14/07 - Listening To..

13/07 - Lake Living

 

 

 

 

12/07 - BMI Baby

I don't know exactly how short I am (5'2" I think) but I know I'm not tall. I don't buy into this BMI thing but I have often thought over the years that were I taller I may not look as chunky as I feel I do. I'm top heavy - not in a big boobs sense just in that my top half holds more weight than my bottom, my arms, my tummy etc. I've always had slim legs so that's never been a huge issue but I wonder if I was taller.. Hmm. I don't have a problem with my height at all and I hear from my taller friends that they can out on a stone and not notice whereas I would feel just a few lbs so I guess that's a good thing? Less chance that my weight will get away from me at some point with out my realising. I guess what I'd really like is a longer body, my legs are long for a dwarf but my torso is comically compact and my midsection has always caused my periods of negativity about my body. It's annoying but ultimately we have to accept the shape we are and either live with it or step up the diet and exercise and do something about it. Bucking the trend I've done less time at the gum since the warm weather hit but every time I take outfit photos for my blog I resolve.. More crunches.. Starting next week..

How's your body image?

11/07 - God Bless Medication

Between these (antibiotics) and the pain killers I am already feeling so much better but not surprisingly there's not much going off today so I'll be back tomorrow - hopefully with something more interesting. Oh and thanks for the well wishes and shared experiences yesterday both here and on twitter, much appreciated!!

10/07 - Up All Night

Although I'm technically writing in the early hours of the 11th I haven't gone to bed on the 10th yet so this still counts as today's (yesterdays) post, right? When I say I haven't been to bed that's not strictly true.. I am in bed and have been for several hours but I'm so uncomfortable it's impossible to sleep. For the past few days I've been suffering from the symptoms of a UTI (AKA Cystitis) and deliberating over whether I should post about it.. it's a little TMI after all. Over the past however many years I have had the same symptoms occasionally, usually not for more than a couple of days and they have always gone away on their own so long as I drink plenty of water etc etc.. not this time. I'll warn you now it's going to my TMI heavy so if you'd rather not.. you know what to do. Today I was extra uncomfortable and suffering from what I thought was trapped wind (another frequent issue - I know, glamorous!) it was a dull ache in my lower back and a bit annoying but nothing horrendous. I came to bed as usual with the same discomfort and as the evening progressed so did it. Right now it's like agony, I'm not sure if I'd call it pain.. it's really, really uncomfortable and if I move I might let out a yelp but I think the fact that I want to have a little cry is probably more due to the lack of sleep than anything. It doesn't matter how I lie it feels awful, The out of hours doc said to call back immediately if symptoms worsen but that what I described coupled with the existing UTI suggest kidney infection. Obviously being the internet-body that I am I have done a little research and it can be pretty scary stuff, luckily it sounds like I caught it early and I will get antibiotics tomorrow so it should be gone within a few days but it made me think. I'm someone that's always got some kind of tummy trouble, I don't go a day feeling totally 100% and the discomfort I put up with because I think it's normal is maybe not so much. There was one occasion when my husband had what he described as the worst pain in his side and I am absolutely convinced it was trapped wind (lol) but because he's never experienced it before he had no idea and I can see how a sudden pain in your side could be frightening. Because I'm used to these irritations I could quite easily have gone days if not weeks without seeking help for this infection because I assumed it was just normal pain.. is it weird to think pain is normal? I don't know.. these are my 3am ramblings and I've taken a pretty hefty pain killer so I should probably go and attempt some rest before the school run in the morning. 

One last thing, do as I say not as I do - do not look up your symptoms online or you will convince yourself you're going to die. True story.

09/07 - Always A Good Idea

With the warm weather most of you will be dreaming of exotic beaches and relaxing by the pool, not me. I'm waiting impatiently for winter when I will return to the homeland .. New York City. I've seen so many NYC instagrams recently that I can barely contain my excitement! On the flip side to a mummy daddy alone time break we're also planning a little Disney vacay with the kids in the spring.. I wanted to do it this autumn but Lee ran out of holiday days *boooo* so it will have to wait until the new year. When we last went Ella was 3 and milo was just a seedling, at 8 I know Ella will get more out of it and little Milo is micky obsessed so I'm hoping it will be a good trip. The only stumbling block as I've said before is Milos sleeping but we're away for a couple of nights in the UK next month so that will be a test of how well he does. I think come April he may well be in a big boy bed so that will be easier..

Any tips for travelling with a 2 yr old are very welcome!

08/07 - Candle Cleaning

I've had these used up candles (plus one other I've misplaced somewhere) hanging around the house for months so today I decided to finally attempt to clean them out. A few of you had mentioned in comments on the vlogs that if you pour hot water in to them it's easier so with no further research I gave it a go. Stupidly this is the only photo I took so I can't show you the after but when I clean out my missing one I will update with better pictures. I let them for probably 4 or 5 hours with the water in and something bizarre happened, the wax melted and rose to the surface and as it cooled it set on top. At first the jars were still warm so I didn't want to mess with them too much in case the water inside was very hot but when I checked them just before bed the wax disks popped out easily so that I could clean out the remaining gunk - mainly glue from the wicks. Not only that but I am left with a good amount of wax to use in my oil burner.. not bad, huh? I've heard other say they put candles in the freezer to clean them out and I know there's a chance that glass can break when in contact with boiling water but I'm pretty sure this is the easiest, most effective way to do it. 

If you have another technique let me know!

Khi

07/07 - Sunday, Sunday

06/07 - Escapism

After yesterday I decided to immerse myself in a little escapism this evening.. I thought I'd share the new game I'm playing, it's awesome! I've been playing the sims game for probably more than 15 years now and at 27 show no sign of losing interest.. Am I alone in assuming if have "grown out of it" by now?

