Daughters in Distress

Essays ! Arghh

2012-02-06T10:03:00.003Z

Thank-you Son-in-distress for your questions on writing University essay responses.

Not wanting to sound like your mother but probably going to ... here's a few simple tips for getting on with those essays - follow these for stress-er-free essay writing experience.

* Warning: you may have to use paper and pen !

Begin early ! Like - as soon as you have the titles !
Spread out the process in stages.

Get some topic-related books from the Uni library !
List all the books on a Bibliography - asap.

Look at key words in your title and jot down on separate pieces of paper.
Look the words up in a dictionary and thesaurus.
Note anything you know from lectures, want to discuss or learn about.

Decide roughly how many Topic Key Points will cover your answer i.e. 5.
Head pieces of paper with each Topic Point / other Ideas for paragraph.
Head other pieces of paper with: Quotations, Introduction, Conclusion.

Read or flick through books - jot down related points and page numbers under headings on the papers - to return to later.
Research internet - jot down findings under related headings on papers.
Put all internet sitings/dates on Bibliography

Now you have the Basis to Transfer your Information, Ideas and Quotations to your computer screen. Transferring will help you absorb the subject matter.

Type these temporary headings:

QUESTION AND PROPOSAL
[say what you're going to do - research - consider - answer - discuss - contrast]
INTRODUCTION
[introduce your ideas about the subject matter]
PARA 1 - [insert topic here]
PARA 2 - [insert topic here]
PARA 3 - [insert topic here]
PARA 4 - [insert topic here]
PARA 5 - [insert topic here]
CONCLUSION
[bring together your points and state your opinion/answer to the question]

Use the headings.
[These can be deleted when you've finished each topic area]

Work in stages - Write one paragraph or one topic area at a time - ie one a day.

*Make a point / Back it up with research or quotation / Discuss it.
*Ensure you name authors scientists etc with correct name.
*Use full name first, then surname. Repeat same name-use throughout.
*Remember to put correct link to author, book, page, in brackets after quotations.

Most of all - try to enjoy learning.
Don't see essays as a chore - see them as an opportunity.

Email for further essay pointers: gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk

Gillian

]BA Hons English lit/lang/creative writing. MA creative writing]

Don't slam the door !

2012-02-04T03:22:00.002Z

Thank you Daughter-in-distress for your question:

'How can you stop a door slamming?'

Well, obviously, I want to say, hold onto the door longer, turn the handle and/or the lock and close it quietly - but that's probably something your mother would say, so I say this ... if your door is clanging into it's door frame and driving your neighbour nuts ...

Either -
Spray some oil into and around the lock. Wipe off excess oil.

Or -
Buy a door closer.
http://www.doorstuff.co.uk/doorclosers/eurospec-t2024-overhead-door-closer.php

This is the Eurospec T2040, £22.50 inc VAT. When the door closer is fitted, you can adjust the hydraulic system according to your requirements [= amount of door banging].

Enjoy !

Gillian

Which Way ???

2012-01-23T13:01:00.002Z

Thank you Son - in - Distress for your question about finding your way to London from the North of England - without the aid of a satellite navigation system[poor you ! ] ... well, that's no problem at all ... in the olden days, no-one had a sat-nav.

I always tell my semi-grown-up-children/adults to Be Prepared for any event on a long journey during an obvious but necessary conversation before they set off :

Make sure you have:
Fuel or money
Map
Phone / cash for a call
Coat
Drink

Before You Set Off ...

Of course, you could print out your journey [www.theaa.com] route planner] or google maps - but the print may be difficult to read when you are driving.

Check your journey on a real map !
Find key motorways and junctions.
Find key cities / towns you will pass through or near.
Plot your journey - write a few bullet points in thick felt pen on large piece of paper:

M55 to junction 32 Preston
M6 to jct 4
M42 to jct 3
M40 to jct 1A
M25 to jct 13
A1 to ...
past: Warrington - Crewe - Birmingham - Banbury - High Wycombe

* If you become tired when driving - make a stop off at service station or other.
Wash your face. Eat. Power-nap if necessary.

PS - Don't text, speed or have loud music playing down head-phones when driving.

I know, I know, I sound like your mother ...

Drive Safely and enjoy the journey.
Gillian

introducing Henrietta and Feather ...

2012-01-22T12:21:00.001Z

Good morning everyone ... Introducing Henrietta and Feather [ex battery hens] - but wondering why, when or how they got into the conservatory without anyone noticing !

Feather arrived with around 50% of her feathers and you can see, they've grown back already.

People say keeping hens makes you happy - so what's the connection ? I'm afraid I've no idea ... but for some reason, these two make me smile every morning. All they need is a warm hen house, some straw, water, food and maybe a garden. They don't answer back, get speeding tickets or empty the fridge.

Of course, they love roaming around the garden - and making a wonderful sloppy mess here and there [nothing that a garden hose-pipe won't remove].

On the plus side, they lay eggs ! [sometimes]

Battery hens are often free or generally around £2. They make a great gift - but be sure the recipient is prepared for the journey !!

Enjoy, Gillian

Dressing Tables Sand and Satin

2012-01-22T11:59:00.002Z

Hello Daughter in distress - thanks for your question:

' I have ruined my dressing table with make-up and want to paint it - how do I do this?
[its cream finish but not sure if its wood or MDF (medium density fire board)]'

This job is simpler than you might think ... please check your dressing table isn't of antique value though ! ? !

This is how I did a

wardrobe ...

You will need:
extra find sandpaper
clean cloths
turps or white spirit
paint brush [ preferably two]
cream emulsion paint
small tin satin quick dry varnish

Wash the dressing table top and let it dry.
Sand the surface till smooth.
Brush off the dust and wipe with turps-damp cloth.
Paint with cream emulsion and let dry.
Sand the surface again.
[if the coverage looks sparse, paint another coat]
Wipe with clean damp cloth.
Paint with the varnish. [you may need a second coat]

Sit back and feel smug.

Enjoy, Gillian

Hot Tomatoes ...

2011-12-13T18:24:00.001Z

Thanks for your question ~ Daughter-in-distress:
How do you make tomato soup - do you use a tin of tomatoes?

Here's how I make my home-made Quick Hot Diet Tomato Soup:

It's as quick and easy as this:

Find a market and buy:
Large bagful of ripe Tomatoes, an Onion, an Orange and a Stock Cube.

Peel the skin off the tomatoes:
[Slit the skins around the circumference of the tomato with a sharp knife.
Put in a pan and cover with boiling water.
The skins will begin to curl back and you can peel them]

Chop onion and fry in a drop of oil.

Add tomatoes, stock cube, pint of water - grate some orange peel into the mix.

Cook for 20 mins or so.

Squeeze the orange and add the juice to the mix.

Add Black Pepper to taste.

Liquidise.

EAT. [ You can add a drop of milk or fresh cream / top with croutons or cheese]

..... or all of the above.

Enjoy,
Gillian

Ahhh ... the act of giving ...

2011-11-28T10:30:00.001Z

Hearting the John Lewis ad ...

http://www.johnlewis.com/Magazine/Feature.aspx?Id=993&s_kenid=07e2ab29-2bb8-9069-aad7-0000344874b1&s_kwcid=3x2426632

ahhhh ... enjoy, Gillian

Make a Terrarium ... why don't you?

2011-11-24T21:01:00.001Z

Fancy growing something?

Try your hand at these indoor plantations ...

Not particularly attractive or edible but make you feel green - partly because you're re-using a glass bottle ?!?

Check out this site for great ideas Crafting, Living, Loving, Sharing ... lovely site with interesting stuff to do ...
http://woolfoodmama.typepad.com/weblog/2008/05/terrarium-instructions.html

Enjoy, Gillian

Mood tracker ...

2011-11-21T11:25:00.001Z

Whilst doing some research for my day job, I came across this:

http://www.medhelp.org/user_trackers/gallery/mood

[ just copy and paste ]

A great place to check out stress busters, mood swings, even depression.

Quick easy bullet points with images.

