Christmas: A Summary

There's even less time to be on the internet than usual when the family are about...but I don't mind since it's Christmas!

 I felt like my Christmas started two weeks ago when I went to visit one of my best friends in Wurzberg, Germany. She's over there doing a PhD and now has a German boyfriend and looks like she might be there for good!

I really love the Frankfurt Christmas Markets in both Birmingham and Leeds, so I thought December was the perfect time of year to go and visit: I could see the real Christmas Markets! Safe to say, we drank a ridiculous amount of gluhwein (mulled wine), and feuerzangenbowle (mulled wine with extra rum and sugar, mmm), and ate currywurst (sausages in curry sauce), strudel, almonds, gingerbread and pretzels until we felt sick.

 Once we were back home in the UK, we were frantically finishing off our Christmas shopping in preparation for the big day. We stayed at my Mum's for the day itself- it was just my immediate family and Ted, but it was really nice, and that meant more of Mum's amazing dinner to go around. The dinner is the best part of Christmas for me and it has to be authentic... I just don't understand people who buy frozen roast potatoes and packet stuffing!

 We've accepted that we're too old to expect presents anymore, but Ted got me a lovely selection and I was really pleased with what my parents still bought me! You may notice a "hippo" theme running throughout! It's good to be back home now enjoying our presents and eating all the chocolate!

 Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

 Jess

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Late on The Whitepepper Bandwagon

I always promise myself that I won't jump on bandwagons, and I almost always cave in a few weeks/ months later. Of course, this means that instead of being "on trend", I'm just plain old late- but at least the things I buy are more likely to be in the sale?!

This happened with this "The Whitepepper" dress... having seen llymlrs and others sporting the classic gingham smock dress (monochrome + classic style means it can be worn all year round, with anything), I was seriously lusting after it.

BUT there was this niggly feeling at the back of my mind: I just couldn't help but feel that it looked like a school dress! So, without further ado I checked The Whitepepper website, and ASOS, for alternatives... and lo' and behold came across this beauty.

 

Technology issues are still the bane of my life, so below is a screenshot of a phone photo (long story) when I was working away in London last week. The dress is still monochrome "enough" to go with a lot of colours, and this mustard cardigan is one of my favourites.

I have a confession though- I'm not totally sold on the "smock" style, as it just completely drowns me and leaves me feeling boob-less, so I decided to belt this one in. It's not a problem until summer, but I also felt less like it would blow up and reveal my knickers!

TTFN!

I've been shopping #1

Considering the rate at which I buy clothes, I should really be sharing them on here more! Since my work laptop is pretty much the only computer/ tablet that works at the moment (and it has no usb port, blocks social media, and won't let me use the "clip to polyvore" button), I couldn't take photos and instead have had to just show the items that I can find on polyvore for now... which hopefully means proper outfit posts of the rest are coming soon, when technology likes me again.

I've been shopping #1 by moneylessjess featuring a bobble beanie hat

After searching for ages for a Christmas jumper that wasn't too cheesy, this one caught my eye. I don't feel like Christmas jumpers are very girly, and this one isn't the warmest, but I wanted it all the same.

These Office trainers are adorable, though I'm not really sure how to style them! And the boots from Dorothy Perkins are actually PERFECT, a chunky tread and a bit of a heel but at the same time still a fairly girly feel, plus they are so comfy and snug!

I bought the jacket and hat with a £20 New Look voucher I won on Cherry's blog... unfortunately, temptation got the better of me though and I also bought a few other things, including onesies because they actually do ONESIES WITH FEET (my tootsies get too cold for the normal kind).

The jeans are just my staple in another colour (topshop jamies), but whilst I usually buy 30x30, these ones make me look like there's a flood coming... they're so short but it's too late to change now, so I'll just have to wear them with high enough boots!

I'm really pleased with this dress too, I think it's the perfect Christmas party staple and I've already worn it several times!

 What have you been buying lately? 

