OOTD: Seventies Jacket

Hello everyone

I am LOVING the sunshine- its so uplifting!

Today to celebrate the fact it was warm enough to wear it, I teamed this vintage 1970's blue jacket with these bright skinnies from Matalan and my stripy top from Forever 21.  I then added some glam with these boots which are years old from Primark.

I love this jacket so much.  I picked it up and a clothes swap party I attended in Southampton and its in such good condition.  I have a real thing for nautical buttons and as you can see this still has all the original buttons which makes it extra special in my eyes.  

Whilst I was out with my Mum today we went to Kinson Community Centre.  Its one of those buildings that you just pass by and don't really appreciate but it really is beautiful and has a long history.  One part of its history- my parents had their wedding reception there nearly 42 years ago.

They host a whole variety of clubs and activities as well as a regular country markets and table top sales.  We go down there once a month as they sell second hand books at just 10p each!!  We take back the books we have read and buy a load more whilst we are there (in case you haven't guessed we are real book readers in our family).  Last year they raised over £6000 for the centre just from the sales of their 10p books.  If you live in the Bournemouth area check out the website which you can find here. 

The thing I wanted to share with you today was my current want list from Asos.  I went on there yesterday and found these three items that I need in my life.  (I'l put the links under the photos at the end).

Asos Tweed Skirt with Leather Look Trim £30

Asos Gold Stud Opaque Tights £12

Asos Mighty Studded Leather Shoes £25

How I wish I worked at Asos!!  Hopefully I'll be able to get this soonish (funds allowing) and when I do I will do an outfit post to show you how they look.

Sorry this was such a long post today.  Thanks for reading and I'll see you soon.

Jen xoxo

OOTD: Winter Florals

Hello everybody

I hope you are all well- can you believe what a beautiful sunny day it is!?  With that in mind I really wanted to rock a winter floral look today in the office.  I thought about going for a dark flower print but decided against it and went for this paisley floral print vintage skirt.

As the skirt is so heavily patterned I kept the rest really simple- a long sleeved black top from Matalan, a chunky leather belt from Oasis, a brown vintage knitted cardigan, black tights and brown flat boots from Matalan.  You can't really see the earrings but they are from Topshop years ago and are white owls.

This skirt can be worn on the hips but I find it much more flattering this way as it makes my waist look small. 

I hope you've enjoyed todays sunshine as much as I have.

Jen xoxo

A Letter, A Present and A Card

Hello everyone

Bit of a random post today- I'm going to show you a few things that I've received over the last couple of weeks that I wanted to share with you.

First off I received this beautiful card from my friend Natalie.

I love anything a bit oriental and I thought the colours of this card with the lanterns and the cherry blossom was just so pretty.  I wonder if I could get this in fabric form and make a dress...

Next I got a a voucher for 10% off all sale items in Dorothy Perkins.  It was sent to me with my DP's bill.

Just a quick note on store cards.  They can be very dangerous!  I have set myself a limit as to how much I allow myself to put on the card otherwise you can get yourself in a real pickle.  The good thing about them is that you will often receive vouchers from the store you have the card with (as above).  I put mine to very good use and brought this bib necklace.

I put my voucher to very good use by using it on this.  It was originally £12 and had been reduced to £3 and with my 10% off voucher it was £2.70.  A bargain if ever I saw one!  

Finally I wanted to show you this nail varnish that my friend Angela gave to me.

I've never use the Bourjois Nail Varnish before so I was quite intrigued to try out the huge brush that it comes with.  I love the colour and the consistency of this varnish .  I'm not sure of the shade as it wasn't written on the bottle.  I am not such a huge fan of the brush- its almost too fat. It might be because I have fairly short nails and I like to get right in to the corners.  It won't stop me from using it though because I just love this colour.  I applied 2 coats but to be honest I probably could have got away with just one (there is of course the obligatory clear base coat and clear top coat applied too).

So there you have it.  Sorry its a bit of a random post but I just had these little bits and pieces that I wanted to share with you.  

Have a great day.

