March #LookFantastic Beauty Box

Before the world changed, I decided to go back to my subscription boxes, and obviously I returned to Look Fantastic as I’ve always found the right mix of skincare, hair care and make up items for myself. And better sizes so better value too.

The box is iconic design specifically for international women’s day. I will be saving this for sure.

No Elle magazine anymore, but I’ll be honest I never really enjoyed them anyways, so that’s a good change for me. Less paper waste.

As usual there is a reason I wanted this box, and it was this single item. I wanted to try out some good eye creams.

#Madara Time Miracle Wrinkle Resist Eye Cream 15ml rrp £35.00

It targets signs of tiredness and ageing, while tackling the fine lines and wrinkles. Have more radiant and younger looking skin.

#Rituals The Ritual Of Ayurveda Shower Gel Oil 75ml rrp £4.90

Indian Rose and Sweet Almond Oil scent this shower oil, it will nourish the skin leaving it hydrated and smooth. Add a few drops in to hands and massage in circular motions, When It contacts with water it foams up, leaving the body feeling refreshed and smelling divine.

#GrowGorgeous Repair Strengthening Hair and Scalp Mask 30ml rrp £3.75

Get visibly thicker and more nourished hair from this unique mask. Formulated with Caffeine that stimulates the scalp to help the roots. Whereas Oat lipids will lock in moisture and Hyaluronic acids for that silky soft finish. Leave on the hair 10mins after massaging into damp hair.

#Hairburst Healthy Hair Vitamins 15 day supply rrp £12.49

To combat the effects of hair styling, and heated appliances which give the hair a fried feeling, and excessive colouring. When taken regularly they say 98% of users see faster hair growth.

#Rodial Bee Venom Cleansing Balm 20ml rrp £13.00

Taking your facial cleansing to the next level with a luxurious skin brightening cleansing balm. Bee Venom has powerful anti-aging properties that smooth complexion and plumps up fine lines, while decongesting your skin of impurities and dirt. This balm transforms into a milky cleanser.

#ElizabethArden Superstart Skin Renewal Booster 5ml rrp £7.50

Designed to restore your skins natural ability to repair and renew, it’s the perfect skin booster, with less irritation and reducing the appearance of damaged skin.

This item came with the box but no info about it in the box, so I don’t know it’s RRP price.

A gentle yet effective re-texturing mask infused with extracts of papaya and fresh grapefruit as well as flower acids derived from revitalizing hibiscus. The rich texture reveals fresh and brighter looking skin. The face looks smooth, clear, and radiant. Crafted in Switzerland with the highest quality pure botanicals.

72.7% Natural including a rosewater base

I’m loving having this box, it’s a thread of normalcy to cling too in an uncertain world. And for sure the stress and anxiety will play havoc with my skin and arthritis flare ups, so anything that helps me stay into a normal routine, is a huge hit for me right now.

What a week of change!! First Week #SelfIsolation

Last week I was discussing self isolation and how as a disabled person it wouldn’t be any different from my main life.

How wrong was I? It is different, we can no longer see family members, in fear we catch something, or worse pass it on to loved ones. The threat and fear of medication storages are luming in the back of my mind.

And the staggering dismissal of the deaths as they have pre existing conditions have floored me. Do they not realise, it’s not just end of life people, but people that could live another 50+ years in normal circumstances.

But here we are it’s anything but Normal is it? Schools shut indefinitely, so we collected our youngest daughter on Thursday 19th March so she wouldn’t be stuck up there alone. Though I worry equally about my other three daughters and their families.

The world is different and how different it stays remain to be seen. I’m not ashamed to say I could cry, scream, feel helpless and almost driven mad with what ifs. But I know it won’t help.

All I can do, is reduce the amount I eat and treat it with mindfulness so I can go without more, which in turn means less trips out to supermarkets.

Try to occupy my mind (As that’s my worse enemy) and perhaps step away from social media as much as possible. Everything feels so trivial in comparison to this.

So far we can still walk in the countryside, so I’m doing this for pure mental health, and vitamin D. I can handle the pubs, restaurants and cases, and retail shops shut. But it’s the but wrenching feeling, that you may never hold loved ones again, parents, grandchildren, children. It’s totally Heart breaking.