The Not-So-Favourites

After a recent (okay, not so recent, technology woes!) blog post about my favourites lately, I was recycling some empties and started thinking about whether or not I should be blogging about them. Some of them were regular, boring items that I'm sure there will be time in the future to bore you about, but for some of the others, I just thought "this was a bit crap". I guess because so many bloggers receive press samples and the like, reviews etc that I read are around 95% positive, but actually there are plenty of duff products out there, and I really wish bloggers weren't "afraid" to post negative reviews.

 But then, maybe the bloggers are too well read to buy products that they have read even slightly negative reviews about? Anyway, here a few items that I've been disappointed with:


- Imperial Leather Foamburst Shower Gel in Sweet Vanilla and Cherry

Without naming names, I read a review about this shower gel on a pretty well respected beauty blog, with the blogger saying just how amazing it smelt and how good it was on sensitive skin. I love the concept of a foam shower gel, but in reality? Not so much. I do a lot of travelling, and rather than waste my pennies on travel sized toiletries, I usually just decant my current shower gel into a travel bottle. With a foam, though, you can't do that- plus this stuff comes out so fast. Also... I most definitely don't have sensitive skin, and I am generally "average" at shaving my underarms. But it stung like crazy!!! And, the smell is just too sickly for me, and doesn't linger.


- The Body Shop Rainforest Balance Shampoo and Conditioner

Still on my quest to find THE shampoo for my oily hair, I tried this stuff. I did persuade myself to finish the bottles, but it was quite an ordeal- the conditioner is okay but the shampoo is such a strange texture, a bit dry and grainy, and as a result is really hard to lather. Any difference to my hair was definitely for the worse- no change in oiliness, and a lot more straw-like. Both bottles are very thin and yet the contents are really thick, so it's pretty difficult to get anything out once you've hit about halfway.

- No7 Stay Perfect Compact Foundation

My "normal" foundation is No7 "Beautifully Matte", but I thought I would venture out slightly via a different product from the same brand. Having loved mousse foundations, this compact intrigued me, as the foundation itself is like a solid cream. But, the colour seems darker than the same colour in other No7 products, and for oily skin it's an absolute nightmare... it's a long way off mattifying that's for sure. My other issue is that you don't get very much product for the price... and also, whilst the compact and mirror idea is nice, and the sponge makes it quick and easy to apply and blend, there's something yuck and unappealing about applying foundation with a sponge you carry about with you, even if you wash it. Oh, and it smells medicinal.

My next post will be a little more positive, honest!

What products have you been disappointed with lately?

OOTD: A berry nice £8 Primark dress

No, my technological devices aren't fixed, but I have managed to borrow a Macbook for a small amount of time!

I am a terrible human being and have only just started my Christmas shopping! Here's what I wore when we ventured into York to start our present-buying today...

Dress: Primark £8/ Coat: ASOS last year/ Tights: Primark £3.50/ Boots: Topshop £42

Friday was payday, and with it came the obligatory wander into town, including Primark since we don't have one in York. I was impressed that other than "essentials" (lots of fleece-lined tights like these, and loads of fluffy socks), I only bought one thing- this dress. I love paisley print (though I only have one playsuit in it other than this), and the colours just spelt Autumn to me. In fact, there's something so pleasing about burgundy and navy together. The dress has elbow length sleeves, which is great for me because I'm pretty nesh and can't stand sleeveless/ short-sleeved dresses in winter, even around the warmest of fires. I still think I'll always be wearing it with a cardigan over the top though! The fit is nice, with a tight top and flared skirt (it flashed up as tea dress on the till, but I'm not one for understanding dress types). I would say though (and I'm sure you can see from the photos) that it's a little too tight, and I had to undo the zip to be able to reach the back of my head when straightening my hair. Definitely quite scared of ripping it. Nonetheless, for £8 I'm not really complaining.

I couldn't decide whether to go for burgundy or navy tights with this (spoilt for choice, right? black and grey were options too), and I went for burgundy even though it's slightly the wrong shade. I live in these fleece-lined £3.50 thick tights from Primark, though they don't really wear very well on me.

