Mid week – Tesco mini shop.

Well this is a first, I had a day off today and this was full of errands, including Dentist, Hospital and Letting agent appointments.

The house needed a quick stock up on a few things.

I like to go to the big supermarket when I get chance mid-week and in the middle of the day as everywhere is a lot quieter.

I get to have a browse around the clothes and offers in peace without trolleys going into my heels.

Also this helped me see some of the special offers on items I actually wanted to buy.

Here are the images:

Household:

I like the house to be clean and hygienic, I also like it to smell fresh. I had run out of own brand antibacterial spray and wipes. I then saw the Dettol range on offer and this was double the size of the usual spray I get for 5p more. Also the wipes. I wanted the citrus fresh for a change. Also as well as my candles I like the fragrance stands in most rooms to keep them smelling fresh. Therefore I bought fresh cotton. I am getting a new car this week and got the matching car scent too.

Food:

Gluten free purchases, Bagels, pasta, sliced white bread and very yummy looking cookies.

Beauty:

I this week ran out of primer and my make-up doesn't last all day without it, this was on offer with all other Nivea items. Therefore I stocked up on essentials at the same time.

I do like Tesco big stores as they have a clothes section as well as a nice home wares section. Today I saw a nice wall clock and cute pillows. As well as useful and practical holders for in my bathroom. I think I shall save next months and get them. Just to help the living room and bathroom feel finished.

Speak soon

Nicola

A little bit of me time: What I do to relax

After a few hectic weeks stress and tension can take hold and create aches and pains.

I used to treat myself to frequent “Paid me time” in the form of either a back massage, Gel nail, or facial.

But over time this fades out of the window. If you are like me you buy the do it at home gel nail kit, and the cleanser, toner and moisturiser set for an at home facial. I even tried one of the massage chairs for at home that sit on a dining chair.  You think you have done yourself justice to give you some me time and “treating yourself” hopefully saving yourself money at the same time.

Nails:

Well I do agree that doing my nail at home etc has saved me a lot of money as the kit cost around £70 all in with polish and a set of gel nails at the salon is £20. So this made the money back in a matter of weeks. However hard I try I cannot get my nails to last longer than a week without peeling off. My salon nails always last at least 14 and usually close to 21 days. I think it is due to me having a good and bad hand etc and them spending time on the job.

Facial:

Well I do always take my make up off at night now and moisturise twice daily thanks to my dressing table. However if I hold my hands up. I never go through the whole, ex-foliate, double cleanse, toner, mask, moisturise system.  Today my skin is glowing and radiant after having an facial.

Massage:

Well I have tried few gadgets over my time but you can never ever beat a trained massage therapist. I don’t link the touchy nice massages, I prefer to know that what they are doing is actually un knotting my back (hence I usually have a sports massage) But like today I had an aromatherapy massage giving me time to relax stretch out and distress.

Yes today cost me money, and yes I had to go to the beauty salon, but this was 1hr30mins of pure relaxation and me time. I came out feeling fresh and chilled (a feeling I have not felt for a while)

I don’t know if I can justify this every month, but I shall be trying to keep this up more frequently (it had been a year)

What do you think? What do you do to relax?

Nic

Essentials Items Superdrug Online Shop Haul

I needed essentials and this is what I got.

I like to online shop rather than do an impulse buy when I am at a supermarket. I can get the same priced items and have a read of the reviews at the same time.

I knew I needed:

Makeup

Moisturiser

Eye cream

Cleanser & Toner

Spot Stick

I ordered on the Sunday evening and got free standard shipping. This came with Royal Mail thee following Friday,

Outside the box was Superdrug branded, inside the items were packaged with brown paper and bubble wrap on the fragile item. Also included was a copy of Superdrug’s dare magazine.

This lot came to £15 and I got a lot for my money as many items were reduced or BOGOF.

What do you think?

Nic

My Daily Facial Skincare Routine.

I do have very sensitive skin is just normal otherwise apart from at certain times of the month I get a bit spotty.

Usually if I stick to non-harsh products and dont swap and change around my skin stays clear and trouble free.

Morning:

Mecellar water, day cream and lip balm.

Night:

Micellar water, full cleanse and tone, eye cream, night cream, lip treatment.

Rush Job:

Kirkland Face wipes and Vaseline.

About once a month I use a clay or tea tree based face mask and a nose strip. On very rare occasions I will use a for sensitive skin facial scrub.

Any suggestions

Nic

I have a dressing table.

Finally I have a dressing table. 

This is one thing that I have always wanted and never had room for. When I moved late last year I didn't think I had room either. However I was wrong. I needed to find something that would fit in the gap and also go with my existing furniture. I didn’t have the world’s biggest budget either.

A few weeks ago I did the research and a blog on this: http://nicolasnewthings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/dressing-table-decisions-help-needed.html

I decided on the Argos set, as this was the best value, had the full set including the mirror and stool and could be delivered before my birthday.

