BEAUTY: Why I've gone back to drugstore products

I used to be all about the luxury.  Whether it was the act of saving up (ok or more likely diving headfirst into my overdraf) and spending a small fortune on something luxurious that was now all MINE, the sophistication of the packaging, or the feeling of owning something that was definitely considered High End, I don't know, but I loved every aspect of it.

Realistically, however, with only a few exceptions, I have been disappointed time and time again with my overly-priced products.  As I said - there are a few exceptions - Liz Earle skincare and Skin Tint (I have yet to try other products from their makeup range), Urban Decay shadows (I <3 Naked 4eva) and eyeliners, and .. yeah that's pretty much it!

To give you my current examples of total HE failures...

Dior - Diorshow Blackout mascara

Now, I don't want to criticise this mascara completely - when it was good it was very good, if that makes sense! However, after owning this mascara for ~6months the wand now looks something like this:

Yeah.  I kid you not.  The bristles have just gone down completely flat, except for the base and the tip.  And it doesn't matter how often I clean it so it looks normal again, as soon as I stick it back into the mascara, it reverts back to this.  I know I have no leg to stand on - you're not 'supposed' to use a mascara for more than 6 months due to potential risk of infection yadda yadda yadda, but we all do, right! But I have NEVER known a wand to look like this.  So this £22.50 mascara will never be applied again - it is in fact unusable!  
I'm going back to Maybelline thank you....

Shampoos and Conditioners (and all hair products really!)

Over the years I have really been a hair snob (can you tell?).  I shuddered at my boyfriend's Herbal Essences and crossed myself whenever a friend raved on about H&S/Pantene (ok I still do that).  Some of the brands I have used include - Kerastase, Macadamia Natural Oil, Redken, Tigi S Factor, Tigi Bedhead, KMS California, Wella, Orofluido, Aveda.... the list goes on.  
With the exception of Tigi S Factor Diamond Dreams (which I now don't use because the once-delicious strawberries+cream scent now is overly sickly because I used it for so long!) and Aveda Madder Root (which I can't use because it'll deposit red pigments into my Cuella de Ville *cringe* hair),  I was disappointed with the lot of them. Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment made my hair really really really weighed down so I gave it to my sister.  Wella products gave me an allergic reaction to the extent that 6 months after using it I still have an itchy and sensitive scalp!

Anyway, I could complain all day, but basically Tresemmé Vibrantly Smooth shampoo and conditioner has made more of a positive difference to my hair than anything I've ever used.  I love it so much I could write about it all day.  What I've realised, particularly with the Macadamia Oil, is that my hair really can't take silicones - they make it weighed down and greasy-looking, yet really dry and dehydrated when I wash it off.  I also would recommend to everyone to NEVER USE SULPHATES.  On your face, body or hair.  'Mkay?  I could, and maybe someday will, dedicate an entire blog post to this ingredient of Satan.  Anyway, this Tresemme s&c are cone free and reduced sulphates.  Pretty awesome if you ask me.  They leave my hair soft, frizz-free and totally manageable :)



Basically, I am giving up on buying any more HE products.  My Naked palette, 24/7 pencils, and my Liz Earle products can stay until I finish/hit pan.  But really next time I will probably try out Purity Skincare, which is supposed to be as natural and organic as Liz Earle, at a fraction of the cost.  I am also going to stop using my Chanel lippies, which fade really quickly and dry my lips out, and replace them with some of the exciting new Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Balm Stains, which I have been hearing so many good things about on the blogosphere.

What have you guys found? Have high pricetags guaranteed you good quality of product, or have you been left disappointed like me?

Xxxx

MEMEME: Where have I been?

Hey, sorry I've been a bit AWOL the last few weeks! Things have been mega hectic - working ridiculously long days (7:30-5:30 anyone?!), helping out at a local stables on a Saturday and trying to catch up with people in what little spare time I have! Oh and therefore falling asleep in front of the TV at like 8pm a lot of nights too due to the above hecticness! Woohoo party animal :|

However, I have managed to fit in some 'playtime' - me and my two BFFs descended on my sister's new home in York last weekend for some proper girly time and an awesome reunion.  I couldn't remember the last time the four of us were all in the same place at the same time, so it was really good for us all to catch up together.  We explored York and walked a lot, went out Saturday night and did a cheeky bit of shopping too!

L-R BFF#1, my sister, me and BFF#2!

 Me skiving at work (lab timer always at hand though) in the sunshine

 Topshop's amaze-ing A/W collections - I am pretty much lusting after every single one of their products!! Get in my closet now.

