Make Yourself at Home ~

Serious Questions or Simply for Entertainment. This blog can be anything you want it to be ... Click the FOLLOW button ... makes me feel better. Add your message to Gills' Guest Book. Post a Comment at the end of a blog ... Email me with your questions: gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk


Sunday 26 June 2011

Hello Daughters ...

Daughters, Sons, that covers everyone then ...

Apparently, a third of Britons are so stressed about money that they worry about it daily. Whether its the current financial situation or the outlook for the future. Well, we're not surprised really, are we?

Mainly:- don't spend more than you earn. I know that's easier to say than do, but once you're into meney saving routines, you'll get used to the idea. It's a bit like going on a diet or training yourself to go on a healthy eating plan.

Some random ideas for cutting financial expenses:

* Check your tax code is correct. Millions of people in Great Brittain have the wrong code.

* Check you are on the lowest phone tariff suitable for your use.
* Cut down on unnecessary text messages: When you make arrangements with someone, try to keep to them. [this will avoid multiple calls and text messages].

Repair: Try having your washing machine / TV / fridge seal / cooker ring / repaired rather than buying a new one.
Repair & Dry Clean: Clothes, hems, buttons rather than buy new ones.

Travel: Group your collections/ delivery projects into one journey.
Travel: Car share.

Play out: Every night doesn't have to be a run around all the pubs followed by 3 or 4 clubs and an expensive taxi home. Change the plan. 'Staying in is the new Going Out' Pick up a board game from a car boot. Play cards. Set up a short tennis net in your / your friend's garden. Take your mates for a walk somewhere you haven't been before.
Join a running club. Get a bike [Last week, one was sold for £6 !.

Phew, eyes rolling already ... must be time for my chocolate fix ... oops, not having chocolate this week [part of the saving routine I devised last week]

Jill

Friday 24 June 2011

Mascara to Blink for ...

New Lashes from BareMinerals ... Can't wait to try the new mascara ... Bound to be every bit as good as the Brush, Swirl, Tap, flawless finish. Coming out in September: Here's what bareMinerals has to say ...

Yes, you can have it all, including that curl. Take lashes to their full potential with bareMinerals Flawless Definition Curl & Lengthen Mascara. It lifts, it curls, and it lengthens for dramatically long lashes with extra body and definition.

• Lifts, curls and holds for instant results
• Infused with essential blend of minerals, antioxidants, natural extracts
• Fortifying formula helps condition lashes
• Smudge-proof
• Clump-proof
• Paraben-free
• Ophthalmologist tested; Safe for contact lens wearers

The lash-pampering formula is infused with a sculpting botanical complex, plus curl-enhancing extracts that work to strengthen the curl and add dramatic length to each and every lash. An essential blend of amino acids, Vitamin E and mineral extracts, including Rhodochrosite, Smithsonite and Malachite, nurtures and helps protect lashes from environmental damage.

Like a personal trainer for your lashes, it’s the brush that takes lashes to new lengths. With its dual-length bristles, the curl-enhancing brush utilizes the longer bristles for lift, length and the dramatic, wow-factor curl that lashes crave. The shorter bristles coat and deposit the long-wearing formula onto each lash with precision.

co bareMinerals team.
Jill

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Yikes ! Bikes !

As it's cycling week - 18th - 26th June ...


I've updated my registration deets and topped up my hourbike account ~ So, ready and raring to give it a go on Blackpool's Hire Bikes. Over 50 bases to select or return a bike to. Amazing !

If you don't live in Blackpool or FY areas, try http://www.hourbike.com/ for participating towns, villages, cities.

Otherwise, take a trip to Blackpool and ride along the prom, prom, prom on a like, bike, hike !

What people will do to get an ice-cream with a flake in it !!!!

Jill

Hey, It's Bike Week !

Yes, it is Team Green Bike Week ... so no excuse ... it's time to get cycling ... for fun ... for fresh air .. for exercise ... to work ... to college ... to the boyfriend's place ... to the pub ... even to the take-away ... like I say ... the choices are endless.

Check out:     http://www.bikeweek.org.uk/

Also, cyclery and bikerly stuff plus Team Green Bike Week challenge in this week's Zest magazine:

http://www.zest.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?dt=4&UTN=752&V=9

Get on yer bike ...

Jill

Saturday 18 June 2011

Exercise ... Don't you want to?

Hello Daughter in Distress who tells me they don't like exercise. I couldn't agree more. I seriously despise exercising. I don't really like swimming - or even walking and that's criminal as I live fifty yards from a delightful river path! However, exercise really is a must - at any age. But it doesn't have to overtake your life. Now I'm not suggesting I'm an authority on health related exercises but common sense prevailing, I do suggest some sort of activity is necessary at least a few times a week.