Jen xoxo

New Fitness Regime

Hello everybody

Sorry there has been a few days of blogging silence from me- I have been house/ cat sitting for some friends and only got home yesterday.

So my dear readers- I am not happy :(.  Since returning from my 4 month trip to Mexico in 2010 my weight has slowly crept up to just under 11 stone and I've gone up to a size 14 dress size.  I'd just like to state that there is nothing wrong with being 11 stone and a size 14 if you know you are eating well and exercising regularly .  I am not doing wither of these things....

So I am going to try and get myself in shape before June (in my mind the start of the summer season).  But being skint with no spare time on my hands I face a dilemma.  I need to keep it cheap and cheerful and I have found a way: The Lean Machines.

I really hope you enjoy the picture of them I have selected.  Its very... er... nice..... :).

This ripped duo run a YouTube channel that posts free personal training videos that you can follow along at home.  And they seemed to know that I had no time- all the videos are short and to the point.

The most recent video they have posted is Fight the Fat!  Its an intense workout using MMA (Mixed Martial Arts).  There are squats, kicks, pulse raising knee lifts, oblique rotations on both sides, press ups with twists etc etc.  Its pretty full on but I can imagine doing this daily would certainly put me on the way to getting fitter.

They also did a really fab video with Pixiwoo on their Body Talk channel which shows some really simple excercises that can be incorporated in to your daily routine.  The link for the video is here.

They also talk about food.  The Healthy Lunch- Steak Burrito video looks delicious.  I'm yet to try it but like I said- looks delicious!

Going back to the Body Talk channel, I have found this channel very handy in my quest for fitness.  Having coeliac disease means its very difficult to find tasty yet healthy snacks but the recipe for Chocolate Macadamia Nut Muffins looks pretty awesome without piling on the pounds.  They are gluten free and can be adapted to be lactose free too.  The Macadamia nuts are full of good fats (yay!) and they use coconut oil instead of butter so more better fats(!?).

Last video I'm going to mention from this channel is How To Lose Weight: One Click Clinic where Dr Ricky Gondhia answers commonly asked questions about weight loss, hot to lose weight and dieting.  Very handy!

I thought about posting some pics of me demonstrating some of The Lean Machines moves but I did not want to subject you to that- maybe when I've lost some weight and I'm looking all toned...

I'll let you know how my new regime is going as it progresses- I was thinking at the end of each month but if anything interesting pops up I'll let you know.  I'm going to try and do my exercises first thing in the morning so they are done and dusted and I can jump straight in to the shower once I'm done.  

That's all for today folks.  I hope you are having a happy and healthy day.  Thanks for reading todays post.

Jen xoxo

P.s I am in no way a fitness/ food professional and from what I understand you should consult a health professional before embarking on any weight loss/ exercise plan.  

Rule Your Hair

Hello Everyone

I hope you have had an amazing day.  

I don't know about you but I want dreamlike hair- radiant, sleek and shiny- without the going to the salon everyday or paying for ridiculously expensive products.  Well look no further!  Today I thought I would show you some of my favourite Avon hair products that will leave you hair looking amazing whilst saving you money- what more could you want?!

Avon Advance Techniques Colour Protection Shampoo & Conditioner

This shampoo is especially for colour- treated hair but whatever your needs the Advance Techniques range has something for you.  The shampoos and conditioners come in Daily Shine, 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil, Colour Protection, Frizz Control, Anti- Dandruff or Volume.  Like I said, my choice is Colour Protection as it makes sure my colour doesn't fade away and keeps that fabulous first day colour.

All the Advance Techniques Shampoos and Conditioners are £1.65- £1.90 in Brochure 4.

Avon Advance Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Leave- In Treatment

Once you have tried this and seen how it nourishes, revives and repairs frazzled hair you won't want to try anything else.  Its so simple to use too- just apply a small amount washing and conditioning to bring damaged hair back to health.  This treatment is a real multi- tasker.

Moroccan Argan Oil Leave- In Treatment is £3.85 in Brochure 4.

