Goods and Bads :)

It's that time of the week again time for LouLou's goods and bads of the week :)

Bads

• Just the one bad this week the foot need I say more - it seems that since the cast has came off I am pretty much back to square one, I am having to start learning to walk with my frame again let alone unaided and to make it worse the splint rubs right on my scar, and my foot keeps swelling :(

Goods

• Despite a few ups and down and melt downs on my part my mum has been amazing as per usual. As well as lots of hugs, and home baking she bought me some lovely carnations this week (excuse the awful Blackberry pic) and this lovely silver and mother of pearl turtle necklace - it's from the South Western Silver Collection at QVC and represents Wisdom which is written on the back :) I love tiny pendants and the sentiments behind this one :)

(pic taken from QVC)

• My families health nightmares are hopefully nearly at end, my Auntie still has a way to go after her surgery after Christmas but my Godfathers shingles is clearing up and he is feeling much better
• Blogging and You Tube - I think I have my mojo back - after coming out of hospital I felt a bit disheartened but I am feeling brighter and more motivated and ready to tackle my coming soon list x Thank You x
• Make Up - Don't get me wrong I never went off make up but I have well and truly got my mojo back and I'm starting to shop my stash - at the same time I am also discovering things I'm probably not going to use so expect a revised blog sale soon x
• Nigella's Crunchie Nut bar  - I have just had Nigella's Kitchen out of the library and I have to say it's a fabulous book every page had me drooling this is one of my favourite recipes I made it at Christmas after copying the recipe down from the TV series and it's fabulous I am going to make some tonight yum yum x

I hope you've all had a good week, if not here's hoping this one is better xx

Nails Of The Day - GOSH Holographic

I said I couldn't wait to get this on my nails so last night I gave it a go. I have to say I did have a few application issues but I have to see the final effect far outweighs a few initial streaking problems. I have to say this is nothing  like any holograph polish I've tried previously - the effect is truly magical - I love x

A'kin Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Hand Wash - A Review For My Pure

I have to be honest with you my dear readers for one of my February review items from My Pure I chose something I've actually used before. I hope you don't mind that I did that but it was a product I'd used in the past and that I really rated. I just wanted to try it again and see if it was as good as I remembered.
The product in questions was from the Australian brand A'kin, I've reviewed a few of their products so far for My Pure and I have to say it's a brand I've come to really rate, with all of their products certified organic, and sulfate and paraben free.

The product I chose was the A'kin Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Hand Wash, packaged in an interestingly shaped pump action dispenser to make it super hygienic and easy to use, the hand wash is a clear gel like consistency then seems to thin down when it's dispenses

You don't need a lot and it gives a lovely creamy foam, created by botanical ingredients such as Coconut and Palm.

Containing both Australian organically grown Eucalyptus, and Melaleuca Alternifolia Tea Tree which as well as being anti bacterial means it smells super clean and fresh.

 The key things about this hand wash though is that I don't find it at all drying, it just leaves my hands feeling super clean.
I have to say this is as good as I remember it, it cleans the skin well without drying and it smells amazing. I love hand washes they are so much more hygienic than a bar of soap, and yes I know you have to press the pump down but I usually find you can do it with your forearm - nothings perfect lol This would be great either in the bathroom or at the kitchen sink for super clean hands. The A'kin Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Hand Wash comes in a 240ml pump action bottle and retails for £9.99 from My Pure  . Any questions please ask xx

(The A'kin Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Hand Wash Was Provided By My Pure For Review Purposes)

With Thanks To Anna x

A few posts ago I mentioned that I really wanted the famous GOSH 549 Holographic Nail Polish, alas I'm not able to get to Superdrug at the moment because of you've guessed it the stupid foot,and added to that the fact that it has now been discontinued and is proving hard to find I thought my lust would go unsatisfied. Salvation however came in the form of the lovely Anna

She had bought one already and kindly offered to go back and get one for me - It doesn't look that spectacular in the bottle but despite the iffy opinions regarding the application - in all the pics I've seen it looks amazing - I can't wait to sort out a good base coat and give it ago, Thanks Anna xx

Curly Lashes With Boots No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara?