These days no pretty dress is complete without a fur coat on top, and my black hooded faux fur one from last year is still going reasonably strong, thank goodness!

Do you like our freshly painted dining room?! Haha. Decorating is such hard work!

Jess

Favourites lately: I smell honey

As I jotted down a list of items I wanted to write about in a "monthly favourites" type post, I realised I must have turned into Winnie the Pooh without noticing. At the top of the list were five items, with a common theme: HONEY.

What with all the save the bees campaigns, I suppose it's not a surprise that honey-mania has swept the beauty world. What IS a surprise is that, despite the summery vibes and smell of honey, this is my MID-NOVEMBER favourites.

The first of these items that I bought, was the perfume "Honey" by Marc Jacobs. I'm another cliched sucker for the pretty bottles, and I absolutely love love love love "Dot"... when I first saw that Honey was being released I couldn't help but think about how great they would look together on my dressing table.

 I must confess, I didn't even bother smelling the perfume before I bought it, and to begin with, I wasn't so sure. But it's been a grower, and is now everything I want to smell like. A little bit floral, a little bit sweet, and a cute bottle to boot. As with the rest of the products in this post, the scent isn't quite what I think honey actually smells like, but maybe I eat strange honey as they all smell quite consistent!

The next three products are from the Herbal Essences (feat. Nicole) "Bee Strong" range. I was in the market for a new shampoo and conditioner, having never really settled on one and becoming bored of going for shampoos "for oily hair". They were half price in Tescos and I'm so glad I've tried them. I completely abuse my hair with straighteners, and now it's growing the damage is becoming much more obvious. Since using this stuff my hair looks so much less broken, and smells amazing, plus it's a lovely creamy texture to apply. The third item is a "leave in" strengthening cream, which left me feeling a little nervous as I've always had oily hair and to me that just means adding grease. I'm not completely convinced this stuff actually does anything, but it's nice to use several products in a range together, and this combined with a finishing cream does make my hair smooth and manageable.

Finally- I can never resist a good old body butter (though I try to avoid buying them at full price!), even in winter... I sort of like the feeling of putting a onesie on before the butter has had a chance to sink in, is that weird?! Anyway, I can never turn down a scent I've not tried in The Body Shop before, and this "honeymania" version was exactly that. I don't think there's much to review, other than to say that, like most of the Body shop butters, the smell doesn't linger for more than a couple of hours, though the non-fruit versions are slightly better for that, and also thicker too, meaning that you need less and yet feel like they're more moisturising!

I really like all of these products and will be sad if I find out they're all "summer specials" that I won't be able to repurchase! Is there really such a thing as a "summer scent", after all?

A fox, some birds and a great big failure...

Evening. To say it's "blog every day in November", well, the three days I haven't blogged look particularly bad.

The thing is, whilst I started off enjoying #BEDN, it's actually too restrictive. Yeah, okay, I should have been creative, should have used tenuous links to the themes... hell, should have scheduled posts far in advance. But I didn't. I was busy, working hard, decorating our house, playing dodgeball. Time is of the essence and I don't want to spend it mulling over things I don't actually want to write about!

So, I've failed #BEDN. I might use a couple of the remaining themes if I think they're interesting, and I might actually remember to tweet that I've posted on my blog twitter account... but I probably won't. Nonetheless, I've learnt to do what I want to do, and I've learnt the balance between posting too much and not posting enough. I'll write more often than once a week (I sincerely hope!), but I'm not going to push it.

Anyway, less of that... the failure has been introduced, but where, I hear you ask, is the fox, and the birds?

Well, I'm still waiting for the postman to bring my new camera, so in the meantime all I can muster is a few outfit photos on my rubbish smartphone (really selling it, right?). Last week we went for afternoon tea for my granny's 85th birthday... and as I snuck into the (beautiful) toilets I couldn't help but snap a quick picture of what I was wearing, because I loved it.

