Scrub a dub dub.

The problem with 3 for 2 offers is you inevitably end up coming out of the shop with things you didn't go in for.

The great thing about 3 for 2 offers is you can look at them as an opportunity to try some new things.

 

Last week, Soap and Glory was on this tempting deal in Boots. It might still be if you're lucky. It would've been rude not to try some new stuff wouldn't it? And I had an offer on my advantage card for bonus points if I spent a certain amount.

It. Just. Made. Sense.

 

After testing out the thing I actually went in for (Heel Genius), it is time to investigate my spur of the moment, on a whim purchase:

Pulp Friction

Packaging? Awesome. It's a good big tube. It has the usual Soap and Glory wit that I enjoy so much. It is all a bit pink for my personal taste but that's not really important. What is important is if the product is any good or not!

 

Foamy and Fruity

To start off, I bought it because of the Foamy and Fruity claim, which I though sounded pretty lush and it lives up to this no problem. It smells delicious and does foam up pretty nicely. It's not like bubble bath foamy or anything but it creates a very pleasant lather. It is this that I think helps it achieve its next selling point.

 

Scrubby, but not too scrubby

We all know the aim of a scrub is to get rid of the dead skin cells and smooth out our skin. But that doesn't mean we want to feel like we're being sandpapered raw. It was very pleasant to use, it felt really good on the skin and even felt like it was probably doing my circulation some good! I don't know why (useful comment there!) but I definitely felt like I was doing myself a favour by using this. I sometimes get funny little bumps on my skin (surely there's a technical term for this) and this does seem to have helped smooth them out a bit. It's doing it's job!

 

Cost Factor

Hmm, well. It is £8 which to me feels like a lot. But that's just me. I'm a bit of a cheapskate and also, not being into all this 'taking care of yourself' business, I'm just not used to the idea of spending money on stuff like this! Having seen a lot of more costly products out there I'm sure this is a jolly good deal.

I reckon it's the sort of thing to use maybe once a week. And if that's right it should last a good while. And if you can get it on a good offer then why not treat yourself?

 

Overall, I enjoyed this product. I'm already looking forward to using it again which is more than can be said for some other things up I've tried. If you're in the market for a new scrub I would recommend giving this a whirl!

 

I've got one more product on the 3 for 2 deal to talk about. I look forward to sharing it with you soon!

 

Pip pip,

Charlotte x

 

 

Product Review!

Hello!

 

I'm doing something I've not done before. A product review! I do enjoy reading these on other people's blogs so I thought I'd give it a go myself!

What is the product you say?

It's Soap and Glory: Heel Genius!

Now, I love the warmer weather but I do find that summer takes its toll on my little toes.

The endless days of sandals and no socks, while delightful, leave me with blisters on the balls of my feet and dry skin that is just downright uncomfortable.

 

I am terrible at looking after myself and all that pampering doo-lally. I have to really see results from a product to want to use it and to remember to use it regularly. I can't say for definite but I really think this could be one of them!

 

First of all, the packaging. Who doesn't love a bit of Soap and Glory packaging! Especially when it says things like this on it:

 

Okay, now onto the nitty gritty. I admit, for me, it has a slightly odd smell. Not unpleasant, just a little different. It's not minty or fruity like you might expect. I would have to describe it as quite a clean smell. Which is no bad thing.

And the texture isn't what I was expecting either. It's almost quite dry, not like a usual cream, but not crazy thick like a mask. It rubs in really easily and doesn't leave a greasy residue. This is going to sound silly but it feels like it has left a protective layer. But not in a greasy-not-rubbed-in kind of way!

 

The tube instructs you to slap it on your feet before bed, pop some socks on and let it do it's work while you dream of all the sandals you're going to buy. I can't sleep in socks so I skipped this step but it still worked a treat.

After one over night application I was amazed!

While not 100% cured (that would've involved a lot of skin cell regeneration) my skin felt much smoother and a lot happier.

I've used it for three nights now, and honestly, it's a bit like having new feet!

 

And (top quality bonus for those of us trying to be thrifty) it's only £5.50 a tube. Some people out there are thinking that is dirt cheap. While others are thinking that seems a tad pricey. I probably fall into the latter category but it's a decent sized tube, you don't have to use much and it works. Surely it's better to spend a bit on a product that does the job than on one that doesn't?

 

If it means more days like this, them I'm a happy bunny.

If you've enjoyed this post, or have any recommendations for products to make summer a bit more enjoyable then please let me know!

 

Toodle Pip, Charlotte x

 

 

Little House

When I first got Pinterest, I started a board called Little House. It was where I was going to pin ideas for when I eventually manage to buy my own place.

It seems to have drifted though now from 'little house' towards 'imaginary dream house'. I'm not sure anything I ever purchase is going to have an indoor outdoor river pool, let alone my first tentative step onto the property ladder.

 

When talking about money or the future or some such other serious topic of conversation recently, the boy said to me "When I get rid of Audrey (the car) I have a checklist for what I want my next one to have. If it ticks those boxes, I'll have it."