I borrowed/stole my daughter's weights [loverlee colour] ... I leave them about the bedroom to remind me to do something with them ... It ususally works, the bright yellow ends, like mini suns, glaring at me from the cheeky pink rubber each morning. Making me feel guilty. Making me feel lazy and irresponsible. To be honest, a few stretches with the weights helps loosen tight shoulders and a strained neck from working at a desk for long hours. [and yes, I did loosen up first - for a nano-second or so]

Try short bouts of exercise - just promise yourself a few minutes each day - a few stretches on your bedroom floor - walk to the shops / work / your friend's hall of res / okay, walk to the pub if you must.
You'll soon learn which moves a particular area of your body is crying out for.
Before you realise it, you'll be extending the time you spend wrything about on your floor - stretching further - and feeling the benefit.

You will definitely feel better from engaging in exercise - I'm no professional, but I'm sure you'll notice that your improved circulation will refresh the colour of your face. You'll feel more awake. The thing with exercise is that the more you do, the better you feel. Pounds will drop off you. You can tone up the areas you choose to.

So get a set of those luverlee pink weights; can be found on the net, fairly inexpensive [ or just use 2 cans of soup ] and start moving - little by little.

Good luck, Jill   

Thursday 16 June 2011

Beef & Bar-B-Qs ...

Hi there Daughters ... Now here's something simple you can make ... surprise your family this weekend ... your college mates ... yourself ... [only joking, I know you can cook]

Prepare to give your taste buds a treat ...

Home made Beef Burgers:


For 12 medium sixed burgers, You will need:

1 lb minced beef
2 onions - very finely chopped
stick celery - very finely chopped  [optional]
red/green/yellow/orange peppers - finely chopped  [optional]
few mushrooms - grated  [optional]
2 crusts brown bread - grated
2 eggs
2 stock cubes [beef] - diluted in quarter beaker of hot water
spoonful of brown sauce or chutney
salt, white pepper, black pepper
cooking or olive oil
Grated cheese [optional]

All you have to do:
Fry onions, [celery, peppers, muchrooms] in spoonful of oil till onions richly golden.
Place all ingredients in a Large Bowl.
Mix, knead, squash [whatever it takes] all the ingredients together.
Form mixture into 12 equal sixed balls.
Tap into patty shapes on large tray and Chill.
When ready to eat, fry in shallow oil.

Serve:
Open up bread bap[s] ~
put mayonnaise on one side / tomato sauce on the other
lettuce on one side / tomato and onion grated cheese on the other
Place the burger on one side, leaving the other garnished side on view.

Price:
Approx £1.40 per serving [ based on 2 burgers each]

Yummeee.
Jill
 

Wednesday 15 June 2011

Marigold Bikini ...

What Hannah Did ...
Check out brilliant, cool, well-good brand new Style Artist, Hannah Sykes ...

Bikinis from Marigolds [no, not the flowers ... the gloves !]

Here's to the next style icon, Congrats Hannah ...

Find Hannah's fashion ideas, photos, concepts at: http://www.syksey.blogspot.com/

Jill

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Hmmm Interesting ...

Vintage, yep, yep yah dahling, no, yes, yes, it really is, Vintage ... and worth checking out ...

Shop by product, designer, colour ... bid ... sell ... the choices are endless [free to browse/register].

Apart from a great headline, it's a cool and chic site full of wacky and interesting garments.
Hardlyeverwornit advocate mixing and wearing high street fashion with designer labels.
Choose from Armani, Louboutin, Vivienne Westwood, oh and I just lurve the Wilbur & Gussie Satin clutch.

A little bit like an up-market ebay ... you can sell or bid for items. Listing is £3 per item. Commision on sale 15% [please confirm exact deets on the site]


Hardly Ever Worn It ... http://www.hardlyeverwornit.com/  Interesting, Chic, Fun ...

Jill

Clinique ...


Ahhh, that makes life easier ...

Jill

Monday 13 June 2011

Win and Lose Simultaneously ...

So, if you're the competitive type but still struggle to lose weight, a Daughters in Distress follower has come up with the answer.

Young people seem to love games and apps, so how about this:

An app where you win points / tropheys / a promised treat, when you eat healthily or do excercise?

You compete against yourself ... that way, you could Win and Lose all at the same time.

Thanks for the Great Idea.

I'll post more when I get all the deets.

Jill

Cycling ...


I've noticed a large number of bicycles appearing all over promenades and cities over the last year or so. Not as in 'left out because couldn't be bothered putting it away' or 'thrown-about-finished-with' or even stolen ... no, brand new bikes, lined up in a structured multi-bike-rack that any dad with sons would spend evenings just dreaming of. All the bikes are plugged in and ready to go. All you have to do is sign up on the internet, put some credit on your bike-hire account and use your personal number to release any bike from any base. You can return the bike to any base belonging to the town or company you have hired it from.

With fuel prices as they are, the bike is becoming ever so attractive. I just missed buying one on ebay - which was sold for only £22.

I'm really glad to see Blackpool have joined in ... Now you don't just have to visit The Golden Mile, you can hire a bike [£6 for 3 hours] ... cycle to the port of Fleetwood or down to The Grass Tufted Sandhills ... on to Lytham St. Annes ... You could ride to Stanley Park, Blackpool Zoo, the ancient village of Poulton-le-Fylde with its pleasant shops, cafes, church and stocks or visit The Mill at Marsh Mill centre, Thornton.

