Shopping my stash – December 2014

 1. Boots Botanics Hydrating Eye Cream – to be fair I just want to use this up. I have used it quite a lot before but didn’t really notice any hydration. I will try to use it every evening before bed to see if that makes any difference.

2. Organic Surge First Class Mask – I’ve had this for quite some time so just want to use it up. It’s a nice product, the skin feels nice and soft after using it.

3. Abi Soft Sun Self Tan – I don’t normally use self-tanners but I get so pale in the winter that I need a little tanner help during this season. This one is for English roses meaning that it’s very subtle and light. It only gives a hint of colour which makes me look healthy instead of ghost white.

4. Clinique 04 Totally Neutral Eye shadow Trio – I have been so lazy with make-up lately! I can’t remember the last time I applied eye shadow. It is so easy and quick to create a day time look with this trio. I thought it’s perfect to ease me back into using eye shadows.

5. Revlon Brown Eye Pencil – I don’t even know what pencil this is, all I know its Revlon. The writing rubbed off and most of it is used up anyway. This pencil is so old, I just want to use it up. I thought it will go nicely with the Clinique trio.

6. L’oreal Studio Secrets Primer – I did not get on with this at first. But I reached for it again in the summer and it turned out to work great. I don’t usually need to use primers in the winter because my skin gets dry. But the office where I work gets so hot and stuffy that my make-up needs a little primer help in order not to melt off of my face.

I will be reviewing all of the products featured in my ‘Shipping my stash’ series at one point or another. Not everything is worth a whole post but it might end up in my empties post, random faves or a monthly fail so stay tuned.

Product use up – November 2014 empties

Batiste Dry Shampoo – I have tried many dry shampoos and always come back to Batiste. Yes, it leaves white cast on the hair BUT apart from that it is the best dry shampoo I have ever tried.

V05 Firm Hold Hairspray – okish hairspray, left my hair little bit crunchy.

Neutrogena Multi - Defence Daily Moisturiser – lovely product. I will definitely re-purchase. It moisturises well, has SPF 15, soaks in well, leaves the skin feeling soft and smells lovely (its scent will forever remind me of the holiday in Tenerife cause that’s where I used it for the first time).

Avon Far Away Exotic Perfume – I didn’t really like the scent of it. I layered it with different perfumes just to use it up. That’s the problem with Avon, the page of the catalogue smells different to the actual perfume in the bottle.

The Body Shop White Musk Sun Glow - lovely summer scent. Shame it only lasts on the skin for a couple of hours.

Bio – Oil – I’m not really sure what to think of this. I feel like it is a great moisturizer but it didn’t really do anything with my scars. I have applied it every day for about a month but the scars (one on my leg scratched by a tree branch and on my arm – paintballing!!) still look the same.

Heart lip gloss – got this random little cute thing from a friend. Just a nice one to keep in a pocket, it was quite moisturizing!

Rimmel Bronzing Compact Powder – it’s a nice bronzer. It was a light matte shade so I only really used it in the winter when I normally get really pale.

DIY Organiser Dividers

My organiser is from Paperchase (can’t find it on the website anymore but it’s a simple black A5) and it came with an insert divided into six sections. After few months of using the organiser I found that I have only been using the Diary part of the insert. I couldn’t make the other sections work for me. So I decided to make my own dividers and customise the organizer to meet my needs.

I have traced Paperchase devider shape on a double-sided scrapbooking paper and simply cut it out. I punched the holes in the dividers using a single-hole punch. I have then found a random brown envelope that was lying around on the table and cut out the tags. Glued the tags on and stamped the section names on them.

The whole process was very easy and a lot of fun. But most importantly it allowed me to match the organiser to my needs and use it to its full capacity.

Cost:
Scrapbooking paper – approximately £1 per 12x12 inch card at Colemans (I used 3).
Stamps - £1.50 at The Range
Ink - £1
Single hole punch - £2.50 at Colemans (I use it over and over again when make my own inserts).

 

Pitta Bread Individual Pizza with Parma Ham, Black Olives and Ricotta Cheese

I have to admit that I am not a big fan of cooking. For that reason I have always been into quick and simple dinners. I have lately also tried to make them ‘healthy (or rather –ier)’.

I am not really sure how I came up with this ‘healthy’ alternative to pizza but it tastes great and I make it on a regular basis.

