I’ve been working hard recently and enjoying spending a fair amount of time after work socialising and so my blog has been neglected a little (okay a lot). But I recently went along to Vogue’s Fashion Night Out on the 23rd of September, an evening where Regent’s Street, Oxford Street and the surrounding area came alive after hours with added attractions for shoppers and bloggers alike.
I was invited along to the Superdry event at their store in Regent’s Street where I was Continue reading
Throw out your espadrilles, fling those Birkenstocks into the bag of discarded and unloved sandals that you keep at the back of your wardrobe (admit it, we all have an overflow bag of shoes). Solillas has arrived in London armed with huge amounts of Balearic charm and beauty. Continue reading
On my way home from Australia I spent a good 7 hours in Singapore Airport. I had run out of money and had $2 Singapore dollars to my name (which I spent on a Dunkin Donut…only $1.70). I tried to sleep in the quiet napping area but was repeatedly woken by cleaners banging their metal dust pans next to my lounger. In the end I walked and walked and then nosed in the expensive boutique shops. Places like Burberry, Bvlgari and Hermes. Feeling slightly like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman I hastily left these shops knowing that I wasn’t looking my best after a 8 hour flight with no sleep and no make-up on. Plus I had my j-neck cushion bouncing off my hand luggage which made me feel like I was a refugee from a festival.
I walked over the The Sunglass Hut. I have a Continue reading
Last week I returned from Australia. It was my first long haul holiday and also the first that I took all on my own. There are lots of stories I could tell you but I wanted to share one about human kindness.
In my last few hours in Melbourne before I flew thousands of miles home I wandered the streets looking for somewhere to eat. I stumbled across Pho & Co and since Pho (I’ve even made it myself before) is only second to ramen on my favourite foods I thought I’d treat myself.
I ordered summer rolls (chicken) and a bowl of their eye fillet pho. I had expected my started to come out first but they were both set down in front of me at the same time. No worries as I had some time to kill before my flight.
Not the actual bowl of pho…
The summer rolls were lovely, fresh and full of soft herbs with a nice flavour from the pickled mango (which is a first for me). The dips were standard, sweet chilli and a slightly puzzling hoisin sauce (didn’t feel very Vietnamese to me).
Then onto the Pho. I was a little worried about the lack of inciting smells steaming from the bowl and when I took a spoonful of the broth I could taste why. The broth was very light and had very little depth in the flavour. I expected to be able to taste the star anise and touch of cinnamon I have come to desire. Alongside was a plate of accompaniments. Including fish sauce, more hoisin sauce and some crushed nuts (I think) and chilli if I wanted to add. I don’t react well to fresh chilli so I left that out and added all the fish sauce and a little of the hoisin. It still didn’t lift the broth. I ended up eating some of the noodles and the beef, which was amazingly tender but again lacked seasoning as it languished in the watery broth.
As a sporadic blogger I generally don’t get many invites to blogging events so I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email to Musical Bingo, an evening claiming to be an original, interactive club night.
In keeping with my trying out new things and saying yes to life I jumped in with both feet and kept my expectations in check. I’ve recently kicked my meeting-new-people fear into touch so all I had to worry about was my normal going to a new place issue. In short I arrive early, cannot find the entrance (especially I find in Shoreditch, which seems to have abandoned the concept of signs on buildings…) then spend several minutes wandering round and round checking and re-checking Google Maps in case I have got the location completely wrong.
All invited bloggers were given the opportunity to Continue reading
After a long hiatus from my blog I’m back. Last year was an exciting time for me. Lots happened, good and bad (some fantastic) and my life changed in so many ways. Needless to say I’m viewing the way I live my life differently.
Facing my fears and saying yes are a big part of this change. As a child I had no fear of flying but after a large gap when I hardly travelled it grew and grew but no longer. This year I am taking my first long haul flight and a well deserved holiday.
