Summer: I'm coming to get you, ready or not!

I know with the weather being as rubbish as it is we might not be feeling very summery, but believe it or not summer is just around the corner and I for one am sick of the rain so I have made a vow to get myself summer ready, come rain or shine!

The clothes are so lovely at this time of year, lots of girly floral patterns and pastels everywhere and if we don't act fast they'll soon be gone and the shops will be full of cosy jumpers and dark colours again. So I'm making a stand in the name of summer, it might have forgotten us but I certainly haven't forgotten it! I am on a fat fighting mission and even if it kills me I will be setting my legs free from the jeans and tights and getting them out!

And so to the point of this post, I was recently perusing the New Look website looking for something for a black tie do, of which they had very little that was suitable. However what they did have was lots of lovely dresses perfect for casual summer days and my holidays. I love New Look clothes at the moment, they just seem to be getting it right in all areas for me and the prices are amazing, you would pay double for the same thing in Topshop (boo, hiss).

I just love all of these dresses, my favourite for everyday, fun with the kids, lunch with the girls dress is number 2. It just looks so easy to wear, keep it casual with flip flops or sandals or dress it up with a pair of wedges. The bottom row of dresses I picked out as work wear really, as the dress code at work has recently changed to 'smart casual', the two words most dreaded by girls across the land! I prefer wearing dresses to trousers as tailored clothing doesn't really suit my body shape. My favourite of these is number 9, it's smart but still has that stylish edge to it with the collar, which I love.

There is one option there that maybe suitable for the black tie event I'm going to, which is number 6, I really love the colour and the style is one I know flatters my shape. I will need to get some sort of tanning action though as this colour can make my pasty complexion look washed out.

All of these dresses are very reasonably priced, the most expensive is number 6 at £54.99 but the rest of them come in at around £25 which I think is great value as all of these dresses I would get a lot of wear out of. However I'm not made of money so I will need to narrow it down to just a couple I think and that's the hardest part!

If you're also fed up of this damp and down right confusing weather and are also prepping for summer whether it likes it or not I'd love to know what you're doing to get in the summery spirit...

Soap & Glory Hot Cloth Cleanser review

On my quest to get the perfect skin I have tried many products and many different cleansers, however I have never tried a hot cloth cleanser. For a while now I have wondered what all the fuss was about and I really want to try the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm, but before I shelled out £34 on a cleanser I wanted to try a few out first.

The first I have tried is the Soap & Glory Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser, now Soap & Glory is not a brand I particularly get on with so it may have been the wrong choice right from the start. It is one of those brands that I want to love and I rarely read a bad review of their products, but for me I have nothing but bother from all of their products I try!

If, like me, you're not sure what a cleansing 'balm' or hot cloth cleanser is, it's basically a cleanser in a cream form that you leave on your skin for a short amount of time then use a muslin cloth (this product came with one but I lost it after two uses?!) or soft flannel to remove the cleanser with the hottest water you can stand. I was worried this product might make my skin all red and inflamed but I'm pleased to say it didn't, it left my skin feeling very fresh and clean not to mention really soft. Unfortunately it did bring me out in a few angry spots the day after I used it, I carried on using it for a week or so to give it the benefit of the doubt but more spots just appeared.

So here I have yet another Soap & Glory product that I wont be using anymore, I think it may be time for me to give up on this brand and face the fact that it just isn't for me. Other than the break outs though I would say this is an OK product, it's not too expensive (around £10) and it did make my skin feel nice and refreshed (before the spots took over).

I'm thinking of trying the Liz Earl Hot Cloth Cleanser next before I go for the Emma Hardie, if you've used either of these I'd love to know how you got on.

Beat the bulge #1

A bit of a different post for you all today, although still along the lines of health and beauty. This week I finally decided it's about time I do something about my jiggly bits, and by that I don't mean the womanly curves I'm supposed to have I mean the extra muffin tops I've been carrying around. Yes I did say tops as in plural, as I definitely have more than one of the buggers!

About a year ago I started yet another diet, I had tried Weight Watchers more than a few times so I decided to give Slimming World a shot. I'd always been put off by the red day/green day thing as my love for vegetables stops at carrots and green beans so I thought it would be really difficult for me to do. Then I learned about the new 'Extra Easy' plan and it sounded a little more appealing. When I started I was the heaviest I had ever been and I felt pretty ashamed of myself for getting so heavy, I tried really hard and after 5 weeks I had lost 10.5 lbs. Then for some reason I stopped going, I can't really remember why but it must of had something to with missing a few weeks. Inevitably the weight started to pile back on, but I managed to maintain it pretty well for a while.

