Re-visiting New Years Resolutions and Wild About Beauty

A little over half way through the year (where has it gone) and I've been thinking about the resolutions I set at the start of it.

• Drinking more water - well I've really tried and I have good days when I down glasses then bad days when I forget, but I've definitely drunk more that last year.
• Magazines - swiftly moving on to the next, epic fail, full stop.
• Bra's - work in progress.  Measured twice so far this year.  I'm varying between sizes, bra dependant so I need to buy majority of them on line.  I just need to do it and accept no amount of padding is going to give me what I had pre breast feeding.
• More beauty treatments - the hubby bought me a voucher for a massage for Valentines Day but apart from that, another fail, oops.
• Make-up - as below!

I still had a birthday voucher left for Debenhams (saved from January, I'm good I know) so when I was lucky enough to have a very patient 6 year old with me for a change, I had a browse round the make-up.  I have read a few reviews about some Wild About Beauty products, namely their multi-purpose tint.  It is a brand devised by Louise Redknapp and make-up artist Kim Jacob.  I decided to try a new lipstick and eyeshadow.  The sales assistant helpfully applied a few lip shades, a red one and a peach one.  I opted for peach and chickened out with the red.  Although the child was nagging me to get the red, it's just not a colour I wear on my lips regularly, I like subtle tones.  The main selling point for me though was what the products contained; 'packed with skin-nourishing, naturally active ingredients'.  The lipstick has Wild Mango Butter, Argan Oil (super moisturising) and SPF 15.  The eye shadow contains Vitamin C and E and Aloe Vera.  Maybe it's an age thing but I defintely care so much more about what I put on my skin now.  I loved the ethics behind this brand and so far, the products haven't disappointed.  The lipstick stayed put for hours and I didn't have to apply my lip balm after an hour (which is usually the case).  The eyeshadow goes on really well and was shown that if you apply with a moistened brush (she dipped hers in rose water) the colour intensifies.  I am yet to try this out.

Powder Shadow £13 in alana

Nutrilips Colour SPF 15 £15 in 03 betty

I will be heading back to try out the Lip Pencil Duo as anything with coconut in gets my vote (coconut oil is this case) and the Golden Beach Bronzer which is packed with vitamins.  Has anyone else discovered this brand?

I've also purchased a second lip colour recently (via Ebay, thank you Ebay) by Stila.  I had a lip glaze given to me a while back but never opened it, not really sure why.  I've definitely been missing out as it's a great gloss colour without being to sticky.  I then found out that none other than Mrs Beckham also shares the love with her favourite being the 'Mocha' colour, so I hit Ebay to found one!  It actually smells of coffee as well!  Another recommendation on the beauty front from me.  I'm off now to drink water and read a magazine in a bid to work on my other New Years resolutions, it's a hard life....

Old verses new; Mocha and Sugar Plum

New Years Resolutions Update

I am going to keep on at myself as no one else will, they are my resolutions to fulfill so if I write about them more frequently, hopefully I will succeed more!

1.  Getting measured, well I did.  And to my amazement I wasn't wearing the wrong size just it was far to loose!  After being strapped in properly, my current bra's didn't feel so bad but they are old and pretty much at the end of their life.  I was given a different style to try which fitted so well, but didn't give me the cleavage I was after.  A week later and they went down to £6, so I have purchased but they are currently still sat on the hangers.  I know at 32 I really do need to realise my petite frame up top isn't going to magically grow over night but no one is happy with what they've got, so a push up bra has always been a must for me.  I will let you know if the 'good fit' style ever leave their hangers!

2. Reading my magazines on time.  Well I have a huge back log.  Who throws out old magazines without reading them?  I just can't!  Even a year old big fat glossy mag deserves a quick scan through, you never know what you might find.  I am trawling quite quickly through my 'Style' magazines so I'm hoping in the next month.......

3. Manicures.  I have semi booked one!  Provisionally booked 2 dates whilst I get my head around the child care.  Over a month in advance, how organised!  Next is a free facial voucher I received after buying my Clarins hand cream months ago.  I need to book that one in pronto, my skin needs seeing to.

