Happy Chinese New Year! Today marks the start of the Year of the Horse.
Today I wore red as that is a lucky colour, I ate noodles as they represent longevity, or long life, I haven't used a broom or dustpan and brush, so as not to sweep any good luck away, and I haven't used any knives or scissors either, which is considered to be bad luck. I'm not particularly superstitious but these are traditional customs that I've grown up with. Also, I figure that I can do with as much luck and good fortune that I can muster for this year!
I can't really believe that it's the end of January already. I've had a pretty good month actually, despite all this cold and rainy weather we've been having. Seriously, can it please stop raining soon? I've managed to have an alcohol-free January apart from 2 nights, one being a good friend's birthday night out and the other was an evening with some other friends. I feel so much better for it, especially as in the run up to Christmas and New Year I was out drinking most nights. Hopefully the break has been good for my liver and overall health.
Speaking of health, although I haven't managed to stick to my diet (in fact today I have already eaten 8 chocolates) I have been really good and have been exercising at least twice a week for the last month. I've lost the weight that I put on over Christmas, and hopefully will now be on track to lose the final 4kg. I know this last bit will be the hardest to lose, but I am determined to get rid of it over the next couple of months. I'm going to up the exercise, and next week, after the Chinese New Year celebrations, get back to being a little bit stricter with the diet. To be honest, I would rather do more exercise and still be able to enjoy my food, but I know that it will help if I can stop eating the chocolates!
I feel like I'm almost ready to go back into the world of dating again. I know I can't let this year pass me by in a haze of moping about and wanting to be with the wrong person again. Hopefully, my self confidence will be boosted with the extra weight loss and going out on social events will put me in the path of other like-minded people. Even if nothing romantic happens, I am going to have fun and enjoy my life because life is short... It's a New Year, New Start, New Me.
Tomorrow I have family celebrations and over the next few months I have lots of lovely special occasions to look forward to. I do wish that I had someone in my life to share these things with, but I know that will happen in time. For now, I am truly thankful and blessed to have my family and friends around me.
To anyone else out there that is feeling a bit down or depressed, things will get better. You just have to believe it, and in yourself.
Wishing everyone a very happy and prosperous Chinese New Year.
Mei x
Friday 31 January 2014
Tuesday 21 January 2014
Cirque du Soleil - Quidam
I was lucky enough to get tickets for this show last year and went to see it at the Royal Albert Hall this weekend. I'm a big fan of all the Cirque du Soleil shows, and this was my fourth time. I remember the very first time I went - I was absolutely mesmerised by the amazing acrobatics and aerial displays. The sheer strength and flexibility and skill of the artists. It was truly captivating. I think each time I've seen them since I have still been amazed but slightly less so, as I know what sort of things to expect and what the artists are capable of. Nothing will ever compare to that first experience, when I had no idea what to expect - that had serious WOW factor.
Having said that, I still really enjoyed this year's show. It's on until the 16th February 2014 but I'm not sure how good the ticket availability is now. I booked mine quite early last year and had a super view from the stalls at the front of the stage. I believe that this particular show, Quidam, will not be performed in the UK again so if you get the chance to see it then do!
Having said that, I still really enjoyed this year's show. It's on until the 16th February 2014 but I'm not sure how good the ticket availability is now. I booked mine quite early last year and had a super view from the stalls at the front of the stage. I believe that this particular show, Quidam, will not be performed in the UK again so if you get the chance to see it then do!
Sunday 5 January 2014
My Latest Lust - Pixi Glow Tonic
Following on from yesterday's posts, I thought I'd share with you something that I did manage to purchase - Pixi Glow Tonic. First of all, I just want to say that by no means am I an expert in skincare or beauty products. I know my own skin type and what suits it, and I have been through many brands and products through trial and error. I'm not being paid or endorsed to blog about this.
Anyway, back to the Glow Tonic. I first discovered this in September 2013 and have been using this for about 3 months, once a day in the evening. The instructions say you can use it twice a day but I found that was a little too much for my skin so I just use it before I go to bed. This product is an exfoliating tonic, and contains Glycolic acid that loosens the dead skin cells. It feels so much gentler on my skin than using abrasive exfoliating scrubs.
The benefits of this product have been raved about on numerous other beauty blogs, which I avidly read before purchasing my first bottle (as said before, I like to do my research before spending money on expensive products) and this caused a huge demand for it. Luckily, I live in London so getting to the one and only Pixi shop is not out of reach. I really do dislike the fact that some people capitalise on this and are selling this on eBay and suchlike, for overly inflated prices.
The exciting news is that the Glow Tonic, and other Pixi products, are now available to buy online! So hopefully this will help everyone have access to these products!
