Category Archives: Beauty

Beauty, Review

Do or Dye

To be (grey) or not to be (grey), that is the question: (Artwork by Luigi Tarini via Saatchi Art)

Customer Review: Josh Wood Colour DIY

Not Sponsored

I’m a not-so-natural Blonde these days. My greys – I say grey, yet they are mostly wiry whites – showed up to my root party early then completely trashed the parting place postpartum. At 35, I’m not there yet when it comes to embracing this latest gift from generous Mother Nature, though I’m noticing a seismic shift in attitudes towards that transition & heartily applaud it; shine on silver sisters!

When it came to my Lockdown locks it was finally time to try Blonde in a box. As a Home Colour hair virgin there was only one man & brand I trusted enough to give my roots a touch up (& remember to pop on protective gloves): Josh Wood Colour. There’s a clue in that synonymous name. You don’t have to take my word for it, but seeing is believing when it comes to his genius in a bottle – take a look!

Continue reading →
Standard
Beauty, Lifestyle, Mind, Motherhood, Review

Indie & Pop Charts: Top 10 Beauty products to make you feel better

Cowshed Travel Beauty Indie and Pop

Feel good things in small packages

Ah, there’s nothing quite like a Hospital stay to make you appreciate the little things in life &, moreover, LIFE itself. Having spent a vast amount of time at God Bless Hotel NHS, I can speak with a fair bit of authority & experience when it comes to what to take in your Hospital Bag & what stuff to have on standby if, like me, you often end up there via ambulance unexpectedly & leave a bewildered significant other to do the packing for you.

These are things that are guaranteed to make you feel & possibly look a bit better when you’re feeling crappy full stop. They all make excellent gifts & are perfect pick-me-ups for busy Mums or Mums to be especially.

Continue reading →

Standard
Beauty, fashion, Food, Home, Lifestyle, Mind, Motherhood, Parenting, Review, Womenswear

The Indie & Pop Charts: A Top 10 of life enhancing stuff

Indie And Pop Charts 1

Making my world a brighter place: Business Cards / Business Card Holder / Cosmetics & similar MakeUp Bag / Neckaces c/o SWYC / Similar Notebook / Pom Pom Bedspread

This is your chance to tune in to the things that have rocked my world recently because they might just rock yours, too. A list of things to make you look good, feel good or that just DO good.

NB: Although it’s a Chart they’e not really in any particular order of preference. You can play D.J with the Mix.

Continue reading →

Standard
Accessories, Beauty, fashion, Motherhood, Parenting, Womenswear

Mary Poppins’ Style

Russell Bromley Roxanne Boots

Magic Carpet Boots & Poppins style accessories : Boots (past season) / Bag (vintage Celine bought second hand) / Lipstick & Cosmetic Pouch / Powder Compact / Hat / Umbrella / Veggie Percy Pigs

‘Mary Portas meets Mary Poppins’ it boldly claims in my Bio. Well, what exactly do I mean by that & how can I compare myself to these inspirational & influential women? To be taken with a spoonful of salt 😉

Continue reading →

Standard
Beauty, Home, Lifestyle, Motherhood, Review

My Soap Box: How a bar of soap can add a bit of luxury to your life

img_6400

‘Roll up your sleeves, give your hands a wash with slippy, dippy soap…’ (Damn you CBeebies). Some of the soaps in the mix at our house. (Not Justin’s).

How many times did you wash your hands today? I was almost at half a dozen before Breakfast. I’m going to preach a bit now on prioritising satisfaction over simple sanitation. Yep, soap. Humble stuff & often overlooked. Whether liquid or solid, it’s something we all use & can just see as an essential purchase; perhaps chucked in your basket/trolley/online order without much thought or opting for whichever brand is on offer.

Continue reading →

Standard
Beauty, fashion, Lifestyle, Motherhood, Womenswear

Switched On Shopping

screen-shot-2016-11-18-at-12-13-41

Have some fun as you shop this Christmas in Cambridge (Image)

With Festive events already popping up over the City & beyond, this Weekend heralds the official start of the Christmas Shopping Season in Cambridge with The Big Switch On. With so many events on offer locally, we’re spoiled for choice but, as a busy Mum, I’ve had to prioritise a few favourites. I’ve compiled my Indie & Pop picks for you with some ideas on where to shop & key dates for your Diary. One of my friends commented that my evenings lately looked ‘glamorous’ – well, they’ve all been completely FREE to attend & there’s more to come…

Continue reading →

Standard
Accessories, Beauty, fashion, Lifestyle, Mind, Motherhood

Anxious Armour

screen-shot-2016-10-16-at-20-01-22

‘Give a woman the right make up & she can conquer the world’ Charlotte Tilbury

Sunglasses can conceal far more than tiredness; a simple slick of lipstick appears considered, organised, ‘together’. If you’re going to invest in something for yourself (other than a decent, expertly fitted bra – which is always advisable)  then a lipstick or a pair of sunglasses are easy, everyday & affordable armour.

Continue reading →

Standard
Beauty, Home, Lifestyle, Motherhood, Parenting

Welcome to Indie & Pop

Screen Shot 2016-09-02 at 12.26.42

If I were an emoji

‘Indie’ (Independent)

‘Pop’ (Popular or Commercial)*

The way we shop has changed. The Internet has become our High Street & Marketplace. I believe it is still possible to consume with conscious & convenience. I also believe in loving where you live & embracing local life, wherever that may be.  Continue reading →

Standard
Beauty, Lifestyle, Review

The mane man

My hair transformation at George Northwood

“Be there, or have bad hair”

Artwork at George Northwood ('Pony Pin Ups' by Julian Wolkenstein @ The Horsebox Gallery )

Artwork at George Northwood: ‘Pony Pin Ups’ by Julian Wolkenstein @ The Horsebox Gallery

The Northwood name is one synonomous with the poster girls of today; his loyal client list reading like an A-list party invitation. George has been the go-to guy for many years for both Rosie Huntington-Whiteley & Alexa Chung. Celebrity endorsements aside, when the in-the-know Editors (see: Lorraine Candy, ELLE & Emma Elwick-Bates, VOGUE) are also making a beeline for a salon, you know it’s the place to go. So when Laura Fantacci of Wearing It Today (formerly of Red) posted an exclusive offer for 20% off* at the newly opened Wells Street premises, I couldn’t resist. Continue reading →

Standard