Summer Lovin'...having a blast!

Being British, it is inevitable that after the first 5 minutes of exclamations of pure joy from people about the lovely weather...there is an abrupt U-turn and the complaints of stinky sweaty pits in your face on the tube, the always attractive combo of pasty arms and sunburnt shoulders and failing public transport start... not to mention the confused girls that mistake club-wear and summer-wear for the same thing and start rocking the but-cheek-chic on a daily basis (put em away ladies) and men who are incapable of keeping their shirts on when out...lads we keep our ta-ta's away, I ask you to grant us the same courtesy in certain locations e.g. Park OK...shopping center and pubs, not so much! 
However I have to admit, even with the appearance of flying ants and the daily dehydration I am fundamentally un-British and really find it hard to complain when the sun is shining, maybe it is in my blood to prefer the sun over the usual gloom that we experience 350 days of the year here in the UK...or maybe I am just high on Vitamin D, but give me a sunny day, any day...after 8 weeks of rain I can only see the good in this current heatwave (even if I am stuck indoors for 12 hours a day)....and what is better then the sun...A LIST about the sun! I do love me a good list!

10 reasons I love the Sun

1) There really is no greater feeling than that of the sun shining on your back

2) Knowing that all week Starbucks are offering half price Frappuccino  from 3-5pm, I will be spending a lot of time at the stand outside my work

3) Getting to wear pretty dresses and not having to wear tights...the bain of my life 

4) People start to smell of suntan lotion...which never fails to remind you of previous wonderful holidays and you are filled with happy nostalgic memories.

5) Is there anywhere prettier than London in the sun? I mean you could be almost anywhere in the world and it is 10x nicer in the sun, but London really is beautiful! 

6) Long walks (and therefore exercise) become something I want to do, as apposed to something I avoid like the plague. 

7) Drinking a cocktail or chilled cider at 12 in the afternoon is a perfectly reasonable thing to do, and no-one looks at you like a blossoming alcoholic.

8) Spontaneous BBQs

9) This may just be my work, but summer hours start (aka finishing at 3 on Thursdays or Fridays)

10) I am of mixed origin, I have dark features and people assume I am pretty tanned on a day to day basis, but after 5 years of very little sun and no holidays I am verging on translucent and it is not a good look...BRING ON THE TAN LINES!

If you are capable of feeling glum when it is this lovely outside I suggest you spend 5 minutes in the sun (covered in a suitable SPF of course), grab a twister lolly, crack on either this song or this one  and let "science" do the rest.

XOXO

Tell me...

1) Who? Thinks pictures on the toilet are a good idea. On so many occasions I see pictures of girls on a night out siting on the loo posted to face book. Do they think it is sexy? Of all the sexy things you can do with your panties down, peeing (and the inevitable wiping you will do with the also pictured toilet role) is not one of them...Girls I beg you to stop


2) What? is happening to my belly...I have always been fairly lucky with quick metabolism and fairly small frame and maybe (read definetly) this has made me lazy with exercise, this has never really been a problem before (apart from being horrible unhealthy) but lately, all those cheeky chocolate bar/biscuit/cake binges and addiction to full fat coke appear to have have taken their toll in the form or a rather unattractive pudge pouch. I did not sign of on this body change and it is my personal belief my boyfriend is a secret feeder and sneaks  lard into my meals...then again it is probably just the fact I eat A LOT  more calories then I burn and sit on my ass for 8 hours a day in an office with a ridiculous amount of birthdays and leaving parties with cake *Mmm cake*.  I then spend an hour each way  on my commute also on said ass so by the time I get home I collapse in a lazy pile with a cup of tea and watch my boyfriend whack out 100 pull ups after running home from Notting Hill to Mile End (he Actually does this, I suspect he is a robot)


3) When? It became OK to beat your girlfriend to a bloody pulp and show little remorse but continue on with a successful music carer untainted, infact you are probably more adored by fans. Meanwhile hundreds of equally if not more so talented but far less violent  musicians out there don't get a look in. I heard some producers at work the other day deciding on which Chris Brown song to use in a promo, we work in Kids TV...am I the only one that thinks this is a little bit wrong?  Breezy, you are a douche