I did have to wait 10 days for the delivery but the item was in stock, it was just unfortunate that they didn't have a driver in my area before. However this still came before my birthday.

On the day the driver called me about an hour before so that I could arrange to be home. He also carried the box to my front door, (a 1^st floor flat). Everything was in one box making it quite heavy.

The dressing table set too about an hour to build, this could have been done by myself however some parts needed force and a friend helped. Once built I love it, the mirror looks like it is at a strange angle but this is ideal for me with the position of the light in my room to look down towards the mirror. I cannot quite get my legs under the table and have to sit slightly off to the side. But this is not a problem for the few minutes I am at it. There are 2 big deep drawers and I have stored my hair-dryer and straighteners in there.

I have my perfume box on the top.

My cleansers (so kept upright) and my brushes.

Then plastic storage boxes with sections. Face, eyes, lips, hair, nails, other (highlighters etc).

I can safely say I have used this every day, twice a day and I don’t know how I managed before. I know it sounds cliché but I like spending the 5 minutes in a morning and 5 at night doing something to take care of myself and it helps me feel better.

What do you think?

Nic 

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Essentials.

On a recent holiday I saw this in the on board duty free.
I was lucky to have some birthday money left. Also when you spent £5 on food and drink (This is very easy to do on an Easy Jet flight) you got £5 off duty free.

I have heard so much about this range and could not wait to try it.
Here are a few pics of the items:

Eight Hour Cream - Intensive Moisturising Hand Treatment
Eight Hour Cream - Skin Protectant
Eight Hour Cream - Lip Protectant SPF 15.

I shall review my thoughts in a week or so after using the items.

Speak soon

Nic

What would I like this Valentines day 2015?

Valentine’s day.

Well I have never really celebrated valentine’s day as it was seen to be just some commercial holiday to bridge the gap between xmas and Easter. Also it is just after my birthday so I usually prefer a more personal present on “my day”.

However, Who wouldn’t love to receive any of these items.

Roses: Well who would say no, however I know it is too early but I would prefer a bunch of daffodils. But if to be traditional I would prefer a mixed bunch of red, pink and white.

Chocolates: Any I’m not picky……. Although I love the Thorntons premium collection. As there is only 1 chocolate I don’t like (the coffee one) or a dairy milk dairy box (double layer of course)

Wine: Well go for pink and you’re on your way. My all-time go to is, Gallo – White Grenach as this tastes like strawberries. However my all-time fav is not out this time of the year as it is a summer exclusive.

Candles: Of course for me it has to be Partylite, However I may sway away from my beloved Iced snowberries towards the new Forbidden Fruits, Berry Boudoir fragrance.

Bath: Well this would have been a boring one, as last year I would never have ventured away from simple bath items. Now I have been opened up to the world of Lush, as long as it’s not citrus or too glittery my skin seems fine. I am still in love with the comforter.

Perfume: Well I have so many already. I would not know whether to go for something new, or fill up on something existing with a memory. I think the travel set I saw when away would be prefect. With 1 fragrance I know I love, and a day version that I like but don’t have. Hugo Boss for her – Day & Night.

What would you like?

Speak soon

Nic

My January favourites 2015

January Favourites 2015

This month I do have a few items that I could not have lived without.

Hand Cream: I have been using pretty much anything I can get my hands on. I have been loving the Q10 cream from Tesco. this is less than a pound and I have about 3 tubes so that I can get hold of it and slap some on. This doesn’t make your hands greasy in small amounts.

Lip Balm: Blistex intensive repair cream. This has a tingly menthol taste which I don’t really like. However this cream is amazing. Especially with the constant changes in weather we have at the minute. I try and apply this at least twice in a day. Always before I go to bed at night.

Body Moisturiser: I am still loving the Body Shop Pink Grapefruit body butter. I recently got lots of the matching range including the body sorbet, but I have gone straight back to the butter. Especially at the moment where my skin feels dry and unloved. Great to slap on a good layer and jump into PJ's.

Snow Boots: For Xmas I had been asking for supplies ready for the upcoming ski holiday. I had been lucky to receive a pair of fluffy on the inside Tress pass snow boots. All of my ski clothes were in the theme of black and cerise pink. Well these were black with pink stitching. They are the comfiest shoes in the world. I had been wanting to hold out for the holiday. However with the cold weather and snow I used them before going away.

Suitcase: I had been advised before travelling to a snowy country that I shouldn’t take a roller suitcase as this will just get wet. Therefore I got a lightweight space saver suitcase. Well when it arrived I didn't think I could fit a full weeks clothes in there. Well I did and due to the lightweight and squashy sides I easily fit in my bulky clothes and was well under the weight limit for the flight.

What have you been loving?

Speak Soon

Nic