Get motivated. You'll feel better.

I did. Gillian

Join it ... Do it ... See where it takes you ...

2011-11-21T09:41:00.001Z

I'm a great believer in 'join a group - you never know which direction it will take you or what the outcome will be' method.

Over the last few months, I've been immersing myself in writing related activities. Writing workshops, author meetings, helping out at Blackpool's Wordpool Festival of Words, a little bit of networking when possible and ... two art classes a week.

Other than constantly doodling [do I really spend that much time on the phone?] colouring outside the lines in primary school and my one attempt at drawing a rabbit during a senior school art class, I have never sketched an object or person, coloured, painted with water-colour pencils, acrylics or been involved in artistic projects of the paint-brush sort other than painting emulsion on walls and satin on skirting-boards and doors.

So, here's one of my first offerings, a spin off from my first art class - 'Drawing and painting for the terrified' ... The weird thing is, when I draw, it seems to clear my mind. So, having given my brain a holiday, some 'brain off time', some chillin' out space, I'm ready to get going with the yukky paperwork tasks that always seem to need attending to.

So try it - try something new - something out of your comfort zone. Besides,you'll be subject to meeting some new, maybe wacky people - and that's gotta be fun !
Anyway, with a clear mind ... I'm off to finish the text edit for my real job.

Gillian

Getting Married? Want to keep your feet dry?

2011-11-01T11:49:00.001Z

Just in case you're getting married late in the year [or anytime in the year if you suffer the rainy English weather] ... consider these Weddington Boots !

Thanks Karl for your comment:
The cheapest place to get Weddington boots are from
http://www.flubit.com/Flub-Store/weddington-boots-ltd
These actually come direct from Weddington.

Have fun, Jill

Relax, take some ME time ... it'll do you good !

2011-11-01T11:40:00.001Z

Sometimes we need some ME time.

This is not a selfish act. Creating time for yourself is a positive thing to do.

Relaxing your body can prepare it for strenuous times when you need to be physically strong or need extra energy.

Clearing your mind can help you to concentrate when times are difficult or stressful.

Remember to laugh. Keep in touch with friends for sharing problems and making you take time - to laugh out loud.

Sometimes, small things can make you feel good, like a long hot bath, a walk in the park or watching a football match.

Make a list of 10 favourite things you like to do.
Re-arrange the list in a favourite-first order.
Tear off the top activity. Think of it as a Free Voucher.
Set a time and place for your first favourite plan.
Write this on the Voucher.
Pin the Voucher somewhere you will see it often.

When:
Where:

When you’ve enjoyed one activity, choose another ! and another ! You deserve it ...

Enjoy, Jill

Life ... running up that hill again ...

2011-10-31T23:41:00.001Z

Sincere and severe apologies for not posting recently. You see the truth is, I've been doing my day job [more later]. In the meantime, here's something completely different; entertaining, thought provoking, enjoyable, musical, beautiful

... but then I am a little biased ~ and will also get in serious trouble for this post.

... then again, it's about time I risked something, felt the fear and did it anyway, took chances, after all, I'm always saying that the everyone around me.

... yep, took my own advice.

Enjoy one of my favourites, Jill.

Cat Walks and Dog Days ... They aren't over yet !

2011-10-24T11:43:00.001+01:00

Bringing a whole new meaning to the Cat Walk ... Just had to share this doggy fashion 'dog-walk' with you ...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2052574/Dogs-dress-Lady-Gaga-New-York-bus-stegosaurus-compete-canine-Halloween-costume-competition.html

Wonder what Angel thinks of it all ??

Jill

Summer Indulgence, Happy House and Holiday Centre

2011-10-14T22:28:00.001+01:00

If you download 'Summer Indulgence' short story by Gillian Hesketh, from Amazon [approx 91p] all the proceeds received until 31st December 2011, will be donated to:

Happy House, Watamu Kenya.
Children's Hospice Holiday Centre, Thornton, UK.

Thankyou -

PS ~ you don't even have to read it !!

Jill

Don't get caught out ... !

2011-10-04T00:31:00.002+01:00

Due to the lack of posts, it's pretty obvious I've been away for a few days. And I have to admit seriously gutted - got caught out with the one-way-cheap-flight-deal ... don't do it !! - you know it doesn't make sense even though you might be 'worth it' ~ And yes, I did think there would be a catch but I could't resist the seventy five quid flight out to Dalaman. Hey ho, some few days and large sums of money later [for flights almost £400 return - not shopping or partying], I am back - financially poorer but fired up for writing and finding random pieces of information, recipes and general things to share.

If you have anything random about holidays, fixing stuff, going out, best bars, boyfriend advice ... please add a comment or email me at gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk

See you later, Jill

Quote of the week ...

2011-09-22T22:55:00.003+01:00

'No Garden is without weeds'

Thomas Fuller

Suppose you could take this on a few different levels ?!?

Check out www.forismatic.com for inspirational quotations of the day.

Sit back and relax - I know I'm trying to.

Jill

Giraffe's for art's sake ...

2011-09-21T23:51:00.003+01:00

So, art class a teensy weeny bit more tricky today ... drawing a toy giraffe is not quite a simple as it looks but safer than eating chocolate, less tiring than work and cheaper than shopping. Plus you get to think about nothing other than ... a toy giraffe ... full of wadding ...

saving images later ... the poor thing only had three legs so far ...

So, coming up is an image of my shoe - done in charcoal - it was the first time I've drawn a picture since I was 16 ... and that was ....... years ago - [don't bother to fill in the missing space ... please.

Jill

Cakes and More Cakes ...

2011-09-12T14:19:00.003+01:00

Just thought it would be rude not to share this image with you all !

Jill

Sausage Loaf. Sausage Loaf? Yes, Sausage Loaf ...

2011-09-11T10:54:00.000+01:00

Sausage Loaf - Yum yum !

Easy peasy tasty home-cooked inexpensive supper or lunch ... good with salads, dauphinoise potatoes if you're really hung. Great for uni or having a few friends around. Impress the future mother-in-law ... honestly ...

You will need:
Packet of Sausage meat - Supermarket or butchers. If you can't find this, just buy a large packet of large sausages and squeeze the sausage from the skins.
Apple - chopped into small pieces
Celery - chopped
Egg
Mixed herbs
Small loaf shaped cooking vessel

Mash the sausages, egg, celery and apple together - [creates bit of a gooey mess]
Grease or line the loaf shaped cooking vessel.
Load sausage mixture into the vessel and criss-cross top
Sprinkle with mixed herbs
Cook approx 45 mins on just above medium heat

Voila !! Slice and place on top of salad / or with cheesy sliced potatoes.

Yummy ! Impressive ! Easy ! Cheap ! You are a Star !

Jill

2011-09-05T20:45:00.001+01:00

Apologies to anyone who has left a comment and I haven't responded - just realised my comment box needs repair work. You can always email me at gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk anytime.
Thanks y'all
See you soon,
Jill

Summer Indulgence

2011-09-03T13:12:00.001+01:00

Summer Indulgence ~ Short Story by Gillian Hesketh
Available now on Kindle

Women; Love & Frivolity ...

2011-09-02T16:05:00.000+01:00

Poetry Pamphlets with Bookmark
When a card isn't enough and a present is too complicated. £2.99

When a card just isn't enough ... Gift a Poetry Pamphlet. Hand-made booklets 'Women: Love & Frivolity' or 'Urban Realities' come with book-marks and envelopes included.

£2.99 each or £5.00 for two.

[plus 50p p&p]

If you would like your poems created in beautifully hand-crafted covers,

please email gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk

Spicy Turkish ...

2011-08-23T00:41:00.000+01:00

Someone, namely Sarah Wendell of Smart Bitches Trashy Novels; http://www.smartbitchestrashynovel.com/ a great place to read romance novel reviews, and I mean really trashy novel reviews ... they do boast this ... so obv, it's meant as a complement, 'All of the Romance... None of the Bullshit' [their tag not mine] 'A website that reviews romance novels from a couple of smart bitches who will always give it to you straight', wanted to know what to eat when going out to sample Turkish dinging.

