Good morning

Can you believe it is already Wednesday??   Time is flying by so fast, I now only have about 40 days left before I jet off to Florida!

I'm definitely very excited for my upcoming holiday, and it is something that I've looked forward to for over a year!  We booked it such a long time ago. 

However, less about that and more about my post.

A while ago, my husband jetted off to Germany before he went to Italy.  And well, I begged him to buy me a MAC Lipstick.  I've got a confession to make....

I had up to that point never owned a single MAC product!  I kid you not!  I'm very new to the brand and find the price tags hard to swallow at times.  But I'll be working on my collection bit by bit. 

As soon as my hubby returned home, he surprised me with two lipsticks! 

Today, I'll just be telling you about one:  MAC's Ruby Woo.  In my opinion this is the most beautiful true blue Red Lipstick that you can own!

I'll let these pictures do the talking.

Gorgeous red lipsticks and kisses...

Haircare Routine

Good evening on this fine monday!

I've had a very busy weekend of digging and painting in the garden. Myself and hubby erected a fence and also painted our back fench and it was tremendously tiring!  But luckily we are now done...however, there will be more painting at some point.

How was your weekend?  I hope it was filled with fun and smiles!

Today, I bring you my daily or weekly haircare routine.  I'll illustrate with photo's and just comment on the items I use and why.

So on an ideal day, I wash my hair with the Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner (out of action sorry!).  I live in a 'hard' water area, which does mean that my poor scalp has a skits every now and again, which means that I get dermatitus/dandruff on my scalp.  These are the times when I use T-gel.

I'd then follow up the washing process by towel drying my hair and wringing out any excess water.

I'd comb out any tangles with my 'no brand' detangler comb.  I don't worry too much about brands when it comes to combs... I do however own a Denman brush.  Not sure if that is a popular brand, however I doubt it! Hahaha.

The comb just nicely removes any terribly tangly parts of my hair, and ensures that I can get any treatment products to the parts of my hair that they need to get to.  I then follow this up by squeezing about a small coin size of the Redken All Soft Soft Ends into the palm of my hand, and working it into the ends of my hair.  Approximately three quarters of the length of each hair will be coated by the serum, only the roots will remain untreated (otherwise you'll end up with greasy hair).

The Redken All Soft Soft Ends is a great treatment for your hair and definitely helps to reduce split ends.  Your hair also smells amazing and feels very soft to the touch.  I'll then continue with a heat treatment spray.  Currently I'm using TRESemme's Heat Defence Spray, which is easy to use.  You just spray the treatment directly onto your entire head of hair, and I then lightly scrunch it into my hair.

I'll then continue to comb through my hair to further distribute the products and to get rid of any new tangles.  That is when I'll start by just roughly drying my hair.  Once my hair is just damp, I'll finally finish the process of drying off by blow-drying the hair and then following that up straight away by straightening any kinks out of my hair.

This is very low maintenance and I'm dying to get my mitts on some new products.  So any suggestions are very welcome!

No bad hair days!

Anger

Anger can be one of the strongest emotions that you can feel.  It really has so many arms that make it up into the one component called 'anger'.  Those arms include passion, pain, impatience and many more.

Recently I've been suffering with really bad patches of anger.  It has truly been one of the most difficult periods in my life and I thought I'd share my experience of it with you today. 

I work approximately an hour away from my hometown, which means that I drive about 2 hours per day without any bad traffic jams or accidents.  This has really been one of the major things that has upped my levels of anger.  On a daily basis I encounter absolutely horrendous driving, bullying and irrational decision-making.  This makes me angry for many reasons, however the main reason being the fact that these people put so many people's lives in danger.  It really is tragic and makes me angry.

However, I really have been feeling like I have a constant black cloud hovering over my head.  My initial anger has lead to other things making me angry and eventually I, myself become slightly irrational. 

I've just become more and more aware of a slight depression creeping in due to this 'black cloud'.  My depression isn't the normal type where you can't get out of bed or even feel like killing yourself.  Nothing like that at all.  No, it includes feelings of doubt and deep sadness at my state of affairs.  It really affects my home life and also constantly keeps my mindset in a negative spin.  I've also noticed that I've just disliked everyone, even my friends.  But it hasn't got anything to do with 'falling out' with them - just stupid anger at nothing!