All you need is:

LOVE!
… kidding…

*pitta bread (I use brown)
*tomato passata
*tomato puree
*Italian herb mix
*parma ham or prosciutto (your choice dependent on preference)
*black olives
*ricotta cheese
*salad mix (I like baby spinach & watercress)

Sauce:
Mix equal parts of passata and tomato puree in a pan. Add a pinch of Italian herb mix and cook for couple of minutes. Apologies but I don’t measure things! It depends on how many pizzas you want to make. I find that half a tube of puree and half a box of passata is enough for about 6 pizzas. Don’t go overboard with the herbs, add a bit and if you feel it’s not enough add a bit more. They are quite aromatic so you’ll find you won't need much.

Pizzas:
Spread the sauce straight on the pitta bread. Place parma ham on top, sprinkle with black olives (slice them up beforehand). Add blobs of ricotta and put in the preheated (180° - 200°) oven for 10 minutes.
Take them out and put the salad on top.

Voila! Simple, easy, quick and it’s a healthier alternative to a regular greasy pizza.

 

October 2014 Product fail - Clinique dramatically different moisturizing lotion

I have heard such good things about this product. I have had such high hopes. I really wanted it to work. Unfortunately it did not work. I am glad I got the mini size before committing to buying the full sized bottle.

The lotion has a really nice texture and feels lovely on the skin. It actually made my skin feel very hydrated for the first two times I used it. But my skin started to hate it straight after that. It actually made it feel dry, rough to touch and dull looking. I have stopped using it for a while. I gave it another try after about a month but scenario repeated itself.  
Perhaps I had an allergic reaction to the product? I am really not sure but I have not had a similar experience with any other moisturiser before.

The bottle in the picture looks quite full but I have used most of the 15ml of product and I feel that I gave it a good try. I had to stop using it in the end due to my skin looking and feeling just horrible.
It is a shame because I had such high hopes for this product. Oh well! My journey to find the perfect moisturiser continues.

Packing for a weekend in York

I hate packing. I never know what to take, always over pack and always feel like I haven’t made the right choices. However on this occasion the strangely warm weather made this task so much easier for me!

I’m staying in York only for one night so packed two daytime outfits and one night outfit. Daytime consist of dress + cardi and skirt + stripy top combos. Night time outfit is the simplest thing: a dress. And here’s where I always struggle: shoes.  I am taking two pairs of ankle boots and Uggs. Seems like a bit obsessive to take 3 pairs of shoes for two day trip? Well, yes it is but I need Uggs for the day outfit but if it’s too hot I will need the low heel boots but I can’t go out in any of these so I need black ankle boots. That’s my crazy thinking. Does it make sense? Probably not :).

One little wash bag with all of the make-up and skin care essentials and DONE! Hopefully this will be enough and the weather will stay lovely for us.

Oh! I'm also taking a scarf - an Autumn must.

Shopping my stash - November 2014

I have mentioned last month that I am making an effort to use/use up products from my skin/body care and make up collections.

For November I have picked 1 skin care, 2 body care and 3 make up items. I have used all of these products couple of times before but not enough to form firm opinions. We shall see what I think of these goodies at the end of November.

1. Vichy Idealia Serum – I had a sample of this and loved it so much that I had to pick up the full sized product. Having said that… sample had enough of product for about 3 uses. I am curious to see if my skin will still love it as much after daily usage for a month.

2. Bath & Body works Pumpkin Body Lotion – I have mentioned this product in my Pumpkin haul here. It has a strong scent but it doesn’t bother me yet. Skin on my legs gets SO dry in the Autumn and Winter. I hope this stuff will sooth it well.

3. Burt’s bees Coconut Foot Cream – Skin on my feet gets super dry too. I have yet to find a perfect foot cream thou!
 
4. No7 Skin Illuminator – I have had this stuff for years…. I am pretty sure I it expired long long time ago. BUT! There is only little bit left! I just want to use it up and be done with it (it’s not a bad product thou and it doesn’t break me out despite its age).

5. Benefit Eye Bright – I do like this! I am pretty sure everybody who owns this little guy, does like it. It’s a lovely product. But again… it’s old and I just need to use it up.

6. Too Faced Sweethearts Blush in Candy Glow – Now! This is new! Brand new to be exact! Super cute packaging, lovely colours, great formula. I can’t wait to use it!