The dress is one from Ark that I mentioned in my "wishlists" post, and I really love it. It's the simple chiffon style that I really like... this type of dress is really my staple, for work, for casual, and even for going out! Plus the colours and the birds are so pretty. I'd wanted a khaki cardigan for so long when I saw this one in H&M for a fiver. I actually wanted it to go with floral dresses, but I think khaki really is a colour that goes with everything. The fox bag is one of those cute ebay purchases from a while back, having seen it on a few blogs. When I first bought it I thought it was too quirky and didn't like that it had no inside pockets, but I'm wearing it quite a lot now. I couldn't resist bringing out the noughties Primark necklace too, and these Topshop boots.

Afternoon tea was nice but a little dry and not enough fruity cakes! What would you wear for afternoon tea?

#BEDN: My workspace?

I read the theme, "your workspace", and laughed a hollow laugh. When we planned out the rooms in our house a year ago, we didn't really give much thought to workspace.

"I dont need any" I said.

"All I need is a decent quality notebook".

And whilst my love for a good notebook remains, I really do wish that I had somewhere at home to work from. Somewhere to sit with my laptop and a mug of tea, reading blogs/ writing emails/ finishing off a spot of work. Instead, we have one desk in our (open plan) living space, and Ted's laptop is firmly upon it... and I never feel like I can throw him off.

So whilst I rack my brains for a location for "my" workspace (I'm thinking of a super space-saving fold-down desk attached to the wall, or something), I'll leave you with a few of my favourite pretty notebooks:

 (Clockwise from top left: Cath Kidston, Paperchase, Waterstones, Ocado)

#BEDN: Two places to visit in York

Everybody loves a good day trip to York. A walk along the walls; tea and cake at Betty's; a peek inside the Minster. But what do people who live there do at the weekends? Well, I can't say I "know" as we seem to be away most weekends... but I've lived in York for just over a year now, so I thought I'd share my two favourite places.


The Restaurant: RUSTIQUE

When me and Ted first came to look round houses in York, we walked into the city centre, exhausted, in search of somewhere to eat. When we go somewhere new we like to avoid chains etc as we could go to them anywhere, so we were only looking at independent restaurants. We happened upon this little French restaurant, "Rustique", and whilst they were very busy, they could squeeze us in on a table by the door. The interior is so, erm, rustic (!), and makes you feel like you're in Paris. The service was amazing, and the food?! The creme brulee is to die for, as is the beef bourguignon. And the price is great too... all night Sunday-Thursday, and before 7 on Fridays and Saturdays, they do an amazing set menu for just £15 for 3 courses. I wholeheartedly recommend this place if you are staying for dinner in York (though do book if you can... but there are actually two of these restaurants now).

The Vintage Shop: YORK PURPLE HAZE

I'm funny with vintage shops; even though I love (and own some) vintage clothes, I still feel a bit like I don't belong. So, after months of walking past the beautiful front of York Purple Haze, and admiring the pretty dresses and the amazing vintage bicycle in the window, I finally ventured in. I'll be honest, all I've bought so far is a pair of sunglasses, because I do find the dresses and jumpers a little bit pricey, but soon I really will take the plunge as they are just so pretty! If you are ever in York shopping, definitely try to find this place!


...sorry that there are only two recommendations here, but the truth is, I haven't explored York enough myself yet. If I could give you one other tip, it would be: don't go to Betty's, you'll always queue, there are millions of other lovely cafes, and the original Betty's is in Harrogate anyway!

#BEDN: Blog Chat

I'm not very on top of things lately. Last night, I got home at 2am after getting lost following A1 diversions and spending 7 hours in the car getting increasingly stressed... and thus didn't get chance to post. This morning, I looked at the BEDN topics list and realised that I've got mixed up somewhere... late Saturday night (technically Sunday morning), I posted "Something Different"... which should actually have been Sunday's post. Oops.

So, here's my delayed "blog chat" offering.

As I'm new to blogging, I don't have too much I can say about what blogging has "done for me", and I'm not entirely sure what I want to get out of it other than a chance to voice my opinions and meet new people!

