To quote Gwen Steffani “I’m so fancy, you already know.” Haha, no, but it’s nice to look it some times right? If I’m being honest, I started wearing camisole top, maxi skirt and sandal combos simply because they were cool in hot weather and so easy to wear.
PLEASE EXCUSE THE LITTLE T-REX HANDS, iPADS ARE HARD TO HOLD!
Earrings – Claire’s
Top – Charity Shop (Just before they all shut)
Skirt – Boohoo
Sandals – New Look
Week 2 Routine (at the start, changes through the week, see bottom of post for final product changes). See week 1 here.
Morning I cleanse with Neal’s Yard Micellar Water, then I use the Nip+Fab Hyaluronic Acid and The Body Shop moisturiser (apart from when I’m in the sun, then I use the Murad Moisturiser). At night I cleanse with the Micellar water again and use Herbal Dynamics Beauty, Rose Balm so my skin doesn’t wake up dry. To exfoliate I’m using The Ordinary Lactic Acid.
Monday
Desperately need to cut my fringe and not rub my eyes when I’ve just applied products!
I’ve been applying The Ordinary Lactic acid with a wet face pad and it really is gentler than Glycolic Acid.
Tuesday
Did a quick cleanse with Neals Yard Remedies Micellar Water and moisturiser combo today as I was in a rush. My skin is producing its own natural oils more, hurrah! Keeping my hydration levels up and getting lots of Omega oils in my diet so not ashamed to say I ate onion rings, baked beans and smiley faces for tea. Cleansed face but forgot Rose Balm before bed – oops!
Wednesday
Salad, falafel and humus for dinner and (dairy free) lasagne for tea. Gently massaged The Ordinary Lactic Acid into skin with my fingers today and left it on for 15 minutes before removing with a wet face pad. Applied The Body Shop Vit C moisturiser and Herbal Dynamics Beauty face balm.
Thursday
Feeling a lot more confident about just slapping on some tinted lip balm, rather than medium coverage foundation to cover redness and highlighter to make me look alive again. I’m realising my face is more neutral toned with warm yellows and natural cool pink tones mixed together.
Friday
My eye bags hardly exist anymore (I’m gobsmacked) and my chins are also benefitting from the massage my face gets when I apply skincare. Being a good bunny and treating myself to vegan and gluten free takeaway.
Saturday
This is me, shortly after waking up before my daily skincare regime. I really do need to lighten my touch when massaging around my eyes as you can see from the slight bruising under them. Had a spicy, tomato and bean salad for lunch and Daal (lentil curry) for tea.
Sunday
I’ve used a facemask and my pores are clear and a little smaller but still really noticeable, especially now my skin is reflecting more light. Hmmm.
Products I’m stopping using
Nip + Fab, Hyaluronic Acid as my skin doesn’t needs it any more, The Ordinary, Lactic Acid isn’t too drying so I have enough moisture. I’m nixing the Murad Cleanser as using the Lactic Acid instead is quicker and simpler. The Clay Face scrub didn’t work great as a mask (I admit I didn’t read it properly) and I certainly don’t need anymore exfoliating!
Products I’m introducing
Here’s what the Neal’s Yard, Micellar Cleanser looks like. I’m using classic face masks from Montagne Jeunesse now. Here’s a lip balm from Yaoh! as I forgot to mention this last week.
When Photowall got in touch asking me if I’d like to review their service I was intrigued. Photowall specialise in posters, canvas prints and more surprisingly, detailed wallpaper designs. As I have so much furniture against the walls of my room I chose a canvas print.
Choosing the Size and Subject
This is a print of Hobsyllwin painted by Ciruelo. I wanted the subject of my canvas to be a peaceful looking dragon with neutral blue and golden tones to match the rest of the decor of my room so this one was perfect! It was easy to browse on the site by looking under different categories or using the search box. You can also upload your own image, such as a photograph.
Once I’d chosen the subject, I choose the dimensions on a sliding scale (so no working out numbers) and then I saw what it would cost, had I not been gifted this.
Packaging and Postage
The print arrived within two days! I’ve never had anything arrive that fast. It was environmentally packaged in a thick cardboard box, padded with brown paper. It included the canvas, four sides of a frame and fixtures and fittings.
Rather than assembling the frame and stretching the canvas over it like I’m used to, this came with very sticky tape along the edge of the very sturdy frames. You place the edge of the frame planks onto the edge of canvas and then fold them in, to create the frame shape.
This is me practicing before peeling the backing off the tape. Sadly, even though I’d stuck three sides perfectly to the edge of the canvas, the top frame didnt have room to fold over into place. It just sat awkwardly on top of the sides frames at the corners. I had to move it back a little to fit it into place but that meant it was overhanging the canvas slightly. I wished I had a bit of canvas space to spare. The print is going to hang high up so it will be too high to notice it doesn’t reach the edge, very fortunately!
