any of my expectations. It stayed on all night flawlessly without any creasing what so ever that i would usually get from foundation (usually around the chin crease area, smile line and the frown creases between my brows). My skin was definitely red free in any photos I've seen and this with all the heat and madness of the nights events.. and i definitely didnt hold back! Not once did i feel like my makeup was sweating of my face either, like I usually would on a night out. Goodbye foundation, you have been replaced!

red free face :D

Me and the lovely Monika. Find her blog here xxx

Neon Gradient Tutorial

This is a simple way to make your nails stand out and is easier to do then it may look.

This is what you’ll need:

• Some colours of your choice. I used models own neons. 
• A makeup sponge (soaked in water and well squeezed out) 
• Acetone/polish remover 
• A brush for clean up 

For this look you need to start with a white base. This is so the colours stand out. 

I find using a makeup sponge that has been soaked in water and then squeezed out makes the sponging more even. Paint your chosen colours directly onto the sponge then press it onto your nail. 

Continue this over each nail then let the first coat dry.   

Do a second coat the same way to make the colours darker.  

Take your brush dipped in acetone or polish remover and clean up your cuticles and the skin around your nails. I finished mine of with a glittery top coat.  

And you’re done! hope you like this and give it a try!