Like many other bloggers I was recently sent the latest mascara offering  from Boots No7. I have tried their mascaras before but normally in the mini sizes that you get with the GWP, and I have to say nothing has really wowed me so far OK but not amazing if you know what I mean whether that's down to the size I really don't know, I do have the full size Exceptional Definition mascara in my stash to try but this was my first go with a full sized No7 mascara.

As the name suggests this is a curling mascara, to be honest curled lashes don't really bother me that much I have eyelash curlers but I very rarely reach for them so I was interested to see what this mascara could offer me. Well they obviously claim that this mascara will enhance the natural curve of my eyelashes, I've always wondered how a mascara alone can do this but according to No7 it's all down to the brush

I have to say that I thought the brush on this mascara would be a lot bigger but it's just an average sized fibre brush, but the big difference is it's curved. The brush has an inbuilt curve which perfectly fits the contours of you eyes and of course your lashes.

Along with an inbuilt curl setting polymer to keep the curl in place all day Boots claim your lashes will be curled by at least 90°, giving you a wide eyed look, well I've always fancied looking a bit like Bambi so I gave it a go.

The formulation of the mascara seems quite thin, I have to say I like this I hate dry, clump mascaras this one applies easily with very little clumping, it also seems to dry pretty quickly which is another plus point in my book. So what does it look like on - pic time - apologies that some are a tad blurry :)

Before - yes I do have lashes here somewhere

1 Coat

2 Coats

4 Coats

Impressive eh! - The difference is even more pronounced though with a side view
Before - you see I do actually have lashes - they are OK nothing special a bit paler on the tips

After 4 coats you can really see the difference - curved, longer and blacker

I have to say that this mascara gets a big thumbs up from me, my lashes appear longer, thicker, and definitely more uplifted which in turn makes my eyes appear much wider. I also love the fact you can layer this mascara up even with 4 coats there is barely any clumping or bobbling, and above all the lashes don't feel clogged or heavy - no matter how much you apply the lashes still remain quite flexible and not at all hard or crispy. My one complaint with this is a tiny one - I personally had a tiny bit trouble applying this to my bottom lashes without spotting, I always have a problem using big wands on my lower lashes, although I have to say the curved nature of the brush did make it easier than some of the thick wands I've tried. so not really much of a negative was it ;) According to Mummy LouLou this mascara gave me lashes like spiders legs and to be honest that's good enough for me x  Boots No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara comes in 2 shades Black and Brown/Black and retails at £13.00

(Boots No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara Provided For Review Purposes)

Free, Kind Of ?

Well today was my hospital appointment to check the progress of my ankle. First up out came the circular saw and off came the cast, then it was off to x-ray cue me eeking as I had to put my full weight on my bad foot, and jam it again an x-ray plate !!! Then it was back to the waiting room where my consultant was running over an hour late :( Eventually I got to see him and he was happy with my progress, it's healing well hurrah! I was then wheeled off to physio to be shown a few exercises, and then I was given a removable splint which I have to wear for the next 8 weeks before seeing my consultant again. What that does is basically provide support and protection for my ankle bones while they finish healing - slightly yack picture!

Thankfully I can take it off and I will be able to have a proper bath and a shower now! I will also be able to plaster it in moisturiser before putting my socks on :) You can probably see from the picture but my skin is beyond gross, it is soooooo dry and flaky. My scar isn't looking too bad thankfully but it still has a bit of healing to do then I can start moisturising it, I thought of trying Bio Oil but if anyone has any scar fading tips I'd love to know x All in all I am pretty pleased with how today went I've still got a little way to go yet and it's going to take some time to start walking normally again, and to build up the strength in my ankle but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel even though my shopping trip to the Metro Centre is still on hold x Thanks again for all the sweet messages on here and on twitter I really appreciate it xx

NOTD and A Query

Just a little Nails of the Day post for you - I fancied something a bit different so I had a delve in my nail polish drawers and came up with this

Rimmel 60 Seconds in 610 Pompous - a gorgeous dark purple with glitter shot through it that you can hopefully see here

It applies really well, this is two coats and each coat only took about a minute to dry. Only trouble is I don't think the colour is  showing that well in my pics, what do you think? Oh and sorry for the bad paint job ;)