So instead I thought I'd list the bloggers who have most inspired me... the blogs I first followed, or the blogs that have never failed to entertain me from day 1.

1) Victoria's Vintage
 Victoria's blog is the ultimate lifestyle blog in my opinion... cupcakes, homeware, fashion, beauty, competition wins, days out. If there was one blog that I could say I would like to emulate, it would be "victoria's vintage". If I could be half this thrifty/ creative/ stylish, and yet still seem so lovely, I'd be well chuffed!

2) Paige Joanna
I've always thought of Paige as someone I'd love to meet... she seems so real, and down to earth, despite being incredibly talented and creative. She's great at the compromise between current high street trends and showing off cute vintage items, and isn't afraid to use a clothing item more than once, reminding me that not all fashion bloggers have unlimited budgets!

3) Milkteef
I have long since considered Emma to be the expert on all things beauty. If she loves it, chances are that I will too, apart from the pricetag. She also happens to have amazing hair and be able to pull off just about any outfit.

4) What Olivia Did
Admittedly I have been following Olivia for less than a year, but I'm forever blown away by how elegant yet cool she is! Commonly sporting the beehive, her photos are just perfect and she has a figure to die for. I get pretty jealous when reading her posts... baking amazing cakes, travelling all over, she pretty much has it all!

I love discovering new blogs, but I really hope I'll be reading these four in many years to come!

#BEDN: something different...

For me, the hint "something different" meant something out of my comfort zone. First, I thought about experimenting with fake tan, as thats really not me, but I couldn't risk turning up to my dodgeball tournament tomorrow with hilarious legs.

Then, I remembered that I've done three mud runs. Yeah, me. Mud and run are two of my least favorite words. I hate all things dirty/ smelly, and compared with other forms of exercise, running is boring and I find it makes me feel sick. But two years ago I I found myself volunteering to take part in "the major series" run with some uni friends, for charity.

 It was a 10km run, but all the way through there are obstacles (most of them involving wading or crawling through mud!), so you only actually have to run for max 1km at a time. Everyone taking part is really supportive and not too serious, and with enough planning about how to deal with being filthy afterwards, I found it so much fun that I've entered again twice since! There is also a 5km run if you aren't sure you fancy the full whack, and its pretty cheap compared to other mud runs... Take a search and enter as motivation for reaching a fitness goal!

#BEDN: Ten things... you need in your work wardrobe!

I started my graduate job a year ago now, and the biggest issue to me at the beginning was "what do I wear?!". I can't ever see myself in a full suit, and I'm petrified of looking too frumpy, but my office has an awkward "wear whatever you want, though we'll judge you if you're TOO smart or TOO casual" vibe.

Therefore, I decided the way around this, whilst still feeling stylish, is a good set of separates. Blazers over casual dresses, cardigans over smart dresses, smart jeans with a printed blouse. You get it. To start you off, here's ten items that I couldn't function without for workwear.

1) A black blazer

This is the key item for me. I feel like I can wear any dress or pair of jeans I want, and they're instantly smartened by a blazer, but particularly a black one as it literally goes with any colour. It's perfect for layering too... I also wear them over jumpers, or cardigans when it's cooler. And team with black bottoms/ skirts for a much smarter suit-like look. Finding a black blazer is easier... I guarantee every clothes store stocks one... but make sure it's right for you and fits well. Do you want it cropped or longline? Full sleeves or 3/4s? Shoulder pads? Jersey material? In fact, there are so many variations that it could be worth having two!

2) The perfect white blouse

An ultimate basic, but it shouldn't remind you too much of your school years... it needs to be flattering, and suit your personality. For me, the perfect white blouse isn't a straight cotton button up number, it's a little bit different... like a pussybow front or a subtle all over print. It will look great with jeans and a blazer but could really go with anything for any occassion.

3) The perfect floral all-occasion dress

Talking of any occasion... the dress below is the most overused item I own. Black blazer or cardi, coloured blazer or cardi, cropped jumper, it literally goes with anything, all year round, and because it's mainly black but with hints of most colours, it's so versatile. I also find the shape flattering on most women, plus I like how well chiffon washes.