4. Water (pinched from fellow blogger Avril).  I think this one needs post-it's stuck around the house to remind me.  Is it only me or does anyone else just forget to drink?  Food I never seem to forget, drink, I could go hours upon hours.

5. No experiments with make-up to report on, it's been a busy month so far!

Not make-up but this last week I have been trying Sudocrem on my breakout of blemishes (I would like to say hormonal but in reality, it's down to the chocolate, end of).  I have read about it several times but as I had a pot open for the baby's bum (!) I thought I would give it a go.  I wouldn't say it made them disappear over night like some reviews have suggested but it definitely dried them up quicker so I will be using this little trick again.  It doesn't rub in so well, so you only need a pin head amount but it sits there doing it's job overnight.  I love reading beauty tips like this that I can try without spending any extra pennies.

New Years Resolutions

I am sharing with you my New Years Resolutions in the hope that by making them pubic, I just may stick to them!  I am keeping them short and sweet, small baby steps (I am a Capricorn - I don't do change).

• Be more experimental with make-up.  Due to having a mere few minutes to throw on some face before the school run, I have got very stayed with what I wear.  After being introduced to Benefit's Browzings (I got the real one for Christmas, for more info, see this post) I feel it has changed the shape of my face.  I'm sure there's plenty more work to be done to better hide the bags and occasional pimples, and on the positive side, to brighten my smile so to speak!

• More manicures/beauty treatments.  I've said this for a while now but never stick to it.  In my head an item of clothing is 'forever' where as a treatment is a moment in time.  However after having my nails beautifully manicured for over 2 weeks, it made such a difference to how I felt, even if I was just in jeans and a breton top. Image and style isn't just about what you wear, I need to remind myself of this!

• Get measured!  Nearly a year on from my second child who I breast fed, I still haven't been.  I know I am going to hate being told how small I am so I cheated and bought one new bra in my pre-baby size, oops!  I have to bite the bullet and just crack on with it, good foundations are essential to an outfit. 

• Read my magazines on time.  I always end up reading weeks/months later and miss out on things!  I need to keep up with the times and what the kids are wearing these days!

Any of you brave enough to share yours so that we can help each other out to achieve them?Please shout at me if I don't report back, I will try my best to mention them as and when (see the PMA there...) I tick these off but hey, I'm a Mum, I'm allowed to be forgetful!

Putting it off....

Clothes shopping that is! I'm going to lose weight, I'm going to gain some weight, I'm just going to get that handbag from my wish list then....then I will sort out my wardrobe.

Does anyone else feel the need to put off buying clothes? Are we all becoming so obsessed with designer & cheap throw away accessories, as they are a quick and easy fix to an outfit? Don't get me wrong, I hold my hands up, I LOVE handbags and shoes. Handbags are so easy for me to buy, because I know exactly what I like...and I don't have to remove clothes to try one on. I have grown to love shoes, due to unfortunately being blessed with odd-sized feet. Short fat size 3 on the left, skinny long size 4 on the right - my friends have found it very amusing, however it's a struggle with peep toes, as you can imagine. As I have grown older I've realised the extent of my habit (- my own shoe & handbag wardrobe), is down to the very basic fact, clothes shopping for my shape is just not that easy. I am a petite pear and was still wearing Tammy Girl in my early twenties. For me, 'bottoms' are a sore point particularly so I stick with jeans and leggings - easy option. I get far more satisfaction and a quick fix by shopping for a new handbag or pair of shoes. So whilst my accessory collection grows, I find myself with an ever depleting wardrobe of trend wear. I have lazily become too predictable and safe by living in Primark long-sleeve tee's and Topshop Baxter skinnies for my quick high street fashion fix.

So, I challenge you all to set a late New Years resolution with me - and try to stick to it. On your next clothes shopping trip, when choosing an item consider and try on a wider range of styles. Try to buy a piece that is a little unusual from what has become your norm. Be bold and brave, add to that hanging rail in your wardrobe, not the shoe rack on the floor or shelf of handbags. Stop putting it off and buy for today! Happy shopping!