4) Why? Crocs exists...I don't get them, never have never will! I mean I own uggs, which aren't to everyones taste but you can't deny they are just slippers that you can wear outside, and slippers are comfy! Honking great pieces of plastic-looking stuff wrapped round your feet? Not so much


5) How? Pregancy actually works. Don't get me wrong, I had the same Biology lessons as you. I am under no illusions of Storks and babies under cabbage patches. In fact I distinctly remember being about 6 or 7 in the dressing room of a play I was in and explaining to a confused and horrified 11 year old where babies really came from (I do still feel bad about possibly ruining her childhood, but she was 11 she should have known). BUT the idea of pregnancy baffles me...there is an extra human being, just inside your belly...you know that  post-lunch bloated belly you get...well when your pregnant it is always there and it is a child?! This small child, came from your boyfriend/husband/random hook up's junk and your lady parts, those things made a human! oh and did I mention that child plans to squeeze its way out of your considerably smaller va-jay-jay....for the most natural thing in the world, it all seems extremely unnatural to me. 


**And just as an added Bonus rant, I get the tube at roughly 7.45/7.50 to be in for 9...I have 25 stops on the District line, which isn't the most pleasant of journeys on any day! But this morning, thanks to signalling problems I spent two hours (!!) on the tube, stuck in tunnels...an hour late for work, which I will have to make up after work as we are not allowed to make up time in lunch! I know it is cliche to moan about your commute but TFL you owe me and my poor sore bottom! 

Oh life, what are you?!
In order to soothe my woes and questions I don't turn to booze, oh no I turn to Dr. Sheldon Cooper...
I'm BATMAN shhhh!

XOXO

Caudalie Moisturizing Matifying Fluid Review

Following on from yesterday's review of the Caudalie SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum today I wanted to talk about the second product I use in conjunction with the serum. 

Caudalie Moisturising Matifying Fluid

Now again, I got this product at the Caudalie event in my raffle price and chose this specific moisturiser  after speaking to one of the representatives who recommended this for my current skin woes (previous to this I was using Estee Lauder Day Wear).

The Speil-

This lightweight fluid has an instant matifying effect and long-lasting oil-control action. It reactivates the skin’s hydration mechanisms and replenishes its water reserves. The skin’s balance is restored for a velvety, matte complexion. Apply morning and evening to face and neck.The box boasts  100% MATIFYING EFFECT AFTER 1 HOUR and SKIN TEXTURE REFINED: 75%

The Product- 

Once again as with the serum the box is very simple and printed on both sides with the Vinosource colours, the tube itself seemed quite small to me so I worried about the amount of product but it contains 40 ml so the compact packaging is actually a nice bonus.

How did it work?

Applied after the thirst-quenching serum, this is applied over the face and neck, you only need a pea-sized amount as that usually does the trick. Again it smells amazing, it has a slightly more potent smell the serum but it is really fresh and clean. The serum leaves my face quite dewy but after applying this my skin is left with a matte finish whilst still retaining a soft texture and my skin feels hydrated and cooled.  To me the word matte instantly makes me worry it will make my foundation chalky but it is not a problem at all and it is a great product for combination skin. 

I perhaps would be reluctant to use this without the serum as I worry my skin would begin to dry out a little but given it's hydrating properties this shouldn't be an issue and  as a pair I really do love the combination and with my current skin issues it is a great ally in the battle against oil!
Overall 8/10 

You can pick this up at feel unique for £19.80 with free delivery, or take a look at the other moisturisers on offer to suit your skin need. 

Caudalié S.O.S Thirst-Quenching Serum Review

So unless you have been living under a rock, if you are at all involved in blogging and beauty blogs you probably would have heard about Caudalié by now? This French skincare brand really started to be known in the UK after Queen VB decalred her love for their beauty exicer and since then every beauty-aware lady has purchased the much loved item. The brand itself was founded in 1995 by Mathilde Thomas and her husband with the idea to: 

" formulate ultra effective and Natural beauty products with refined, luxurious textures inspired by the vine. For more than 15 years, we have continued our research with Professor Vercauteren, in a tradition that respects both your skin and the environment."- Mathilde Thomas

Sounds good to me!!