We celebrated Ostara in the woods, it felt good to have brisk winds whip around our faces, it feels good to be alive. The blue skies and birdsong lifts the spirits, and it was good to snatch that freedom of outside. I have no problems of avoiding shops, pubs but being outdoors is what feeds my soul.

A Cold Dark Heart by Stephen Puleston #BlogBookTour

And we are BACK, it’s another perfectly timed blog book tour…

Please don’t think in the current climate I’m ignoring what is going on out there. I’m just trying to occupy myself here, without spiralling. Thank you xx

#ADGIFTED as always this book was gifted in return for a review, however all thoughts and opinions are my own. I only choose particular authors and genres I know I will enjoy.

So what do we have this time. First off the Title A cold dark heart drew me in instantly. It sounds mysterious dark and a thriller. Let’s dive in.

Drake’s most dangerous killer and shocking case yet…
Accident or murder…?
When eighty-nine-year-old Emyr Isaac is found dead in his home, Drake and his team initially suspect a burglary gone wrong. Isaac was old, and his death was a tragedy, but it’s not a murder case…is it?
A grisly discovery…
Drake uncovers more suspicious deaths, all elderly victims, all seemingly innocent, but with one chilling connection.
A twisted killer…
If Drake’s suspicions are correct, they have a dangerous serial killer on the loose. Soon, the team realise that stopping this killer will require playing a dangerous game – how do you catch a murderer trusted by everyone?

THE AUTHOR

Stephen Puleston author bio
I write crime fiction based in Wales and about Wales. The rural landscape of north Wales provides the backdrop to the Inspector Drake novels. And Cardiff the capital of Wales provides the setting for the Inspector Marco novels set in a modern urban environment.
I love the novels of Raymond Chandler, Ian Rankin, Mark Billingham, Henning Mankell, Val McDermid – the list could go on! And I enjoy watching detective series on the television the recent Hinterland series based near Aberystwyth in Wales was great. One of my favourites is the French series Spiral but The Bridge and Broadchurch and the Rebus series with Ken Stott and Kenneth Branagh in Wallander are great too.
I have been on writing courses at the Welsh Writers Centre in Llanystymdwy, North Wales tutored by Matt Whyman and Marcus Sedgwick as well as crime writing courses with Peter Robinson and Andrew Taylor at the Scottish Writers centre.
I was born in Anglesey an island off the north Wales coast and after leaving school in Holyhead I went to University in London before training as a solicitor/lawyer. I practised in a small family business doing criminal work in the magistrates and crown courts, divorce and family work.
I still live on Anglesey, North Wales near the beach and the mountains of Snowdonia.
LINKS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephenpulestoncrimewriter/
Twitter: @stephenpuleston
Website: http://www.stephenpuleston.co.uk

MY REVIEW

My first dive into this series, and though it’s book 5, I didn’t feel lost or hindered from starting here.
It’s beautifully written, easy to read with clear writing and clever descriptors it can almost feel like you are actually there.
It features a DI Ian Drake and it’s location is set in North Wales, when Emyr Isaac is found dead in his home, it is quickly put down as a burglary gone wrong, but soon afterwards when things don’t add up. So what could the crime be? Inspector Drake and his team start the journey through clues and uncover a wealth of secrets.
It’s not obvious or easy to work out the plot, you have red herrings galore.

Can’t wait for the next one!!

Self Isolation

As a person that is usually stuck indoors, my only appointments are being at the hospital physio once a fortnight (I’ve cancelled for a month) or going out for a brisk walk. Me being trapped inside is nothing new to me.

First thing first, stay in a routine. It’s important to get up and dressed, especially as depression and apathy will take hold if you don’t. It’s better to structure your day, as you feel more productive.

So what can we do

DIY,Garden

If you are able bodied, then maybe is a this time to catch up on all the diy you’ve been meaning to do. I would love to do this, but it isn’t possible sadly. I can’t even garden, not that I have green fingers either though.

Exercise

I personally wear myself out with daily physio,so not only am I working the leg out and trying to ease arthritis symptoms, it occupies my mind too. I find it fills a lot of my day up, as I need a long time after to recover from it too. Great mood booster though.

Craft, Hobbies

I love crafts, I have made jewellery, papercutting and I love colouring in books too, they ease the mind and fill up good chunks of time. This for me is limited now due to my hand arthritis. But I love them when it’s possible.

