More Bourjois blushers

Boyfriend is leaving me alone tomorrow and going to Poland for the Easter. I'm going on Monday and still have a mixture of emotions when I think about seeing Mother. I have no idea how it's going to work out and I'm pretty scared about those 10 days I'm going to be there. Even though Boyfriend assures me that everything's going to be OK (he talks to her on the phone), I still have doubts. That's why I'm living in denial, and still don't want to realize that I'll leave on Monday morning at the brake of dawn.

Anyway, I have plans for tomorrow's afternoon (watching The Kennedys and reading The Slap), Friday (GTL and some shopping), Saturday (visiting Dom-dom) and Sunday (packing, mini-SPA, more packing and calling an early night). I'll keep myself busy - that's the best thing for me when I'm feeling sad or lonely.

Despite morning struggle - I was so sleepy! - I went to the gym, but I think I'll have a brake tomorrow, although I was supposed to go tanning. On Friday I have PT session, so I'll go on a sunbed for 10 minutes, instead of the usual 5. I know that sunbeds are bad for your skin (premature, wrinkles and dryness it up) and it's so easy to get a skin cancer, but I don't smoke or take drugs, so I should be allowed one bad habit. It's such a lame excuse I can't believe I actually wrote it, but it's true. I feel so much better after mere 5 minutes and my skin no longer looks like a ghostly pale with blue veins. And that's not a good look. I can't stand fake tans and even all these gradually-building-up-tan products - boring and smelly - although D. swears by it and applies them at least once a week. Over the last weekend I got a little sunburnt on my arms and décolleté and now, after few days, it looks really good. 

Oh, and I managed to buy today two more limited edition Bourjois blushers. A quick reminder: To celebrate its heritage, Bourjois teams up with a young Parisian artist, Juliette Buré, to create a new “collector’s” range of decorated pots, based on Parisian monuments!

My nearest Boots, situated next to the gym only has three versions, which I (obviously) already have, but when I went shopping today in Ealing, I discovered two more - with  the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur (Rose Coup De Foudre) and Arc de Triomphe (Lilas D'Or) on the cover. How can you resist this cute pots?! There's no way. Both blushers are more shimmery than the ones I already have, but it's perfect for achieving this summer glow (having a tan also helps!). The irresistible smell of perfume and little mirror is an added bonus.  Also, the baked formula lasts a very long time and I am sure I'll be using them for years! The pot is sturdy and can easily survive any hurdles along the way.

I've been using the blushers daily since I bought the first batch and the only negative comment I may have is the brush. I don't want to sound ungrateful, because in the first place I am happy that the brush actually is added to the pot, but it is quite scratchy. I read some reviews and people recommend using a different brush, but I'd rather have each brush for every pot, rather than use the same one for all of them - so I'd have to wash it every few days.

MAC lipsticks

When I saw Diana Vickers in 2008 edition of X Factor I've fallen in love with her nude lips. I was looking for a completely nude lipstick for a while and it was in vain. All of them were glittery or just lipglosses (like the one I have from Bourjois) and I wanted a matt finish, nothing glossy. I didn't want to follow the "advice" of some of my friends who were using simply concealer or foundation to get the effect. No thank you! 

Myth
So after searching the Internet and various forums I've finally found out that Diana was using MAC "Myth" lipstick. I went to Selfridges to get it and it was love from the first sight! I just totally loved it! The girls a the MAC counter are also so helpful and nice that it's like the added bonus. Over the time I also taught myself to apply it properly - I am simply patting the lipstick over my lips and sometimes finish with patting with my finger. Otherwise there's too much lipstick - at least for me.

Saint Germain
Shortly after I was obsessed with pink lips and - again - I had all the glossy stuff, but all the trends, catwalks and magazines were screaming MATT. Where to get it? MAC! I bought MAC "Saint Germain" and I am so pleased with it. I got so many compliments on the colour and I wore it to countless parties - it's also a great way to look cute and not too serious. 

The most recent purchases are Lady Gaga's MAC Viva Glam 1 and 2. Both of them are a product of collaboration of Lady Gaga and MAC (there are also lipglosses in the same colours). Every cent from the sale of MAC Viva Glam goes toward the M∙A∙C AIDS Fund. Both are a limited edition for a full 12 months and the packages come with Lady Gaga's signature on the red background. 

