My Diet Bible ...

I know for some the word diet is one that resembles the play Macbeth as in the name should not be said. For me however, I call my eating plan a diet but in no way do I see it as a diet. It is a way of eating healthier, making better choices and cooking the same foods I would normally eat in a different way.

The eating plan I am talking about is Slimming World. For those of you that don't know, I have been following Slimming World for some time now.

I am not here however, to sing the praises of it or even tell you what it is. The reason for this post is to tell you about a handy little tool I have created to help me on my weight loss journey. 

This can be used to help you no matter what eating plan you are following.

Within the Slimming World plan you can have anything between 5-15 syns a day. These are similar to the Weight Watchers points and can be used for anything from food items, sauces or my personal favourites, treats during the day.

After a frustrating lunch break on a recent shopping trip I decided to create a guide I can keep in my bag of low syn options from various eateries you find out and about.

I bought a cheap pocket sized notebook and divided it into sections. I wrote a few options for various places and it is the handiest thing ever and I will never find myself stuck for options or go off plan when shopping again!

What's In My Bag #2 ...

I haven't done one of these posts in a LONG time so I thought I would share with you what I am carrying around with me on a daily basis as I love these sorts of posts and well yes ... enjoy!

I have just grabbed everything out of my usual River Island bag which has been featured tons of times on here so I won't bore you with what that is like. 

Ok so the above mainly consists of lip products and skin stuff really.  I currently have MAC's Snob, Apocyliptic by Rimmel, Maybelline Vivid 902, Soap & Glory Extreme Plump and a VERY worn Chanel lip liner. 

We also have a half drunk bottle of water from Boots, No7 Nail & Cuticle cream, The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit antibacterial hand gel, a mini Soap & Glory Hand Food and a charlie body spray with no lid in case of emergencies.

My Tangle Teezer in there for emergencies also and obviously the Chupa Chups lollipops are in there for the same reason. I am OBSESSED with lollipops!

I also appear to have a PAIR OF SOCKS??!!?!?

A shopping list with a few items still to get.

My purse.

A notebook which doesn't look very interesting right now but there will be a whole post about this little handy book soon!

There we have it, not the most interesting of posts, but all of my necessities I need in my handbag on a daily basis.

Do you have anything you just HAVE to have in your handbag?

xxx 

The Fine Line ...

I know I have spoken about something similar before but my questions have been left unanswered. 

How can you go from having no interest in someone to making excuses to see them?!

There is a guy I have recently met through work and we have started to speak more and we have found out little bits and peices about each other. All was fine until I was getting ready for work the other day and I found myself making more of an effort with my appearence and as opposed to rocking up in my uniform, I went in my own clothes 'browsed around the store' then I went upstairs, got changed and started my shift. 

Throughout my shift I found myself giggling like a school girl and actually flirting a little. The first thing I thought was WHAT THE F?! Then I had to ask myself 'Do I like him?', as far as I knew it was just someone who I spoke to in work, now, I am FLIRTING!

This is bound to end in disaster!

When I mentioned I was potentially having a night out in the town in which he lives next Sunday he then said he may get a few friends out too.

Could he be interested? Should I give him my number to let me know if he is out? Do I just wait and see? 

WHY AM I BOTHERED?!?! 

I am doing the exact opposite of what I said I would do.

Why is it that one moment we can feel nothing, then the next minute we are actually looking forward to seeing someone?! 

I need your help people ... how should I play this one out?

xxx

My Go To Make Up Products ...

Two skin care/face posts in a week ... Now I am giving you a treat you lucky ducks! Today I come to you to talk about the make up products I reach for everyday!

Now for those of you high end make up junkies LOOK AWAY, I don't think there will be any high end products in here. I'M SORRY ... unless I win the lottery or I marry for money then drug store/high street it shall be!!!

Below are the certain products I reach for on a daily basis and you will always find away from the make up drawers (YES DRAWERS!) and in my make up bag when travelling.