Avon Naturals Superfruit Souffle Acai Berry & Shea Oil

I like to use this hair souffle once a week as a mask- simply leave on for 5 mins after shampooing, rinse then style as usual.  Its moisturising, balancing, caring, repairing and refreshing.  And it makes you hair smell amazing (never had so many compliments about how my hair smelt before).  

Unfortunately it looks like Avon is discontinuing the Naturals hair souffles :( but you have a last chance to buy in the Brochure 4 End of Season Sale Brochure where they are just £1.50.  So stock up before its too late!

Now you know how to rule your hair, you should never have a bad hair day again!

Jen xoxo

24- Hour Party People

Hello everyone

I know its only Tuesday but I am already thinking forward to the weekend during which I am attending two parties.  I hate when I'm at a party and my eyeliner smudges under my eye and my hair goes all flat and floppy half way through the night.  So I thought I would give you a guide to the items I use for parties that keep partying as long as I do.

Bed Head Tigi Superstar Queen for a Day Thickening Spray

I have had this spray for yonks and yonks and it never seems to run out.  It keeps my hair up all night and it is usually still volumized the next day when I crawl out of bed...

Benefit's The Porefessional (face primer)

This amazing primer minimizes pores and makes your foundation and powder stay put without going shiny.  Don't fancy wearing foundation?  This looks great on its own too.

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup

I know I have bigged this up before but it really is my go to foundation, especially for parties as it is oil free and lasts forever!

Avon Nailwear Pro+ in Romance

I love the colour of this nail varnish.  Its a purple gold colour and seems to go with everything.  And because it has an acrylic formulation it doesn't chip easily and looks fresh for days.

£3.50 in brochure 4 with a free nail file and buffer.

Avon Nail Experts Liquid Freeze Quick Dry Nail Spray

There is really nothing worse than doing a beautiful manicure on yourself then smudging it whilst you are getting ready.  Its so frustrating!  But this quick dry spray eliminates that- just spray over your nails when you've finished.

£6 in brochure 4 with a free nail file/ buffer.

Benefit Lemon Aid

This primer is for your eyes and is an eyeshadow saver.  Its stops eyeshadow slipping and I always think it makes my eyes look brighter when I wear it.  It even has a little mirror in the lid for when you are doing your makeup on the fly.

Avon Perfect Kiss Lipstick in Natural Glow

My go to makeup look for parties is a heavy eye and neutral lip and this lipstick has a really beautiful sheen to it but stays on all evening.  Its a winner!

£4.99 in Brochure 4 with a free Glimmerstick Lip Liner.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/ Liner in Skinny Jeans

The clue as to why I picked this is in the name- its creaseless.  Cream shadows have a tendancy to slide away but not this one.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist

Spritz this over your finished make up and it will give it extra staying powder to last all night.

I hope this has given you a few tips for your next party so that your makeup, hair and nails will last and you'll look amazing all night long.

Thanks for reading.

Jen xoxo

My Daily Diet

Hello everyone!

So I've seen a lot of blog posts/ Youtube videos recently about what people are eating at the start of this year.  So I thought I would jump on the bandwagon and give you a run down on my daily diet today.

I know what you are thinking- what has this got to do with fashion and beauty?  The answer= what we put in our bodies has an effect on our complexion, hair, nails, body shape etc etc. 

In particular I have to really watch what I eat as I have Coeliac Disease which is an autoimmune disease and causes my body to have a fairly violent reaction to gluten, which is naturally occurring in wheat.  Just to clarify- I am not fussy, no I cannot even have a little bit without being ill and no its not contagious.  A lot of people think I'm just making a fuss which can be very aggravating but the Coeliac UK charity is doing a of of work to spread the word, especially with major food suppliers to get us more variety and choice.  Recently I have been struggling with the diet as something I'm eating is making me ill- I just can't quite work out what it is... very frustrating. When I struggle I have to keep a diary of what I eat then talk to my dietician.  I find it easier to take photos of what I've eaten than write it down and voila.... todays blog!

