A blog by a redhead, but not just for redheads. I’m an all-around fun, fearless, female confident in my knowledge of make-up artistry, products and styles and am here to help...if you want it!

31 August 2011

Casual Comfortable

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This past weekend I was off in the countryside playing with dogs, going on walks in big fields, playing tennis (terribly), going swimming (at 2:30 in the morning) and doing a lot of relaxing.  In my opinion, it was an ideal weekend away from London.  On weekends when I'm just relaxing with friends and doing a lot of outdoor activities, I tend to be as low maintenance as I can be while still trying to look presentable.  I spent most days this weekend wearing only a bit of concealer, powder, mascara and brow pencil. It's so nice to have it take less than 5 minutes to get ready.

Style wise I lazed around in either a pair of leggings, jeans or jean shorts, a tank top and long cardigan.  At one point I was wearing my flatmates supersoft Abercrombie & Fitch hoodie, which made me long for one of my own. Now the only thing I can think about these days with the weather getting cooler is how much I want to curl up in an oversized hoodie and be all cozy.  I don't own a hoodie right now and although I don't get much opportunity to wear one, I think having a cozy sweatshirt in your wardrobe is essential for relaxing days in the autumn. 

Try and tell me this doesn't look super comfy!


25 August 2011

She Bangs, She Fringe?

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Whilst on Twitter this afternoon Glamour Magazine tweeted a photo of Nicole Richie rockin'  full bangs fringe, which gave me full on hair envy!


When I was little I sported a full fringe but it looked nothing like Nicole's as you can see...
Mini Me

I go back and forth between whether I want to grow out my fringe, have side-swept fringe or none at all.  I usually opt for the side swept as I play with my hair way too much and I know my hair will never look perfectly coiffed.  If you were to see me right at this very moment, I have my hair in a top not and the front twisted up and back...pretty much its a mess right now.  Not to mention, any time I have hair in my face it drives me mental. Yet, why does seeing that photo of Nicole Richie make me want to take a pair of scissors and chop away?

Tell me ladies and gentleman (I know you are out there!) what is your opinion on fringe and what is your hair currently doing?

24 August 2011

Boot Camp, No Joke

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My birthday was at the beginning of the month and one of the gifts I was given was a voucher for 8 sessions of ClearFit Interval Training (read boot camp) by my flatmate.  You might be thinking that it's a backhanded way of telling me I need to get lose weight, but I thought it was an excellent gift as I have been really wanting to get back into shape. I know this is sort of contradicting what I wrote a few months back, but in the last 3 years I have put some extra weight and am not pleased about it.  I'm making a conscious effort to boot my ass back into shape and what's better than boot camp to do it?!

I'm not one to go to the gym by myself, spend an hour working all the right muscle groups and doing the right amount of cardio, then leave feeling accomplished.  I go to the gym alone and get bored after about 15 minutes.  When I lived in New York I had a personal trainer who would tell me what to do and what to work on that day, it was excellent! At boot camp I get the same thing, but I'm also busting my ass during the hour I'm there.  It's not a pretty sight when I leave that studio, my muscles are sore and I'm beat red, but I feel great mentally and I feel like I have accomplished something. 

I've been a lazy lump this past year, OK maybe I have taken part in a couple runs but I definitely could have done more. Now that I am in taking these classes, it motivates me to want to do more.  While I want to drop at least a dress size, I also want to get in better shape and be healthier. It reminds me of that quote from Legally Blonde...


Exercise gives you endorphins.
Endorphins make people happy.
And happy people just don't shoot their husbands...
they just don't.

Feeling good in the skin you're in always motivates me and it boosts self-confidence levels.  But you know what, I'm still going to indulge in a cupcake at times like I spoke about in my previous post.

23 August 2011

Product of the Week

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This week's product is a bit different, its a book.
I finished the first book in the Stieg Larsson trilogy and while I wait to get the second in the series I needed a quick book to read.  My flatmate lent me a booked called e by Matt Beaumont and I cannot stop laughing as I read it.  The book is written all in email correspondence via employees at an advertising agency.  The blurb on the back of the book reads...

Consisting entirely of emails, e spends a few weeks in the company of Miller Shanks, an advertising agency embarked upon the quest to land Coca-Cola - the account they would sell their collective grandmothers in a car boot sale to acquire.