Playing it safe ...

Starters ~ Mezzes; small portions of spicy minced vegetables, yoghurty/minty dips, stuffed tomatoes, Russian salad [70's I know but yummy] aubergine & beans, stuffed vine leaves, lots of beany things Gillian Mckeith says is good for you but cleverly disguised in tomato [y?] sauces, fishy dishes. You usually select the amount and the variation ... eat with hot thin seed covered pizza-pitta-type bread which I have totally forgotten the name of.

Main:
Shish Kofte ~ Minced lamb prepared with a variety of spices, skewered & cooked on the charcoal grill or
served as meat balls; minced lamb in hot [temp] hot [spicy], tomato [y?] sauce.

Chicken Kebab Specially prepared cubes of seasoned Chicken - served with creamy rice [they must put Carnation cream in it or something] ... mmm ... and Shepherds salad [lettuce, cucumber, tomato, mint].

Try the lamb or chicken which is cooked in a tall oval pot in large oven with bread as a stopper ... try, try , try, its fabulous.

Dessert:
Never really seen a cake in Turkey - but melon is offered after every meal.

Enjoy supper, Jill

All Steamed Up ...

2011-08-22T22:23:00.000+01:00

Thank you 'Daughter' [planning ahead and making sure she's not in distress], for your question about choosing a steam iron.

First, absolutely super to hear you actually want to iron your own clothes whilst you're at Uni [old fashioned concept I know, but sometimes necessary] - and not just save them up for your mum's visit or reading week.

To answer your question [and believe me, having 4 teenagers, I've motored through a few irons on extreme ironing days], the type of steam iron with the water tank in the separate base are easily the best. They're usually a bit more expensive but well worth it. [Why not surprise your parents and ask for one for your birthday?] Try this Morphy Richards steam iron - I paid around £69 from Comet a few months ago and it's still going strong. And you must all know how I like multi-tasking - you get a Full Steam Facial every time !!

Quick to heat up.
No arm-ache. The iron is lightweight [cos the water is in the base of course].
Super steaming saves time as the steam eases out difficult areas without extreme ironing.
Super steam means you don't have to press on or repress the garment a billion times.
Super steam means you can glide over the garment with super-speed - more time in the pub.
Super steam means you can steam garment on the hanger - no ironing board necessary.
Super steam means you get a facial at the same time [multi-tasking the way I like it]

Happy Ironing ...

Jill

Shopping Challenge ... Are YOU up to it ?

2011-08-20T10:17:00.000+01:00

I imagine challenges are supposed to be difficult ... but here's a really easy one:

For One Month ... promise not to buy even One item of Clothing !

No excuses ...

Search your wardrobe ... wear clothes, shoes, jewellery, accessories that you haven't worn for ages ... and ages ... and ...

After One Month ... Assess which clothes you Really Honestly didn't enjoy wearing / didn't fit properly.

If you find favourites which need repairing or cleaning, get on with it.

Then ... and only then ... you could sell the seriously unwanted clothes ... to 2nd hand shop, ebay or car-boot.

[The items you don't sell, take to a charity shop]

The money from the items you do sell ... allow yourself to buy only 1 piece of clothing. The rest of the money, you save.

Great Plan? Try it out. Let me know how you get on ...

Jill

Write yourself healthy ...

2011-08-19T21:10:00.002+01:00

Write yourself to a Healthier Lifestyle …

How can words help you towards a healthier lifestyle?

It is becoming increasingly accepted that the process of writing helps the individual organise problematic thoughts and experiences which might lead to an improvement in their mental health or emotional well-being.

Writing can aid the chaos in our lives by discovering meaning. For instance, remembering the past might help us understand how we feel. Through writing we could learn to recognise our courage and erect new lifestyle plans. Writing can give us a sense of release and help relieve internal stress.

‘That’s a bit heavy’, I hear you say but most of it has been seen to be true. I’m not talking of writing essays, a white paper or a two thousand word report on Millennium consumer trends. I’m talking of jotting down a few words, in any form, at any time, when you feel like it.

Do you feel as though your mind is cluttered with things to do?

Do you find you wear yourself out thinking too much? Are you anxious about that unfinished project at work? Too befuddled to help the children with their homework? Are messages racing like a motorway police chase or spinning like fast wash-load in your brain?

To clear your mind so that you can concentrate on your main goals, interviews, exams, work related problems, relationships, here are some simple ideas to get you started:

Take a power nap, relaxing bath, glass of wine. Or all three if you are over eighteen. Then, take a pen or pencil and a blank page, a little black book, an old school jotter, stiff hard back, patterned folder or hand-decorated textured paged extravaganza ... any sort or writing space will do …

Find a favourite place ~ hopefully, this will be somewhere quiet.

Open your book

Write pretty fast and furiously …

Or just doodle if you want …

Write for five or ten minutes to begin with.

Let your thoughts flow onto the page ~ initial thoughts are usually spontaneous, even daring. Fill the page[s] with these thoughts. Repeat thoughts if necessary. Underline them. Circle them. Cross them out. It’s up to you.

Write non-stop about any topic or feeling that comes into your mind no matter how silly or serious. Let your mind wander ... Let your emotions or mood out onto the page.

Write in huge letters, small letters, be messy ... Scream from the tip of your pen.

If you can't think what to write, write just that!

What was the best / worst thing that happened today?

Write about happy incidents, fearful moments, smiles, tears and frustrations …

Write about an incident which included you, how you felt about it – remember you are moving things out of your mind into a neutral space.

Keep writing until your allotted time is up.

This is your Journal. A journal is about emotions whereas a diary is about dates and times. But Yes, write it everyday if you can. Day or night. Some people prefer to empty their minds before they go to bed insisting the action clears their mind for sleep. You don't have to share what you have written. Your writing may seem like ramblings. It doesn't matter. Now that all the surplus information milling around inside your head is on paper ~ you may feel more free. Sometimes our own writing inspires us. We might feel a sense of mastery, of liberation.

Later, you may want to go back and read some of your literary ramblings. They may make sense, they may not. You might want to note how many times you have repeated the same thing. My Journal was so full of the word `tired` and loaded with a sense of can’t cope-ness, that I immediately identified I had to do something about the day to day organisation of family, work and self which was clearly in chaos.

It’s often best to write for a few days before you read your handy-work back to yourself. Glancing over the pages will give you an idea of what is congesting your mind. Often people can recognise a pattern straightaway; topics repeating themselves; needs and wants creeping onto the page, loneliness. Let's hope you can use your journal to help you make changes, introduce new plans, enjoy settled sleep patterns, the ability to concentrate harder, feel emotionally fitter and enjoy a freedom from over-thinking.

Once we have recognised what we need to do, we need to set methods in place to change our habits. But how? We can organise ourselves through words, writing things down to make life plans easier to focus on, to follow and adhere to, especially when we are wanting to achieve a specific objective or aspire to a precise aim.

By the time you have invested a few days in you journal, given your mind a run on the jogging machine and loosened it all up, you can plan ahead.

Lifestyle Plan ~ Where do we start?

In order to create new energy and success in our lives, we need to design an image of what the next destination looks like. We need to make a map of how to get there. This may not be a long way. It may be joining a local gym, a darts club or singing group. It could be embarking on a journey or holiday alone, or applying for a job. The idea is to simplify all the problems around us in order to achieve our goal.

You could start by making a list about you. Write five words that describe you. Then with your other hand, write five more words that describe you [I know it’s difficult, writing with your opposite hand. It’s untidy but that doesn’t matter]. Doing this accesses a different area of your brain and helps to present a more creative description for you. You may find new information which empowers or at least surprises you.

Next, make a list of all the things you want or need to do no matter how great or small, physical or emotional. From visiting the Great Wall of China to sorting out a friendship dispute, write the list as quickly as you can. You can add to the list at any time later.