However, recently I've had a good long chat about things with my husband.  It took SUCH a load off just verbally discussing things with him and pin-pointing the possible roots of my anger.

I've decided that I will no longer let anger win.  I'll make sure that I have a happy positive mood every single day.  This is going to be my biggest challenge EVER and I'm going to have to work very hard on it.  But I'm totally committed to changing these feelings. 

I've decided along with my husband that if I'm driving, that I'll imagine myself in a bubble.  As long as nobody else enters my bubble, I will remain calm and considerate.  However, I have rights to fight (not literally haha) if they enter my bubble.

This is my road to recovery and I've got a long way to go.  It will probably take every conserted effort to ensure I remain happy every day - but I'm willing to undertake the journey.

I'm not sure if anybody else is going through a similar situation or perhaps even something different but that it is affecting you in the same ways.  But I can ensure you that if you ever sent me an email or comment that I'll be here to support and help you.

We need to be positive and happy because it really has many affects on our friendships, relationships, health and mind set.

Here is to a new happy chapter!
Angie x

Summer Nail Art

Now's the perfect time to break out of your plain nail polish routine and try something bright, bold, and fun

 

Electric Orange Tips 
Give a traditional French manicure a fun and summery twist by using a neon polish for your tips. Simply paint your nails any sheer nude shade, and once that is completely dry paint your tips in a bright orange, like Zoya in Paz, £8. For extra precision while drawing on the tips, use a thin paintbrush (you can buy one at any craft store). Finish with a clear topcoat.

Orange and Mint Triangles Don't have a steady hand but still want a complicated-looking nail art style? Try this scotch tape trick. Cut pieces of scotch tape into triangles and then paint them any bright color of your choice. A bright shade like Essie in Orange It's Obvious, £8, works really well. Let the painted tape pieces dry.

Next, paint your nails in color that contrasts well, like Essie in Mint Candy Apple. Wait five minutes for this to dry, and then carefully apply each triangle tape at the tips of your nails. For extra control, use a pair of tweezers to place the pieces of tape. Press down on the triangles firmly, and then apply a topcoat. 

 

 

 

Neon Stripes Stripes 

are one of the easiest, no-brainer nail art designs. The trick is to go for thicker stripes, because they're easier to paint on than delicate thin lines. To get this look, paint your nails in a bright pink shade like Ciate in Cupcake Queen, £12. Let this dry for five minutes, and then using a bright yellow like Ciate in Big Yellow Taxi, draw a slightly off-center vertical line down each nail. Let this dry and finish with a clear topcoat.  

Pastel Rainbow 

This pastel mixed-color mani requires absolutely zero nail art skills, but it still has a trendy, beachy vibe. You can use any five pastel shades of your choice -- one for each nail. Essie, £8 each, has some gorgeous pastel options like Mint Candy Apple, French Affair, Coat Azure, Tart Deco, and Pop Art Pink. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Grey Half Moons  

The half moon style is essentially an opposite French manicure. Instead of the tips, you are highlighting just above your cuticles, creating a half moon. First paint your nails in a neutral shade. A soft gray like Essie in Chinchilly, £8, works nicely. Let this dry completely.

Next, paint over your nails in a bright shade like Butter LONDON in Primrose Hill Picnic, £12. But do not paint your nails entirely. Instead, leave a gray crescent shape just above your cuticles. For more precision, you can use a thin paintbrush to create the half moon shape. Finish with a clear topcoat. 

 

 

 

Enjoy these amazing nail art ideas...

 

Sunshine and happiness...

 

Summer Fitness: Bikini Body 101

Evening girlies ;-)

So the United Kingdom has finally had some great luck with the weather (no rain whatsoever!) and the summer has well and truly arrived!  We've had weather hotter than 31 degrees Celcius and everyone here have got all their cute dresses, shorts and summery clothes out.

With that being said though, there are lots of girls that might not be feeling in tip top physical condition and you might still be feeling a bit self concious over your tummy, legs or arms.  Fret not!  I'm here to go on a fitness journey with you.  Hopefully we can inspire and encourage each other so that we can banish those feelings of self conciousness and finally embrace our bodies.  It doesn't matter if we have boy shapes, curves, the perfect hour glass or anything else...we are here to just LOVE who we are.