However over the past few weeks I have noticed a significant change in my weight and all of the clothes that fit nicely before have all become a little tighter and I just generally feel very uncomfortable. So it's time I took control and got myself sorted out once and for all! I have decided to try the Slimming World diet again as it worked well last time and I found it so easy to do, even though it does confuse me. By writing this blog post and making my weight public knowledge I am essentially shaming myself in to trying hard to lose weight every week. This is not something I feel comfortable with but as there are no meetings I can attend in my area due to my busy schedule I thought this could work the same way. 

My weakness is all things sweet, I love cakes and chocolate, I could eat cake all day long! I also have a terrible habit of having take away's sometimes up to 3/4 times a week, I always forget to take the meat out of the freezer and by the time we have got in and got the kids tea sorted and them in bed cooking is the absolute last thing I feel like doing. It's just too easy to reach in the draw for the take away menus and pig out, but not any more, I have eaten my last take away (maybe a bit optimistic) and I vow to plan my meals and cook every night!

So here goes the scary bit, last night I weighed myself and I was shocked to see that my weight had gone right back up to where it was a year ago plus 1 lb. I am now the heaviest I have ever and hopefully will ever be at 12 st 8 lb, I am a very snug size 14 and honestly I could probably do with a 16 in some clothes. My goal is to lose 1.5 stone by the time I go on holiday on 20th July, so I have 10 weeks, I think this is a realistic target as it means losing around 2 lb per week which is a healthy rate to lose weight at. I want to feel comfortable in my clothes and have the confidence to wear dresses etc. without hiding my legs in leggings all the time. 

Now I've put that out there it doesn't feel great I have to admit, I feel a little embarrassed about the whole thing but hopefully by doing this I will feel a lot more motivated each week knowing that I will be posting my weight on here. Just like in a meeting I will share with you all each week what I have been up to and how I have lost (fingers crossed) the weight. I will include any good recipes I come across and any tricks I find helpful when it comes to beating the urge to stuff my face with chocolate and biscuits. 

I know my weight could be a lot worse so I'm not getting too hung up on it but I just want to feel healthier and have a bit more confidence. If this sounds like you and you're looking for that extra push to get you motivated why not join me, we can have our weekly weigh in together and share all our tips and healthy eating plans, not to mention support each other! If you are interested tweet me at @Ashleigh_Fell and we can beat the bulge together!

Body Shop Rainforest Volume - No Silcones, No Colourants, No Parabens...No Good!

Ooopsie has been that long since my last post?!

I'm afraid this review is a bit of a downer, I've been putting off writing it as I really don't like writing negative reviews but the way I see it you have to be fair and impartial. It's no good just having a blog full of great product reviews as we all no in real life not all products do what they say they will, and I feel we bloggers have a responsibility to share the bad as well as the good.

So here goes my review of Body Shop Rainforest Volume Shampoo and Conditioner...

As I have fairly fine hair I am always on the look out for anything that can give me a bit of volume and movement, I have tried many different products some good some not so good. I am afraid Body Shop's Rainforest Volume Shampoo and Conditioner fall into the latter.

Other shampoos I have tried from the Body Shop have been really good so I was looking forward to trying this out, the smell was a bit odd but I was willing to look past that and had very high hopes. The fact it had not silicones in it was great as I thought it would mean it wouldn't leave my hair feeling heavy or coated, I couldn't have been more wrong!

It claimed to give me thicker feeling, fuller looking hair with more body, boost volume and shine without weighing my hair down. In my experience it did the exact opposite, it made me hair look really flat on the top of my head like it was being pulled at the ends and it felt horrid and after a couple of hours looked really greasy.

It also made my hair very fly away and static, which my hairdresser told me has something to do with whatever it was coating my hair with. I tried to give this product the benefit of the doubt and used it a fair few times before giving up, as I really do love other Body Shop products and I wanted to love this one, unfortunately it wasn't to be.

These cost £6.50 each as I got the 400ml size, they do a smaller size but I think it's not that much cheaper. I don't think these are cheap at all, especially when you can get better for a lot less in the supermarkets. I have now gone back to my Bumble & Bumble thickening spray and I think I'll just stick with that for now.

Have you tried these products, what did you think? Have you tried any similar products?

Topshop Nails

As you all know I have a bit of an obsession with nail polish, and I have recently discovered the wonder that is Topshop cosmetics. One of the best products in the Topshop cosmetics range I am pleased to say is there nail polish. The rainbow of colours is vast and there are tons of different shades in each colour pallet, the only problem I had was trying to decide which ones to get.