Once your Super-List is more-or-less complete, separate your thoughts under headings which best suit you. My friend calls this her life-map. Some ideas might include:

Necessities

Most important things

Things I need to change in my life

Things I want to achieve

Places I want to visit / experience:

My wish list

Once problems, challenges and desires are separated under your choice of headings, you can prioritise. Put them into short term, medium term or long term time scale. This relieves pressure that not everything has to be done ‘today.’ Jot notes alongside your content. Keep the list as an ongoing life plan. Act on one topic at a time. Hopefully, you will begin to plan for the future, step by step, word by word.

Gillian

Gillian Hesketh 2010

Organisation is priority ... is it?

2011-08-18T13:37:00.000+01:00

And you might like some of these ...

2011-08-16T09:05:00.000+01:00

For winter walks through the woodlands, by the river, on the beach or just going to work in the snow ...

£17 ... probably can be found in 'Primani', let me know.

http://www.hunter-boot.com/

Still Time for a Festival ...

2011-08-16T08:53:00.000+01:00

Hunter Gloss ... at ... http://www.hunter-boot.com/

For a long list of any and every festival, click below:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3673389/August-Music-Festivals.html

Might see you there.

Jill

~Stress ... ?

2011-08-13T20:56:00.002+01:00

Apparently, if you're stressed, it means there's not enough fun in your life ...

Hmmm ... need to have a think about that ...

Jill

Women: Love & Frivolity ... Things are hotting up ...

2011-08-11T10:44:00.001+01:00

Things are definitely heating up ...

Women: Love & Frivolity is getting warmer ...

the laptop is over-heating ...

the ink is evaporating ...

the cover, racing through the printing system ...

We're just waiting for the ribbon ... yes ribbon ...

Watch this space ... I will be ...

Gillian

Budget Planner ... I know, boring but necessary. Have a go and surprise yourself ...

2011-08-10T19:10:00.002+01:00

DAUGHTERS IN DISTRESS:~ BUDGET PLANNER …

You Know It Makes Sense ...
Whether you want to save money or save up money, a regular budget plan helps to see where you're up to financially. Just like a diet, no cheating.Write everything down that you spend. Take it away from your income to see exactly how you can make changes to your saving and spending. You could find areas where you could cut your spending and be able to achieve something else more important. Have a go ... It's FREE !!
CHOOSE TO LIST ENTRIES EITHER: WEEKLY / MONTHLY / ANNUALLY
[*Make sure you use the same process for each entry]

INCOME:

SAVINGS:

EXPENDITURE:
MORTGAGE/RENT/BOARD
COUNCIL TAX
MAINTENANCE/CHILD
ELECTRIC
GAS
WATER
INSURANCE
TV LICENCE

LIVING & FOOD:
FOOD
CLOTHING
HAIR/HEALTH
OTHER

SOCIAL:
BIRTHDAYS/CELEBRATION
PHONE [S]
GAMING/BINGO/POKER
CLUB FEES/HOBBIES
CIGARETTES
LOTTERY

HOME:
RENEWALS
REPAIRS
DECORATION

TRANSPORT:
CAR / INS / TAX / REPAIRS
TRANSPORT

MISCELLANEOUS:

TOTAL INCOME:
LESS TOTAL OF EXPENDITURE:
= DISPOSABLE INCOME:

NOTES to SELF for CHANGES:

Oops ... I'd made lots of neat boxes for all the figures ... and they're missing ...if you'd like a copy of the real budget planner, complete with lines, boxes etc. just email me: gmhesketh@gmail.com
[*you wont' receive any other unwanted emails or messages]

Jill

And now for Something Completely Glamorous ...

2011-08-10T11:04:00.000+01:00

I'm biased obv...

Oooh guess who I spotted in Grazia the other day ... ?

Social Stereotypes ...

2011-08-10T10:50:00.001+01:00

Social Sterotype - just for fun: The Mature Student.

Pleased with her recent assignment and bibliography intact, Joanne relinquished it almost a week early, accepting the slip of flimsy pink paper which would confirm its whereabouts for the following six weeks. Postcolonial readings of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness managed to uncover more than a sufficient understanding of European nineteenth Century colonialism that Joanne had never, ever considered thinking about. A mature student, Joanne’s many commitments bargaining for her time, the hours and hours required for reading around subjects took the place of her friendships, an occasional night in the pub, even the ironing. Evaluating her efforts constantly, expecting to achieve only decent results, she promised she wouldn’t be dissatisfied with them.

Wanting to be as inconspicuous as visually possible, she adjusted her attire, choosing denims, flat pumps and chose from an assortment of plain tops from the high street. Her outerwear would have to be tamed too, nothing too ostentatious. Joanne blended with her colleagues, although she drew the line at riding a bike to the Uni campus. No, the people carrier would have to do. Besides, driving her three children to school before lectures was just part of her day.

Joanne was looking forward to her next module; Myth & Legend. An introduction to relentless debates on male oppression, dating back to … the beginning, she supposed. She began to over-indulge in the subject matter. She wondered, fingers poised at the keys, what exactly was myth? Images of an unwanted truths reverberated through time? Yes, that would be a start. Greek myth; poor Philomele, having been raped by her brother-in-law, the mighty King Tereus, physically silenced by having her tongue cut out. Joanne took some time to get her head around this one. Was she about to become a feminist? But the woman survived. Told the tale through dance. How innovative. Joanne hit the keys and as usual, didn’t stop till after midnight.

And what did she hope to achieve from all of this? Joanne had to admit, she was sick and tired of family, friends, acquaintances and people she’d just met in the pub on a Friday night, asking her the same question. She considered telling them she was going to be a teacher, just so everyone would leave her alone. But she didn’t. And the questions continued. What made you want to do a degree? At your age? What did you say you were studying? ‘English Literature’, she would say, watching their eyes roll to the back of their heads. ‘Linguistics’, she would add with rising intonation, hoping to gain a little interest. ‘Oh I see, French? German?’ This was the point where Joanne would wonder whether she was in the wrong pub with the wrong people. Then, maybe she was the one who was in the wrong place. ‘It’s the study of the nature, structure and variation of language’, she would reply, to a place where the lights were on but no-one was in.

Joanne seems to have found herself at last. She not only achieved a more than adequate honours degree in literature (not forgetting the linguistics) but an improved capacity to understand other human beings. She is looking forward to empowering other women. Opening one of her many charity luncheons, ‘Women need to become more certain of their identities and begin to take charge of their own destinies’, she began. ‘As the famous French philosopher, Helene Cixous states, Woman must write about women and bring women to writing from which they have been driven away … woman must put herself into the text – as into the world and into history.’

Right, now I'd better get back to my real job !!

Jill.

Love Words ... ?

2011-08-10T10:21:00.000+01:00

Love Words?
I do just love words, their sounds, make-up, uses, changes, etymology. But there are too many words I honestly don't know the meaning of.

Sure, most of you will know the meaning of the following ... I'm not sure whether I'm ashamed to admit I didn't know the meanings ~ or just pleased that I had the opportunity to look them up [any excuse for more procrastinaton].

These words were found in novels I've been reading over the last two months:

Veld - Yes I know it sounds like one, but didn't know it meant Field.

Toping - to drink alcohol habitually and to excess [!]

Knout - whip or lash sometimes with metal wires wound in [hmm sounds like knot/knots/knotted, doesn't it? And considering where the term: tie-the-knot in relation to marriage comes from? [just going off to check that out.

Farinaceous - as a keen cook, I should have known it means food containing flour / starch.

Apprise - to notify - not to be confused with Appraise - to estimate quality or Appease - to satisfy or relieve.

Crepuscular - of, pertaining to or resembling twilight; dim, indistinct / appearing or active in twilight [as certain bats or insects are].

Petit Trianon - small chateau in the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, Paris. Petit trianon is also used to express an act of deliberately slumming [presumably in the small chateau ?].

