Day 1 of Summer-prep Princessing

You may have you use your imagination slightly here. I know this weekend is officially the start of British Summer Time but its still very very cold (and snowy in many parts of the UK!)

Undeterred by the UK weather I pushed on with my challenge and today managed to increase my water intake, take my vitamins, remove my chipped nail polish and do some exercise.

Today's exercise was a 1.5 hour yoga class, part of which (ironically) was spent on foot massage- I am now even more aware of my rhino feet. It's foot cream and cotton socks before bed for me tonight.

I've been reading a lot about Korean skincare recently, famed for their youthful and radiant skin, Korean women are said to follow an extensive skin care regime of 5 to 8 steps in length.

In homage to such dedication I have decided to adopt the "double cleanse" an will be keeping you posted on whether or not my skin is benefits.

The day in pictures...

I ate...A (slightly) naughty but very nice Bakewell Flapjack from Blackfriars. I was paying 85 pence for these in a health food shop but recently discovered Aldi stock them for an incredible 49 pence!

I applied...Vichy 3 in 1 cleansing water . The first cleansing step in my new double cleanse regime. This ultra gentle solution removes makeup and soothes skin without leaving tightness or irritation.

I admired...the dedication of Korean women and their extensive skincare regimes!

Return of the Princess...

When I started blogging, I wanted to tell women everywhere that we all deserve a little time for ourselves and that when we look our best, we feel our best.

I am ashamed to say that I haven't been living up to this ideal and as I survey my dodgy hair (that should have been cut weeks ago!) and my chipped nail polish I have decided that urgent action is required.

Luckily I am not alone in this feeling and so a group of princesses has been convened.

My mission is to get myself ready for summer! I've lost all of my baby weight but my stomach needs some toning work. I am really tired at the moment (just found out I am anaemic) so I need to boost my diet with lots of good food to improve my skin, hair and nails.

Due to time constraints (a.k.a the realities of work, family and home) I am going to undertake a slightly smaller challenge this time, 6 steps in total.

1. Improve the amount of fruit/veg in my diet.

2. Start taking my vitamins again to ward off anaemia. Also resume taking cod liver oil for my dehydrated skin.

3. Body moisturiser- every day!

4. Do 30 mins of exercise three times a week (I know this falls short of the recommended targets but I need a goal that's achievable)

5. Ensure my feet are flip flop ready by exfoliating, moisturising and polishing my nails!

6. Increase my water intake to 8 glasses per day.

In preparation for the challenge, I decided to have a final blow out, see the (shameful) pictures below...

I ate...an entire box of biscuits (oops!)

I drank...gin and tonic

I shamefully gazed at...my chipped nails

It's a mans world?!

Right now I am watching political show The Agenda.

Currently the topic being debated is the male dominated culture present in many institutions and whether or not the sexual abuse which appears to have been prevalent in many institutions would have taken place had more women been in top jobs.

I don't tend to wade in to political debate, but I do agree that it still is a "man's world"

The lack of affordable childcare, jobs for the boys attitude seen in the political landscape and the fact that we'll still judge a woman on her appearance before taking her talents and abilities into consideration illustrates perfectly that the feminist cause still has a way to go.

"So what's her point?" I hear you say.

Sure, I spend my time baking the odd cake, doing yoga and deliberating which face cream to buy. But right now I am also spending my time trying to find well-paid part-time work where my desire to be a mother and a worker doesn't stand against me.

It's sad that we often become aware of flaws in the system when they affect us on a personal level. I'd like to hope the next government will consider the working woman to be the most important voter, but I won't cross my manicured fingers!

Someone on this train smells of booze...

...I hope it's not me!

I sent the above text to my lovely friend Heather whilst nursing a rather sore head on the train journey home.

This weekend was the first time EVER that I have been away from my baby overnight. Getting on the train to Edinburgh, I was very very nervous- they change so much at the 8 month stage and I was worried I would miss something new and exciting.

We had travelled to Edinburgh for the Hen Weekend of the rather fabulous Julie (a University friend). Like many girlie gatherings, the weekend featured cocktails and carbs with a generous smattering of dancing to boot,

It was great to come home to cuddles from my daughter and a family Sunday night dinner.

Like they say, a picture is 1000 words so here we have the weekend in pictures.

I ate: Well, drank, many cocktails during our 3 hour cocktail masterclass at The Living Room. There was free pouring of a (great many) spirits, a toast with bubbly and we each made our very own personalised cocktail.

I applied: Collection 2000 Glam Crystals Black Liquid Eyeliner. This liner has added glitter making it ideal for a night out.

I wore: Lulu Guinness Lips Clutch Bag. Big enough for all of my essentials (and then some).