Viva Glam 1 
I wasn't particularly keen to buy MAC "Viva Glam 1", because I already had Saint Germain and the colours are extremely similar. But after looking at it at Selfridges I just couldn't resist. I was right to give in, because it is different and gives a nice lustre pink dimension. 

Viva Glam 2
MAC "Viva Glam 2" is still brand-new colour (launched in the middle of March in the UK) and I knew I wanted to get it as soon as I saw the poster of Lady Gaga wearing it! It is matt and nude, but darker than Myth. Perfect for day and night - especially with the smoky eye (on how to get smoky eye with Max Factor Smoky Eye Effect Eyeshadow check out my post here). 

Morange
As you can see from the above, I am not a huge risk taker and only play with pink-nude palette when it comes to my lips. These are the colours I feel safe with. I like to accentuate my lashes and put a nice glow to my cheeks, so my lips are usually in the background. But it all changed when I bought this season's hottest trend colour - orange. The orange is every magazine - the screaming block colours - full of energy. I read a nice article reviewing all the major orange lipsticks and when I saw that MAC has one, there was no other way - I had to have it. So there it is: MAC "Morange" with amplified finish. Dom-dom bought the same one and lost it few days after at AP's birthday party. I would be utterly devastated, because it's amazing. The colour just brings my whole face up and completely changes it. I feel powerful, better and just prettier. One small thing and it can change your whole attitude!

On the last note, I like to invest in a more expensive MAC lipstick rather than cheaper versions, because it:

• lasts forever and ever - in terms of time on the lips and being economical,
• smells divine,
• has nice compact package in a classic black,
• colour never fades and just simply lasts.

Picnic at Primrose Hill

Because we enjoyed our picnic at Regent's Park yesterday so much and we wanted to take a full advantage of the beautiful and warm London weather, we decided to go for a picnic also today. This time we went to Primrose Hill, which is even closer from the bus stop than the Regent's Park. I've never been there and it's the place to be. If you know the second Bridget Jones movie, the opening scene when Bridget and Mark Darcy are running on the hill was filmed exactly in that location. It is a hill of 78m, so there is an amazing panorama of central London with London Eye and the City.

On the way there, I texted Dom-dom and even though it take her a while, she got there and we spent an amazing time together joking, laughing and simply talking. We even came up with little business idea, which will hopefully flourish to something big, as both of us are unhappy in the situations we're currently in - she is unhappy with her job, I am with unemployment. So I think we're gonna be partners in crime. Exciting!

Impromptu picnic at Regent's Park

To use the wonderful summer weather we have in London we decided to go today for an impromptu picnic at Regent's Park. Over the years, it's been the park where I rarely gone, but because of the tube being closed and Boris bikes close to it, it's the one we visit most often. It really is beautiful and has plenty to offer. I am not a fan of Hyde Park, because there are very few trees (on the one side at least) and it is so huge, it takes a really long time to walk from one side to the other. With Regent's Park it's different - everything seems closer. There are trees, football pitches and plenty to grass to lie down with a magazine or a book. I think it's the place where I'll organize my birthday party.

giraffe at the ZOO

great way to learn about birds - at the park

one side of the bridge...

...and the other

Today scales are my friend

Today was measurements and weighting day, I was so scared that in preparation I didn't eat much yesterday, drank very little water in the morning and ate only half portion of the porridge. But it was good. Everything's OK and I've lost 4kg in a month (that's 1kg per week) which is really good - out of it 2kg are of pure fat! The other number that is exciting is 8cm - that's how much I lost in my hips! WOW! I couldn't believe it and we measured it twice. All that sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears were worth it. Besides, I feel fitter and healthier, which is also mega-important.

I'll have next PT session on Friday and then after Eater, but I vow to keep my exercise regime even when I go to Poland - running, cycling and going for walks with my dog.

To celebrate I went to Superdrug and bought new face masks as well as a new  Superdrug Gentle Face Wash Vitamin E. I also bought sushi for lunch and added some strawberries and an orange. I feel great sitting in small shorts, I've done GTL*, the sun is shining, birds are chirping and tomorrow's weekend!