FOUNDATION

My all time absolute favourite foundation has to be the Revlon Colorstay! It is just fantabulous and stays put all day (and sometimes night ... oops) without the use of powder.

BLUSHER

I always reach for the MUA blushers as I find them gorgeous to apply and so bloody cheap.

BRONZER

The Borjois chocolate bronzer has to be a firm favourite for contouring and all round bronzing. It has been a long term favourite and I very rarely shy away from this one.

HIGHLIGHTER

I find the ELF Golden Bronzer a fabulous highlighter as it is not a bronze shade and it gives you a gorgeous sun kissed shimmer.

EYE PRIMER

Again MUA come up trumps on this one. Their eye primer is ridiculously cheap and I find it just as good as the Urban Decay Primer Potion.

EYESHADOW

I don't have a particular favourite eyeshadow as I am forever switching between various MUA palettes. In the last year or so they really have upped their game and brought out some fantastic staple palettes to have in your collection.

EYELINER

At £1 I tend to use the MUA waterproof liquid eyeliner as it is long lasting, stays all day and is so affordable I can buy one for each eye if I want. For the water line I use the Rimmel Scandaleyes waterproof eyeliner in black or nude as I find it a rival for the Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner.

BROWS

For my brows I am loving this particular brown shade from the MUA 'Ever After' matte palette as I find it the perfect shade to go with my hair.

MASCARA

I have to say I love, love, LOVE the Mally volumising mascara, however it is not so good at being waterproof. In the case that I do something waterproof I love the Miss Sporty Fabulous Lash in the waterproof formula.

LIPS

Now this is probably the hardest catagory for me as while everything else stays pretty much the same on a daily basis, I am forever using different lip products and I never go two days wearing the same thing. I have noticed more recently though, I have been reaching for two products more than others. Maybelline Colorsensational Vivids in 902 Fuchsia Flash and Mac Snob. Sometimes I put MAC's Cremesheen gloss in Boi Bait over the top.

There you go kiddos! An incling in to what my face looks like every day ... How exciting! What are your go to products? If you would like full reviews on any product mentioned above then let me know in the comments!

Take it easy!

Jazz 

xxx

Current Skin Saviours ...

Taking care of my skin is sadly something I neglect on a far too regular basis! I tend to have a good regime on the go and slowly one by one forget until I am once again dragging my face around with a facewipe!

Over Christmas I received the HUGE Soap & Glory set Boots always have on offer. Within this was a £5 off voucher when you spend £20 or more on Soap & Glory skincare. As Boots at the moment have massive discounts on the range anyway I thought this would be the perfect time to invest in some as essentially I could get more for my money!

When I purchased my items I then received one of the specialised vouchers for £3 from No7 cosmetics and £5 off No7 skincare. 

I can now safely say I have a fantastic skin care regime both morning and night in which I am so happy with, I have noticed INSTANT results and my skin looks TONS better!

Here is what I bought:

Soap & Glory 'The Greatest Scrub Of All' Instant Radiance Foaming Face Polish - This stuff literally does what it says on the tin (or bottle which ever way you want to take it)! I noticed immediately that not only did my skin feel super super soft (as I do with all S&G products) but my skin looked all rejuvinated and glowy. As you squeeze the product from it's packaging you can see the scrub look all pearlescent and gorgeous which transfers on to the skin.

Soap & Glory 'Wish Upon A Jar' Rejuvinating Night Cream - I had heard nothing but good things about this so I was eager to try it. I have only recently started using a night cream but one thing I have noticed about most is how thick they are. Now I don't know about you but I for one do not want to go to sleep feeling like I have a load of gunge on my face. This however, is quite light in consistency and I wake up feeling all lovely and soft.

Soap & Glory 'No Clogs Allowed' Super Self Heating Deep Pore Detox Mask - As you can probably tell by now, there is a reoccuring theme when it comes to the Soap & Glory products ... I BLOODY LOVE THEM! This mask is no exception. I noticed considerably less black heads after the first use and the heat only lasted for a second or two and it is just lovely and wonderful! Also it smells pretty great too!

