They're real! A review

When I went to the Trafford Centre with the lovely Clare from kisses n smiles I had my eyebrows waxed at the Benefit Brow Bar.

We had a little make over by the equally lovely Sam, I asked him if I could try out the new They're Real! Mascara out, he told me that one was being sold every minute and it was due to become the UK's best selling mascara.

I tried Bad Gal years ago but it really irritate my eyes so I had to stop wearing it, luckily They're Real! is a completely different formula. I've totally fallen in love with it.

What they say;

Why we love it

they're real! lengthens, curls, volumises, lifts & separates. Our jet black, long-wearing formula won’t smudge or dry out. A specially designed brush reveals lashes you never knew you had!

What else you need to know:94% saw dramatic length & volume*
90% saw base-to-tip curl*
94% saw visible lift*
100% saw long-wearing results

Naked (ooer!) lashes

One Coat

Two coats & liner

I bloody love it! It lifts, curls and separates fantastically.

I don't think they look false but they certainly look better than they do with any other mascara.

 I've read a few reviews that say it clumps with a few coats but I haven't found that, nor have I found it difficult to remove, a few swipes with my Bioderma Crealine and it's gone.

They're Real! retails for £18.50 for 8.5g

Thought I'd also post a quick photo of Finn showing his support for Team GB whilst watching the Olympics.

How have you been showing your support for Team GB?

imPRESS Press-On Manicure

I love having beautiful looking nails, unfortunately my job and a toddler means they rarely look at their best. When we visited Leeds I was child free for the weekend so thought I'd try some press on nails, I haven't used stick on nails since I was about 15 and I'm glad to see they've greatly improved!

I chose imPRESS press-on manicure nails whilst browsing in Boots. I went for a gorgeous print called 'lovestruck' but there is an impressive 36 styles to chose from. They came in a cute little nail polish esq bottle and retail at £8.99 for 24 nails.

I loved how easy they were to apply, simply peel the cuticle tab off and stick on, they had amazing staying power, supposedly a week which I can well believe but I took mine off after 4 days as nails and nappy changes don't go well together!

Every sales assistant in each shop I went in in Leeds commented on them, this print was very eye catching and they look like you've had a salon manicure. I liked the length too, they were quite short which I was pleased with as I'm not a fan of long nails.

Do you wear false nails, which brands to do prefer?

Joliebox July

This is my second JolieBox after cancelling my GlossyBox, I much prefer it but I do miss the pretty packaging of the GB!

I received;

Etat Pur - Biomimetic Skincare B-09 - Express purifying mask

What a mouthful! Full sized product retailing at £7.50, I've been meaning to buy a new facemask for a while so I look forward to using this.

Jane Iredale - Tantasia Self Tanner

This is a diddly squat tube, I'm hoping there will be enough in it to cover my face!

Nailgirls

Two mini polishes from the Medal Collection, i received gold & bronze, not sure what I'll do with the bronze but the gold will look perfect with coral.

Wen by Caz Dean - Sweet Almond & Mint Cleansing Conditioner

Can't wait to use this, it smells absolutely divine. It's SLS free too.

To make up for last months box being late, JB have included some mini toe separaters and an extra gift, I received a Yardley's Peony Body Wash, retailing at £3.50.

Do you subscribe to Joliebox, what have you received this month?

Sunny sunday

I can't quite bare to put up a photo of me in summer clothes, I still need to drop a few *loads* of pounds, however as Sunday was a gorgeously sunny day, we got out the paddling pool and spent a lovely afternoon playing, crap clothes and no make up aside!

How have you been enjoying this weather? I need short shorts legs!

Leeds loving

So, I am currently stuck on my armchair watching The Open as I have just steam mopped the floor and forgot about the fact I can't stand on it. The glamorous life of a mummy!

Conveniently the laptop is under this armchair so I thought I'd do a little post on my trip to Leeds. I bloody love Leeds, the shops are great, and the Victorian Quarter? I was in heaven! We stayed at the Mal Maison hotel which was gorgeous, they even left me a little card and some chocolates for my birthday and their cocktails are to die for, Watermelon Martini was just amazing.