So here is what i've eaten today:

So there you have it.  Its quite interesting to look back over what you have eaten for the day and assess.  I've realised although I drink tea and orange juice I don't seem to drink any water... which I need to fix!  I do take some things to help keep my gut and body is good condition- the pro- biotic drink in the morning for instance and the multivitamin and iron tablets I take in the evening.  

Hopefully soon I will find out what it is that is making me poorly which will have a knock on effect on my hair, complexion and nails.  Until then I will just make the best of it.

I hope you have all had a fab day today and that you all look at the food you eat everyday so you can make it the best for you.

Jen xoxo

OOTD: Silver Maxi Sunday

Hello everyone.

I want to today rave about my new silver maxi skirt.  I did already mention it when I ordered this in a previous post but it came last week and I was really excited about putting it in to an outfit.

Sorry that these are not the best pictures but we were losing light.  And I have got a double chin in the first one....

Double chin and bad lighting aside as you can see this is a really beautiful skirt.  I got it on Ebay for just £4.99 plus £1.99 P+P.  When it arrived there was a label in it from Matalan and it was originally £12- I do love a bargain!!

I was really impressed with the shop that I brought it from on Ebay called BellezandBeauz.  The pictures were good, the P+P were reasonable and it came earlier than estimated which means she must have posted it the next day= excellent customer service.

I have had a look through the rest of her shop and there are lots of good quality, brand new items for sale all at reasonable prices.  There are 4 categories in the shop- New Ladies Clothing, Used Ladies Clothings, New Christmas Gifts, Other Stuff and Other (which includes new MAC blushers).  

I know when you are shopping on line how hard it can be to find a shop which lives up to its own recommendations so I just wanted to give her some really good feedback because I was very impressed.  And if you want further assurance before ordering then check out her 99.8% positive feedback.

I have already posted a link above but its here again if you don't want to scroll back up.

Happy shopping fellow bargain hunters- I hope you enjoy this online shop.

Jen xoxo

Perfect for Dry Skin: Avon Solutions Hydra Beyond Hydrating Gel Cream

Hi Everyone

I hope you are enjoying the remainder of the snow.  Its started to melt here :(.  Its supposed to snow again tomorrow but we'll wait and see.

Today I want to show you the Avon Solutions Hydra Beyond Hydrating Gel Cream.

I LOVE this gel cream.  So much so that I have hit bottom and am scraping the remainder from the sides until I can order some more in a couple of weeks time.  

The Hydra Beyond range is designed for extra dry skin and mine tends to be on the dry side.  I do get a little oily on the t-zone but despite this being a thick gel I don't find it makes the t-zone oilier.  The gel is formulated to lock in essential moisture and leaves skin looking perfectly dewy all day.  This 50ml pot is £4.50 in Brochure 4.

There is also Hydra Beyond Extra Hydrating Cream night cream (£4.50 for a 50ml pot in Brochure 4) which helps boost skin's natural moisture barrier.  I don't yet have the night cream but will be adding it to my order.

I hope that you like this range as much as I do.  It keeps my central heating dried out skin in good condition.

Have a great day and check back soon for more posts.

Jen xoxo

OOTD: Snow Flurry Friday!

It snowed!  I woke up this morning still feeling unwell but after an extra couple of hours in bed I felt normalish.  And when I looked out the window it was like a winter wonderland!!  I love snow. I know loads of people find it a pest but I think everything looks so magical when its covered in a crisp white blanket.  

So I knew today was the day to bust out the thermals for the first time this Winter.You can just see the thermal t-shirt I'm wearing which I picked up at a swap party and I'm also wearing some grey thermal leggings (with black lace trim) under my normal leggings.  The key for me keeping warm is definitely layering so i've got a long sleeved black top on from Matalan and my H&M dress is also from a swap party.  I've got a cardigan on from Select that I have had for years and I added a bit of glam with my necklace from Topshop. 

For the rest of my outfit I popped on a bobble hat from Dorothy Perkins, silver wellies from Primark, knee high socks from New Look and black leggings from Dorothy Perkins.  I also wanted to show you my nails at the moment.  I layered Barry M Nail Paint in Black Multi Glitter and OPI Fresh Frog of Bel Air to get this look.  The sparkles don't really show up in the picture but I recommend both of those varnishes to you.