I recently bought two great Revlon nail polishes - one of them is 042 Sunshine Sparkle and the other is 320 Ocean Breeze. I decided to praise the sun today and paint my nails with Sunshine Sparkle. It has nice pale yellow colour with tiny little glitter, so it doesn't show at first.

The Ocean Breeze is yet to be tested, but I'm very curious about the results, because apparenlty it is scented when it dries - imagine perfumed nails!



*GTL - Gym, Tanning, Laundry - just watch Jersey Shore

Oranges and Sunshine with some books

I went to the cinema all by myself today. One time when we went to the movies together, Boyfriend didn't particularly like one of the trailers. I could see that it wasn't his type of the movie. I, on the other hand, was very eager to go. Because there's a lower price for the tickets from Monday to Thursday before 5pm, I decided to go today. The movie is called Oranges and Sunshine, has very good reviews in The Times and Time Out. It tells the story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham, who uncovered one of the most significant social scandals in recent times: the forced migration of children from the United Kingdom. Almost singlehandedly, against overwhelming odds and with little regard for her own well-being, Margaret reunited thousands of families, brought authorities to account and worldwide attention to an extraordinary miscarriage of justice. She discovered a secret that the British government had kept hidden for years: more than 130,000 children in care had been sent abroad to commonwealth countries, mainly Australia. Children as young as four had been told that their parents were dead, and been sent to children's homes on the other side of the world. Many were subjected to appalling abuse. They were promised oranges and sunshine, they got hard labour and life in institutions. There were very people in the auditorium, but after the last scene everyone went silent and there were sniffs during the projection. The saddest thing is that it was completely hushed and only recently British and Australian governments had the decency to apologize.

I had a lovely lunch in at the Soho Square - just like last week. The weather is so perfect, the sun is shining and all the news are screaming that UK is hotter than the Mediterranean! I sat for more than hour with my Pret-a-Manger sandwich (with some mustard - I forgot how mustard tastes!), latte (again, mostly milk than coffee) and Time Out. I scouted few new interesting exhibitions and wrote them down in my little notepad. I was sitting back to the sun and my neck is now sunburnt. 

 

Because it's not in my style to be at Tottenham Court Road and not to go to the bookstores, I went to Blackwell's. They have "3 for 2" offer. Of course I bought three books: Imperial Bedrooms by Bret Easton Ellis, The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas and The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. I'm looking forward to read them, they seem mucho interesting!

First day of the summer

The sun is shining. There's over 23 degrees outside. And they say that it's going to be like that over the weekend. What's not to love about London today? I am so happy I can scream and dance. It feels like summer. The window is wide open and I'm sitting in tiny shorts and t-shirt. Yey!

I went to the office today and D. got offer from the university she applied for. I helped her a little bit with the application and I am so happy that she got in! I know she really wants it, but she's a little bit scared of her English. I am sure that she'll do fine and all her worries will disappear when she'll start going to classes and studying. It's survival/adaptation. 

I've bought some magazines today and once again received complimentary issue of The Times. There was new Paris Vogue and I'm eager to take a look at it. I also bought Zest as an incentive/motivation to better gym and diet results. Time Out is for weekend planning, although we have plans to go to the postponed British Art Show 7, which ends on April 17. We'll see, maybe there's something better. And I truly hope that this weekend Boris bikes will be available. 

Patience and consistency

Yesterday I didn't go to the gym, because I was so tired. I just slept on until 10.30am and it seriously messed up my day. I was mega tired after the weekend and I also have this frickin' back muscle pain, that when we were at AW's on Saturday and I stood up after sitting for a while, I just flinched and bended down in an impulse like an old lady. But I knew I had to go today, so even though it was pouring rain, I armed myself with umbrella and wellies. Boyfriend had to cycle to work in the rain. That's a dedication!

I thought that after yesterday's rest my pain would lessen today, but it was so bad that I couldn't walk fast on a treadmill. Surprisingly I WAS able to run. I bumped into my PT and she told me that the cause may be lots of walking I've been doing lately. Well, this sounds believable. Boyfriend tells me that it's simply pulled muscle and it'll be gone within few days. I truly hope so, because I have PT session on Friday morning! 