So today I'm quickly kicking off my ideas and sharing my favourite exercise guru's of the moment.  I'll be posting a very conservative picture here of my "curves" <~~~ HAHAHA to show the path that I'll be taking.  I've got my holiday in 57 days AND two weddings within the next two months.  I'd like to look and feel my best, as most girls would.

So if you'd like to kick off and join me in my fitness journey, I'd suggest you check back on Friday when I'll be proposing my ideas and the start of my journey.  You can share you're details as well and comment with ideas and tips.  I'm sure everyone would LOVE to read all your comments.

So without further ado, my favourite exercise guru's of the moment is the Tone Up girls called Katrina and Karena.  They look fantastic and really LIVE fitness and healthy clean eating. 

You can buy their DVD and Bikini range here and here.  OR check out the Tone It Up principles and tips  here.

I'm absolutely NOT being paid for saying that I love these girls.  I'm genuinely excited about their tips/tricks and exercise vids on YouTube.  It is exciting and from the heart, which I absolutely love.  Just check it out, if you don't like it fair enough!  :-)  I discovered them via Chriselle Lim's Blog, The Chriselle Factor.

Let me know if you would like to see more fitness stuff on here.  I'd love to induldge you!

Running and skipping away...

My new hair colour: Ombre vs Colour?

Hi guys and girls,

I'm sorry for a slightly later than average posting but I've been ever so busy SHOPPING!  Haha, I hit my local Primark store like a whirlwind.  For those that have never heard of Primark, it is a very cheaply priced clothing store.  I stocked up on new undies and bits and bobs that I really needed.  I was so surprised how amazingly priced most items were.  I love it when things that I need doesn't cost the earth.

I've been thinking about my hair lately, as I'm off to get a new hair cut again at the end of the month and I'd like to colour my hair at the same time.  I've currently got a beautiful vivid red/burgundy colour on my hair and it looks fantastic in the sun, but I'd like something lighter for summer time.

I'd like to keep the top fairly dark or in the medium brown ranges....but the bottom I'd like to change up.  So really I'd just like to share some of my favourite styles/colours and would like to urge you ladies to let me know which you think will work...

I'd also like to share my NEW Twitter account that is linked to this blog! Please follow me on Google Plus by clicking on the link in the top right hand or follow me on Twitter @sexyatmidnight.  Facebook is still under construction hehe!

Have a hair-tastic day!

High Pheels

Hey ladies!

Have I got an awesome product to show you today!  Have you ever wanted never ending high heel options when you go away on holiday or business?  Is it your dream to be able to also travel lightly to save those embarressing moments of unpacking your bag at the check-in desk?  Well I have the solution for YOU!

High Pheels (pronounced peels)  have recently sent me a pair of "pheels" to try and I was very pleasantly surprised!  High Pheels are interchangeable skins for high heel shoes and actually make the shoes more comfortable without any shoe modification.  The comfort aspect of High Pheels is something that every shoe-a-holic (like me) should experience and will love.  They are invented by Anthony Ciccarelli who couldn't be any nicer!

Firstly here is a You Tube video that explains the concept of High Pheels:

I was sent a pair of sparkly hot pink skins.  This is a great colour that really picks up the light and depending on the lighting it changes colour from pink to coral to subtle red.  It is so versatile and really has changed my drab old black pumps into something different and exciting.

My original black pumps

I apologise for my ugly feet (shy grin), but I've been standing on them all day and they are pretty swollen.  But I took this picture bravely to show you the effect of the High Pheels on a standard court shoe.

The great things about High Pheels is:

• Inexpensive to have multiple colors/patterns vs. regular high heels
• Currently works with most closed toe platform pumps
• High Pheels come in two sizes Small (fits sizes 5-7.5) and Medium (fits sizes 8-10.5)
• Works with existing shoes without any modification
• Increases the comfort of your current high heel pump
• Saves room when storing or traveling
• Hand washable with delicate clothing
• Can be produced to match ANY outfit

I LOVE all the colours that they have available on the website at the moment and there is a possibility to get any pattern/colour that you'd like to try out made into High Pheels!  They aren't expensive at all and can be purchased at www.highpheels.com. 

If you really want to turn one shoe into many or just give a pair of shoes a new lease of life these babies are for you!  They make the shoes more comfortable, stops your feet from smelling (and the pheels are EASY to wash) and are generally super duper easy to pop onto your shoes.