I hope you are all enjoying this snow day too.  I popped a coat on and went done to my local shops with my Mum to get some dinner for tonight and to have my fringe trimmed at A' Courts Hair Salon.  It was a bargain at just £3.00 and it so badly needed doing.  

Enjoy the snow my dears.

Jen xoxo

P.s How cute does my Mum look!!

Ask Jenny

So I am sick :(.  Feel bleurgh (probably not a word but there you go).  So I thought I would let you guys know a little bit more about me whilst I am tucked up under my duvet.

I get asked a lot of the same questions over and over by my customers and new people who meet me so I thought I would get them written down here to keep my brain occupied whilst my bleurghness passes! 

I hope you enjoy and if there is anything else you would like to know then please leave comments below and I will do my best to answer them in future blogs.

Do you have another job apart from being an Avon rep/ sales leader?

Yes I do.  I work for a local accountancy firm in the marketing department.  I love it there- just dealing with local businesses I am on and off the phone all day but the atmosphere is great, my boss is laidback and the girls I work with are friends of mine.  Its nice to do something different once a week. 

How long do you think you will blog for?

As long as it is fun.  I really enjoy blogging but if it starts to become a chore then I'll stop.  At the moment I can't imagine that ever being a reality but who knows what the future holds. 

How did you start blogging and do you make any money?

There were quite a few blogs I was following and I really enjoyed reading them and getting reviews and tips but I noticed that there wasn't any blogs that reviewed Avon products.  So after discussing with a friend I decided that I would start my own blog.  I know I do not always review Avon products but I wanted to be honest about what I used and what I didn't use.  I suppose I wanted to show that its not only older people who use Avon products as it does seem to have fallen in to that sterotype.  

As to the money part of the question- no.  I make squat.  It would be nice if I did but I think at the moment it makes it more enjoyable that I don't.

How do you juggle everything you do?

With a very organized diary!  I write down everything that needs doing for the day and highlight them off when they are done.  I have an A5 diary with a page a day.  And I try not to stress when I don't get everything done because I find that just makes things worse.

10 years ago where did you expect to be today?

I was only 17 years old but I thought I'd be married in my own place!  Although this couldn't be any further from reality I think the events of the past 10 years have made me stronger and given me some amazing experiences that I would never would have had if I was married.

How did you decide what to do after school?

I was pushed, pushed. pushed by my teachers to go to college then university but I knew it would not be the right choice for me and I'm glad I stuck by my resolve.  Despite having no extra qualifications I have never been without a job right from the moment I left school.

Do you have any pets?

I have my wonderful cat Pebbles.  My parent brought her for me as a surprise about 13 years ago.  I came home from school and there she was on the sofa.  She is a bit old now but still just as lovely.

So there you go.  A bit more info about me.

See you soon all my readers.

Jen xoxo

(A Belated) Best of Beauty 2012

Hellooooo everyone.

I hope you are all well and dandy on this freezing cold albeit very sunny Tuesday.

So I know this post is a bit late and its already the 15th January but I thought "Hey, better late than never".  I'm gonna show you a few pics as well as give you some info on what I was wearing a lot of in 2012.

Face

(From L-R)

Avon Colortrend Oil Control Pressed Powder in Medium

I love a bit of sparkle and shine but I I don't love a shiny face.  I find this powder just sets the makeup and stops me looking ridiculously shiny!

£4.25 or mix and match 2 for £4 across selected Colortrend Products in brochure 4. 

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup in Ivory

Hands down this is the best foundation I have ever worn.  It lasts its seems like forever as it has one of those air pump things which means it never goes off either.  I am pretty lucky that I don't have to wear foundation everyday but when I need it.. well its just amazing!

Benefit Boi- Ing Industrial Strength Concealer in 02

As you can see I have hit the bottom of this concealer and that is probably because I use it every day.  It leaves a natural looking finish and doesn't crease or fade.