We also had lunch at Jamie's Italian which was really nice, fabulous service and the food was yummy.

I was amazed at how easy Leeds is to get around, considering we have never been we were able to walk everywhere and find our way easily.

Train art//sweet shop//cupcakes//hotel room//watermelon martini//eye makeup//ootn//king scallops//espresso martini//mojitos in jakes bar//the boy//new sandals//crispy squid//seafood risotto// more squid - need more to pay more attention to my colleges!

Trafford centre//haul//nails//hotel card//birthday present//ootn//the boy//us/boy again//drinks//bubba//cath kidston buys//impassioned//best birthday card//Pandora charm (a little boy)

Clearly you can see my diet is going well from those photos. I have issues with it at the moment, I can't stick to anything, god knows why as I'm fed up of feeling fat!

Have you been to Leeds before? I think we'll definitely go again considering it's just over an hour on the train.

Mel xx

Looking forward

I'm super excited to have a busy week lined up from Monday.

Myself and Clare from Kisses n smiles are off to the Trafford Centre for a spot of shopping & lunch on Monday and I have a fake bake spray tan booked in for thursday night as a little birthday treat to myself.




On Friday Ryan and I are going to Leeds for my birthday, we're staying in the Mal Maison hotel which I'm very much looking forward to, we have a bit of a tradition for booking each other hotels stays for our birthday and trying to outdo each other! Do let me know if there are any must see/do things in Leeds also any good bars/clubs, neither of us have ever been!
Saturday we have booked a meal at a lovely local italian with 12 other family and friends, and in Sunday it's my birthday, I think we're taking Finn to Knowsley Safari Park, I'm quite excited about that!




The following Friday I'm off to The Open. Each year it's on over my birthday so we always watch it on tv, however with Ryan's club holding the Local Final Qualifying for it, he has been able to secure some tickets. I want to make a little banner and take my autograph book just to embarrass him but I think he'd leave me!




Do you have any nice plans for next week?
Mel x

Cambridge Weight Plan

Today I embark on the Cambridge Weight Plan. Not to be seen as a quick fix which I think the recent publicility from Lauren Goodger and Frankie Essex portrays.




Here's what they CWP has to say;

"Millions of people around the world have successfully lost weight and kept it off with Cambridge. The secret of their success? Not only is CWP nutritionally balanced, it so gives you much more flexibility and choice than other weight loss options, making it easy to fit into your every day life. It comprises a six-step programme that combines an easy to follow eating plan, and some realistic, practical lifestyle changes, with the ongoing advice of an accredited Cambridge consultant. CWP is about more than just losing weight - its about helping you reassess your future approach to food"






I shall be doing Soul Source + which is VLCD of approximately 640kcals a day, you also need to drink at least 2.25 litres of water a day.

SS + is either 4 Cambridge products plus 200mll of skimmed milk OR 3 products and one 200kcal meal from a list of approved foods, mainly lean white protein 170g chicken, 255g fat free cottage cheese, 230g cod etc, and 80g of certain vegetables.

Im starting today until the 13th July, then will be restarting the following monday, its my birthday that weekend, probably not how it should be done but will be fine for me.

This diet gets your body in a state of ketosis, which is not harmful. It is where body fat is used to produce energy. Most people don't feel hungry when is ketosis, some feel euphoric, but your breath will stink so have some spray handy!

I'm off to buy some scales when the gas man turns up, I've no heating or hot water at the moment which is a nightmare, and I'll post up my weight and measurements later.

Mel x

Thursday Fashion

I had a little browse of the shops on Tuesday whilst Finn was in nursery which was lovely, I did miss the pushchair to hang my bags on though!




I picked up a gorgeous pair of jeans from Primark, I love the pastel pink stripe it's super flattering and makes my stumpy legs look much longer.
The bralette I'm in love with, I haven't a clue how I'll wear it or if I'm even brave enough but it's very pretty. This was £12 from Primark
Lastly I picked up this gorgeous peplum top from River Island for £28, unfortunately I'm going to have to return it as its too big but again this is very flattering, you can keep the look quite causal or dress it up. I'm hoping they have it in the size down because it looks so nice on.
Have you found any fashion finds recently?
Mel x
Mel x