This led me to thinking about my lashes, which are naturally very fair, something which I hate when going to the beach. So I am having them tinted to save me from panda eyes.
After having a patch test where my wrist was dyed with a rather fetching circle (hurrah no reaction!) I booked in with a local beauty parlour in Richmond, Beauchamp Beauty.
So here is a before look at my lashes…
I wasn’t told whether I should wear mascara on the day or not so I opted not to. I never normally venture outside without it so I felt quite spooked until my work colleagues told me that I looked no different (off to buy a new, better mascara then!).
At the salon I was introduced to my beautician, Stephanie who showed me into a room with a really comfy bed complete with blanket (it has been quite cold recently). All snuggled up under the blanket she took me through the process and how long it would last before starting.
Barrier cream was applied to my lids to prevent the tint staining my skin and then a cleverly shaped pad was placed under my bottom lids before I closed my eyes. The application was okay, it felt quite relaxing and after the tint was applied (blue-black colour) a further pad was placed on top to stop me from blinking.
A hand massage later and the pads were removed and the tint wiped away. It took about 20 minutes in total so perfect for a lunchtime visit.
I looked in the mirror at my newly darkened lashes and the tint has given me the appearance of wearing eye-liner as well as longer lashes. I wasn’t able to curl my lashes after my appointment so I waited till I got home to do so.
When I went out to buy some make-up at the weekend several people said that they thought I had naturally dark lashes. I have to say I’m loving not having to remove mascara every night.
The lash tint should last between 4 and 6 weeks with the use of a water based eye make-up remover so I have booked in for just before my holiday to make sure my eyes look their best for the beach.
I’ll update my post to let you know how well it lasts.
Have you been tempted to tint your lashes?
UPDATE:
It’s now 5 weeks later and I’ve had my lashes tinted again. Only within the past 10 days have I noticed that they are looking like they needed a top up, mostly at the base of my lashes with the false eye-liner effect wearing off. But I have been really impressed. My lashes look great with only curling required and I’ve found that my eyes have been less sensitive, normally I itch my eyes a lot so I’m putting this down to the lack of mascara irritating my eyes.
Next month I am trying out a brow tint too (as they have a special offer on) so I’ll be posting about that at the end of March.
I was first taught how to make cakes by my mum who allowed me to watch as she creamed butter and sugar together (and allowing me to have a little taste), before magically transforming a somewhat yucky looking mix when the eggs were added to a super yummy cake mix once the flour has been totally incorporated. Fairy cakes were then my favourite as buttercream could be added to make butterfly cakes. Now I try my hand at many different kinds of cakes, soft and creamy coffee, indulgent lemon drizzle, simple yet elegant Victoria Sponge Continue reading
I have realised that my beloved cowboy boots are on their way out. The (faux) leather is peeling (so lovely) at the toes and are starting to let heavy rain in when once they were the perfect summer boot for showers.
So I thought perhaps a new pair for my up-coming birthday. Great. I never have many things I really want so a new shiny pair of boots for the summer would be just the ticket.
Until I found them. Continue reading
I’ve had enough of the winter now. The cold blasts of air through my clothes, the way the damp weather makes my hair frizzy and dry all at the same time, and the dry skin crying out because of all the drying central heating and layers upon layers of clothes I have to wear to stay warm.
And it’s not just the weather causing my skin to rebel and attempt to turn into tree bark, the fact my bathroom has no heating and turns into a place I want to spend as little time as possible makes me less inclined to strip off in there for any kind of beauty treatment.Heck, even shaving has to be done in the shower and because my hot water tank is the size of a thimble I have to turn off the shower if I want to shave my legs or wash my hair.
But this weekend isn’t too bad. Yes it’s raining outside but at least the Continue reading
In an attempt to stop the temptation of shopping I am merely going to show some of the sale items currently on offer that have caught my eye recently. Repeat after me… I will not buy everything….I will not buy everything…I will not…oh maybe just the one then 😉
Kats Whispers 
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