See all the things in this picture are purple my toe nails. my cast, and the quilt underneath yet they don't seem to show it - I get more of a blue tone

How do you get the colour purple to show correctly in pics ? I have my purple nail polish collection to do soon and I would love some advice xx

The Return Of Goods and Bads

Hi Guys - I haven't done one of these posts for a while so I thought I'd start them up again for you :)

Bads

• I thought I'd start with the bads and the biggest bad is obviously the offending foot/ankle/leg eek - I am walking in my cast shoe without my frame now but it's isn't half giving me gyp - as well as been beyond itchy and dry, I keep getting little stabby and naggy pains particular where the clips came out, and my legs are aching like hell grr

•  Feeling a bit bleugh generally my cold is gone pretty much bar my nigh on continuous sore throat but I still don't feel myself, I feel down, and  unmotivated about everything and that's not me - everything even blogging seems like so much of chore for what seems like little reward. My sleeping is awful and everything
• seems like a chore - I hate feeling like this and want the old enthusiastic LouLou back  :(
• My godfather has shingles :( he's OK but he's in a bit of pain and he's in his 80's so it's a bit of a worry

Goods

• Hospital on Wednesday fingers crossed I can get the cast of doom off my foot
• Apart from my godfather my families 2011 illness/accident crisis appears to be over, whilst I was in hospital 2 other members of my family were in different hospitals at the same time, shortly followed by third - 2011 certainly didn't start that well for us hmm
• Sticking to my Project 10 Pan and not buying anything! - need I say more I haven't been tempted by a hardly a single thing in the past few MAC collections - is my MAC obsession over? I've also not been online shopping - normally feeling bleurgh is an excuse to buy but I've been good. I am starting to realise that shopping only gives me a little boost that to be honest doesn't last - lets hope I can keep it up
• Having said that about shopping -  I did receive a little parcel this morning the last part of my Next sale order - I placed a sale order on the 22nd December and it came today!!! To be honest I had forgotten about it but I'm keeping it, it's a lovely cozy grey winter cardi with a black belt pretty essential I am sure you'll agree especially since the snow is back :(

Well this was a big uppy and downy post wasn't it - hope it wasn't too depressing for you - oh another good - new followers - hi everyone and thanks for clicking the follow button I really appreciate it :) I'll see you later in the week with a hospital update post, a review and maybe a few randoms :) See you soon xx

Project 10 Pan Item Number 4 :)

Today has been a good day well apart from the return of the snow that is, not only did I get my Sleek Primer Palette but I also finished my 4th item on Project 10 Pan :)

Today my Collection 2000 Big Fake False Lash Effect Mascara - 17 Ultra Black finally gave up the ghost and applied like a dry, unpigmented, clump to my lashes, It wasn't a bad mascara it certainly made the lashes look good, but I had a few problems with smudging and flaking - you can read my full review here, so it's probably not one I would repurchase :( Nevermind I still have about 10 + mascaras to use up including one I've been trialling for you - a review of that should be up next week - I wonder if you can guess which one it is ;)

So I'm nearly half way through now thank goodness, the next item down will either be a primer or a foundation. Once I get to 5 I will be doing a little half way progress and thoughts post both here and on my You Tube channel so you can look out for that xx

Gift From My Mummy - Sleek Primer Palette

Hey my loves I got a lovely surprise this morning, my mum had ordered me the new Sleek Primer Palette.

She for once took notice of my hints and ordered it all by herself from the Sleek website #prouddaughter , intending to keep it for my birthday but she thought I deserved a treat and gave me it this morning :)

I have to say as soon as I heard about this I wanted it - I love eye primers and cream shadows so this palette really appealed - it features 12 shades ranging from the brights to the neutrals, they seem really smooth and pigmented and probably wearble in their own right not just as shadow primers

The colour names in the palette are shall we say wrong, the green as described as peach, the blue as Ultra Violet and so on - brilliant quality control Sleek - erm not - any way swatches in the order they appear in the palette x

Pretty eh - I am so pleased with this and can't wait to try it on my eyes, I really hope it doesn't crease, for £6.99 it has the potential to be a really great must have palette - thanks Mummy LouLou xx