And when faced with an increasingly broken phone and the prospect of needing to get a new one, I asked my good friend Sam (code name) what she wanted. She said she just wanted internet that works and to be able to listen to music. She wasn't bothered about a fancy camera or it being a really awesome sat nav. Just youtube and tunes. (Having said this she has probably ended up with some all singing and dancing number seeing as her brother works in the phone shop).

 

It got me to thinking, what would I really like for my very own first little house? And being such a fan of a list, why have I never made one before? So here we go!

 

1. To have a front garden of some description: I don't like houses that are right on the pavement. I don't want people looking into my living room every time they walk past.
2. To have a back garden of a reasonable description: Ideally big enough for a small greenhouse to grow tomatoes in. And for a bit of a veg patch.
3. A parking space: I don't drive (yet, I am learning), but I know people who do. And when they come to visit I want them to be able to park up.
4. A kitchen big enough to have a dining table in: I'm not bothered about a separate dining room. But I do like to eat at the table sometimes. And I've always wanted mismatching chairs too.
5. Two bedrooms: Three would be better but two means I can have a friend stay over without having to make them crash on the sofa.
6. An en suite: Or at least a second loo. It's no fun if someone is hogging the bathroom and you, you know... need to go.
7. A spare room: This can be that third bedroom if needs be, but I would like a room set up as an officey/crafty type room. Somewhere the computer can live. Somewhere I can have my (imaginary at this point) sewing machine set up. Somewhere with a desk.
8. To be within walking distance of a train station: Please see the above comment about parking. I have to get myself to places somehow, my preferred choice is by train.
9. To be within walking distance of milk: I know people who fantasise about owning a place out in the country. Away from all the hustle and bustle. It sounds lovely. Until you get up in the morning and realise there's no milk for your tea. I don't want to be smack bang in a city centre. But a shop nearby that sells milk and other useful items would be much appreciated.
10. To be somewhere I feel safe: I can't afford to live in the fancy places. But if I can walk down the streets at night without fear of being mugged that will do me!

So there we go. I have no idea if that is reasonable or over ambitious but I'll just have to keep counting the pennies until something like that catches my eye. And then we'll find out how unrealistic I've been.

Do you ever make a checklist for a big purchase to make sure you get what you want? It can't just be me who loves a list right?

 

Toodle pip, enjoy your day!

Charlotte x

 

 

Stop the ride. I want to get off.

Hello there lovely.

 

Is it just me, or does it sometimes feel like the world is never going to stop spinning? If anything it feels like it's speeding up. The days flash by like the background of a Scooby Doo cartoon!

 

Get up.

Go to work.

Run errands on your lunch break.

Go back to work.

Run for jam-packed sweat box train/bus or sit in MASSIVE traffic jam.

Do chores when you get in.

OR. Ignore chores, watch dross TV and then feel immense guilt and stress caused by pile of left over chores.

Sleep badly due to worrying about doing it all again.

Repeat x4

 

Then the weekend.

Your time. To do whatever you want. See your friends and relax.

But those chores are still there.

And which friends do you see? And can you really afford to do all that fun stuff? If you've not got your own places with bills to pay, you might be desperately trying to save up for one.

And the problem with a weekend is that there's never quite enough time for the working week to fall away. It's always there, niggling at you.

 

I think it can be difficult to let yourself take a break. Or a least I find it difficult. If your job is anything like mine, taking time off tends to mean you come back to an overflowing inbox and a horrendous amount of work to do. There's never a good time to take leave. Sometimes it just feels easier to keep going.

And then I feel like I want to get as much out of if my weekend as I can. I've earned that weekend! So that ends up jam packed and busy too.

But I wasn't designed for this. I'm a worrier and a stresser and my mind races ahead of me with things I want to do... while I jog on after it, stitch in my side, wheezing trying to keep up.

 

Sometimes you just need to shout STOP!

 

This week, I am on holiday. The proper kind. No distractions. No obligations. Just pottering along and having chance to recover from the non-stop ride that is the world. It's been less than a day so far and I already feel like my mind is slowing down, like I can focus on what I want to focus on. I'm going to make the most of this before I have to strap myself back in and start the whirlwind all over again.

 

For the Love of a Puppet Pig.

I am having a bit of a mid year review at the moment and I have been looking back at the things I wanted to achieve this year. In 2013 I went to see two shows at the theatre. In 2014 I wanted to see three. Last week, I went to see my fourth. Betty Blue Eyes.

 

If you've not heard of it, Betty Blue Eyes is a delightful Alan Bennett tale about post war Britain, black market trading, social hierarchy and the most beautiful blue-eyed pig you will ever see.

 

Like everything else I've seen this year, I didn't know what to expect. What I wasn't expecting was to fall so completely in love with Betty. I don't think it will spoil it too much to say that they didn't have a live pig snuffling about the stage, but that Betty was a simply beautiful puppet. If you know the idea of War Horse, imagine that on a much smaller, more adorable pig-sized scale. If you don't know War Horse, here is a link because even though I haven't seem it, I think it looks amazing.

 

But back to the show in hand. If I knew it was a musical, I had forgotten when I went in, but all the songs were fantastic. So good indeed that my theatre companion has downloaded the soundtrack. It is times like this that I am jealous of his monthly music subscription service.

