Summer Favourites

I've never done a "Favourites" type post before, but as I love seeing "favourites" videos on good old YouTube and similar blogposts I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon too - as with everything blog-related I am way behind the times!

As much as I'd like to, I'm not going to be silly and promise a monthly favourites post - firstly, because sadly I don't have enough disposal income to be able to regularly buy lots of different beauty products to try, and secondly because I am boring a creature of habit and tend to repurchase the same products if they work for me!

I think I'll just call this a seasonal post ;)

Apologies in advance for the questionable picture quality - I think it's because I uploaded via Picasa.

Nivea After Sun - unfortunately a necessity as I managed to burn myself to a crisp last weekend... a classic case of "wind burn"! This doesn't really count as a regular favourite, but I've included it because I've used it so much lately.

No.7 Quick Thinking 4 in 1 Wipes - I always stock up on these when Boots are running their No.7 £5.00 discount voucher promotion. These are hands-down the best wipes that I've tried and they don't leave my skin feeling tight afterwards. I'm not sure whether I would pay the full-price of £7.00 for them though.

No.7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser - I love, love, love this stuff! I'd been lemming after the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish for ages, and then I saw this No.7 version for a fraction of the price so thought I'd give it a try. It leaves my dry and sensitive skin feeling hydrated and amazingly soft. I use this around three times per week and it hasn't irritated my skin at all.

I still haven't tried the Liz Earle range so cannot compare the two, but I'm really happy with the No.7 cleanser. This is the second bottle that I've purchased. If I had to find a negative it would be that it only comes with one muslin cloth, but I buy extra muslin cloths from the baby aisle in Tesco to go with it (or you could use a normal flannel).

Shower stuff - The last bottle of my beloved Snow Fairy is almost gone so I'm currently using The Body Shop's Dewberry Bath & Shower Gel. I remember this scent from the 90's (showing my age here!) and it's light and fruity for summer.

Too Faced Natural Eye Palette - Since buying this a couple of months ago I've been using it pretty much every day for work (the middle row mainly).  I was lucky enough to be able to get hold of UD's Naked Palette when it was first released last year and I've used it to death. The Too Faced palette makes a nice change and I'd say that the quality is on a par with UD too.

No.7 Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser (Shade: Light) - Another repurchase. I always turn to this once the weather turns warmer and only wear my usual Revlon Colorstay when I go out for the evening. The only negative I've found with the tinted moisturiser is that I look somewhat orange if I apply too much, but it's fine as long as I use it with a light hand.

Soap & Glory Hand Food - I always carry this (travel size version) in my bag. I love the scent and it moisurises my hands nicely. Job done.

Missoni Acqua - my current summer perfume of choice. I alternate between this and Clinique's Happy, which I much prefer, but as I'm running out of Happy I'm using this every day. I'm rubbish at describing scents (so I won't bother trying) but something of Acqua reminds me of Ralph Lauren's Polo Sport For Women perfume.

To borrow Missoni's description of Acqua:  

Missoni Aqua is a fragrance of 'the beach, water and sunny summer of Sardinia'. The beginning is fresh and juicy with citrusy notes of bergamot and grape, united with melon and narcissus. The floral heart combines violet, peony, blue freesia, and lily of the valley. The base notes are iris, jasmine, and 'the sunlight which is sparkling on the surface of the open sea'.

Umm... yes.

 

Tigi Bed Head "Small Talk" - Forget mousse! This is the only thing that gives my limp, flat, flyaway hair some serious oomph! I use around half a pump on the midlengths through to the ends when my hair is wet, then blowdry and style.

Small Talk is supposed to smell of blueberries, but I smell bubblegum and actually I really like it!

A bottle of this stuff will seriously last you forever.

BaByliss Waving Wand - I also have the red BaByliss Conical Wand, which I adored until I got this. I find the Waving Wand MUCH quicker and easier to use as my long hair doesn't keep sliding down the barrel and overlapping like it does when I use the Conical Wand.

I'm really, really crap at doing hair but this makes glamorous hair a doddle (if I can master it anyone can!) and it's given me a lot more confidence when it comes to styling my hair. Overall, the Waving Wand gives a more natural look compared to the spiral curls that you get using the Conical Wand.