 

As you can see I went a little nuts and as it was too hard to choose I bought 6...

 

I have been trying to broaden the colour spectrum in my nail polish collection as I have pretty much every shade of pink available. I have to say I was immediately drawn to the pink section in Topshop and it took everything I had not to buy the lot!

One thing I don't have a lot of in my nail polish collection is metallic, so I thought that would be a good place to start when making my choices, as you can see I couldn't resist slipping a pink (Twilight Tease) in my basket but in my defence I didn't have a metallic pink. Next up I spotted a gorgeous silver (Winterfrost), which I thought was just super sparkly as I didn't even notice the holographic sticker on it until I got home. This filled me with more excitement than I'd like to admit. Finally I had been on the hunt for a rose gold polish for ages but they were never quite the right shade, they were always too gold or too brown. Then I spotted Topshop had a few contenders and I was pleased to find one that was the exact shade I had been searching for (Moonshine).

 

 

Next I really wanted to add some brighter but wearable colours to my collection, I had been seeing a lot of orange nails so I knew I wanted an orange (Causing a Stir) and again Topshop had a great selection. I also opted for a blue (Pool Party) which I like to call Tiffany blue as it is an exact match to the Tiffany bags and boxes. Finally I went for a green (Gone Fishing) colour that I really wouldn't normally go for. I have to say I have worn Gone Fishing a couple of times and I can't really make up my mind if I like it or not. I absolutely love the orange shade though, it is now my favourite colour and I am wearing it all the time!

 

 

These polishes tick all the boxes for me, they have great colours, they give amazing coverage in just a couple of coats (all swatches show coverage after two coats) and most importantly of all they apply really easily. If you have read my review on the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine polishes you will know how important easy application is to me, if it doesn't glide on smoothly and evenly I am instantly put off no matter how amazing the colours.

 

Once again Topshop's done good, I will definitely be buying more of these babies!

 

Have you tried Topshop Nails yet? Which colour should I get next?

 

BlanX White Shock LED whitening Toothpaste review

 

So I thought it was about time I reviewed BlanX White Shock whitening toothpaste, seeing as I've banged about the work and the activities I have been doing with it so much. As you know I work for BlanX but as with all my product reviews this will be a 100% frank and honest review of what I think of the product as a consumer.

When we first heard about the new BlanX White Shock products in the office we were all really excited about them, but like most people I was a little dubious as to how effective it would be, as to be honest I had not been blown away by the original BlanX range. They were good but I had not seen any drastic change in the colour of my teeth.

 

What you get in the box...

 

 

BlanX White Shock toothpaste plus a little blue LED light, all you have to do is take the cap off the tube and add the LED light attachment to the end of it. That then becomes your cap, there's no need to keep putting it on and taking it off again. The screw top lid on the LED acts to turn the light on and off by applying pressure to a little button on the top of the light, once the lid is loosened the light turns on.

 

How it works...

"BlanX White Shock Formula is the first daily whitening toothpaste of its kind and contains a patented self-cleaning super-hydrophilic ingredient called Actilux®.

Everyday, the organic molecules responsible for dirt, colour, smell, pollution & bacterial membranes attack your teeth.

Every time you smile, ActiluX® reacts to light to whiten your teeth & to bring back their natural splendor."

Basically, the Actilux molecules bind to your teeth, forming a protective barrier if you like, to stop all the dirt, food and bacteria attacking the teeth causing staining. The Actilux then reacts to light, whether that be daylight, your bedroom light or the LED accelerator, to break down all the yucky stuff and wash them away with your saliva. Meaning the more you smile the whiter your teeth will be!

The blue LED works to accelerate the whitening power of the Actilux, as the toothpaste passes through the light, as you sqeeze it onto your toothbrush, the formula is activated so it is ready to start working as soon as it hits your teeth. You can also use the light as a daily treatment by holding it up to your mouth and shining it onto your teeth for about a minute a day after brushing, to give it that extra kick start.

 

My verdict...
I can honestly say, cool blue light aside, I really do love this toothpaste. I have been using it for a couple of months now and I have definitely noticed a difference in the colour of my teeth. Unfortunately I think I'm one of those unlucky people who naturally have a slight yellowish tint to my teeth and I have one uncooperative tooth that refuses to go white. I have tried pretty much all of the whitening toothpastes on the market and BlanX White Shock has been the only one that has made any difference to my one unruly tooth, it isn't white white but it's definitely white-er.