Kowtowing - to act in a servile manner - yes, I knew that but found this interesting:
Kowtow is the act of deep respect shown by kneeling and bowing so low as to have one's head touching the ground. An alternative Chinese term is ketou, however the meaning is somewhat altered: kòu originally meant "knock with reverence", whereas kē has the general meaning of "touch upon (a surface)".
Source:Wikipedia

So, send me your newly found word and we'll have a shared word-fest.

Jill

Who Are You ?

2011-08-06T21:14:00.000+01:00

Can you describe yourself in one word?

Can you describe yourself in one phrase or sentence?

[Both tasks could come in handy for interviews]

Do you really know yourself? You might have more strengths than you realise or admit to.

Try this:
Write 5 words to describe yourself - Write quickly. Don't think too much about them.

Now write 5 words to describe yourself - Use your non-writing hand [most likely your left hand].

See the difference? Amazing? Interesting at least ... Let me know.

Have fun, Jill

Be on Time ...

2011-08-06T10:27:00.000+01:00

I have spent my life being 10 minutes late for almost everything. I've missed the headmaster's welcome speech, a third of a shoulder massage, hiding in the kitchen at a surprise party, arrived at church with the bride, a dental appointment [thankfully]. I've even missed cocktails before dinners ... I'd find myself running down train platforms and rushing through airports out of breath and v stressed ... and there's been no reasonable excuse. For years, I've been in the habit of fitting in just one more 'thing' before I got ready for the next event, one last edit of a poem, written one more paragraph, painted one extra window sill, machined one more dress seam, padded one more pelmet, made one more phone call, filled one more wash load, added up one more account ... the list is endless. Basically, whatever I'm doing, I run over time just trying to fit one more 'thing' into each day.

But now, all has changed, almost overnight !

Why? Well, I have a new friend ... who is always 20 minutes late ! ... How rude ! And this must mean, arguably, that I'm always 10 minutes early. And strangely, I find this soooo irritating. Waiting. Wasting time? And now, I make a massive effort to be on time. I arrive at events in a calmer mood and less stressed. I find that I absorb and retain names, places, information much more easily when my brain isn't racing and worrying about missing an event.

How? I make achieveable task lists, put multiple alarms on my phone and sticky notes on my laptop - which is all I was going to say actually ... so that's another 10 minutes ...

Jill

Don and Betty ...

2011-08-04T22:35:00.000+01:00

Yes, for some reason, I'd like to know that too ! What has Mad Men's infam ous Don been up to now? I know, I know, it's a TV programme not real life ... and they just happen to work together on the set of Mad Men. Another thing, next time I come around this way, I want to be called something like January Jones [is that really her name?] or to be more precise, I'd like to be called January Jones. [What a great name for a character in a story] [oops, she is one already? ... delete that]. Maybe I'd just rather be January Jones. Wouldn't it be great to have a figure like that ... without having to overindulge in too much exercise. And without cutting out chocolate, wine, pasta and white crusty bread with real butter. She does look fab though, doesn't she?

What fascinates me is that everyone in 40's 50's 60's films had fantastical figures [including the men], tiny waists ... no beer bellies, love handles or hips hanging over jeans. How? Fewer cars = more walking. Lack of 24/7 fast food outlets = less food intake. No computerised games of all technological descriptions = less sitting down. Less TV programmes = even less sitting down.

So, January, when's the baby due? I sense some sort of deja vu, the Abba stage production and film? Wasn't the protagonist looking for her father and invited three possibles to her wedding? Anyhow, January, that's your busness. Don't let those cheeky journos nose into your affairs.

Jill, Mad Men, Don, Betty Draper and January Jones fan.

Labels ... the ones not often found on a designer handbag ...

2011-08-03T00:44:00.002+01:00

Hello all you busy, busy daughters ... And thank you to the young lady in Lancashire who was asking about having some business cards printed. I needed some too, so had a quick raz around the internet and came up with Vista Print.

If you're starting up your own business, cottage industry or hobby, try http://www.vistaprint.co.uk/ for anything labelly, business cards, stickers, logo'd beakers, notepads ... most things that can be printed.

The opeing page seems ... a bit boring but once you click on your chosen product, the site opens up into a colourful extravaganza with some really fab designs. I't really simple to add your details and info and see your business card develop literally before your eyes!

Be careful not to get carried away ... the site is a bit like the Primani of Printing. Page after page of seemingly great advertising possibilities pop out in front of you and it's hard to resist ordering everything you see and have it printed with your brand new idea. The possibilites are endless. So, if you're anything like me, continually thinking of new concepts, projects and business ideas, stick to your initial order and consider the add-on options later.

'Refer a friend and earn £10 off your next order ... An easy way to save money!' [Quote from Vista Print]

Beware: the delivery price adds on to your order at the checkout ~ I ordered 250 business cards with uber-cool back-ground image for £4.25 [approx] which I considered an absolute bargain then got caught out with £6 ish postage for a 14 day delivery rather than wait for usual deliver of 21 days.

Will post a pic of them as soon as they arrive ... 13 sleeps ...

Keep busy, Jill

For All Things Romantic

2011-08-01T17:18:00.000+01:00

Hello Ladies, Daughters, Sisters, Neices, Students even Mothers and Grandmothers ...

For something romantic, days out, gifts, poetry, stories, all sorts of ideas, check out Romantic Ideas Online

http://www.romantic-ideas-online.com/

Enjoy, Jill

Write Girl

2011-08-01T11:00:00.003+01:00

WriteGirl is a nonprofit organization for high school girls centered on the craft of creative writing and empowerment through self-expression. Through one-on-one mentoring and monthly workshops, girls are given techniques, insights and hot tips for great writing in all genres from professional women writers.

Check it out: http://www.writegirl.org/

Jill

Espresso? Dark Chocolate? Mint Tea? ...

2011-07-29T11:06:00.000+01:00

Here's a bit of fun. Fancy writing a story? Submit your 'writerly stuff' to the Creative Cafe Project and assign your story a drink :

The Creative Cafe concept seems to me, a fabulous utopian idea ... I want one ! Or at least I'd love to have one nearby. I want to be the writer who's pretending to write a novel on her laptop, the one who people interrupt ... ask questions ... share writerly stuff ...

The Creative Café is the brainchild of university lecturer and children’s writer, Gill James. In 2006 she envisaged a network of cafés where creative practitioners know they are welcome and where normal coffee lovers know that they will be able to experience something a little different as they sip their brew. This is happening informally. The project aims to identify, create and expand Creative Cafés. Several pilot / benchmark cafés have been identified. The project is now seeking to organise expansion logically.

http://creativecafeproject.co.uk/SubmissionGuidelines.aspx

The Creative Cafe Project is looking for:
... thought-provoking and entertaining stories, though ones which might be a tad different from what you normally read in a woman’s magazine. They should be the sort of length that would make easy reading whilst you drink a cup of coffee, even if you linger a while, but without you needing to rent-a-table.

Each story will be assigned the name of a drink. [You may assign the drink] Something light and frothy might be a hot chocolate. A dark piece of flash fiction could be an espresso. Something good for the soul would be a mint tea.

[Suggest under 3000 words. Shorter stories and flash fiction welcome]

Check it out, Gillian

Gift Wrap for Free ... almost ...

2011-07-28T13:08:00.000+01:00

Gift wrap almost for free ...

Creative is such an on-trend expression atm. So, being creative and saving money must be a double whammy [whatever that is ... ?] Feeling pretty smug, I thought I'd let you see my latest creative saving ...

These colourful wrappings came from a Sunday Newspaper Magazine supplement !

All you need is a small strip of sticky tape or a piece of string to hold the wrapping together.

I save ribbons from chocolates, gifts or flowers.

Sounds mean ... but think of it as recycling.

Jill

Faux Pas ...

2011-07-28T10:55:00.000+01:00

Faux Pas

Cool as a martini in Manolo Blahnik towers,
she steps from the tube, mind the gap,
sharp stilettos clipping,
Louis Vuitton hanging,
she clings to the glue-coated
moving handrail, hails a cab,
slips tortoiseshells in her hair,
tap, tapping on monikered mobile,
a jewel encrusted fake,
she ogles at Oscar de la Renta.
and travels to nowhere.