I STILL feel guilty about not going to the gym yesterday. I ate lots of salt & vinegar peanuts too (Yum! I'm addicted to salty things!). I really want to loose 5kg before for my birthday but I don't see it happening if I continue to eat not healthy. I know it's all because last week when I went on scales it showed that I gained 0,5kg. I was expecting everything, but not that. On the positive side, PT told me that her mom was stuck on the same weight for more than 4 weeks and she was exercising and didn't have any slip. So it can be worse. I just need to be patient and consistent (two of the virtues I do not possess).

Sunday on the move

Because we were so tired after clubbing, we woke up really late. But we went out anyway. We had major problems with Boris bikes today and it was a huge disappointment for me. Plus, it kinda ruined our plans, we were supposed to go cycling around Hyde Park, but it has to wait. The weather in London was good today and we left late, so there were no bikes in the docking stations. 

In the end, we had a walk from St John's Wood, through Hyde Park to the Baker Street, where we had Sunday roast (vegetarian, naturally). 

 

 

Then we walked all the way to Marble Arch. Boyfriend had a dessert after lunch - his favourite chocolate fudge cake - and my treat today was Costa coffee. Because I don't like strong coffee, I ordered latte with less coffee and more milk, but what I got was 99% milk. And I sweetened it. Not good. 

We were in a hurry, because we wanted to go to the cinema and see Source Code. The movie is really good, but it left me a little bit paranoid about the terrorist attacks in the tube. When you see the train being blown-up so many times, it sticks with you. It was more than I was expecting and I was really happy about the ending. It's good to be positive and I don't think that it's cheesy. 

I am so tired that I'm going to take my make-up off, brush my teeth and read something in bed. This last three days have been non-stop moving and I am really, really tired. My back hurts (I think I strained it in the gym), my feet ache and all I want is sleep. Tomorrow in the morning is gym time and I'm already dreading the treadmill.

From nappies to vodka

Today was the day of the total contrasts. In the morning we went to Kent to visit AW and her newborn baby son - C. He is adorable. I was so scared of him, that I can hurt him and brake his neck or something else! I also thought that he's going to be only sleeping-eating-screaming-sleeping-eating-screaming, but he was actually aware and awake most of the time. It's also amazing to see him out and about, no longer in AW's belly. I honestly can't believe that he's here - present, as a person. Boyfriend was so good with him - C. has fallen asleep in his hands and unlike me, he was not scared of the baby. 

AW is obviously tired, but so happy and she's keeping herself up. He has some help from her mother-in-law, sister-in-law and her mom flies in for a week, one week later her father will come and visit too. The nearest opportunity we'll have to see C. again is going to be after Easter, so it's good that we got a chance to meet him yesterday. He grows so fast, that some of the clothes no longer fit him (it's good we bought him some toys - actually Boyfriend bought him, because I didn't know what to buy - instead of clothes). AW and her husband also got little gifts, so they wouldn't feel left out. 

We spent six hours there and we didn't want to leave! But we were supposed to go to North Finchley (so all the way through London) to Dom-dom's flat and celebrate AP's birthday. It took us 2 whole hours to get there and I can only say that Dom-dom has no sense whatsoever of how to direct people to go to the right bus stop.

When we got there, the girls were still in the dressing-gowns (AP had a silk one and Dom-dom had pink fluffy one with the teddy bears), but already with full make-up on and after few drinks. Because I'm taking anti-depressants, I am not allowed to drink alcohol. I was a little bit freaked out by how I am going to manage a whole night without the alcohol, when everyone else will be drunk. But I had a great mood and it was great! We ordered some pizza (I feel guilty because I ate two slices instead of one) and AP blew the candles from her Thortons chocolate birthday cake (still in the dressing-gown). 

turquoise BarryM mascara - fan.tas.tic

When we finished to get ready, they prepared take-away (vodka mixed with coke in the empty bottle after water) we went to the club. It was Kanaloa and I have really good memories from this club. It was where I celebrated AM's birthday and her after graduation party. There was great music and a good dance floor. BUT this time unfortunately it wasn't as good as the previous times. I didn't like the DJ and Dom-dom was stressed out because one of her bosses had his stag-do there. I mean, WTF?! Seriously, like there aren't enough clubs in London.