 Sneaky Topshop purchase - a necklace I've been eyeing up for ages

Yorkminster - totally awe-inspring :)

So what else is new? As you can probably tell from the first picture, my hair has faded from an awesome blue and chocolate to ... mint and chocolate.  It looks so stupid, and I really wish I had gotten it fixed before my weekend away! I can't be dealing with the crazy upkeep that is bright colours, and I also am sick of having a sleek bob that looks crap unless I straighten it every day! Don't get me wrong, my stylist did a great job but the colour and style are both really high maintenance!!

So.  I have set myself a challenge.  STOP OBSESSING OVER YOUR HAIR! I swear to God, I have gone from being obsessed about skincare (and we all know how that ended *cough*mostsensititiveskinintheworld*cough*) to being obsessed about my hair.  As you can probably tell from this blog, I have changed my hair colour+style approximately once a month since Christmas.  I think it's just cos I look at pics of people on the net and be like "ooh i like their hair.." and try and copy it, especially cos I'm not very happy with myself/the way I look currently.  But at the end of the day, I know what suits me best and that's long and dark choppy hair.  So no more obsessing.  No more changing.  No more dissatisfaction! (Cheesy motivational speech ahoy).  I am setting myself the challenge of growing my hair out, not looking at hair blogs/tumblrs and only getting a TRIM every 3 months.

I'm going to give myself until the date that my job contract ends - November 1st, 2015.  So that's it for the rest of my time in Scotland! No more hair craziness.

Mike and I are planning our next few months - we're thinking of starting snowboarding in the next couple weeks, I want to start having proper riding lessons next month and he is getting into aggressive skating + biking.  Well, you're only young once right?! We're both doing everything we've always wanted to do but always made excuses for why we don't do it.  I just feel like, neither of us drink anymore so we don't go out at night that often, but that doesn't make our lives boring - I think we're more daytime people tbf, so we should do lots of outdoorsy activities.  

Oh, and planning a mahoosive shopping trip end of next month so watch this space ;)

Other than that, not too much is going on.  Cats are still nutters.  I'm addicted to GoT (nearly finished book 3!).  Doing yoga every night - it's really making such a difference to my strength and flexibility! I fully recommend fitsugar for lots of different yoga sequences for every problem.

Have a great weekend people, I'll be snuggled under a blanket watching Jackass and Breaking Bad (I'm such a guy lol).

xxxxxxxxxxxx

MEMEME: If you really knew me...

I've seen this post floating around the blogosphere (I love that word!), and when Dani at Sometimes Sweet (my favourite blog ever!) blogged it I knew I had to join in.

If you really knew me...

...you'd know that I'm less of a music snob than I used to be! I used to listen exclusively to hardcore / metalcore / emocore (basically anything *core!) but now I love running to hip hop and rap, relaxing to emo or Lana del Rey, and singing along to Rihanna! My playlists are pretty eclectic but I like it that way :)

...you'd know I like animals more than people.  I love my two cats so much my friends accuse me of being a crazy cat lady.  Whenever I go past someone walking their dogs I have to go 'awww!' over their animals.  And don't get me started on horses! 

...you'd know that I'm stronger than I seem.  I've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, stress, psychosis, social anxiety, SI and suicidal tendencies, disordered eating, slight OCD-like compulsions ... I've been on so many medications ... and I still manage to keep my head up high and keep going.  I know that everyone has their own cross to bear, and this is mine, and I don't let my disorders define me anymore.

...you'd know I used to be a total Lord of the Rings nutcase when the films came out! I could still probably quote the Silmarillion on request...

...you'd know that I'm always looking for the next new thing.  Whether it's fashion, jobs, hair, place of residence ... I'll be constantly planning for What's Next.  Turning down a job offer in Brisbane about 6 months ago (my dream city) made me realise that I think I need to spend more time on the present because maybe it's not so bad after all!

....you'd know that I'm a total mix of geek and chic - I love fashion and all that 'shallow' stuff, yet I work in a lab and heart off Game of Thrones. 

...you'd know that I definitely had my 'wild time'.  I can't and don't want to speak of most of the things I did between the ages of 19-21, but they definitely give me stuff to look back on and laugh.  I'm much calmer now and have many great memories and stories that start "remember when..."

...you'd know that I could probably eat my entire weight in chocolate.  In one sitting.  Om nom nom....