Screwing the frame together was incredibly easy and I did it by hand. I’ve not hung it up as it’s too big for me to manage on my own.
I’d have much preferred it to have been professionally mounted for the price, if I’d have bought it but overall I’m really pleased with my dragon. He’s going to hang high-up at the side of the chimney breast (if he’ll fit), facing the door so he’ll be the first thing you see on entering the room.
If you are interested in getting 25% off a poster, wall paper or a canvas you can use vampituppw2020 at the checkout. Hurry though as offer ends 6/6/2020.
💛✨Chrissie✨💛
As I mentioned in this previous post, I’ve slimmed down the contents of my wardrobes and bought some new staple-items that will help me to mix old/new and everyday/fancy items together easily. No more, masses of clothes and nothing to wear dilemmas. Here’s the first of those outfits.
Hoop earrings – Claire’s (old)
Vest top – Joe Browns (old)
Skirt – Chicwish (new)
Sandals – New Look (new, replacements for worn out ones)
The sandals are incredibly comfy. The maxi skirt is the perfect length for my height 5’8″. Could have done with sizing up in the vest top but it’s soft and stretchy so okay.
My Skin History
In my teens and early twenties I had terrible skin, with lots of tiny bumps under the surface as well many active spots. I wouldn’t say it was full blown acne but it was close enough for my GP to say it was hormone related and to put me on pills aged 16. They did nothing. Then at 28 the spots were mainly on my T-zone and only around four at a time by now but I’d still look bright red without full coverage foundation, so I went on the contraceptive pill. It helped my crazy oily T-zone and therefore my spots, as well as being a handy form of birth control. Age 30 after a lot of research online about hormones and inflammation and healthy diets etc. I took a food intolerance test. I tested a big positive to milk and gluten. After cutting way down on gluten my tummy and face was less bloated and my eyes less puffy. After cutting way down on dairy my skin cleared completely! I stopped waking up with a bright red face as well, which was such a relief!
These days I usually have fairly blemish-free skin but it’s actually very dry and dehydrated. The texture has always felt grainy (even though you can’t see it) as if my skin doesn’t produce enough natural acids to melt away the dead skin. I also go randomly go bright red every now and then, due to dust allergies and water temperature sensitivity.
Goals
Products
[I will use The Ordinary Lactic Acid Peel if I’m too tired to use the Murad exfoliater as it takes a lot of massaging and rinsing. I also have a weird sensory-avoidance thing about splashing my face with water some days!? I will use the Murad moisturiser if I need any sun protection.]
Week 1
Monday
My skin is very dry and dehydrated. My oil/balm seems to just be sitting on top of my skin. Need to keep on top of my healthy eating better.
Tuesday
Still feel dry and dehydrated, even though I’ve done all of my skincare routine but at least I look a little glowy. Existed on watered down energy drink and takeaway today so not the best but it was vegan and so dairy free.
Wednesday
I have 7 spots which could be due to previous dairy intake. After three days of gentle exfoliation, my skin is absolutely sucking up the moisturiser and facial balm. Had a big protein salad and drank all of my water bottle.
Thursday
Made a fresh banana milkshake with a very ripe banana, some hazelnut milk and a stick blender. Spots are still lingering and I’ve run out T-tree gel and Witch Hazel so I applied a little Savlon antiseptic cream instead!
Friday
It actually worked! Spots look much calmer and smaller. I somehow managed to forget to do any of my skincare. I got up mid-afternoon and just couldn’t keep track of what time or even day it was, all day.
Saturday
Woke up looking rather red, which I think is because I’ve been sat on the sofa that gets four hours of sun all week. This might be a little much for my skin when it’s got the Glycolic or Lactic Acid on it. I’ll be applying the Murad moisturiser with sun protection the next time I do this!
Sunday
Before I’ve even applied any skincare my skin feels softer and smoother (apart from my stubborn nose) than I have ever felt it before, as if I’m wearing a really good primer! I’ve (mostly) been keeping hydrated and I’ve been eating little salads before meals to get some fresh veg everyday.
I’ve no idea what that big chunk of blonde hair is trying to do!?
Week 1 Conclusion
I was so sceptical that I would stick to this routine with my brain fog but I did, apart from just one day. It made me feel better about myself, because I’m actively doing something for my health and well-being.
After just one week, I didn’t expect my skin to feel and look good before I’d applied any products but it’s already working and my eye bags (I’ve had since I was a teen) have virtually gone!
The scar I have below my nose and mouth has flattened out more and looks smoother too.
I’m going to introduce a micellar water from Neal’s Yard Remedies next week to be able to cleanse without water if I wish and to get rid of any left over exfoliator gritty bits left around my hairline, which is where I think some those spots came from.
I forgot to do the face mask oops!
As always I love hearing what you think and if you have any tips, advice or similar experiences.