Luxury is more of your own perception than what it says on the label.

Check:
China – 300,000 millionaires
Russia – 88 thousand millionaires
[Moscow] 33 billionaires
India – 70,000 millionaires
[Approximate figures]

Jill

Network Coverage ... check it out ...

2011-07-24T12:08:00.000+01:00

I know all daughters [and sons] are sooo techno savvy, but just thought I'd mention, when you're next looking for a mobile phone contract, check out the network provider's predicted coverage ...

Just enter your home post-code, work post-code, college/uni post-code, mates post-code or local pub's post-code [depending on where you spend the most of your time], to find out the level of coverage for phone/text or networking/broadband ... Then, when your mum phones you to say 'Hi Darling, How are you?', you won't be able to say ... 'Aw, didn't know you'd phoned. I mustn't have had any network coverage'

http://www.gadgetstylist.com/blog/mobile-phone-coverage-check-your-mobile-coverage/

Jill

RIP Amy Winehouse

2011-07-24T08:49:00.001+01:00

Sadly at 27, RIP Amy Winehouse.
Thank you for your wonderful and unique soulful voice.

Jill

£30,000.000 ? You're joking ...

2011-07-24T08:28:00.000+01:00

How Ridiculous !

Why don't we ALL put this stuff BACK in the POST
BOX?

Let Royal Mail pay to take it away as we haven't requested this rubbish..

[See previous Panorama Programme] for Royal Mail's
alleged involvement in Scam Mail Delivery !

It's as easy as A Walk in the Park ...

2011-07-23T12:11:00.000+01:00

Henrietta, taking a walk in the park [oka my garden]

Extreme Dieting? Exercise Classes? Boxing? Pilates? Cycling? Aerobics? Yoga? Zumba?

Yes, you can do any or all of these but just taking a Walk in the Park ... is a start.

I've been taking short walks down by the river every other day and the difference to my shape is showing already. Burning off a few calories as often as possible takes your body to a place ready for toning.

Happy Walking, Henrietta & Jill

If you thought Falconry Displays were boring ... watch this ...

2011-07-21T11:31:00.001+01:00

Enjoy, Jill

2011-07-20T21:25:00.001+01:00

Relaxing Tiddlers ...

2011-07-17T19:45:00.001+01:00

Check out the Relaxing Tiddlers at right side of blogs ... another half hour spent procrastinating ... I really should have an award for it !

Jill

Feng Shui Extreme ...

2011-07-16T09:36:00.000+01:00

Is this a step too far? Is it The American Dream gone to extreme?

Check out feng shui decorating for thoughts on not only clearing clutter [ and you know how much that's a fave of mine ] but where [when possible] to place sofas, side tables and of course, your clutter for improved balance in your life. Bearing in mind, that if you don't want sensibility, just leave your beans-on-toast plate and drained bottle of wine or empty lager can [s] on the floor by the sofa for a couple of days. [only joking ~ I know all you daughters and sons wouldn't dream of doing that ~ especially when a parental visit is promised !]

http://www.efengshuidecorating.com/

Get busy, Jill

'Man Flu' Exists. 'Man Flu' Exists?

2011-07-13T19:33:00.000+01:00

'Man Flu' does exist, according to a report in a recent broadsheet newspaper. [Didn't we girls know that already?] [only joking boys!]. The anonymous reporter from the Telegraph claims that when there are viruses in the air waiting to be caught, men take to their sick beds whilst women carry on with daily activities. [Didn't we know about that too?].

Apparently, women have a much stronger immune response to rhinoviruses. Researchers have found some evidence that this protection is regulated by hormones ~ which is why women are better at resisting the viruses and why men are more susceptible to falling ill.

Doesn't really change anything does it?

Jill

Lulu & Poodle Print ...

2011-07-13T08:53:00.001+01:00

Hello Ladies, Girls, Shoppers and boyfriends looking to surprise their girlfriends ...

Yes, the sales are on ... so I thought ... anyone interested in fun label fashion might like to check out Lulu Guiness's statement handbags ~ Checks, Poodles, Cut-outs & Lips ... all Half Price !!

http://www.luluguinness.com/homepage.aspx?siteid=UKB2C¤cy=GBP&utm_campaign=Sale%2Bunder%2B150&utm_source=emailCampaign&utm_medium=email

Enjoy, Jill

Rant, Rave and Junk Mail ...

2011-07-06T16:08:00.000+01:00

If you saw BBC Panorama's programme WHY HATE JUNK MAIL - July 4th, you will have listened to Tom Heap explaining how Scam Mail [often the sort that tempts to you send money off in order to claim a multi ££££ prize] is distributed through the Royal Mail posting systems.

Terrible I say ... Disgusting behaviour ... Trickery ... A Right Royal Scam ...

Watch This if you missed it ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b012gn9m/Panorama_Why_Hate_Junk_Mail/

So ... Why don't we all post our Scam Mail - delivered by Royal Mail ... back into the post box with a message... RETURN TO SENDER ~ NOT REQUESTED AT THIS ADDRESS ... ??

Rant over, Jill.

Burgers Breaking Up ...

2011-07-06T16:03:00.000+01:00

Don't worry, this is not the end of a romance. I've had a question from a 'daughter' [thankyou] who is having problems with her home-made burgers breaking up on the Bar-b-q.

Hmmm ... I'm guessing that when the burger is on a steel rack of some sort, the meat which touches the wires will get hotter much more quickly, seal and crisp more quickly whereas the meat in between will not be as hot / not cooked as much and be less crisp. The softer, wetter texture of the meat may cause it to collapse and fall through the gaps in the mesh ... hence ... a broken up burger ... ahh.

It might help if you put the burgers on a flat cooking tray on top of the rack ? But you probably won't be able to use the tray in the oven afterwards [?]

Happy Bar-b-q ing ... and congrats for trying the home-made burger recipe.

Jill

Just One Holiday Tip ...

2011-07-03T09:21:00.000+01:00

Especially if you've been dieting for your holiday ... and if you happen to be travelling on a no-frills or no-food flight ... Please pack up some healthy goodies to munch on. DON'T begin your holiday here:

To be honest, pop, white bread, crisps, chocolate ... It's no wonder the nation is 'going large'?

Try asking your airline for something really unusual, like an Apple or a Tangerine, maybe a small bag of Grapes ...

See the SHOCK on the air stewards' faces.

They're not shocked at your request [after all, it's clearly visible that they look after their bodies]

No, the SHOCK is that all you can buy that includes fruit on the no-frills flights where everything is tinted with an Orange glow, is a child-luch-pack at around £4 that includes - yes another white bread sandwich with a piece of yellowy plastic looking slice in it, a chocolate mini roll and ... don't be SHOCKED now, a packet of sliced APPLE !!! To be completely fair there was some slight improvement; a slice of brown bread with ham inside.

So next time you're on a no-frills flight ... and the airline company want to sell you a lump of soggy white bread, part microwaved-ish / part toasted / part dampened piece of food which is often described as a 'delicious toasted sandwich' ... please honour your body - ask if they've something healthy. If we keep asking - 'they' might just re-think what 'they' are serving on our aeroplanes.

Rant over but it had to be done, for all our sakes,
Jill

Learn How to be a Leader in approximately 3 minutes !

2011-07-03T08:49:00.000+01:00

Get dancing everyone,
Jill

eeek ... Boot Camp ...

2011-07-01T23:27:00.000+01:00

eeek [again] my daughter has had me on boot camp. No chocolate, no potatoes, no pasta, no white bread, no butter ...

What's a girl to do?

After 5 days ... I've not lost a single pound ~ but I do feel loads better. Almost smug if you don't mind me saying so.

I think that addiction to chocolate must be something like being addicted to cigarettes. Once you've got past the first few days, the craving becomes easier. I'm managing okay so far without chocolate. I have to admit, getting through 3 toffee crisps and half a packet of plain chocolate digestives and a couple of sneaky fudge bars was a normal daily intake for me. The problem for me is that living without potatoes, pasta, toast, real butter is sooo difficult ... and maybe that's as hard as giving up smoking ?