Your turn :)

MEMEME: Week in Pictures 3

(OOTD#1, me, stars and faded pink hair, OOTD#2, sunny Scotland, snug Sparrow, sleepy Sparrow, poppy, both cats, Italian cuisine week, foil head, new hair#1, Sparrow losing her bracelet, thigh tattoo ideas, Harley shop, new hair#2, Italian roasted veggies, grotty converse, Sparrow loving her dad, new top)

Hi! I've been AWOL for a while, so this is a massive catch up! Wow. Where to start! I had a week's annual leave where I planned to do sooOOooo much, and ended up having a very relaxed detox week.  This basically entailed daily yoga, jogging round the neighbouring fields (see pics for how gorgeous it is!) and eating a lot more healthily and mindfully.  Had Italian week last week at home, which entailed eating a ton of yummy food. Started back at work last Wednesday, and already I can feel the stress creeping back in :( It's not even my job that's the issue - it's such a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.  Something I need to work on anyway :)

Mike dragged me to the Harley shop, to show me the bike he wants! It was full of bearded men (how stereotypical!) and shiny bikes.  He has his first 'taster' sess a week tomorrow, and is so excited, bless him.  I've banned him from growing a beard though ;)

I realised when uploading all these pics that most of my kitty piccies are of Sparrow, and only one of Seren! This is not favouritism btw!! - just that Sparrow is more social with us, and also does the stupidest things! I'll make it my mission to photograph cutey dragon-nosed Seren more often :)

I've updated my hair (again, I know, I just haven't been happy with it the last few months, and still a bit scared of it now! Someone told me I look very sci-fi, which I suppose sums it up pretty well! I've got a black (ok, a warm level 4 brown, but looks black) and blue bob, with a full fringe.  I've never had such short hair before!! Can't even tie it back! I do love it, though the blue is fading to greeny-grey already, and I've only had it done 5 days!!!!!!!11 I don't even wash it every day!  

I've also decided that I want a new tattoo, on my thigh this time.  I fell in love with the above pic, but obviously want to make it my own and not copy somebody else's.  I'll keep you posted :)

I've started volunteering at a local riding for the disabled charity!! I went in yesterday to help out, and it was mostly feeding and grooming the horses as there weren't any riders that day.  I'm sure I've mentioned here how much I love horses, and to be able to help out a charity at the same time is awesome!

Um other than that, not much else to tell you! Oh I bought myself some new Liz Earle - they have an offer this month for the trio of skincare (Cleanse and Polish, Skin Tonic and Skin Repair), plus a full-size of the Sheer Skin Tint, all for just £41!!  I have tried and loved (and reviewed) these products before, so I was mega excited for the delivery :)

How was your weekend?

xxxxx

LIFE: Things are looking up :)

I'm never going to write a post entitled "reasons why I'm happy" because karma dealt me a bad hand after my last one! However, this post is as close to that title as it gets :)
I've spent a long time being miserable about my life, but not doing anything to change it.  Like, I don't drink and I can't stay up late thanks to my meds, so the days of me getting shitfaced and dancing all night are long gone unfortunately.  And, because first I was a student, and now Mike is, we're always on one income so we can't afford to do much.  At least, these were the excuses we were making.  When Mike got his internship I went internet-window-shopping crazy, made massive lists of all the clothes/shoes/makeup/interior stuff I wanted, but still wasn't happy!  
This weekend I had one of my meltdowns (I thought these were long gone) about how I don't do anything, never go out, don't have millions of friends like I used to, never do anything.  I complained that when I am 92 and lying in my hospital bed, I will reflect on these years, my 20s, and be sad that they were wasted on doing nothing! I seriously feel like I'm middle aged before my time.  
And so, Mike did his usual motivational-speech time, saying that I should do stuff, I can even go leave the country for a while and think about how I want my life to be, if I want.  That I'm all talk and no action, and I keep coming back to this same breakdown over and over and don't try to fix it.  
So we decided, we are going to do stuff! Neither of us can drink, but that doesn't mean our lives are over!!! We know we're going to leave the UK in the next few years, but that doesn't mean we can't live for the present too! So we thought about all the things we would love to do, and we are going to do them!!! The list so far is:

Snowboard.  Mike loves winter sports, but I always imagined myself on a skiing holiday to be the one chilling in the cabin getting bladdered on mulled wine! But something about snowboarding is starting to call to me, and I think it would be an amazing hobby! Also, it'll give us an excuse to get out in bad weather, and also to go further north to board there!

Roller disco <3 Haha maybe not roller discos, but there's a massive long trail right by my house that I run part of, it's flat and perfect for roller blading when we feel like getting some exercise! Much more fun than running/walking, and even though I haven't put rollerblades on for almost 20 years I'm sure it'll come back to me!