At the moment it’s really difficult to find gluten free pizza or pizza bases (and impossible to find yeast free one’s full stop) in supermarkets but gluten or yeast free wraps and flat breads are more likely to be stocked.
Base:
Flat bread (gluten free), layer of red pesto & 1st kind of cheese
Flat bread, layer of green pesto & 2nd kind of cheese
Flat bread & topping of tomato sauce mixed with red pesto
Topping:
Fried mushrooms
(would have liked fried onion but run out of onions)
Red bell pepper
Black olives
Finley chopped sun dried tomatoes
Mixed dried herbs
3rd kind of cheese (strong Cheddar)
Black pepper.
Dairy free pesto is a fave topping/dip but I’ve not found any melty dairy-free cheeses that I like the flavour and texture of yet (plain Violife not bad but very bland). The Bloke surprised me with this so that’s my excuse! 🤭🤗
What would be your toppings?
March was a bit of a non-month really. Me and the bloke started our quarantine, apart from him having an hour in the park every few days. It’s a big park with wide paths and wide gates so no need to be anywhere near anyone else. A Submotion Orchestra gig (dub, orchestral, hip-hop) got cancelled which was sensible but sad. Luckily we hadn’t booked anything else or made plans to go anywhere else.
Lifestyle
In January I made a secret resolution to avoid gluten as it effects my breathing and doesn’t help with my naturally challenged memory and concentration skills, as well as making me bloated. I’m doing better with the above which is wonderful and I’ve have discovered I have a little square chin, rather than the two (or even three) rounded chins that I normally have. Bonus!
At first I thought the Jay was screeching at me for food, until I put some out and it ignored it. It carried on screeching right next me. I went into the kitchen at one point and noticed it stopped. I came back and it started. I realised it had looked at me, sat in my living room and decided I was too close to the branch that it had chosen and was shouting at me to go away! Erm…..!?
This is Little Groot, the huge chilli plant we cut right back to a tiny stump when it stopped giving us chilli’s. It’s a tenacious little fecker and has come back with a vengeance, which we hoped but didn’t really expect.
I find the trend of young women shaving the peach fuzz off their cheeks such a shame. It’s natural, your skin isn’t supposed to look as smooth and shiny as a Barbie Dolls and why are we adding yet another step in the relentless quest to look ‘perfect’? Here’s me with my fluffy face (you can see it on the right hand side in contrast with the shadow) which most people find really sweet.
Style
I went through a pastel-goth moment (perfect style to cheer up grey, cold weather) and found this huge metal quote pin from Crazy Crafty Chick Club.
I’m still rocking my custom Airforce 1’s and find that they go with basically everything. I can fit my orthotics in them and I can wear my ankle brace with them too. If you need spacious, stable but fairly light weight footwear, these are dream shoes!
I’ve finally got all of the styles of boots I’ve ever wanted so I will not be buying any more, ever. The chunky pair are from Koi and the slimmer pair are from Newlook (detachable wings from Koi) and everything is vegan.
Beauty
I stumbled across this independent soap brand in Tesco of all places as it was the only soap left but it’s the best soap though, how odd!? Vegan, cruelty free and genuinely natural. They do a range for pets too!
Cheered myself up with a sparkly coral mani.
Food
I bought this beautiful vegan porcini mushroom sauce and gluten free gnocchi in a huge (and perfectly timed) shop from Ocado just before all of their delivery slots got maxed out.
First salad of the year! With Violife Greek Block (supposed to be feta, tastes exactly like goats cheese instead) and Gosh! Mediterranean Red Pepper Falafel. I do get boxes of cheap falafel mix from the corner shop as well but these are quick and easy for when I’m fatigued.
Amy’s Burritos are the perfect size between a snack and a meal. This one is the tofu breakfast scramble and there are several others with rice and one with cheesy baked-beans. So good!
I tried Violife extra cheesy block and ‘ham’ slices, which had such similar textures and even flavours, that they blended together to create one weird flavour in my sandwich. Fail! The ‘ham’ is perfect on a sarny with pickled onion/cauliflower or a teeny bit of mustard. The cheese is perfect on a sarny with spring onions or on a cracker with sandwich pickle.
What a strange, almost surreal month that was.
Everyone needs a bit of motivation and simple reminders sometimes, especially when you’re in the house most of the time and loose track of time easily. That’s just me normally btw!
We ordered a delicious Vegetarian Curry Hamper £50 quid from This & That (rice and three type place). 2 chickpea curry, 2 Kidney bean and potato curry, 2 spinach curry, 2 mixed veg curry, 4 rice, 4 naan/chapatti (we replaced the bread with an extra bag of bahji’s), 4 onion bahji, 4 samosa. Amazing authentic curry! 😋
Phone to arrange delivery of a hamper (within around 3 miles) 0161 832 4971
6 bonus things that have happened during quarantine:
What have been your positive quarantine effects?