A few thoughts on this - for anyone who has purchased this before, they have now changed the bottle that it comes in from the pump dispenser to a screw on cap. The quantity is still the same though, 250ml for £16. If you like the original pump dispenser (some people do not like the way it squirts out the product and thus causes wastage) then keep the old bottle and you can fill it up from the new bottle. The product is also slightly more red in colour than the old pale yellow tonic - I asked the sales assistant about this and she said that it's just a new batch of stock but exactly the same ingredients.
I used the new bottle last night and am pleased to report that it doesn't feel any different to the old one.
The reason why I went to buy this now, and not when my old bottle is finished, is because there is a 20% off discount code from Caroline Hirons' blog - beauty industry guru who gave a big thumbs up to this product. The code is valid until the 12th January 2014. Unfortunately, at the time of writing the Glow Tonic is listed as out of stock on the website, but when I was in the shop the sales assistant told me that they have a huge backorder which they are trying to mail out. If you want to order one before the promotion ends, I'd recommend ordering over the telephone - you might just have to wait for a few days for it to be posted out to you.
I'm super happy to have bought this as I really like this - at only £16 it's a fraction of what you'd pay for other similar items, but with the added 20% off it's a complete steal.
Anyway, back to the Glow Tonic. I first discovered this in September 2013 and have been using this for about 3 months, once a day in the evening. The instructions say you can use it twice a day but I found that was a little too much for my skin so I just use it before I go to bed. This product is an exfoliating tonic, and contains Glycolic acid that loosens the dead skin cells. It feels so much gentler on my skin than using abrasive exfoliating scrubs.
The benefits of this product have been raved about on numerous other beauty blogs, which I avidly read before purchasing my first bottle (as said before, I like to do my research before spending money on expensive products) and this caused a huge demand for it. Luckily, I live in London so getting to the one and only Pixi shop is not out of reach. I really do dislike the fact that some people capitalise on this and are selling this on eBay and suchlike, for overly inflated prices.
The exciting news is that the Glow Tonic, and other Pixi products, are now available to buy online! So hopefully this will help everyone have access to these products!
A few thoughts on this - for anyone who has purchased this before, they have now changed the bottle that it comes in from the pump dispenser to a screw on cap. The quantity is still the same though, 250ml for £16. If you like the original pump dispenser (some people do not like the way it squirts out the product and thus causes wastage) then keep the old bottle and you can fill it up from the new bottle. The product is also slightly more red in colour than the old pale yellow tonic - I asked the sales assistant about this and she said that it's just a new batch of stock but exactly the same ingredients.
I used the new bottle last night and am pleased to report that it doesn't feel any different to the old one.
The reason why I went to buy this now, and not when my old bottle is finished, is because there is a 20% off discount code from Caroline Hirons' blog - beauty industry guru who gave a big thumbs up to this product. The code is valid until the 12th January 2014. Unfortunately, at the time of writing the Glow Tonic is listed as out of stock on the website, but when I was in the shop the sales assistant told me that they have a huge backorder which they are trying to mail out. If you want to order one before the promotion ends, I'd recommend ordering over the telephone - you might just have to wait for a few days for it to be posted out to you.
I'm super happy to have bought this as I really like this - at only £16 it's a fraction of what you'd pay for other similar items, but with the added 20% off it's a complete steal.
Saturday 4 January 2014
Warning - Orogold Cosmetics
Today I was making the most of my last Saturday off before going back to work after the festive holidays. I went to Oxford Street. Was I out of my mind? Quite possibly. I went with the intention of having a look at the sales and picking up some bargains but the crowds of people were really annoying and I couldn't find anything in my size so I gave up. I ended up wandering down New Bond Street, which was considerably less crowded, and with the rain starting up again, I found myself strolling along quite happily until a man suddenly said to me, 'Would you like a sample of our face cream?' and thrust a small white sachet into my hand.
I was quite startled, but as I love skincare products and toiletries, I was immediately intrigued. I looked up at the shop and didn't recognise the name, Orogold. The salesman had already started talking to me and complimenting me on my skin and asked if I would like to try the product. I should have said no, but as I wasn't busy, I thought why not and followed him into the very empty shop. He demonstrated this exfoliating peel on my hand, which seemed very impressive as it appeared to rub off loads of dead skin, and followed this with a moisturiser. Then, the hard sell - the products were beautifully packaged and came with a hefty price tag - £100 and £129 respectively for the exfoliator and moisturiser. I immediately said no, as that is way out of my price budget, and as I have very sensitive skin, I never buy anything too expensive without thorough research and sampling.