Reading

Who doesn’t have a book list as long as their arm, but always feel like they have no time to read. Well now you do, it is one of the most peaceful times to snatch for yourself. I’m going to re-read the Ink Heart trilogy and Beautiful Creatures.

Prime,Now,Netflix

It is a good time to catch up on tv series, binge watch all that you have saved. I have a love of European Netflix shows,a good scandi noir helps me through the long days. The Flash, Altered Carbon, Elite, Stockholm Requiem.

Organise Wardrobes

I actually badly need to do this myself. I literally live in work out wear and pjs. But I have clothes for every occasion and am a hoarder too. So it’s time to decide what to charity or bin, or give to family. Lots of ideas on Pinterest and YouTube.

Stay safe guys xx

#Halsey Manic Tour #DateDay

It’s finally here!! After the disappointment of the #LanaDelRey concert being cancelled, we’ve literally counted down the days to this event!! Though now it’s here, I’m nervous due to the coronavirus if I’m honest.

Your Visit

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

As the coronavirus situation evolves, the safety and wellbeing of our visitors and staff members is our number one priority.

At this time, the risk to individuals is low and all of our events are going ahead as planned. The guidance from the Government to music fans attending music events in the UK and to anyone involved in tours in the UK is to check with the official Government news sources: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

We will continue to review our policies and procedures in line with updated health advice and guidance. Which at the moment is recommending the use of tissues if you sneeze or cough and regular hand washing. To this end, we have hand washing facilities in all of our venues and additional signage to highlight these best practices and to reassure the public.

The Government has now produced its coronavirus action plan which you can read here. The 28-page document outlines what people can expect across the UK.

More advice on coronavirus and safety precautions can be found on the website of Public Health England here.

So we went

Instead of all we had planned, we are staying at home for the day and only coming out for this event. So no junkyard golf and club crawl beforehand. Gutted but I understand. After tonight the country may be on lockdown with all events cancelled etc.(nope they haven’t decided to do this yet)

So Manchester here we come.

We had pale waves on as an introduction, supporting act. Loved their sound. So I will look for them on Spotify.

Found our seats easily as they were shown to us, We had a great view as well, super impressed.

My only bugbear was everyone stood up, we had seating for disability so thankfully on the end, so could still see, but I spotted others that couldn’t.

Set List

1. Nightmare
2. Castle
3. Heaven In Hiding
4. Eyes Closed/ Die for Me
5. You Should Be Sad
6. Haunting
7. Forever… (is a Long Time)
8. Dominic’s Interlude (interlude)
9. I Hate Everybody
10. Colors pt. II / Colors
11. Walls Could Talk
12. Bad At Love
13. 3am
14. Finally // Beautiful Stranger
15. 100 Letters (acoustic)
16. Is There Somewhere
17. Killing Boys
18. Hold Me Down
19. Clementine
20. Graveyard
21. 929
22. Ashley
23. Gasoline
24. Without Me

The whole thing went so fast, four outfit changes, moving stages, fabulous visuals and fire. It was high energy, delicate at times, emotional in others, raging and fierce, it was a whole journey she took us on.

I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish. In fact I didn’t want it to end. We had lots of Artist interaction, and talking too. Felt like it was genuine interaction, rather than staged and forced.

And now that’s me not moving for a week, we are staying in to keep our contact with others to a minimum. I cancelled my physio appointments for a month too.

61 Weeks Post #HipReplacement Physio outside

Racing into the weeks now, it feels after Christmas the months have absolutely flown!! I can’t quite believe it’s middle of March and nearly time for Easter Holidays.

As the horrendous storms and water have reduced, it’s been good to get outside and do some nature countryside walks. They actually seem to wear me out more than a gym controlled session.

Trying to walk straight, small steps and very very controlled so the limp isn’t there. It’s only a small amount of steps I can do like this, before waddle comes back. But I’m trying to build upon it.

It’s cold for sure, but wrapped up it’s ok, and you get to feel alive for a bit. Blow the depressive thoughts away and reset your mind.

I am very lucky to live in such a pretty place. The mud makes each step a little off camber, giving the ankles more work to hold you upright and steady, so it’s working the micro muscles we don’t usually think about. But it does fatigue me very quickly.