Go a bit crazy and stop compromising.  This is one for me - I feel like I'm torn between "mental Tali" and "grown up Tali".  One wants me to be dressed in spikes and studs and rainbow hair, and be happy and not care what other people say.  The other side tells me that I'm too old for that stuff, to grow up and blend in and just be normal!  So I'm dyeing my hair all the colours of the pastel rainbow next week :p

Join the Hell's Angels.  One for Mike this time - he's been umming and ahhing about getting a motorbike for as long as I've known him.  Today he went into a Harley Davidson shop and the rest, as they say, is history.  His mind is 1000000% made up, and it's just down to working out the logistics of it all now. I'm happy shopping for my leathers and holding tight on the back of a bike thank you! 

I think that sums up all the crazy-but-true ideas we've come up with so far.  I know this post is a bit different to my usual ones, but as always please feel free to give feedback! Do you guys have any cool hobbies or have a crazy side?

Tali xxxx

THINGS I WANT ON PAYDAY #1

Here is my short (*cough*long*cough*) list of things I desperately want at the moment! With A/W looming on the horizon - unless it's already here - I sense an imminent wardrobe rehaul ;)


Jeffrey Campbell Lita Spike boots ... I have searched everywhere for cheap-but-don't-look-cheap knock-off versions of these babies.  They don't exist.  It's the originals or nothing as far as I'm concerned! I covet them so!! Even if they'd make me look like a giant (I'm 5'8" but wear heels all the time anyway, Amazon ahoy!) I can't stop dreaming of them!

Vans Sk8-Hi Slim Shoes in Leopard Magenta/Blue Radiance Paws off these bad boys, this is the only UK stockists of them I can find.  I've been wanting some Hi-tops for ages and these fit the bill perfectly! Totes getting these as soon as I possibly can.

Topshop Camo Army Jacket After considering The Ragged Priest's Nato Camo Jacket (mentioned in this post here) I decided that I wanted a stud/spike-free jacket, so that I could pair it up with studded/spiked shorts or skirts or whatever.  Cue this Topshop beauty, total laid back cool with added grit :) Plus, it's actually slightly cheaper than TRP's version! Win :)

Hmm dilemma time..I love love love every one of The Ragged Priests shorts, especially these, these and especially these.  But I also love these Ivory Jar versions (thanks The Style Rawr for introducing me to this awesome brand!).  Decisions, decisions...

These Ivory Jar Meteor Leggings are a must-have.  I love the colours and the tie-dye effect.

Topshop Sleeveless Zip Peplum top Peplum is going to be such a massive shape for the coming A/W,  which is great cos it's massively flattering! This top, at only £18 is such a bargain!

Topshop Cross 2 Finger Ring Cross - tick, rose gold - tick, knuckle ring - tick.  Three trends in one! Sold.

 Hokey, seeing as I've now mentally spent £400 I better stop while I'm ahead.  Pay day, watch out ;)

Tali xxx

INTERIOR DESIGN: Clarissa Hulse

I've never done a post on interior design before - to be honest, I've never really had an interest in it until this week! Knowing that I've got some ££ coming up and talking myself out of getting a bigger place, I've instead decided I want to get some really cool and modern things for the apartment.  I've spent a ton of time on shopstyle (the site I probably spend the most time on!) looking at everything from bed linen to salt and pepper shakers.  This is how I discovered the amazing and talented designer Clarissa Hulse, and quite honestly I want my whole flat decked out in bright colours inspired by nature.  Take a look at these:

 Amazingly bright Klimt Patchwork duvet, various sizes

I've actually been thinking about getting a patchwork quilt or throw for a while, but they (a) are really expensive and 

(b) can be quiet grannified! This one is obviously neither - I love the colours and patterns, just WOW!!

 Fern Pink Jacquard Bath Linen, various sizes.  To hell with boring cream towels, these look luxurious and beautiful!

 Grasses turmeric and magenta drum lampshade I wish I wish I wish they did an ceiling light shade of this - my ktichen has yellow walls and bamboo cabinets (less garish, more Jamaican!).  This would go perfectly!

 Patchwork Cushion Fuchsia and Hopsack Another beautiful patchwork piece, I think this would go amazing on a sofa with other, clashing cushions.  The colours and silk/cotton mix make it look like pure luxury!
 

Harlequin Nettles wallpaper Now I know that wallpapering my (rented) apartment isn't an option, but this would make a beautiful feature wall! Time to beg the landlord...

Klimt Blue duvet cover I can't find this in king size anywhere *sob* but I think this is my favourite out of all the featured items on this blog!

It is so pretty, kind of reminds me of winter but the colours stop it looking cold.  I will find it in king somehow, somewhere! If anybody finds it, let me know!

What do you think of Clarissa Hulse's designs? Are you into interior design, or are you an Ikea kinda gal (like I used to be)?  I want my whole apartment full of bright, clashing colours, but if any of you take the last of any of these, I will cry!

Tali xxx