4) Brown loafers

I wore heels on my first day of work but I haven't worn them since. If you have to walk around your office you'll see why... the discomfort just isn't worth it and they can easily make you feel overdressed. A decent go-with-everything pair of flats is essential in my opinion, and loafers like these are just the right level of smart/ casual. I have them in black too.

5) A black satchel

I only really wear across-the-body bags, but they're the most convenient for work as I like being hands free where possible. The perfect black bag goes with everything and is the smallest size you can get away with whilst still fitting in all your stuff.

6) A coloured blazer

A floral or striped dress and a statement bright blazer is an outfit I commonly go for. It's that bit more stylish than a black blazer, but doesn't look over the top. Just make sure you don't have too many colours/ patterns going on if your office is that bit more conservative, and choose a colour that really complements you; my favourite is a dark green.

7) The peplum dress

Peplums are a life-saver, hiding any size of flat tyre. They're also pretty smart and work-suitable as dresses, providing they are long enough, and they seem to come in a great variety of colours and prints.

8) Cobalt jeans/ trousers

If you're going to steer away from black/ grey at all on the bottom half, go for cobalt. Just like blue jeans, it looks good with most other colours, and I guarantee it makes you look happy! Ideal with a floral printed blouse.

9) A touch of animal print

If your office isn't super smart, animal print is a great way to naturally "tone down" smart outfits. For instance, a leopard print shirt with tailored black trousers, zebra print pumps, or an animal print cardigan over a smart dress. I love pencil skirts too, and I'd wear this one with a plain black jumper.

10) A breton top

A breton top isn't only an essential when it comes to an everyday wardrobe, you see. They look amazing with bright coloured pencil skirts or trousers, or to make suits look that bit more casual.

 Links:
black blazer
white shirt
floral dress
loafer
satchel
coloured blazer
cobalt
animal
peplum
breton

Fifteen minutes late.. oops!!

Jess

#BEDN: Remember, remember...

I'm away at a conference tonight, so we haven't really celebrated Bonfire Night. Yesterday we tried to buy sparklers, but strangely nowhere near us seemed to sell them. So instead, we got the marshmallows out, and decided to toast them on our "bonfire" (...from our fondue set). I'd forgotten how much I love melted marshmallows...

How are you celebrating?

Jess

#BEDN: How light makes you look

You know when you try something on in the changing rooms and it looks amazing... But when you try it on back home you aren't sure what you saw? Or when you put your make up on at home in the morning and it isn't until you go to bathroom at work mid-morning that you notice the incredible brown tide marks?

Light can play serious games with our looks. Some companies cotton on and use it to their advantage. Some, on the other hand, just don't. I can never decide which I prefer... To feel conned and yet momentarily look stunning? Or to know what you'll like to most people most of the day in that outfit? Either way, I really must buy more lighting for our house!

#BEDN: An introduction to Moneylessjess!

So, I've taken up Rosalilium's challenge of blogging every day in November. 23:30 on day one doesn't look promising for me, does it? But, the point is, I need the kick up the backside to get me posting, and I quite like the idea of being given a topic a day to give my spin on!

Without further ado, then. Day 1's title is "Introductions", which perhaps seems silly when I'm pretty new to blogging and my own introductory posts were only a handful of posts away. I was short on interesting ideas, but I found this photo (apologies about the flash!) and it inspired me to think back through my life so far and give you some facts!

