You know how I like to end my year with a goodbye / round-up post … Tracey’s Oscar speech of sorts. Well here is this years offering …
[you can read last years post // HERE]
It’s slightly earlier than usual because there’s a rumour we may be going away. I say maybe because it’s the 20th December and nothing has been booked as yet ! Even by Michael’s standards that’s leaving it late.
If you know me you’ll know the things that get me excited around the collar … chunky bars of milky chocolate, large cups of frothy coffee and good conversation. Nights out dancing. Bradley Cooper, Martin Kemp , DiNuzzo from NCIS … [ I know so many men]
and good skin care
I guess you can chop and change your wardrobe, replace old pieces with new , upgrade , but unless you go under the knife you can’t chop, change or upgrade your skin. You CAN however use products to improve the overall look and feel of the skin; keep the wrinkles at bay or soften any you may have. Saying that some wrinkles are a sign of a life well lived…I fully embrace my laughter lines.
I love a good pamper and I’m all over experiencing new procedures / self-love . I guess I just want to look the best version of myself .
What better way to spend a balmy evening in Sheffield other than eating and drinking in the sunshine with one of your best mates. You have to agree there is nothing finer.
Well …. maybe if I substituted Rach for Bradley Cooper … no offence intended Rach but a girl can dream!
First off however I have to admit I did think we would be sitting outside. When the invite read ‘come and visit the new Mediterranean terrace and help us celebrate our second birthday ‘ I just envisaged it would be external. It isn’t.
The new terrace is actually inside, situated on the top level of the food court in Meadowhall where it has been for the past 2 years but it’s changed slightly. Same space, different place. The terrace is made from rustic timber, there are potted plants scattered around along with hand-painted signage. It’s all very Spanish. There are also big ceiling windows that let in lots of light, so you kinda get the feel of being outside.
Its a little taste of Spain on our doorstep.
Does anybody else get nervous about going to the hairdressers , especially when it’s a new salon … for the first time?
It might sound extremely silly but I do and it’s down to a combination of things.
A bodged up colour and a terrible cut in the past. Several terrible cuts in fact [mainly involving my pesky carflick … it’s caused some trouble in its day!] and one horrendous colour. Boy that colour was bad! I’d have given Jimmy Cranky a run for his money.
Saying that when I got the opportunity to attend Regis Hairstylists at Meadowhall to trail the new Smartbond treatment earlier this week I didn’t have to think twice.
While I get nervous I also love, love, love a good pamper. Tell me somebody who doesn’t? A trip to the salon is relaxing; a good excuse to do absolutely nothing for an hour or so.
Zonk out – turn your brain off, sit back, drink copious amounts of coffee and read magazines to your hearts content while your stylist works their magic. Continue reading
It’s that time of year when I start to think about booking a holiday somewhere faraway, a new place to discover which is hopefully very HOT!
It’s that time of year I tell myself I really should start to diet incase I book the afore-mentioned holiday and have to bear the old bod.
God forbid it’s any time soon I look like a bloody beached whale! [ one that’s in need of a desperate slick of false tan and some serious toning up]
It’s the time of year I long for and envisage the sun on my face [wearing nothing less than factor 50+ of course ]
It’s the time of year that I actually make an effort and shave my legs ! It’s been a while. I’m not sure ‘leg hair plaits’ are a thing … just yet !
It’s the time of year when snow drops and daffodils start randomly popping up , the sun rears it lovely head [occasionally] and little lambs are spotted jumping playfully around the fields. [ this is the very reason I stopped eating lamb, I could never quite get that image out of my head. It kinda spoilt my meat and two veg! ]
This week we actually experienced a couple of days of sunshine and you know what … it felt good. It actually felt like spring had sprung.
So what better way to carry on the spring feeling than with a session of laughter yoga at Meadowhall.
Which is exactly what Sue & I did this morning. Continue reading
If you follow me on Instagram. [ if your not … why ever not?] you’ll be aware that I’ve not been too good. I’ve ‘tweaked’ my chuffing back.
It’s getting easier but I’m still moaning shuffling around [ like I’ve pooped my pants for want of a better description]
It’s been pure agony at times.
After a week in sensible shoes, sporting a pained face, cursing under my breath, cursing not so under my breath and feeling very drab I’ve just met my friend for lunch in a frilly little dress complete with heeled boots.
Big heels. Make that big feck off heels. Not the brightest idea but like mum says “when has that ever stopped you!?”
We had tapas for lunch at the aptly named Tapas Revolution a Spanish Bar and Cafe in Meadowhall. It was a pleasant surprise; a lot better than I’d anticipated.
*whispers* It’s in a food court for gods sake.
I envisaged screaming kids, football shirts and too cool for school teenagers . I couldn’t imagine it being very personal and expected our food to be thrown at us. [ ok …hands up I’m an over dramatic snob!] Continue reading
I had the absolute pleasure of being invited for a Charlotte Tilbury Transformation earlier this week to celebrate their recent launch in the House of Fraser, Meadowhall.
To say I was a tad excited was an understatement.
I have purchased a few bits and bobs from Charlotte Tilbury in the past but was keen to trail and discover more. Especially the skin care which I’ve heard mainly good reports about.
I arrived bear faced [with the exception of a slick of lippie] . I don’t think I’ve left the house without some form of makeup… ever!
It has however been an awful few weeks and finding out the devastating news that my mums cancer is back has been giving me sleepless nights.
Being told your mum has cancer is bad enough. Being told they’ve done everything they can, and your mum is now classed ‘as living with cancer’ is a hard pill to swallow.
She’s not classed as terminal yet and medication will hopefully slow the growth. “She could be around for years “ the nurse reassured us but it’s still a worry…
I’m finding it hard to comprehend mainly because the majority of me doesn’t want too. I suppose it’s called ‘in denial’
Like a military operation you get up, put your face on, smile. I’m becoming quite good at hiding the fact I’m in bits. I’ve got to be strong for mum.
Anyway, I’m all cried out with red watery eyes and dark circles. I feel as though I’ve aged about 10 years in a few weeks. I don’t think I look that great without makeup anyway but I looked positively exhausted, or as mum says ‘dug up’ on the morning of the makeover.
A makeover however was just what the doctor had ordered. I couldn’t wait but was also quite apprehensive having never had my makeup applied by a professional before. Continue reading
I’m a big sweet and chocolate fan, so you can imagine my delight when I was invited by The Treat Kitchen to sample some of their goodies.
I almost snapped their hands off.
Look what arrived a few days ago…
A selection of goodies from The Treat Kitchen…
All the above came in handy re-sealable pouches apart from the truffles.
******** Continue reading