Thirty Day Challenge - Question 1

Your middle name and how you feel about it

My middle name is Mary after my nan and of course for that very reason I love it!

I don't ever remember not liking it even when I was younger.

Book Review | The Girls Guide to Homemaking by Amy Bratley

It took me a lot longer than usual to finish reading Eclipse due to travelling into work with friends on a few days but I finally reached the end yesterday afternoon

My slight interest in Twilight waned throughout this book but I am ready for Breaking Dawn as this will be the only book I'll read without having seen the film first. I'm just wait for the call from the library to tell me it's arrived for collection

This week my book of choice is The Girls Guide to Homemaking

I'm looking forward to reading this book especially as I'm in the midst of a homemaking spurt in my flat!

Brace Face The end is near

This time next week my days with a "brace face" will be over. I toyed with the idea of getting a brace for many years until I finally became fed up of only seeing my dodgy teeth in even the nicest of photos.

When I made the decision to have a brace fitted and choosing the most discreet of braces within my price range I was still worried I might feel self-conscious but as this photo proves it was not the case! I think having a brace at a late age was the most sensible thing for me. A few years older (and wiser?!) I was more secure in myself and seeing the difference in my teeth after only a matter of months certainly proved it was worth it!

So next Monday I'll be back without my mouth full of metal (ok ceramic in my case!) to show of my straight gnashers! I'm so excited. And here's the photo reminder of what they looked like before.

 

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Funny Friday

Do we think this explains how Henry VIII obtained 6 wives?

(Picture of Henry VIII's armour from The Tower of London)

Off with her head!

Today my mum and I took a trip into London to visit The Tower of London

We spent a few hours there walking around and particularly admired the Crown Jewels and I was overjoyed when I commented to mum how Queen Victoria's Small Diamond Crown was my favourite

and she replied "you could have something like that when you get married" to which I responded "I'll be holding you to that"! I just need to find the man now!!

Book Review | Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Yesterday I finished reading New York Valentine and as expected I'm now craving a trip to NEW YORK! Oh to have 4 weeks to spend there working for an up and coming fashion label!

Today it was time to return to the Twilight saga, specifically Eclipse

I actually "enjoyed" the Eclipse film more than the first 2 films so hopefully this book will prove a good read!

Back to Work!

This weekend it was back to work in the flat, specifically my bedroom!

When I first moved into my flat I intended to move my furniture from my parents. Unfortunately Kelly & I were being rather ambitious and accepted our limitations and instead I stocked up in IKEA on new wardrobes and chest of drawers. You can see how my room used to look here

I also decided a year down the line I wanted more of a grown up and luxurious bedroom (leaving the cottage look for my spare room) and if possible my original furniture! The chest of draws didn't prove a problem but 2 wardrobes and my mirrored dressing table were going to prove more so!

Luckily enough a friend of the family knew a man with a van and today they delivered my furniture!

First please imagine the alcove wall is painted like the rest! When I originally painted it I couldn't move the large wardrobe out of the way - no excuse now! That's the next job on the list.

 The large wardrobes in the alcove have been replaced with my dressing table - I'm so pleased to have this back even if I don't sit at it!

The mirror was from Past Times, you can see my Valentines gift waiting for a home on the wall and my fabulous vintage French secretaries phone

Next to that is one wardrobes which will house my work clothes

My second wardrobe sits in another cover and inside here are my evening clothes which sadly aren't seeing much activity lately!!

In front of my bed (which you can see in this post) is my chest of drawers with TV and currently some gorgeous vintage pictures

I also brought some new bedding which I've forgotten to photograph so that will have to wait for another post!

So for now I'm off for a bath and then snuggle down in my new bedroom!

Something Old & Something New!

That Gal brightening face primer is one Benefits top sellers which doesn't surprise me!

I prefer brightening primers to foundations and there is always one in my make up bag. Whilst I'm also a fan of Barbara Daly's Face List Cream it's packaging doesn't make it easy to apply on the train 

(yes I'm one of those annoying girls who puts her make up on on the train and yes a man did move away from me whilst I was putting it on the other day - clearly he didn't appreciate my face powder flicking in his direction!)

That Gal is also one product that I use so regularly that I actually replace it frequently (is it just me or does anyone else love when they use up a beauty product feeling like they've justified it's purchase and made some great achievement?) which I had to do last week. I tend to buy it in from Boots so I get the advantage card points and on this occasion it gave me the excuse to pop into Lush in the same area and pick up their Lip Scrub that had I'd been seeing popping up on Tumblr recently

I suffer from dry lips which I treat with Elizabeth Arden's famous Seven Hour Cream in it's lipstick form but I needed something to provide the smooth base first and this lip scrub does just the job - and tastes great too! I loved it so much it went straight in my handbag and I made all my family try it when I caught up with them Saturday!

What beauty products are you loving right now?

February - A Review

February the month of luuuurve has been a good one even if the love is not of a romantic sense!

There has been good food, perfect gifts and the arrival of my new furniture!

My brother was on tv - he was shown pumping iron in the gym which you can image led to some ribbing from his colleagues!

I became obsessed with discovered Tumblr and fell asleep watching the Oscars!

March looks like it should be pretty eventful if the plans I'm making are anything to go by and of course I'll be sharing them all with you!

Book Review | New York Valentine by Carmen Reid

My reading has fallen by the wayside lately but having just collected New York Valentine by Carmen Reid from the library I have a feeling it's going to be picking up!

I've spoke of this series of books before and can't wait to see how Annie Valentine gets on in my fave place in the world!! I have a feeling I'm going to want to return before I even finish Chapter 1!