** I broke my left wrist when I was 8, wrestling some boys in the playground; I was winning so one of them tripped me up! I broke my right wrist two years later as I crossed the finishing line of a skipping race in first place! **

** All through school I was a big tomboy but an even bigger goody-two-shoes, oops **

** I loved drama and writing when I was younger, but for some reason I picked numerical subjects instead and wish I had time to write plays and poems again! **

** I went to Warwick University to study Maths, and now I have a graduate job and live in York with my boyfriend **

** I'm always cold... I wear thick bedsocks even in summer and scarcely leave the house without a hat for my poor ears **

** I'm probably just about one of the most long-winded people you'll ever meet... so twitter doesn't come naturally! **

** I'm opinionated and like to say exactly what I think, which can sometimes land me in trouble! **

** I could eat camembert and raspberry sorbet forever **

** I love watching football more than most guys, but "my sport" has to be dodgeball **

** No matter how much I earn or how little I spend, I never seem to have any money... hence the name of this blog! **

Thanks for reading, and I will be back tomorrow, and the 28 days after, I promise!

Jess

Four favourites all finished

This is essentially an "empties" post, but it just so happens that all four of these products are favourites of mine! I just wanted to talk about what I love about them, and how they became my favourites!

1. No7 Beautifully Matte Mousse Foundation 

I have really oily (and still quite red/ blemished) skin, so I need a fairly full coverage foundation that's mattifying. In my teens I just used concealer and pressed powder, but ever since Bourjois seemed to discontinue/ meddle with their "d'un coup de pinceau" concealer, I decided to look for a foundation instead. As you can imagine, I tried a lot (it's a good job I had a part time job really!) of high street brands, but just didn't get on with liquid foundations as I found them too messy and my face would be melting within 2 hours of applying. So then, Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse appeared on the scene. I never did quite decide which colour suited me most, but it was cheap and readily available, and it became my staple for several years!

It still didn't "fix" my oily skin, however, and I still had to "change my face" every couple of hours. Earlier this year, I decided that now I was properly earning, I could afford to move to a *slightly* more expensive foundation- but I loved the feel of a mousse on my skin, and the coverage that came with it, and particularly the convenience of having a little pot of mousse in my make-up bag, versus a messy/ chunky bottle of liquid foundation. After trawling the internet looking at reviews (and being sucked in by a "free gift" offer), I plumped for No7 Beautifully Matte Mousse Foundation (£12.50). In spite of only coming in three colours, "cool ivory" seems just right for me, and this stuff blends like a dream and feels so silky on the skin. It also stays put for a heck of a lot longer than any other foundation I've tried, plus it lasts absolutely ages. 

I do often find it difficult to get hold of in smaller Boots stores, so last time I ran out I actually purchased the Beautifully Matte Foundation (the liquid version) instead. Strangely, this comes in a million colours, not just three! It's still early days with this and I'm not sure which of the two I prefer... but I can definitely give a thumbs up to the range! 

2. Collection 2000 Pressed Powder

Like most girls I know, I've been using Collection 2000 Pressed Powder in "translucent" since the dawn of time...or, since the day my Mum picked it up for me when she pointed out to 13-year-old tomboy Jess that she really should be trying to cover her spots, with this and a "hide the blemish" concealer. Now and then I've tried some more expensive powders, but even having oily skin, I can't tell much difference (I'm of the belief that oiliness is more down to skincare and foundation), and I definitely can't deal with how messy loose powder is. Crucially, the colour of this stuff is just right, whereas all other powders seem to be way too orange. The biggest selling point, though, is the price of £1.99... you just can't go wrong.

3. MAC cremeshene lipstick in "fanfare"

Despite wishing I could be glamorous enough to wear a lipstick, I actually never bought one until I was in my second year at university, preferring glosses and tinted balms instead. However, being rubbish at applying my make-up, I always ended up with half concealer-lips, and suddenly started to notice lipsticks. I went for the cheap brands in safe colours first, and still layered glosses and balms over them. 

But, the more blogs I read (handy to get the blame in somewhere!), the more intrigued I was about trying out a MAC lipstick. One payday I decided to treat myself... and based on online swatches alone I pipped for "MAC Fanfare". My lips tend to get quite dry, so the extra moisturising cremesheen range was a must... it glides on and is much better than other lipsticks when it comes to highlighting dry patches.