So now I'm on the next level ... no potatoes, pasta, bread.

The main thing obviously, is to eat healthily. The sooner you get into the habit of it, te sooner you'll feel better. Plenty of fruit, vegetables, soups, juice, water ... Because you're worth it.

Off now to whip up a pan of cabbage [diet] soup ...

Jill

Hello Daughters ...

2011-06-26T19:16:00.000+01:00

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

Mascara to Blink for ...

2011-06-24T22:05:00.001+01:00

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

Yikes ! Bikes !

2011-06-21T13:46:00.000+01:00

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 !

2011-06-21T12:01:00.000+01:00

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

Exercise ... Don't you want to?

2011-06-18T14:09:00.001+01:00

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

Beef & Bar-B-Qs ...

2011-06-16T10:44:00.000+01:00

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

Marigold Bikini ...

2011-06-15T16:16:00.001+01:00

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

Hmmm Interesting ...

2011-06-14T18:19:00.002+01:00

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 ...

2011-06-14T18:10:00.001+01:00

Ahhh, that makes life easier ...

Jill

Win and Lose Simultaneously ...

2011-06-13T20:04:00.004+01:00

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 ...

2011-06-13T19:14:00.004+01:00

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 ...

2011-06-13T15:46:00.004+01:00

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

Almost Free Herb Garden ...

2011-06-12T15:44:00.003+01:00

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

Barcelona ... la la la ...

2011-06-09T14:28:00.008+01:00

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

Not Sleeping Well ?

2011-06-03T22:07:00.002+01:00

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 ...

2011-06-03T21:33:00.008+01:00

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

Lamb Stew ...

2011-05-30T11:13:00.002+01:00

Question: I made a lamb stew and there was some left over. The top is covered with fat. Is it ok to eat?

Hello Daughter ~ no need to be distressed. Well done for making lamb stew ~ very impressed.

The fat in the meat will have risen to the top of the dish. I'm presuming you made the stew yesterday or the day before. So, scrape the bulk of the fat off the stew. Reheat gently. The residue of fat will melt into the stew when warming up.

Enjoy.

Jill

Something Snuggly ...

2011-05-30T11:04:00.003+01:00

Something snuggly ... from http://www.internetgardener.co.uk/

Jill

Neat and Tidy ...

2011-05-30T11:03:00.004+01:00

Something sensible ...

from http://www.internetgardener.co.uk/

Jill

Festival Season creeping up on us ...

2011-05-30T10:56:00.006+01:00

Wellies for all cultures ... Street Punk Wellies ...

£21.95 from http://www.internetgardener.co.uk/

Jill

Ginger ...

2011-05-27T22:22:00.003+01:00

Ginger ... what more is there to say?

Quite a bit actually ...
Ginger is the rhizome [rhizome is the underground stem] of the plant Zingiber officinale.

Ginger is used as a cooking spice. [We knew that]

Ginger can be used to help prevent nausea, particulary with regard to motion sickness, post-operative sickness and pregnancy.

Ginger aids digestion: it aids the absorbtion of food and eliinates gas and bloating.

Ginger stimulates the flow of saliva and gastric sectretions and can help reduce flatulence.

Ginger can be used to treat and prevent migraine headaches.

Ginger may prove to be effective for pain relief, as an anti-inflammatory eg: rheumatism.

So Ladies, lets give it up for ... Ginger !

Jill

Courage:

2011-05-27T22:06:00.001+01:00

Life shrinks and expands in proportion to one’s courage.

Anais Nin

Couldn't agree more ...

What do you think?

Jill

Help ! I'm turning into my Mother-in-law ...

2011-05-26T21:14:00.003+01:00

Help … I’m turning into my mother-in-law !

Whilst we’re on kettles as subject matter …

I’ve taken to saving, saving, saving, but who hasn’t in this difficult time of credit crunching? So, when I boil the kettle, I only use the amount of water that I really need. To be totally honest, I’ve always done this. Partly because of impatience, waiting for a full kettle to boil ... and partly because it really does make sense.

Yep, yeah, okay, I heard you: What about the Mother-in-law? Strangely enough, there are stories of re-using tea bags, thinning down soup in cafes [ to make 2 servings ] - with the hot water from the tea service and making a meal for 6 from 1 chicken [ and why not? ] but then ... she goes and FILLS the kettle when making a cup of tea just for two people ... argghh !

Jill

Bits in My Drinks ...

2011-05-26T21:04:00.003+01:00

Uggh ! My kettle has nasty greyish bits inside. And it keeps making more! The little filter bit is missing from the top of the kettle and I keep getting bits in my drinks. How can I get rid of them?

Hi Daughter, thanks for your question … very observant. You are obviously maturing into grown-up-dom well.

The ‘bits’ in your kettle are probably coming from a grey-white build up in your kettle. This residue is lime scale and caused by calcium carbonate deposits in water. I know it doesn’t look too healthy but actually, it won’t harm you.

To remove the lime scale, you could either buy an expensive product from a hardware store or DIY warehouse ~ or ~ use Vinegar !

*Buy a large container of vinegar when on offer – Vinegar can be used for all sorts of household fixes – burnt pans for one – super-shiny mirrors for another.

Simply fill the kettle with vinegar until all the residue is covered with the vinegar. Leave it to soak for a couple of hours. Hey Presto! The lime scale should have dissolved – as if by magic.
You might like to boil a kettle full of water before you make your next brew.

* The kettle in the photo has limescale around the top and spout. As water has boiled, deposits have landed there. Try soaking a sponge with vinegar and dousing the area. Leave for a couple of hours and rinse.

Hope this works for you,

Jill

Favourite quotation for the week ahead ...

2011-05-22T22:20:00.004+01:00

Fashions change but style remains.

Coco Chanel.

Sox Box ...

2011-05-22T22:09:00.004+01:00

Sox Box ...

from www.dibor.co.uk/

Super-cute organisational and pretty stuff for co-ordinating your home.

Bedroom accessories.
Kitchen storage.
Bathroom organisers.

Take your pick and choose from French, distressed, rustic, country, vintage styles.

Jill

Look What I've Got ...

2011-05-15T09:55:00.003+01:00

For the girls [not] about town, I can definitely recommend this ... a DeWALT tool carrier ... and it certainly shows off its label !

At prices less than a handbag with a label most men would lose their right arm for ... the DeWALT is light to carry, plenty of space for straighteners, hairbrushes, lipsticks ... only joking of course and I don't want to be sexist or anything like that [of course] but they make great boyfriend presents and at around £24, great value for money. You could fill it with tools and give the hint of what's to come ... repairs and maybe marriage ...

Or just get one yourself and have the tools handy for fixing those little jobs that we can do ourselves anyway.

Coming next ... Tools. What you need. Why you need it. What you do with it.

Jill

Cats, Cakes and Community Spirit ...

2011-05-09T11:02:00.004+01:00

Dear Jill / Daughters in Distress,

I’ve recently rented the upstairs half of a house. I took my downstairs neighbour a chocolate cake to say hello. [She lives on her own - with 4 cats] I’m over noisy mates and parties. I always say hello when I see her but she’s always grumpy with me. What can I do?

Hello DID [Daughter in Distress] ~ Thanks for your message. It seems your neighbour is grumpy full stop. Probably not with you. Living with four cats could indicate she’s lonely. Don’t give up. It sounds like a barrier that needs to be softened with friendliness and neighbourly caring. More cakes? A small bunch of flowers? Ask her in for a cuppa? Lend her a book? Don’t give in. Build community spirit. You’ll feel good and she’ll be putty in your hands before you know it. [Incidentally, putty is a pliable mixture made from linseed oil and chalk which is used to secure glass into place in window frames].

Jill

I Want to Ride my Bike ...

2011-05-09T00:08:00.004+01:00

This Vintage BSA Loop Frame Ladies Town Dutch Bike currently stands at £1.04 on ebay with only 2 bids so far !