 

There were multiple bad guys, from corrupt butchers, to the local town councillors who were entirely obsessed with their 'Private Function' and who they are inviting (and are not), to the bratty little girl who thought that because her mother can get black market steak she is better than everyone else. The best baddie though was the Meat Inspector. He seemed very concerned with closing down corrupt butchers and not very concerned with where people would get their meat from once they were all closed. After all, that's not his department.

 

And what kind of man is our hero? A swashbuckling soldier? A vigilante? A chiropodist?

10 points it everyone who said C.

He is kind. He is gentle. He is generous. He just wants to open his own surgery and help people. He doesn't want to disappoint his wife. He is fundanmentally a good man.

 

It is fundamentally a good play. If you want to feel uplifted, if you want to laugh, if you like a good swing dance section (something I certainly hadn't bargained for!) then I urge you to seek this show out.

 

I have now exceeded my goal for theatre shows this year but don't think that is going to stop me seeing more! It is only mid year after all. I have a couple of things I've spotted that I'd like to see but if anyone has any recommendations for things to look out for I would love to hear about them.

 

Pip pip Charlotte xx

 

Mid Year Resolution Review

I started out 2014 by making a really long list of things I wanted to do with the year. In January, I was really focused. I picked out specific things and get this, I did them.

February was a but more haphazard. More checking back on the list to see if I'd managed to to do anything. Which I had.

By March, I'd somewhat abandoned the list.

 

This sounds bad. Which it is. But actually, I didn't really make the list to set out to complete it. It was about me telling myself I wasn't going to have a bad year. 2013 was a bad year. I can't really remember why now. And I don't wish to try.

The list was about me having the confidence that I could do fun things, things that I wanted to achieve. That I could have a better year than the one that had passed previously. And 6 months in I can honestly say that I am. It's had it's low points, fair enough, but if you had told me on the 1st of January that I would find myself where I do now, I probably wouldn't have believed you.

Of course there are things I still want to achieve, things I still want to do, this I still want to change. I think there probably always should be. If you've stopped having things to aim for you're going to end up stagnant. Sure it's annoying when you have constantly revisit a goal because you just can't seem to make it happen.

For example, I am learning to drive. Can I get myself ready to take the test? Nope. Apparently not. I've done three practices and I've messed them all up pretty dramatically. Sometimes I just want to call it quits. But that would be silly. I just need more practise. More and more practise. I'll be ready to take the test when I'm ready to take it.

Another example is my consistent attempts to defeat my disorganisation and put systems in place that will keep me on track, help me keep a clear and organised mind. I have been trying to do this my entire life. I am happiest when I am organised. I function best in a neat environment with a structure I can follow. Naturally though, I am disorganised. I am a mess. I tend towards chaos. Which makes this a constant internal civil war. The Me I Am vs The Me I Want To Be.

Hitting the mid year for me feels like a good resting point. A good time to have a really good think about what is important, what I can achieve and how the heck I'm going to do it. It's time to take stock. To keep moving forward. To work out what direction I would like the next six months to take. But actually, it doesn't really matter. I'll end up where I end up and as long as I've tried my best along the way then that's good enough for me.

Pip pip, Charlotte.

 

Disorganisation

I am perpetually disorganised.

I long to be that person who knows where everything is.

Who never forgets to charge her phone before she goes out. Who never forgets her phone.

 

I have a diary, but I forget to use it. So what is the point?

I make lists and sometimes I do actually cross things off them. Or I lose the list.

I lack focus. My mind wanders. It is overwhelmed by the amount of things it wants to do and so it constantly flits from one thing to another, making it very tricky to box a task off. I start something, lose concentration. Start something else. The first job doesn't get finished. Oh dear.

 

Clearly what I need to do, is learn to tackle one thing at a time. They say this about New Year's Resolutions (something else I am afraid I am prone to making and breaking). Just pick one thing, work towards that and your chances of success are significantly greater than trying to do everything at once!

 

The only thing I have managed to develop as a vague organisational skill is that I buy my Christmas cards in the January sales. (Thrifty Yorkshire need for a bargain making an appearance there)!

I know when people's birthdays are, so why can't I get my act together and get them presents? I have ideas. I mean to get things ready. I sometimes even write these things down. But then I forget to look at the list. Or I end up with some notes on my phone, some on my iPad, some on a post-it note wedged into my diary.

 

One of my very best friends has the sort gift buying skills that I wish I had. She has Christmas presents wrapped in November. My birthday is in September. She had my present bought this year way back in about March! Admittedly this is slightly beyond the norm. She had been on a trip, had seen something she thought I would like and knew that she wouldn't have another opportunity to get me it. As you may be able to tell, she has already given me the present. Neither of us could cope with the tension! I want to have that sort of problem. Not panicking the day before.

 

I feel like I need to take a fortnight break to come up with a system that works. To plan ahead, to set up reminders. To set up a present drawer to store things in ahead of time. I would love to do this. I would feel amazing. And then, three weeks later, I would forget about it. I would procrastinate on making that purchase. And I'd be back at square one. Head in my hands thinking WHY?!