The colour is, in my opinion, the perfect versatile shade. MAC call it a "yellow-pink", which to me just means "rose". I can wear this for work, at weekend, and for evenings out...and even to play sport! It adds a lovely girly (but not as girly as, say Creme Cup) pink tint that really compliments pale skin like mine, without being over the top. Okay, I'm unlikely to be asked "ooh, what's that lipstick?!", but I guarantee people would notice the difference that wearing it makes to my overall skintone.

I am in "the process" of repurchasing at the moment, which basically means I'm umming and ahhing about whether I should spend another £15 on a lipstick. I've got other favourite lipsticks (surprise surprise, fairly similar shades, but hey, they don't smell of vanilla), that all come in at less than a fifth of the price, so it's a big decision, one that payday will probably make for me!

4. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Secret Agent Perfecting Creme
Not only is my skin oily, but my hair is pretty oily too. I used to joke to my friends that my pillow was actually made of lard. What's worse than oily, though, is the incredibly curly hair my mother has, and the incredibly straight hair my dad had back when he had hair... leaving me with this wretched inbetween "thing" that doesn't look good left alone, is too thick to curl, too thick to straighten, and is VERY FRIZZY.

I've wanted my hair as straight as possible for as long as I can remember... I just don't feel confident when my hair doesn't look "managed". However, there's only so long I can spend in front of the mirror with my GHDs in a morning... there's a point where I have to give up and leave the house, and usually I haven't got all the way through my very thick hair. But I have to know that it won't just frizz up and kink out the second I step out the door! My hairdresser suggested I try serums to calm the frizz, but to me that was just like adding grease. I found Sunsilk Straighten-Up Creme, and it was my hero for several years; I'd apply a good coating (probably way too much, making me a hypocrite for dismissing serums), set it with hairspray, and barring a downpour my hair would stay straight all day. 

But, like all "favourite" products, it was discontinued a few years ago, so I panickedly sought a replacement. Most so-called "straightening cremes" weren't what I wanted; I was looking for something to apply to dry hair after straightening, not to rub through towel dried hair as I just don't find those sort of products make any noticeable difference. Enter "John Frieda Frizz-Ease Secret Agent Perfecting Creme", originally chosen because Mum uses Frizz Ease shampoos and conditioners and these products are often on 3 for 2, but I've now been repurchasing for several years... it smells great and a little goes a long way (yep, I've learnt my lesson!). The key thing about this product, aside from it really working to straighten and remove flyaways, is that it feels lightweight and not at all greasy.

However...I'm suppposed to be trying to use up all of my existing beauty products before buying anymore, and I have both the Percy and Reed Finishing Polish, and The Body Shop Macadamia Straightening Balm ready to be trialled (both about twice the price of the John Frieda cream), so I'll keep you posted...

I'm the babe who sleeps through the blitz

Supposed to or not, lately I've *needed* my ipod at work. It's just been so noisy where I sit, that I can't get work done unless I block the chitter chatter out. Now, I've never been "up to date" with music. When I was younger, I'd buy one album every six months and listen to that non-stop for...welll... six months!

I thought I'd share my five favourite songs "of all time". Be warned, my tastes are a little eclectic...

1) "Nemesis" by David Gray. This is just an album track, but I love it. Mr Gray's voice is like... a dream, I'm slightly obsessed. And I really like the lyrics (e.g., title!)

2) "I just wanna live" by Good Charlotte. So jealous of the squeaky high notes! Actually, I like every Good Charlotte song. Like, ever! Yes, I'm still 14...

3) "Fix You" by Coldplay. Chris Martin's voice is even more of a dream than David Gray's. Fact. And I like Fix You because it's so damn difficult to sing... cue endless nights bringing the strangled cat to the karaoke.

4) Everyone is loving Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat, but I prefer an older number: "It's a Wonderful Night" by Fatboy Slim. I just can't help it, it's a proper guilty pleasure...

5) "The Fallen" by Franz Ferdinand. I've recently re-discovered Franz Ferdinand, after purchasing their latest album and spontaneously (a word you can't normally associate with me!) buying tickets to see them in March.

So you see, I don't tend to like anything by women... which is why Haim are a breath of fresh air!!