Me and Boyfriend decided to go home on the last tube, so we left around midnight. We were also very tired, because we left home early in the morning. We managed to catch literally the very last train, because one of the girls, M. got so drunk, it was unbelievable. I was seriously scared that she won't get home, but as far as I know, she did, in the end. 

Madame de Pompadour - costume talk

I have no idea how I'm going to go clubbing tomorrow and before travel to Kent and meet AW's baby boy. My feet HURT. I went for the PT session in the morning, came back, took a shower and went to The Wallace Collection. My feet hurt when I stepped outside the door, going to the tube. So now, they're like numb. 

I wanted to cycle to The Wallace Collection, but of course the weather in London is so unpredictable that it was sunny and warm, when I took my winter jacket, scarf, gloves and... umbrella! It is just confirmation of the rule that when I take umbrella with me, it almost never rains. 

At The Wallace Collection I've spent almost an hour taking part in a costumed talk about Madame de Pompadour's life as mistress to the King of France and as  a great patroness of the arts. The lady was dressed in a beautiful dress, had a full make-up on and even her hair was styled! It was really great and I'm so happy that I went to see it. Some of the things I already knew from the Tour we went together with the Boyfriend on Sunday, but most of them were totally new. I checked out a bookstore at the museum, but sadly there was nothing on Madame de Pompadour, only Marie-Antoinette. 

unfortunately picture made from the museum's booklet

Later, I went all the way down from Bond Street to Tottenham Court Road - all the way down the Oxford Street. I stopped at Body Shop to buy little gift for AW, Boyfriend bought another gifts for her husband and son. Feels weird saying that she has a son. I ate a small lunch at the nice little park, right next to the WarnerBross London office. 

that's where I had lunch...

...sitting on this bench

Then I decided to go to Foyles and Blackwells (two nearby bookstores) and search something about Madame de Pompadour - all in all, it was her day today. But even though I've checked the websites before, there was nothing. Again, only about Marie-Antoinette and not even the books I've read about on Amazon (I'm addicted to the Amazon reviews). 

Besides, my cupcake bag was so heavy, that I already felt like a camel. Going back home from the tube was one of the longest walks of my life. Now, I only want to go to sleep.

Kawaii things

I completely and utterly adore stationery. My favourite is Paperchase, where are the most amazing designs of butterflies, flowers and cute things. What's not to love? The only thing that makes me sad is that the old designs are not available after a while. My little secret is that I am such a weirdo that most of the notepads and notebooks are not even used, because I have a protective instinct to keep them in mint condition. Only Boyfriend knows about this addiction and he never says anything mean about it (or anything for that matter), so it's completely fine. 

My recent indulgence was the Japanese-themed Tokio-style designs. I fall for kawaii things like a moth to light a bee to honey (I'm scared of moths despite everyone telling me that these are just ugly butterflies). I would really like to go to Japan and even live there for a year or two, because I'm fascinated by the mixture of new and old culture, unique customs and the modern technology out there. I want to start to learn Japanese - just for fun and pleasure, just for me. And since I've discovered the best green tea in the world, I had to buy a new mug - it was a necessity.

Tomorrow I'm planning to go alone to The Wallace Collection for the lecture about Madame de Pompadour. I also want to go for a little stroll and just enjoy myself. I need to learn to go out on my own. Before the depression hit me, I was fine with spending time by myself. But since I've been isolated for so long and didn't want to have any contact with other people, I need to learn to do it all again. There's always someone with me when I'm in Central London, so it's time to try something new.

Bonjour cupcake

The longer this day lasts, the more frustrated and angry I get. So I better go to sleep now. Seriously. I've written all of these things down, but I decided to delete that paragraph, because when I'll look back at this day I don't want to remember these bad things, only the good ones. Running on a treadmill, laughing at the office and reading a book. The rest is history.

On the gym front I'm doing good, on a diet front too. I've been tempted today with cookies and a cheesecake with strawberries and I resisted to both! I am so proud of myself! To celebrate I bought two cute shopping/tote bags. That's the only cupcakes I can have for now. 