But there aren't any measurements with the ad which prompted me to remind you to work out what size bike you need.

For instance, frame sizes can start at 16" and go up to approx 21" [To be honest with you, if I'd realised there were varying frame sizes years ago, I would have been much more interested in cycling].

Wheel size is another consideration. Being only 5'3", bike wheels always seem scarily large to me. But now I realise the frame needs to fit your height and gender [see myra-simon below for in-depth explanation] ~ I'm hoping the wheels will be proportionate to the frame.

If you want to ride to college with a few books? Or the local shops for your food shopping? ... then a town bike might be for you. Think 'The Enigma' or Mary Poppins ... hmm ... did she have a bike? or just a brolly?

If however, you fancy riding further afield, then you may need something with more gears; tyres specific to the terrain and ditch the wicker basket for cool.

Check out these sites for all there is to know about choosing a bike ...

http://www.myra-simon.com/bike/womens-fit.html

http://www.blayleys.com/articles/womensfit/index.htm

Now get out there and burn some calories ...

Jill

I want to ride my bicycle ...

2011-05-09T00:03:00.002+01:00

Petrol is sooo expensive ... So why not get out your bike?

You can burn off the calories too !!

Jill.

An Apple a Day Keeps ...

2011-05-08T23:21:00.002+01:00

Apparently, A Happy Person eats Chocolate ... A Hopeful person eats Fruit ...

Time to change the habits of a lifetime. But seriously, there are sooo many better-than-good reasons to eat apples that we should be thinking of consuming more of them. Browse over these findings and decide for yourself ... and remember ... the future's not orange, its Apple ...

Apples are full of pectin, a soluble fibre which helps lower cholesterol ~ Pectin binds with bile acids and decreases fat absorbtion.

Apple fibre helps cleanse intestines.

It's a good idea to follow a meal [especially a fatty one] with an apple or apple juice.

Drink apple juice instead of other drinks.

You really need to eat 2 apples a day. Four is a bonus but probably not reasonable ~ however, you can buy Apple Pectin in capsule form ~ try www.healthmontly.co.uk.

Thanks to www.allaboutapples.com for their tips.

Jill

Make-Up Tips

2011-04-30T07:23:00.003+01:00

Celeb make-up top tips
We've never had enough make-up tips have we?
So here's a few more ... From celebrity make-up artist Charlotte Reid.

Make sure your foundation is an exact match to your skin - When you apply a streak it should be invisible. Ask for a mirror and walk to the door to see if the colour looks as good in natural light as it does in artificial light - Or take a little pot and ask for a sample to take home.

Your skin colour changes in summer and winter so you may need different shades of foundation for different times of year.

Apply concealer with a brush instead of your fingers, to avoid transferring grease from your fingers onto your face.

Layering on too much foundation and concealer to hide spots can draw more attention to them and making the problem worse. Try to keep it natural.

Emphasise your eyes. Drawing attention to one feature can take the focus off another.

Always take your make-up off before you go to bed. It's easy to be lazy about it, but thoroughly cleansing your skin gets rid of the daily build-up of grime that can clog pores and can lead to spots.

Thanks Charlotte … for your super-helpful top tips.

Jill

Congratulations ...

2011-04-29T13:54:00.001+01:00

Need I say more ?

Jill

Cats Eyes ...

2011-04-28T21:17:00.005+01:00

At the same time summer seems to have arrived, bringing the future to our now, the fashion industry seems to be bringing the past to us in the form of retro sunnies ...

According to fashion writer, Lucille Howe, cat-eye frames work wonders for square faces or diamond faces. The sharper edge frames can benefit rounder faces.

Thanks Lucille.
Suggestions from Topshop £16 - £19 approx

Jill

Make £££'s from Car Boots ...

2011-04-28T14:41:00.006+01:00

For years I've not been able to resist clearing out cupboards and cupboards and ... of stuff to car boot sales, then folding all the unsold items nicely, placing them in separate boxes: ornaments, clothes, books etc and taking them to the charity shop. Well done I say to myself. And even more smugly, I think, fairly well done too.

To be honest, most of the stuff is sold to other stall-holders, the more serious car-booters, the regulars; the rest, I more-or-less give away. But during the occasional early Sunday morning events and after watching the endless TV progs visiting French Antique Markets / finding treasures in the attic / placing Red teams V Blue and Real Deals, whilst caring for my mum, I couldn't help wanting to scan all the stalls for that special piece.

I never did get around to it. But my friend did. Here's how she did it ...

1. Quick visit to car boot / table top sale / garage sale / Grandma's cupboards.
2. Buy couple of purchases [few pounds max] ~ coloured glass / something silver
/ rich glossy ornament / very old books or magazines / polished mahogany
3. Find an area well-known for antique shops.
4. Take the items and offer them for sale.

Alternatively, find a local auction house - internet search one from your postcode.

Group items together [3 items blue glass] [two similar ornaments] [a trio of silver items]

Items are usually charged per sale plus percentage [10-15%].

* If not sold and not collected within given time span, there may be a further charge.

Good Luck, Jill

Question: How can I unblock my drain without spending almost a fiver on products?

2011-04-28T08:54:00.003+01:00

Hello Daughter, Thanks for your question on how to unblock a drain cheaply.
Bathroom drains can easily block with hair and soapy products or food and fat in the kitchen. Try this tried and tested method:

All you need is Baking Powder and Vinegar.

1. Put a cup of baking powder down the drain.
2. Pour 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain after the baking soda.
[Put plug in to cover - the mixture froths up]
3. Leave for approx 30 minutes.
4. Whilst waiting, boil kettle full of water.
5. Pour boiling water slowly down the drain.

If the drain isn't fully functioning - repeat the process.

Good Luck, Jill

Potted Toms ...

2011-04-28T08:28:00.004+01:00

Now's the time to plant tomato plants. Theyr'e only around £1 per plant. Fill a pot/tub with compost/soil mixture. Secure the small tomato plant in the centre. Place in a sunny spot. Water regularly. Watch it grow. You can insert small frame into soil to protect the stem from tilting. Cherry tomatoes are really easy to grow in a pot. Be careful, too much rain and not enough sun turns them brown and waterlogged.
Harvest. Eat. Share. Show off. Possibly more fun than shopping ~ and cheaper too!
Jill

Hot Lips ...

2011-04-28T08:20:00.003+01:00

Don't burn your lips this summer ...

I tried Clinique's Targeted Protection Stick spf 35 and found it great for lips.

Clinique says: 'Steps up protection against the burning effects of UVA and UVB rays for fragile areas-eye-area skin, lips, nose, earlobes, even scars. UVA defense helps guard against premature aging. Conditions, comforts. Ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested. Oil-free.'
It's around £15 but well worth it.

Jill

Eyes up for Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring ...

2011-04-19T23:36:00.004+01:00

Eyelash Tints ...

Easy to apply ? ... Yes, fairly easy - you have to mix the dye cream with the developer liquid. Don't try this task when you're in a hurry. Honestly, it's a bit messy to apply. Be careful not to get any in your eyes - it does sting. I've not suffered any bad reactions though.

Great for holidays - the beach and pool - no need to use mascara in the day.

I found that my eye lashes appeared healthier and looked thicker and longer when I applied mascara over the top for evening.

Can be used to define brows too.

Priced around £4.99 - £6.99 Brown or Black [Brown created more natural effect]

Some products can be fastened and used again [up to one month].

Always follow instructions given with product and do a patch test first.

Jill

Hello Daughters, Mums, Sisters, Aunties, Friends ...

2011-04-19T22:55:00.008+01:00

Thought it was time to be a bit more grown up ~ so I'm intending to develop a separate skin-care section.

I was hoping you could help. We can save time and money by sharing our knowledge of products which really do what they say [not literally of course].

I'm looking forward to hearing about your favourite product ~ what's special about it?

Comment, Email [gmhesketh@googlemail.com], Facebook or Post a Message in the Question box.

Thanks, Jill