The best thing I have noticed about BlanX White Shock is not just the whitening effect but the cleaning too. You can definitely tell that the Actilux is doing it's job of preventing all the food, bacteria etc. that cause discolouration from sticking to your teeth. We all know that furry tooth feeling we get when we've eaten too many sweets, I used to get furry teeth after one cup of tea, now I don't them at all, not ever! My teeth feel much cleaner when I wake up in the morning too, no more nasty morning breath for me.

How much does it cost?

BlanX White Shock is available in two variants, one with the LED light and one without. You'll be pleased to know that the toothpaste in the tube is exactly same in both variants, and the LED light is reusable. This means that you don't have spend £7.49 on the LED product every time, instead when that runs out you can buy the £4.99 product without the light and just attach your LED to the end of that one.

At the moment the BlanX White Shock LED is only available online from BlanX and Feel Unique. The BlanX White Shock without LED is available online from BlanX and Feel Unique again but also from Asda stores, and soon to be available in Morrisons. By June/July both products should be available across all the major retailers as well as Boots.

You may think I'm bias but as a 100% impartial consumer I would definitely recommend BlanX White Shock.

Have you tried it yet?

Blogger award double wammy

Whenever I get a little slack with the blog posts I always worry that I am putting followers off or my visits will drop and I am constantly amazed when not only does that not happen but I gain more followers! Over the past few weeks I have been it's fair to say pretty pants and I have been completely overwhelmed to find that not only have I gained 8 new followers practically over night but I have also been nominated for two very lovely blog awards.

 

Nika from Makeup by Sparkle nominated me for my 3rd Liebster Award and Emma from World of DilEmma nominated me for my first Versatile Blogger Award. Thank you ladies I am very touched that you have enjoyed reading my blog. I am going to try and combine these two awards into one post so I will meet in the middle on the rules.

So lets get to it, lets start with the rules...

Liebster:
1. List 11 facts about yourself
2. Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you
3. Ask 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate
4. Choose 11 new bloggers with less than 200 followers to nominate
5. Let everyone know they've been picked

 

Versatile Blogger:

1. Thank the person who nominated you
2. Include a link to their blog
3. Select 15 new blog/blogger you've recently discovered or follow regularly.
4. Nominate those bloggers for a Versatile Blogger Award, leave a link to their page and a comment on their latest post to let them know they've been nominated.
5. Tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

Random facts about ME...

1. I love my job.

2. I'm from Barrow-in-Furness originally and now live near Preston.

3. I have a bad habit of picking my nose (gross I know)!

4. I am addicted to cheese Doritos, Snickers and Pepsi Max (all the healthy stuff).

5. I HATE fish (eating it).

6. People who boast and talk about how much things cost reeeeally get on my pip!

7. I have only not worn nail polish for 2 days out of this year so far.

8. I love a good night in.

9. I do not own one single MAC product, shocking for a beauty blogger I know!

My answers to Nika's questions...
1. What is your favourite hair product?
DGJ Organics - they sent me some products to try and I've never looked back!
2. Do you prefer curly or straight?
Straight
3. What do you order at Starbucks?
One of those iced thingies, I don't like coffee
4. Favourite summer scent, body spray/perfume?
I don't tend to change my fragrance very often, I find one I like and stick with it. At the moment it's Marc Jacobs Daisy.
5. Your favourite moisturiser?
Body: Body Shop Body Butter. Face: Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion.
6. Your guilty pleasure?
One Direction
7. What is your favourite food?
Mexican
8. Do you ever sleep with your makeup on?
Not since I discovered Bioderma
9. What camera do you use for taking pictures on your blog?
My iPhone
10. Best drugstore product (anything from makeup, skin, hair, body)?
Rimmel foundation
11. Did you make any friends on blogger?

I have people I chat to occasionally but nobody has befriended me yet :(

My questions for my Liebster Award nominees...

1. Why did you start blogging?

2. What's your holy grail product?

3. Would you ever consider cosmetic surgery?

4. Do you prefer high end or drugstore beauty products?

5. What would be the first thing you would do/buy if you won the lottery?

6. What was the last book you read?

7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

8. Who would play you in a film about your life?

9. What's your favourite holiday destination?

10. If you could have a super power what would it be?

11. What has been the worst beauty product you have purchased?

 

And finally my double award nominees are...

Jaime Ombre

Bags, Bows and Boots

Tilly's Street

Pretty Fierce

Pretty Me Blogs

From the Heart

For the Love of Thrift

Gazing Away

Mintadelic

 

 

So there you go, thanks again for nominating me ladies.