#Wasteland Review

Do you remember the 90’s raving culture? I certainly do,and I still have my feet firmly planted in it, it’s never left me.

I have my husband because of raving, my friends, it’s an incredible family of people, gathered from all walks of life. The only time you’ll ever feel free, is raving!!

With this in mind, getting to see a theatre production of some raving history, I leapt at the chance to go.

About the play
In 1994 hundreds of coal miners hung up their pit boots as Grimethorpe Colliery was destroyed, along with the tight-knit working-class community that surrounded it. Wasteland, Gary Clarke’s sequel to COAL – winner of UK Theatre and National critics awards, looks at how two generations coped in this era of radical upheaval. As we see one generation grind to a halt, we follow the next into the 90s illegal rave scene, where derelict warehouses and abandoned work spaces became home for a new-found community of music and dance.

Bringing together Clarke’s vivid physical dance language performed by a company of exceptional dancers, a community cast of singers, brass musicians, archive film footage, a powerful rave soundtrack and unique artwork by Jimmy Cauty (co-founder of The KLF),James Francis Cauty also known as Rockman Rock, is an English artist and musician, best known as one-half of the duo The KLF, co-founder of The Orb and as the man who burnt £1 million.

Wasteland dives head first into a gritty story of loss, hope, escapism and survival.

My review

I myself, as I started my raving history felt we were all in solidarity and unison, the one place our cares and worries melted away.

We were free. The repetitive beats, the euphoria, and pure hedonistic bliss was a movement, a real historic time. Pioneers even. And this play certainly captured how we dressed back then, how we felt and how we moved.

The soundtrack was a treasure of days passed, loved the old footage shown as a backdrop. Simple things added, such as searching for a pirate radio stations triggered memories. I remembered the excitement we felt finding them.

And I felt transported back. But can also see how it mirrors today politics, and our disenfranchised youth.

9 weeks #Etoricoxib #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #Arthritis

I’m confused as to whether this is working. In general it smarts at the end of the day, so gel and splints come out.

Overall it’s better than the ibuprofen 400mg x 3 per day. I really need to remember the 8x paracetamol though to really assess it. I’m a devil for remembering them for some reason.

This weekend I did do this to myself, I was a wearing my splint in the evening, I gently put my thumb and first finger together to do a pinching action. And OH MY GOD the pain!!!

Usually I sublux joints often the MCP one,with no pain really. This time I fully dislocated the CMC joint, and holey moley did I cry.

Resulted in my unable to use my hand all Friday night, and Saturday day time. When at tea time I heard and felt a pop! And suddenly the pain and pressure eased off. Thankfully.

As you can see it drastically changed from Friday night to Sunday morning. Now I just hope this isn’t going to be a frequent occurrence like other joints.

10 years of #SBS #TheoPaphitis #PartTwo

As previously said in prior post, I recently went to #smallbusinesssunday meet up which is hosted by former Dragon Theo Paphitis.

We arrived a bit later, while Google were doing their presentation, I arrived later as I knew it was already a bit of a long day for me, with missing an hour or two.

Some talks ran over sadly so it was less dinner time for us to eat. But the crowd didn’t seem to mind.

We saw the fabulous stats of what it means to be a winner, I’m 1 of 3000 so I do feel special, that little old me with my jewellery, caught his business eye.

We had a presentation from LinkedIn but I confess it didn’t help me understand any better.

The food was great, though the queue for it, not so much. Never had a chance with the cakes. Had a beautiful glass of bubbly though, and gorgeous (The best) coffee.

Next up for fireside chat was Sara Davies

She was a breath of fresh air, and coming from a crafters background I felt I could identify with her more. The chat was super informative, and well worth listening too.

We left after this, as my poor body couldn’t cope anymore, so time for me to retreat. It was a shame never got to see some friends, but the time literally flew away with us.

On the way out, we used our token for a goodie bag (system changed from before where you and your plus 1 got one) this time it’s just 1 per business.

Inside the cloth tote bag was all this.

Love the strong sturdy cloth bag.

Metal bottle from DHL, plug adapter from Robert Dyas, card holder from HP, pencils pens notepad and bookmark from Ryman, Pyrex dish and Bamboo cup from Robert Dyas, and Ear phones from Ryman. Screen wipe from Ryman.