Adding some other things into the mix... I'm currently loving these too:

The Family (series 1) DVD - I missed this series of Channel 4's The Family when it was shown on TV, but my lovely friend Gemma (she tweets here) raved about it. I saw the DVD online recently and thought I'd give it a home! Oh my goodness I've been obsessed! IMO the Hughes family are definitely the best family to be featured so far (and I love their house too!). I'd love to see a catch-up episode to find out what they're all up to now.     Did any of you guys watch this? 

"I Heart Hollywood" by Lindsey Kelk - The second in the series of the "I Heart" series. I really enjoyed the first New York book (possibly because I'd been to NYC and was obsessed with the place!) and it made me desperate to return. So far this instalment is a good read and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all turns out - I have the third "I Heart Paris" book ready and waiting!

Yankee Candle in "Creamy Caramel" - If you're a long-term reader of my blog you may remember this post from last summer - and I'm still loving Yankee Candles! I love anything toffee/fudge/banoffee related and this candle truly smells good enough to eat. I will definitely repurchase this again! 

Strawberries and Raspberries - Since starting WeightWatchers I've eaten more fruit than ever before (which is all good!). These are two of my favourite fruits and I have been buying punnet upon punnet of these lately - may as well make the most of them while they're in season :)

For an extra yummy treat I add a spoonful (or two) of Nutella. Oh so good!

I hope you enjoyed this post - something a little different from me!

Have you blogged or YouTube'd about your summer favourites? If so please leave me your links so I can have a nosey :)

Thank you for reading, have a good weekend xx

Last day of Summer 2009???

Feelin' hot baby! Today has been scorchio!! It was THIS hot when I left work today:

Half of the car had been in the sun though!! After I had driven the couple of miles home, the real temperature was:

One downside is that I have been stuck inside the office all day (hurrah for air con!), but I did manage to actually feel some of that lovely summer air when I took the post, wow that was the highlight of my day ;)

And the nice weather's going to end tomorrow, boooo. I'm sure it knows when a weekend is looming.

The other downside is the fact that it STINKS here atm. It almost takes your breath away haha! I think all of the local farmers have decided to take advantage of the balmy weather to do a spot of muck spreading. As if they don't annoy all of us enough by causing massive traffic jams because they insist on taking their tractors onto the roads when we are all going to and from work!

The whole town is suffocating under the heady aroma of Eau De S****e. Nice.

Ohhhh it's HOT!!

Lovely summer vista from my hammock :)

I really shouldn't be complaining that it's too hot while I have a week off work... but it is, well if you want to be out doing stuff anyway!

It's been 29 degrees C here today and very humid so has been waaaay too hot to start staining the garden fences as planned. I did have a wee sunbathe before lunch and lasted about 10 minutes before my lily-white English skin begged for mercy - not a good start for the attempted I've-been-lazing-in-the-garden-while-you've-all-been-working tan...

Spent most of the afternoon begrudgingly indoors trying to keep cool whilst watching Wimbledon. Too hot for housework ;) The Murray v Wawrinka match is currently on - COME ON MURRAY!!!!!!!!!

Am going to see my Mum tomorrow so am looking forward to spending lots of time with my Mummy while my sister is at school :) I never see her alone, as much as I love my sister and step-dad, so it'll be great.

Enjoy your summer days! x

I'm back!

Wow... I haven't been on here for sooooo long! Apologies that my last post was sombre - I was obviously having a sentimental day. Grief does that sometimes!

I'm not sure why, but I've never been able to get into blogging - very annoying as I love to write and I thought that I'd be blogging away like crazy. Maybe it's the thought that others can read it.... who knows!

Anyway, I have now resolved to blog, blog, blog (I don't think anybody ever reads this anyway so what the hell).

Hmmm... well, summer's here and I feel energised and inspired to BLOG :), to read that HUGE pile of books that I keep buying, to decorarate the house and to finally sort out my garden - beginning with sprucing up the fences with a fresh lick of cuprinol!! Hopefully I'll get lots done in the next few weeks as I have a week's annual leave beginning 29th June - I can't wait!!! (Hopefully I won't be too distracted by Wimbledon hehe).

Enjoy your weekend x