Benefit Sugarbomb

This is an essential in my book as when the 4 colours are swirled together it gives a pretty pretty flush to my cheeks.

Benefit Hoola

If you are searching for the best bronzer- then this is it!  The Benefit powder boxes are expensive yes, but oh so worth it.

Eyes

(Clockwise from top left)

Mac Velvet Eyeshadow in Sketch

The colour of this is beautiful and I find I can mix it with any other eyeshadow and it is just beautiful- great for a smoky plum eye in particular.  I brought this at Mexico City airport and the Mac lady applied it just before the 10hour flight home and when I landed it had not creased or worn off.  It was the ultimate test in my book and it passed.

Benefit Brows A- Go- Go

Unfortunately this kit has been discontinued (or at least I can't find it anywhere) but it contains everything I need for making my brows look awesome- brow powder, brow wax, an eyeliner, eye brightner, brow highlighter powder, mini tweezers and a mini hard angle/brush.  Having near brows just brings the whole face together and this pocket sized kit has been a saviour for me.

Avon Supershock Mascara in Black 

This masacara gives my eyelashes real definition and makes my eyes pop.  And its not a wishy washy black either- its a proper dark night black.

£4.50 in brochure 4 with pretty limited edition pink packaging and a free Supershock Gel Eyeliner Pencil.

Avon Glimmerstick Chromes in Ultra Violet

This shade is absolutely dazzling and is now a permanent fixture in my make-up bag.  It goes on easily and stays on for ages.

Nails

(from L-R)

Avon Nailwear Pro+ in Painted Peony

I love this nail varnish as although it is meant to be for spring time its such a beautiful colour that you can wear it all year round and it goes with everything.  Everyone needs a good pink colour varnish and this is mine.

Avon Nailwear Pro+ in Golden Vision

A lovely sparkling metallic shade that is great for everyday and parties.  The colours in the Nailwear Pro+ range lasts for 12 days as its fortified with acrylic gel strength.

Available in Brochure 4 for £3.50 with a free Nail File and Buffer.

Lips

(from L-R, then top to Bottom)

Avon Ultra Colour Rich Lipstick in Sparkling Warm Rose

This beautiful shade transforms the lips and doesn't detract from smouldering eyes.  I find this formula stays on really well too meaning less time spent reapplying as the day goes on.

£7 in brochure 4.

Avon Perfect Kiss Lipstick in Natural Glow

In case you hadn't guessed I love the Perfect Kiss Lipstick range.  This colour is gorgeous and gives a slight sheen to the lips without being too wet looking.

Avon Perfect Kiss Lipstick in Red Embrace

Wearing a red lipstick always makes me feel like a Russian princess and this is a very feminine elegant red that not only I but my friends love too.

Avon Perfect Kiss Lipstick in Pink Prance

This colour is so pretty and makes me think of summer days.  Its got a very vintage everyday look to it and the packaging is so pretty too (I am a magpie- I admit it)!

All the Perfect Kiss Lipsticks are available in Brochure 4 for £4.99 and you get a free Glimmerstick Lip Liner.

Soap and Glory Mighty Mouth

This is a plumping effect pink lipgloss that makes you lips look phwoar! (I don't think that a proper sentence- I apologise)

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss in Clear

I'll be honest I always panic slightly when I put this on as the plumping feeling is quite voracious but it looks amazing once it finished and stays on for ever.

Brushes 

(Top to bottom)

Avon All Over Face Brush

I love to give my face a glow and I find this brush ideal to use with bronzer and blusher.  The brush is really soft and good quality too.

£4 in brochure 4.

Avon Eyeshadow Brush with Smudger

If I could give one bit of advice, it would be to use a brush to apply shadows to the eye lid.  The colour stays on longer and this is great for really packing it down for longer wearability.  The smudger on the other end means that its like two brushes in one.  The smudger is great used on eyeliner to create a smoky eye.

£2.50 in brochure 4.

So there you have it- my favourites from 2012.  It will be quite interesting to see what's my favourites are at the end of this year.

Have a great evening and I will post again soon.

Jen xoxo