So, my advice is ... Get a bike ... Get about ... and Get fit ...

And I promise, I'll have a go.

http://www.hourbike.com/mysitecaddy/site3/locukblackpool.htm

Happy Chicks ... Happy Eggs ...


So, when my youngest son suggested getting some chickens after I complained about him eating 4 eggs pre/post the gym, I didn't expect him to turn up with them the very next day!

So now we have a black, a blue and a white hen all looking for names.

Somehow, I think the food will cost more than eggs from Waitrose!

Hens, Chickens, Ducks, Geese for sale ...

http://www.happychicks.co.uk/

Cluck, cluck, Jill

Sunday 12 June 2011

Almost Free Herb Garden ...


Recently suffering another birthday, one which is totally unnecessary for me to discuss numbers, I was lucky enough to be distracted by this wonderful assortment of window sill herbs from my eldest son ... What great idea ... even teenage boys could grow them [only joking, boys].

All you have to do is water the compost, sprinkle on the herbs, tip a little of the saved compost on top, put the lid on and wait.

Great for yourself [herbs at at least 70pence a packet] or a present for mums, friends, grandmas, fellas even.

Enjoy,

Jill

Thursday 9 June 2011

Barcelona ... la la la ...


Morning Ladies, Mums, Daughters, everyone who's reading ... Apologies for the lack of posts recently but I've been checking out Barcelona for you and felt it would be rude just to draw the info from the web. Cheap flights prevailed and so I decided to fly off ~ purely on business you understand, to make a quick report on the city for your benefit ...

The last time I visited Barcelona, some 15 years ago ... You were probably babes in your mother's arms / babysitting a young baby / nursing a young baby ... it seemed like a miserable, greying, industrial port and apart from the famous Cathedral, Catedral de la Santa Creu in the Gothic Area, everywhere was closed and the city felt drab.

Now, it's all changed, physically, dramatically, emotionally, party-ally:

Fly easyjet cheap flights.
Access to the city couldn't be easier. Take a few steps from the departure lounge for the Aerobus. 5.30 euros right to the centre ~ Catalunya Plaza.

There are plenty of great small hotels right in the centre of the city.

Take comfy footwear if you don't intend to spend the day sleeping off your hangover.

Stroll the buzzing narrow streets in the old part of the city. Look out for Roman remains, Medieval structures and gorgeous men [all ages apply].

Look Cool and Cultural ~ Visit the wacky Salvador Dali exhibition - in the Gothic Area. 9 euros.

Cycle along the marina / promenade / beach ... Wide promenades dotted with cocktail beach bars, cafes, restaurants. No need to cycle amongst traffic. 5 euros for 2 hours [Take ID].

Bus Top Tour - 23 euros - hop on - hop off. Visit Parks, Zoos, Gaudi exhibitions, Olympic stadia, cable car experiences, beaches ...

Shop till you drop.

Dine at less - choose from great sanwich shops for picnics on the beach, tapas everywhere, mid-price bistros or high class restaurants all at the tip of your toes ... plus the odd nightclub or two!

Party till late.

Great Buys ... Shoes - of course! Also On Trend ATM, lots of unusual designs, patterns and colourful pieces by Desigual.

* All prices approx and dated June 2011.

Enjoy, Jill

Friday 3 June 2011

Not Sleeping Well ?

Tired in the Mornings? Teeny-Weeny bit Ratty? Not even got a Hangover but feel Lousy?

Aren't you sleeping well?

Leaving social calls till late in the evening can keep you awake ~ especially if you’ve been using a cell/mobile phone … Using mobiles can interfere with sleep patterns and cause headaches. Can they?

Dr. Bengt Arnetz from Swayne State University, Detroit, USA, states ‘We think that radio waves from your mobile phone activate your brain’s stress response system …’ The joint study also involving a team of researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden found that radiofrequency released from mobile phones appeared to cause insomnia, headaches and difficulties in concentration.

So it seems that’s why it takes longer to get to sleep ~ or contribute towards restless sleep!

* Having even one bad night’s sleep has been found to affect blood sugar levels. Apparently, there's a connection with our ability to stave off weight gain.
Oo-er, Don't like the sound of that!

So its back to the landline – ‘it’s for you / no she’s not in / she’s washing her hair tonight’ - cheaper calls, a good night's sleep and just maybe, waking up weighing a pound or two less.

Thanks to Zest and Scienceagogo for some of the info:
Zest magazine and online at www.zest.co.uk and www.scienceagogo.com

Mini Vac is King Vac ...

This is the most exciting vac I have EVER seen !

Hand-held vacuum with serious suction.





And guess what ... I found it at my daughter's house. [Well done daughter].

This space-saving little monster likes to suck up any fluffy dust that chooses to collect in corners. Try it in your hall-of-res, your bedroom, surprise your mum; the choices are endless.

Make, wattage and price to follow.

Jill