I admired: The lovely bride-to-be Julie who was a great sport when faced with a game of Mr and Mrs (thanks to the groom Duncan for answering my list of questions!) Can't wait for your big day.

And finally I must say, well done to our boys on their victory against Ireland today!

Freecycle, you are frustrating me!

Now my little one is crawling, we are having to baby proof the house. She seems to have a knack of seeking trouble and can often be found:

a) Trying to pull the digital box off the shelf on the tv unit.
b) Trying to pull pictures off the table top.
c) Crawling into a dark corner to chew electrical cables (!)

On a practical level I think we may benefit from emptying our living room and leaving it bare except for a layer of plastic which will provide a wipe clean surface. In an attempt to compromise however, I have been getting rid of some clutter we don't need anymore,

I decided to use Freecycle to get rid of some bits but every time I try to post an advert it crashes. After half an hour I decided to sit and sulk instead, leaving a large pile of unwanted tat in the middle of the living room floor.

Today we had an NCT reunion which was lovely, it's amazing how babies change in a few months. We enjoyed a roast dinner and there was plenty of conversation about how none of our babies will sleep through (even though they are nearly 8 months). It's always good to talk to other parents as it can help normalise things you are experiencing- for instance, my grumpy baby has a terrible cold today and I was worried she seems to be catching everything but a quick chat to the other parents reassured me that we are all in the same boat.

The day in pictures...

I ate...Toast and jam

I applied...Barry M nail polish

I wore...Zara bag

Facial oils

My new beauty best friends!

As promised, the subject of this post is facial oils. Recently they have been receiving a lot of press and after my bout of winter illness left me looking less than lovely, I wanted to try one out in order to see if my skin would benefit.

First things first....IT WON'T INCREASE THE OILINESS OF YOUR SKIN!

Sorry for shouting, but I just wanted to clear that up. The idea that facial oils would make my skin greasier was part of the reason I avoided them for so long.

Facial oils claim to refine the skin and can be used for a variety of issues including dryness, ageing, dullness and irritation.

The key is to find the oil that suits you- different plants will add different properties to the oil. Here is a very brief run down of some common ingredients:

Lavender- widely used as an agent to sooth the skin, lavender also adds a pleasant fragrance.

Rose- a very nourishing oil, rose is known as an anti-ager.

Geranium- regulates oily/combination skin.

Frankincense- heavily scented, Frankincense is known for its skin toning properties.

How to choose an oil for your skin:

What do you want the oil to do? Are you looking for an anti-ageing oil or something for spot-prone skin?

Price- facial oils seem expensive, prices often start around £15 for 100ml. Remember to balance this with the fact that only 2-3 drops are required per application therefore a bottle should last a very long time.

Ingredients- cheaper oils may contain mineral oil (an oil derived from petroleum). Although mineral oil is an effective moisturiser, there are concerns it can block pores and some individuals can suffer from allergic reactions to it.

Organic oils will cost more however for those who are conscious of the environment, it may be preferable to go organic.

Application: Generally two to three drops of oil are warmed in the hands and applied to the skin before any other moisturiser. Personally, I have been able to skip my night cream since starting my nightly facial oil.

My current favourite: Clarins Facial Oils.



Clarins facial oils have a cult following and were given a makeover in 2012.

Currently available in 3 varieties (Lotus for combination skin, Blue Orchid for dehydrated skin or Santal for extra dry skin), these oils are 100% natural and free of preservatives.

Not only are they beautifully scented but they are incredibly effective. I have only been using the Lotus variety for a few weeks but I am pleased to report that my T-zone is no longer shiny every day, my pores have shrunk and the texture of my skin is better.

Visit: www.clarins.com for more details.

Best of the rest:

The well established Decleor Aromessence range is multi-award winning. Their Neroli facial oil is a particular favourite for those seeking smoother skin. See www.decleor.com

Aromatherapy Associates Nourishing Facial Oil has recieved extensive press coverage. Although the exact formula is a well kept secret, rose oil and evening primrose are used to replace moisture and soothe skin. See www.aromatherapyassociates.com

On the high street:

Brands such as Superfacialist by Una Brennan, Botanics and Neal's Yard Remedies also sell facial oils and may be useful for those on a budget! Prices start from £9.99.

The news I didn't want to hear...

Today I had an appointment with the maxilla facial specialist at the hospital, during the appointment I got the news I didn't really want to hear- my wisdom teeth do have to come out!

I'm on the waiting list and I will go into hospital, have a general anaesthetic and get the teeth removed. I suppose in some ways it's a good thing- the pain when they get infected is awful and seems to get worse every time but I am still worried about how sore I will be afterwards.

I have spent most of the afternoon cleaning as one of my friends is coming over for dinner tonight which I am very much looking forward too!

I'll be back later with an update!