Back 2 MAC By Post

Hi Guys
I've had a few comments on my last post about me doing my Back 2 MAC by post so here's what you need to do. First of all obviously you need you 6 empties, depots and broken packaging are fine, then write a note with your name and address details and which lipstick you want I normally give them a few to choose from :). To be honest I wouldn't send any more than 12 empties at a time though because they only seem to send out maximum of two lipsticks at once and then pop them in a packet and send them to

BACK 2 MAC
RICHARD VARLEY
CONSTELLATION HOUSE
3 KITE’S CROFT BUSINESS PARK
WARSASH ROAD
FAREHAM
HAMPSHIRE
PO14 4FL

Wait a couple of weeks and your lipstick should arrive wrapped in tissue and with a compliments slip - simples :) Oh and if it takes ages to come like mine did bad weather and Christmas got the blame there, then you can contact customer services via the MAC website and they will chase it up for you. Any more questions give me a yell x

My New Lipstick Love

Last week I got a little parcel through the post, I haven't being buying any make up I promise but I had been waiting since before Christmas for a Back 2 MAC to come through. I always post my empties off, it just makes it easier for me, but normally they don't take quite as long hmm. Anyways the lipstick I got this time was one that to be honest (haha) I have never heard too much about, and now I've got it I'm wondering why not! The colour I got was Honesty, described by MAC as a muted neutral pink, it is 100% is my lips but better

The Cremesheen formula means it's super smooth on the lips and the colour is sooooo wearable

Here's a lip picture apologies it's not great but the lighting yet again is awful, but I hope you get the idea, I was going to do a full FOTD but I decided against it. my skin is awful and one of the products I am testing out isn't really doing it for me :( so despite the fact I'm sitting here in a full face of slap, your just getting my lips

I hope you can get an idea of how pretty this is, I am so pleased to have chosen this one and I know I'll wear it lots x

Beauty Wants From Across The Pond or My Fantasy Shopping Bag

I don't know about you but I spend ages drooling over websites such as Sephora, and even Ulta, and Walgreens playing fantasy shopping, safe in the knowledge I can look but not touch, or buy lol so I thought I'd do a little post showing you some of the goodies I would buy if I could that is ;)

First up this baby the Sephora Floral Funk Eyeshadow Palette - Warm - purely for the packaging which remind me of a Louis Vuitton bag I have :)

More eyeshadows - Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette - Ludwig - love this lady and I've always wanted to try her eyeshadow palettes

Sephora by OPI Urban Ballerina Mini Collection - I only have one Sephora by OPI colour and I love it - this kit has some great neutrals and a lovely purple

Hello Kitty for Sephora Brush Set - I love the full Hello Kitty range all in pinks and silvers

Marc Jacobs Lola Perfume Rollerballs - a fabulous idea why don't we have Rollerballs in the UK?

L'Oreal HIP Eyeshadows  - I love these I have a few I've got from swaps but I really like the line but again we don't have it in the UK :( I have noticed some of it is now part of the Studio Secrets line so there may be hope

Physicians Formula Happy Glow &; Mood Boosting Blush - I saw this on the lovely Michelle's blog and it is gorgeous


Does anyone else ever play fantasy shopping?

(pics from Sephora, Ulta and Walgreens )

Product Rave - Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo

I've recently posted about my love for Batiste Dry Shampoo - I don't know how I ever lived without it to be honest. Essential for freshening up your hair, and taking away the excess grease, as providing volume it's a great product, and it's really became a must have for me over the last few months

I've reviewed a few of the fragrances and types here but my favourite has to be the Blush fragrance. In a pretty pink floral patterned can it has a gorgeous heady floral smell, not too dissimilar from Michael Kors - Michael Kors fragrance. I would even go so far as to say that if you wear this, you don't actually need to wear a fragrance, the smell really does linger. Of all the Batiste fragrances and styles this is probably the one that I will continue to repurchase. Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush is available in a 50ml on the go size for around £1.52 and in a 150ml can for around £2.35. For more information on the Batiste range please check out their website and keep an eye out for a review of the new Batiste Tones which should be up in the next week or so. Any questions please ask xx

(Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo 150ml Was Provided By PR For Review Purposes)