When I had to put the pheels on my shoes for the first time, I felt intimidated.  But it couldn't be easier to get the High Pheels onto your shoes. 

I HIGHLY recommend High Pheels and the great customer services of Anthony!  So get your High Pheels today, you wouldn't regret it for a minute!  ;-)

Have a shoe-tastic time!

Beat this cellulite!

Good morning beautiful ladies,

Yes, today I'll be talking about the dreaded ~cellulite~ which is the bane of most women's lives!  We all suffer from it to some extent, there are only very few that escape the horrible effects of cellulite.

Sometimes it can look like cottage cheese, other times just like minor lumps and bumps or dimples, but it is still unsightly and is something most people try to avoid.

Cellulite can be hereditary (which means you inherited the trait from a parent), it can come from bad circulation, hormonal factors and many more!

There are many known remedies on the market to try and target cellulite - however none has been proven in a scientific or medical capacity to actually work.

The best way would really be to reduce the amount or size of the underlying fat cells under the skin that causes the orange peel look.  This can be healthily achieved by eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, drinking lots of water to reduce toxin build-ups and by massaging the affected areas to enhance blood flow to the area and improve circulation.

Here is my buffing brush:

This baby comes all the way from The Body Shop and works like a dream.  It is called the Spa Fit Body Massager and retails at £7.00.   It is only available in orange/white combination, and is ergonomically shaped to easily glide over the skin to buff away dead skin cells and to stimulate blood flow and circulation.

This massager can be used with or without body scrub, but can also be used with a regular shower gel or soap.  I'm using mine with my very old solid body scrub that I also bought from The Body Shop.  This product is unavailable unfortunately.  However I can recommend the Moroccan Black Olive & Argan Oil Scrub, which retails for £9 at the moment.

I'd love to hear your favourite buffing brushes?

Scrub-a-dub-dub,

June Empties

Hi ladies,

I've NEVER EVER done an 'empties' post.  Shock, horror!

I've decided that this situation has to be put to rights and I've got to show you the products that I've run out of in the month of June.  Thus the tag 'empties' for those people that are unfamiliar with this term.

Rituals Yogi Flow Shower Gel - this smells amazing and foams up really well.

No 7 Total Renewal Micro-dermabrasion Body Exfoliator - great multi-purpose dermal exfoliator

TAAJ Micellaire Water - Great cleanser that is gentle and removes all types of make-up and dirt.

Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo - Great to keep flakey scalp at bay - especially dermatitis

My choices might seem a bit unorthodox but these are the items I regularly use to keep my skin great, my hair glossy and me squeeky clean!  I'll talk you through the reasons for using each product.

Rituals Yogi Flow Shower Gel:  Rituals is a fabulous brand with products in their ranges that smells so good you could eat them!  This shower gel is no exception and smells delicious and fresh, with a floral undertone.   I'm sad to see the end of this shower gel and will definitely be repurchasing it.

No 7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Body Exfoliator:  This is my go-to exfoliator.  No 7 products are dermatologically tested and great for sensitive skin that easily breaks out like mine.  I'm lucky enough to have tried this as both a body scrub and face scrub - and it really works.  I've already repurchased this exfoliator and won't ever be without it.

TAAJ Michellaire Water:  The TAAJ cleanser is a typical oil-based water cleanser that easily removes any stubborn make-up, dirt or grime that you might have on your face.  I've found this product to be brilliant and very gentle on my sensitive skin.  It is easy to see how their reputation has gone from strength to strength!  This is also really long lasting.

Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo:  This is my 'unorthodox' choice.  Since the day that I moved to a hard water area, my scalp has rebelled against any shampoo that I've tried to use.  Whether that be high-end or high street shampoos!  My scalp was suffering from severe dermatitis, which eventually caused bad flaky skin.  Heat then just made the situation worse, and I ended up having to take drastic measures.  I bought the Neutrogena Shampoo as a last ditch effort to get rid of my bad flaky scalp, and it worked very well.  You do have to be consistent with the application and definitely ensure that you use it more than once before your flakes dissapear.  I've been flake-free for the best part of three months now and can't be any more happy.  Dandruff is a definite buzz-kill!  I highly recommend T/Gel.

And those are my picks!  Hope you enjoyed looking into the products that I've recently run out of.  Please share about any products that you've recently run out of.

Thanks for popping by!