A couple of months ago, Glossybox held and event with Caudalié and I was lucky enough to win a pair of tickets (I did write a post but forgot to publish it, and seems a little silly to do so now) it was a lovely event, with the founder herself present and giving skincare advice along with other representatives.
Even better I went on to win the raffle which included a cute little tote bag, along with their Serum and a choice of moisturisor to suit my skin-Amazing! 

Me and Caudalie Founder Mathilde Thomas

Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum

The Speil- 

A member of the Vinosource range this serum captures and diffuses water deep within the skin to restore moisture balance and leave it feeling soft and supple. The box itself shows an impressive figure of 127% hydration increase and 61% reduction in skin sensitivity. It also contains 97% natural ingredients. Now recently my usually dry skin has started to be a little oily, which to me suggested dehydration so this product came at exactly the right time.

The Product- 

First off the box itself is printed on the outside and inside so is environmentally aware which is always a win. The bottle itself is a simple glass bottle, with the red a white colours associated with the Vinosource range.  Personally I love the bottle it is simple and elegant, exactly what you would expect from a french brand. 

How did it work?

Used after cleansing it is an easy product to add to your routine, the pump lets you get the amount of product you require and you apply to face and neck morning and night (instructions printed on the inside of the box). The serum is quite runny, and you don't need to much as it is extremely concentrated. The smell of the product is absolutely lovely, so fresh and clean without feeling at all perfumed. I am fairly skeptical with serums, I usually find them oily and feel like they sit on my skin but this was completely different, when you apply it absorbs like a dream, instantly making my skin more refreshed and soothed and it leaves it feeling softer and more hydrated. I particularly love using this in the morning, because the almost cooling/soothing effect really makes me feel like my skin in being woken up. 
Although it absorbs well it still leaves a nice dewy effect on the skin and sets it up nicely for moisturising and make up application. I use this in conjunction with the moisturiser I also received and as a pair they work brilliantly together (I will review the moisturiser tomorrow to stop this post being too long). I use a lot of different brands in my skincare but ranges are designed to work together so it is worth trying to find products in the same range as they enhance the benefits of each individual product for a better overall result.

L: The Serum : Rubbed in
Overall for what the product sets out to do, I would rate it 8/9 out of 10- only because it is quite pricey and I started using mine in Paris (April 17th) and am about a third of the way through so see it lasting about 3 months max. However most good skincare does cost a little more and this does exactly what it says on the tin (box) and I would happily purchase this product again, plus if you are having problems with dehydrated skin I would totally recommend giving this a go as it really helps with keeping my skin balanced again.
Have you guys tried this serum? What did you think?
You can get the product yourself at feelunique for £26.10 with free delivery. Alternatively order through Caudalié it is more expensive (£29) and you pay for postage on orders under £60 but hey you get some free trial size items :) It was also in the latest Glossybox so if you are a subscriber give it a go!

*This product was part of a prize, but I am under no obligation to write about Caudalie or the product and all opinions are my own.

I'm on hellogiggles...

Hey lovely ladies!

If you have followed my blog for a while you may remember my ode to Zooey Deschanel, where I mentioned the website she co-founded with two other talented ladies HelloGiggles as "an ultimate destination for smart, independent and creative females...."

Well an article I wrote for my blog has been featured on there! I am so incredibly excited to have something I have written on a website I love so much and check daily, especially as the subject matter is quite controversial and taboo.  I am thrilled that it is being read by more ladies out there...

The feedback so far has been great so far (fingers crossed it stays that way) so just thought I would share it with you guys in my hyper excitement!

The article can be found here

XOXO

Paris Day 3 and 4

I would firstly like to point out, I spent my whole week in Paris in the rain and was perfectly fine, I come back to my office and within a week, I'm coughing like an 80 year old smoker (male) spinning out and running through Shepard's Bush Westfield to find the nearest bathroom to reunite with my lunch...hot! But also the reason this post was a little late...as per. Anyway back to Paris

Day 3

Today we set off for one of the only trips you actually need the Metro for...DISNEYLAND! Thanks to work we had free admission so bright and early and loaded with a baguette we headed off.

