Currently Loving..........

....a whole big flippin' bunch full of stuff....






1. Dark Grey.....

I'm not sure why, but I have suddenly developed an obsession with dark grey.  I have it on my list to make a bed throw in charcoal. Heaven knows when I'll get round to making it, and maybe the colour obsession will have worn off by then, but I just cannot get enough of grey on pinterest. I've been contemplating dark grey walls, much to everyone else's protestations! Not sure I could be that brave though. I think I'll stick with accents.




2. Hot Cloth Cleansers.....

A short while ago I decided I had reached the age when I really ought to start to take care of myself more.

I'm a really girly girl. 

I can't help it.

I am drawn to sparkly, like a moth to a flame.

I like clothes shopping and spending ages at a fragrance counter.......

.....but I'm really low maintenance when it comes to skin.

Hitting my forties, and seeing the inevitable wrinkles set in and crepy eyes appear, I thought I ought to start to do a bit more to help myself out.

After reading about Sarah's new skin exploits, (one of my favourite blogs) I thought perhaps I ought to dip my toes in the world of beauty blogging too. Geez....talk about head exploding. Apparently wet wipes are an absolute sin, and don't even think about sloshing any face cream on until you've done a double cleanse. And as for soap and water............ Seriously?

A complete minefield of advice, no no's and must do's. It really opened my eyes. Errrrrr, I think I'll stick to crafty blogs, but I did pick up a few hints and tips.....which......for a low maintenance skin 'gal, are working a treat.

I've worked out, for my skin, which cleansers are the best, which are worth the money and which are not (for skin type). I've worked out how to properly use serum, night and day creams, how invaluable coconut oil is (for just about everything), and that I need to invest in a absolute ton of muslin and face cloths. Who knew? Cue many, many crochet cloths to be made too. For me personally, I started off buying several cheaper cleansers to try. I read that Superdrug's Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanser was almost indentical to Liz Earle's Hot Cloth Cleanser (which seems to be a beauty blogger's must have). I bought that, and I liked it a lot. I then went and bought more products from their Naturally Radiant range, and haven't really moved on, as I really like how they work on my skin. They do a good polish, balm and peel in the range and I use them all. I also LOVE their Optimum Serum. I got them all on offer so it worked out cheaper. Trilogy do a lovely rosehip oil which I use (but on my hands, not face). Superdrug do a vitamin E oil which is a pretty good all rounder on all dry skin areas. I've been using Lacura serum too, which got amazing reviews given its price.

I have to say though, it's all really is working a treat; and although I've not suddenly turned into Jennifer Aniston (I've become more of a fresher looking waynetta), I actually feel the forties 'drab' has lessened, and the thrities 'glow' has reappeared. 

So, although, some of you reading this may think 'huh? I've been doing this for years', I'm a bit slow off the old mark........or maybe just plain lazy.

By the way, I was not paid (or given free products) to talk about my choice of lotions and potions. It's purely what I have found to work for me.......and we all have different skin. I'm just not into paying mega money for products I use everyday, and these seem to work well for me at a price that isn't going to make me bankrupt.

In keeping with this new found 'glow', Clean eating is being sought, I'm trying to really love water (yuck), and my sweet tooth is trying to become less sweet with the aid of many sugar free recipe books.

I'm trying to be good (Avocado junkie), I have my lapses, when a big chilled wine is needed or a Mars Bar is craved. I've also just bought a waffle maker. Supposedly for the Bears (yeah right, who am I kidding), and I've perfecting the art of home made iced coffee (for these hot muggy days we are having). I've been trying different recipes, and although I'm sticking to the lowest fat ones possible......yikes......Vietnamese style.....delicious. I'm just making a lot for testing purposes mind! If I don't, how do I know what I like best?!!!!

3. Age.....

Well, I'm not loving the fact that I'm getting older and the days and years seem to be whooshing by at an alarming rate....but more the fact that my new skin regime must be having some effect. This week, someone took me for being 10 years less than I actually am. In this heat, I can't even put it down to the magic hoodie. Result. Now, ahem, I'll forget the fact that it was a young man who probably hasn't got a clue about how to judge a woman's age, but I'll take anything I can get! ha ha! The Bears' still think I grew up in Victorian times though. I also got a comment from a complete stranger on what lovely skin I had. Errrrr, I would NEVER have said I had. Seriously, how have I only just started actually paying some sort of attention to my skin? I might be able to walk around without a bag on my head now.



4. Repeat Repeat Jugs.....

I have a couple of Repeat Repeat mugs I found in my local little Department store a few years back. I LOVE them. As you know, I'm a texture girl, and these mugs are incredibly tactile things to hold. I was in the Department store again the other day, and low and behold, they do jugs. OH MY, just as tactile as the cups. They have gone down on my little wish list. They look kind of Scandinavian to me, which I seem to be strangely drawn too.

(Image from Repeat Repeat Online Website)




4. Clouds.....

Well, not so much currently loving as always loving. I have a thing for clouds you see. But this week has been particularly great on the cloud front. Baby Bear and I had a huge cloudbusting session one day this week. In just a few minutes, we saw a giant sea monster, Fantastic Mr Fox in his jacket,  and strangely, also his sidekick Kylie with his boggly eyes, a Knight, a running dog, a seal and a witch. A pretty good session.

One night the air was so muggy and heavy. There were flashes of lightning and distant roamings of thunder. I absolutely LOVE the sound of thunder. I heard the pitter patter of rain so I went outside in the back garden to feel the warm rain falling, and the sky was probably the most incredible I have ever seen it. It was every shade of swirly grey (50 shades even) and it reminded me of the scene in 'Ghostbusters' where the clouds go all weird and the team save the day. I was actually quite blown away. I desperately wanted to take a picture to preserve the image, but the rain was falling and it wasn't practical, so I made sure to preserve the image in my head.

It was mind blowingly B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.

....and if I close my eyes now.....oh...yes....there it is again........


5. Bats.....

There are nesting bats in my neighbour's house, and at dusk, out they come for a play. It's such fun watching them.



6. Lighter Evenings.....

Walks in the evenings are really rather lovely. What more is there to say?

7. Sprinkles.....


I will NEVER tire of sprinkles, but they just keep finding their way into my view.

8. The Perfect Clutch.....

(Image from Notonthehighstreet.com)

(Image from Notonthehighstreet.com)

.....for bookworms. I saw these last week in a store and I totally fell in love with them. Different sizes and book fronts. Just the cutest idea. You can get them here




9. New Music.....

.....Oh......just loving this album. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful by Florence and the Machine.



xxx