 My Birthday is in 2 months time and this year I'm planning special fiesta - not the usual clubbing drunkenness but a picnic in a park. There are a lot of details to plan - beginning with the choice of the park - but I really like this idea. It will be a great way to have fun in the middle of the day - a far cry from the usual dancing in the middle of the night. 

Weekend blogging failures

I am a really bad blogger during the weekends. Usually, when I come back after the escapade, I am so tired, that I don't even want to turn my laptop on and if I do it's usually to watch (lately) an old episode of the Jersey Shore. So I'm doing my catching up during the week, but it's so hard to write it all sometimes - we do so much! From now on, I'll try to write at least some notes and save it to come back to it later.

So if you want to check out what I've been doing this weekend on

Saturday

and

Sunday

just click on the links or scroll down on the main page.

Red Cross Japan Tee

Opening Ceremony Red Cross Japan Tee

To aid the American Red Cross' earthquake & tsunami relief efforts in Japan, Opening Ceremony has created this t-shirt in solidarity with a country near and dear to our hearts.

100% of the profits made from the sale of this t-shirt go to the American Red Cross.

Unfortunately, it's not available in the UK.

Wallace Collection and Hyde Park on Sunday

One of my favourite museums in London is The Wallace Collection. The Wallace Collection is a national museum in an historic London town house. In 25 galleries are unsurpassed displays of French 18th century painting, furniture and porcelain with superb Old Master paintings and a world class armoury. 

The Wallace Collection is a national museum which displays the wonderful works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess. It was bequeathed to the British nation by Sir Richard's widow, Lady Wallace, in 1897.

Displayed at Hertford House, the main London townhouse of its former owners, the Wallace Collection presents its outstanding collections in a sumptuous but approachable manner which is an essential part of its charm. It is probably best known for its paintings by artists such as Titian, Rembrandt, Hals (The Laughing Cavalier) and Velázquez and for its superb collections of eighteenth-century French paintings, porcelain, furniture and gold boxes, probably the best to be found anywhere outside France. There are also splendid medieval and Renaissance objects, including Limoges enamels, maiolica, glass and bronzes, as well as the finest array of princely arms and armour in Britain, featuring both European and Oriental objects.

unfortunately I am on all the pictures, so I had to crop this one.

It is a real house filled with the antique and beautiful things. It's like moving back in time to late XVIII century Paris and France. The clocks are ticking and playing unique sounds every fifteen or thirty minutes - in every room there's different one! I became familiar with this place after Mother wanted to see one of the Delaroche portraits showing Virgin Mary. Apparently, the model was Izabella Potocka - Polish aristocrat living in Paris during the time when Poland was non-existent. Mother loves her and she read almost every book on her, so it was great to actually see the portrait she was reading about and saw it in the book!

Boyfriend and me cycled to there today from our usual spot - St John's Wood - that's the nearest docking station from us. This time we took a different route and cycled through Regent's Park - there is a footpath available for cyclists too! Then we entered Marylebone High Street and passed by the old AM's flat, where her sister currently lives. It was great to cycle on the Sunday morning - there streets were mostly empty, I think that the time change had something to do with it!

We went out early today, because on 11.30am was a free Public Tour around the place. A very lovely woman told us a little bit of history of the place and we covered few major pieces of exhibition. Now I want to buy a book about Madame de Pompadour - I had no idea she was such a vital person in promoting arts. 

Afterwards, we grabbed a quick lunch - vegetarian Sunday roast - and went to see Limitless. I liked the trailers, I read few reviews and I heard that the movie is on top of the list in the USA. To be honest, I was disappointed. I was expecting something ground-breaking, but it was an action movie. In my opinion, there was no need to focus so much on fights, blood and chopped hands. The idea behind the script was great, but I think the screenplay had been lost somewhere along the way. Unfortunately it's a typical guy movie. 

The weather was so nice and it was barely 3pm when we walked outside, so after quick chat we've chosen to take a stroll in Hyde Park. It was packed. On Speaker's Corner, people listening and just general madness, at The Serpentine (a huge artificial lake in the middle, created for the Queen Caroline in 1730) people were paddling in boats and the birds were just mad with happiness. We walked all the way to the South Kensington and Harrods, then turn left to Green Park. We walked for 3 hours and I could certainly feel it in my legs. But it's great to be so tired.