His initial response to my negative answer was, you're shopping on Bond Street, it can't be too expensive for you. Then he tried to lower the prices of the products and offering me special discounted deals if I bought certain bundles of products. Again, I kept saying no. He even took 2 boxes over to the till to show me the special amazing price I'd pay today. When I tried to leave, he showed me their 'salon' where customers have facials and beauty treatments and tried to talk me into having a half price facial.
He was very pushy and rude, trying to make out that he was offering me something really special that is not offered to all customers. He was certainly very complimentary, and I do understand that he is a salesman and this is his job, but that made me even more determined not to buy anything from him, or this brand ever.
When I got home, I searched on the internet for reviews about this brand, and I've come across mixed reviews. There are glowing reports extolling the virtues of these creams and lotions, and then there are some downright scary reviews, which makes me feel sorry for customers who got sucked into buying these products. The exfoliating peel apparently contains some kind of glue like ingredient, which doesn't take a scientist to figure out that what happens is similar to when you were a kid playing with PVA glue sticking things together and a bit almost dries on your skin and you rub it off and it's a little ball of gluey stuff. I'm not saying it's not a good product, but to be honest I'd rather save my £100 and spend a little on something else that is about the product and not the packaging and most of all, does not pay the pushy and aggressive salespeople that work for this brand.
So be warned not to get sucked into these shops, or engage in conversation with these salespeople. I've read a number of horror stories now and am glad that I managed to get out of the shop without buying anything. I did not expect these kinds of aggressive sales tactics from such an alleged high end brand, with a shop on New Bond Street! You have been warned!
I was quite startled, but as I love skincare products and toiletries, I was immediately intrigued. I looked up at the shop and didn't recognise the name, Orogold. The salesman had already started talking to me and complimenting me on my skin and asked if I would like to try the product. I should have said no, but as I wasn't busy, I thought why not and followed him into the very empty shop. He demonstrated this exfoliating peel on my hand, which seemed very impressive as it appeared to rub off loads of dead skin, and followed this with a moisturiser. Then, the hard sell - the products were beautifully packaged and came with a hefty price tag - £100 and £129 respectively for the exfoliator and moisturiser. I immediately said no, as that is way out of my price budget, and as I have very sensitive skin, I never buy anything too expensive without thorough research and sampling.
His initial response to my negative answer was, you're shopping on Bond Street, it can't be too expensive for you. Then he tried to lower the prices of the products and offering me special discounted deals if I bought certain bundles of products. Again, I kept saying no. He even took 2 boxes over to the till to show me the special amazing price I'd pay today. When I tried to leave, he showed me their 'salon' where customers have facials and beauty treatments and tried to talk me into having a half price facial.
He was very pushy and rude, trying to make out that he was offering me something really special that is not offered to all customers. He was certainly very complimentary, and I do understand that he is a salesman and this is his job, but that made me even more determined not to buy anything from him, or this brand ever.
When I got home, I searched on the internet for reviews about this brand, and I've come across mixed reviews. There are glowing reports extolling the virtues of these creams and lotions, and then there are some downright scary reviews, which makes me feel sorry for customers who got sucked into buying these products. The exfoliating peel apparently contains some kind of glue like ingredient, which doesn't take a scientist to figure out that what happens is similar to when you were a kid playing with PVA glue sticking things together and a bit almost dries on your skin and you rub it off and it's a little ball of gluey stuff. I'm not saying it's not a good product, but to be honest I'd rather save my £100 and spend a little on something else that is about the product and not the packaging and most of all, does not pay the pushy and aggressive salespeople that work for this brand.
So be warned not to get sucked into these shops, or engage in conversation with these salespeople. I've read a number of horror stories now and am glad that I managed to get out of the shop without buying anything. I did not expect these kinds of aggressive sales tactics from such an alleged high end brand, with a shop on New Bond Street! You have been warned!
Happy New Year
Happy New Year!!! Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year. Mine was spent in a family haze of too much food, films and fun. Now I'm back in London, getting ready for the return to work on Monday - booooo - I just know that I'm going to regret my newfound love of staying up late and getting up late.
Anyway, as always, with the start of a new year, thoughts turn to resolutions and the usual hopes that this year I'll stick to my intentions of not drinking, eating less, doing more exercise, blah blah blah. I'm not going to formally make resolutions as every year I always break them. But I do intend on making the most of myself and this year. Last year was pretty crappy and I hope that this year will bring happier times.
Much love to everyone x
Anyway, as always, with the start of a new year, thoughts turn to resolutions and the usual hopes that this year I'll stick to my intentions of not drinking, eating less, doing more exercise, blah blah blah. I'm not going to formally make resolutions as every year I always break them. But I do intend on making the most of myself and this year. Last year was pretty crappy and I hope that this year will bring happier times.
Much love to everyone x
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