Meet:
a CEO with and MBA from the Joseph Stalin School of Management
a director who is a genius, if only in his ow head
creatives with remarkable brains, if only in their trousers
a copywriter with the two things no adwoman should ever let show -
underarm hair and a conscience
secretaries who drip honey and spit cyanide
the sad git in accounts

This is one pitch that nobody will ever forget.


I don't know about you, but to me reading is totally in style and this book is such a great light read.  If you want a book that will make you laugh out loud, this is it!  It comes highly recommended by me...if that is any consolation :)

15 August 2011

Product of the Week

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I've slacked off on my "product of the week" posts and sincerely apologise for it. But since it's Monday again, this weeks product is...

TRESemme Volumising Dry Shampoo


I will admit, if I haven't already, that I do not wash my hair every day.  I probably wash my hair about 2 times a week.  You may be thinking "ewwww gross" but if I didn't tell you this, I assure you, you would never know.  Yes, I'm one of those lucky bitches who can go ages before my hair looks like a vat of grease fell on my head.  While I don't wash my hair daily, I do like to keep it looking good and this product does just that.  I love it!  I particularly like this one because 1.it  isn't white like most dry shampoos 2. it doesn't leave my hair feeling gritty and 3. it is volumising. My hair is heavy, I have a lot of it and then add not washing it all the time and it can start to look a little limp.  The bad boy helps me out loads. 

If you are in the market for a good dry shampoo or if you have never tried one before and are curious, I highly recommend this. 


Photos: Dry Shampoo

11 August 2011

Travel Wear

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I used to be the kind of girl who would throw on my sweats when I got on an airplane, whether I was traveling a few states away or a few countries away.  I was a right mess getting on and off of an airplane. Now I like to take some pride in my appearance no matter where I am headed (ok maybe not when I'm heading to Tesco after a crazy night.)   However I don't want to get on a plane looking like a dump anymore.  Gone are the days of the giant hoodie and sweats and here are the days of casual, comfortable chic. Also, I like to remain pretty minimal with what I travel in due to security checks and all that as well. There is nothing worse than getting stuck behind the girl with the boots that need to be unlaced and 24 pieces of jewelry that she has forgotten to take off when going through the machine.  Oh, you know who I'm talking about!

I like to think that I'm a pretty seasoned traveller and I know how to make going through security happen as smoothly as possible.  Therefore I avoid wearing any excess jewelry that might set off the detector. I also avoid belts as I have been that girl who did forget to take it off and walked through *hides face in shame* And I try to wear slip on shoes that will make it not only easy to take them off but to put them back on.  In the winter I may opt for a slip on boot.  If I'm going on a long trip I like to be as comfortable as possible but still look nice.  Sometimes I will opt for a long flowy maxi dress or maybe I will opt for a pair of leggings with a long cardigan.  One thing I always travel with is a pashima. I'm never without it.  You never know when you will need some extra warmth, more cushion for a pillow or to give your neck a little more support.  Not to mention its a great pop of color.  I'm usually an all black dressed traveller.  If the trip is a shorter distance I'll travel in what I wore that day.  It important to me that I don't look like a trash heap.

Take pride in your appearance ladies and gentlemen, no matter if your on a 40 minute trip from New York to Boston or if you are traveling to the other side of the world.  You know you will feel so much better about yourself when you step off that plane and don't look like you have crawled out from under a rock (too harsh?) I'm not saying wear your formal wear, be comfortable, but look pulled together.


10 August 2011

A Bit of a Mascara Rant

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I'm not one to complain about products, but yesterday I tried a new mascara and it made me less than thrilled.  Let me preface this by saying that I am always on the hunt for the perfect mascara and although I do have some that I really like, I have yet to find one that I love.  However, yesterday I used one that I despised. Loreal's Million Volume Lashes Mascara was fine when I applied it, but as the day went on it flaked and smudged all over my face.  There was no escaping the mess!  Then last night I was lazy and didn't wash my face *hides face in shame* and woke up looking like this...


Needless to say, I will be throwing that mascara out and will be in the process of trying to find the next best one. 

What mascara's do you use? Please send me suggestions!

07 August 2011

What's In My Handbag

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I know, I know...its been ages!
Here is a little video to hold you over.