We had admission to the park and the studios so started in the park and headed for all the big rides (the weather was still pretty poor so no ques), then over to studios for more rides (Space Mountain and Aerosmith were definite favs, partly cause I *Love* Aerosmith so was enjoying a rock out to some classics) . Although I was a little sick that day from motion sickness I still had a bloody brilliant time. Something about being in a Disney park just makes me such a child again, I waved shamelessly at Mickey and got excited when I realised the parade was on and dragged Dane out into the rain to watch the last couple of floats pass me by whilst I excitedly hummed and clapped  along to the songs. Seriously I looked a little like I was on a day-trip and Dane was my carer...no shame!
Totally worth a visit, even if the weather isn't great! It costs a little more to get there from Paris then a usual metro (around 7euros each from Nation) and tickets can be pricey but are always deals on and who doesn't want to relive their childhood and chill with Mickey?!

When we returned once again the rain was falling (I swear rain droplets are so much fatter there) and although I had wanted to get dressed up for our last night in Paris I had accepted the fact none of my pretty clothes would get to come out, so we found a local restaurant and embraced more yummy French Cuisine. After the meal we continued to another little cafe for Crepes, coffee and more football whist the torrential rain continued outside.

Day 4
Our final day in Paris and hey what do you know it decided to be sunny, still cold and windy as hell but hey no more drowned rat for me. Instead I got to rock the uber windswept look.
Today was shopping day (not for me I had run out of money thanks to my payday being the very next day). We wondered to in search of a climbing shop for Dane, when we found it and he saw the shoe collection Dane looked a lot like me when I enter the shoe department in Selfridges...men are weird. We continued around passing Notre Damn and the Palais de Justice then met Dane's cousin for lunch and more Shopping. I obviously had little trip to Zara and Sephora but only bought an eye pencil as everything was so much more expensive.
Then back to the flat for some early dinner before heading back to Gard Du Nord for our train back to England...

Dane's Version of shoe porn, can't escape the climbing, Notre Damn, Palais de Justice, Stairway to heaven aka Sephora, Quick pic with his lovely cousin Sam

All in all and in spite of the weather I couldnt have asked for a better trip. I got my kiss on top of the Eiffel Tower and my coffee and baguettes galore in cute Parsian cafes, hell I even had a triple carb sandwich (don't ask) and my first holiday with Dane. So thank you very much Dane, that's one trip to tick of the bucket list but good luck topping that birthday present ;) 

So Sad and blurry

If you are visting Paris my tips are:

• Don't bother with the metro unless you wish to start on the other side of the city, there are maps everywhere to keep you on track, you will save so much money and see a lot more of Paris. Plus if you are familiar with London I personally found the layout almost identical just on a different scale. 
• Avoid touristy restaurants (aka any that translate their menus) chances are they are 10x the price, and food is nowhere near as good as the hundreds of cafes and restaurants you find on every street 
• Remember a comfy pair of shoes and sturdy umbrella-my umbrella sadly Perished on this trip RIP. 
• Practice your french, Parisians are notorious for being snobs, and although everyone I met was lovely as with any country they do appreciate a little effort on our part to respect their language.
• Drink alcohol- seriously I am not a big drinker and when I do I only drink spirits and cocktails and hate beer, wine or cider (with the exception of Rekoderlig), so stuck to soft drinks most of the time but found beer and wine is usually a lot cheaper than in the UK and in most places the soft drinks are ridiculously overpriced (around 5 euros in some places for a 500ml bottle of coke). Although remember alcohol is a big part of the culture in France, they have a respect for it and use it to enchance meals so when I say drink I don't mean in the Engish binge drinking style, chugging your beer will not go down well. Take recommendations from waiters and shop assistants about what is good, they love to help you choose. 
• If you are a beauty blogger(or just like beauty) visit a pharmacy- they are literally everywhere and this is where you will find all the Famous skincare brands like Bioderma and Caudalie.
• Try an espresso, you will be converted.

For now Au revoir Paris, C'était magique!