Boots No7 'Essential Moisture' Day Cream - In my 24 (nearly 25 *VOM*) years I have never tried a No7 skincare product so I was eager to see what all of the fuss is about. As far as moisturisers and day creams go I don't really have any thoughts on it apart from I think the packaging is pretty and it seems to be helping to do the job!

Boots Cucumber Eye Gel - I was sceptical about this as it cost me between £1-£2 but I have to say it has helped to help make my eyes feel refreshed and I have incorporated it into my night time reigeme along side my Garnier roll on.

I already had the Boots tinted lipsalve and the Garnier roll on eye gel and I have incorporated them into my routine also. As you can see there is the Soap & Glory 'Peaches and Clean' cleanser in there, this is one of the bottles in the old style packaging. I already had this and used in every now and then as a mask whilst in the shower but now I use it every evening.

So there we have it my current skin saviours! If you would like to know which products I use when I wake up and which ones I use before I go to bed, please do let me know and I can try and go all beauty blogger-esque and write Morning and Night face routine posts for you. I'm kind like that!!!

Catch you soon!!

Jazz
xxx

When I Grow Up ...

When I was younger I thought by the time I hit my mid twenties I would have life all figured out. I would have the high flying career, a long term partner, a wedding and maybe a child or two on the way in a gorgeous house.

5 months until my 25th birthday and I am living at my parents, with a Christmas job contract ending on the 31st Jan, single! This couldn't be any further away from the life plan I had set for myself.

As the end of my contract looms I have been racking my brain trying to think what it is I want to do in life. What is it that I could do as a career? The problem is, 10 years after I was asked the very same thing in school, I still have no idea!

I have oodles and oodles of customer service experience from previous jobs but I can't help but think I need something more creative. I have a small business that I have recently started, creating cards and canvases which can be customised. You can find all of the Bejazzled Designs information on our Facebook page or our Twitter. I would love for this to take off but until that happens, I am left with the question, what sort of job would thrill me?

Then I think at 24 would it be a good idea to go back to college or university. Have any of you enrolled later on in life? How did you find your experiences?

I would love to continue working with make up or fragrance as it is what takes up most of my brain space! If you named me one particular fragrance I could reel off around 4/5 different perfumes smelling similar. It's a gift!

Do you guys have any jobs/careers you would love to do? Are any of you out there in the same position as myself and stuck in a rut about what you actually want to do in life?

xxx

Going, Going .... GONE!!! ...

Well there we have it, the end of another year! We have now entered into the month of empty promises of weight loss, gym memberships and stopping smoking.

I hope you all had a fantastic time celebrating with family, friends and loved ones! I opted for a quiet one and it was exceptionally nice and relaxed. I had two options, one to go to a house party where a shot of absinthe was given as you entered or a stodgy takeaway at the Nans house. As the thought of having to get ready and make myself resemble a human being was making me feel vile, I decided to go the Nans in my comfiest clothes and have a takeaway and play some cards!

As midnight struck we went wild and got out the Prosecco and raised a toast to the forthcoming year. Whilst watching the massive 14 minute display at Big Ben on the TV I couldn't help but get a little teary at the thought of 2013 actually beging over. IT has honestly been the toughest year of my life and an overwhelming sense of relief took over me. 

As the fireworks were going off it made me think of someone who I thought was a special part of my life who quite frankly lead me on the whole year only to get a girlfriend in the past month or so who was there in London watching the fireworks with her. I didn't feel any anger, hurt or upset, the only thing I could think was .... FUCK YOU!

Although I am never one for resolutions or making promises I can't keep, It made me think that in 2014 I am disposing of those people I don't need in my life and concentrating on those who helped me though 2013. I need to spend more time with my family and those that matter and if anyone doesn't give me the respect or love I deserve ... BYE NOW!

I hope in 2014 you all acheive at least 1 of your goals, whether it be a new years resolution or a life goal in general, each and everyone of you deserve it!

So ... I raise my can of cheap red bull up to the computer ... Here is to making 2014 what you do!

xxx