05/07 - Work Limbo

I know many of you worry about me venting my frustrations about work on the Internet but you needn't. The job I hold has never been secure and never less than right now so I very much doubt any rants or rambling in here or my vlogs will do much to make it worse. With a break for the baby I've been at my current job for 2 and a half years and I'm still a temp. I am paid considerably less than a contracted employee to do the job I do and in recent months that's made me less and less attached to the job. You guys know I've been considering going it alone as a full time blogger for a while now and that decision is a tough one that I just can't make. I'd planned to reduce my hours but in the coming weeks it may just be taken out of my hands entirely. It could be for the best.. It's hard to make that leap and if I lose my job I know I'll be fine so I'm not fretting too much financially but in the past week we've lost 2 people and today it was Danielle (pictured). You may know her from my vlogs or on on twitter as @officialskinner. Danielle really brightened up a very tense working environment and when she left I will admit.. I shed a tear. She will really be missed and the one other temp and I that are left are now left in this no mans land wondering if we'll be told we're no longer needed at a moments notice. Like I say it's not the money, it's the people. You see these people everyday, they become like family and suddenly you may never see them again.. Oh and you don't have a job. I've been made redundant before, the whole office just like this and it's absolutely gutting on a social level. Right now I don't know what I'm hoping for, it's going to be a totally different place to work now and I can't imagine it will be for the better but for those of you who have been following the wok drama, this is an update. It's very much a one day at a time situation and once I do eventually go I'll tell you the WHOLE story ;)

04/07 - I Heart (Hate) Blogger

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the blogger app on my iPhone. I love the idea of blogging on the go and especially for this blog I want it to be as easy as possible to post daily excerpts without having to sit at my desk. I already take my beauty blog pretty seriously, I treat it like a job now and so this is my little haven of relaxed ramblings. Unfortunately for the last few weeks the app has been temperamental, I write my posts and believe I've published them until days later I take a look and.. they're not there. I'm not sure if it's my internet connection when I'm away from home or what but this evening I managed to 'retry' every post and they went up fine.. just not when I wrote them and isn't that the point of daily blogging? *SIGH*

Anyway.. just a little post to say I'm trying to keep on top of it and will be more diligent in future, I appreciate those of you who have followed me over to this more personal space so I don't want you to wonder where I've gone.. I am indeed still here with lots to say!

03/07 - Twitter Party Reminder

Thought I'd take a second to remind you guys that I'm running a Twitter Party with Fee from MakeupSavvy.co.uk 7-8pm tonight. The invite is below, anyone can join in using the #SEVENTEENonthespot and if you do you will be in with a chance of winning 1 of 6 goody bags so.. why not get involved?

02/07 - What The Pollen?

Guys, what the f**k is going on with the pollen right now? I have never in my life seen it like it is at the moment, it's crazy! I hear it's the highest pollen count we've had for 50 years and that they expect everyone to develop some form of hayfever this summer because of it, whaa? No surprise I have been feeling fluey for the past couple of weeks. I actually had no idea what the fluff was until I asked you guys in a vlog.. it looked like a dandelion (above) but I never thought it could actually be related.. turns out it is so if you're eyes are itchy, you're headachey and suddenly have the sniffles... this is why!

01/07 - Sports Day Snapshot

Today was Ella's first sports day I actually managed to see between bad weather and work schedules. As you can see Milo enjoyed himself, cheering on his sister and Ella came second in the obstacle race - woohoo!

30/06 - Vlogune Catch Up

For those of you who missed it, I vlogged every day this month.. you can see what I got up to in June below..

29/06 - I Don't Know About You.. But He's Feelin' 22

I've already warned my brother that I will call him once a day for the next year and play that song to him.. he will be so glad to be 23. I thought I would carry on my Taylor Swift themed posts this week as it seemed so very fitting, my brother turned 22 yesterday, we had a little celebration in his honour - good times! It was actually the first party we attended since Milo was born that we didn't have to leave suddenly due to unhappy baby/Ella. Don't get me wrong we don't make a habit of party-going with the kids but my parents throw the occasional get together and so of course we attend. They start early but can go on, Milo took a nap last night but woke at around 10 so it actually worked out pretty well, we didn't have to wake him and irritate and already irritable boy, his nap put him in a good mood for his goodbyes and car ride home and after a quick tussle with his giant teddy bear he was happy enough to get in his own bed. Ella made a deal with Grandma and Grandad and stayed the night (I don't know how they sleep with her - she's so wriggly) so it was just one to bed before us - easy. A good night all round and most importantly little alcohol was consumed (diet coke saved me from the cocktails) so I feel just fine this morning *phew*

In other news we went shopping, I picked up a pair of All Saints jeans for the bargain price of £22 from TK Maxx and Milo and I shared a burrito.. delicious.. could eat it again now actually.. nom!

Khi

28/06 - This Face!

Another late one at work, missed my train to Sheffield to go with Laura to the LUSH event, perfect end to a great week.. On the plus side it's Saturday tomorrow so we can start over

27/06 - There's Somethin' Bout The Way..

I'm currently walking home from a very long day at work and thought I'd take this time to check in..

I'm listening to Taylor Swift "Fearless"
And noticed the symmetry between the song and my walk.. "There's somethin bout the way the street looks when it's just rained" - huh?

Does that ever happen to you guys cause I feel like it happens to me a lot, music is so relatable on even the most mundane level. In other news this has been my most listened to album this week, reminds me of last summer when I climbed out from under my rock and "discovered" Taylor Swift - yes, LAST YEAR!

Anywho, nearly home now and I have a bath waiting for me (lucky girl) and lots of blogging to do (sigh but only cause it's already so late!!)

Laura and I are heading to a LUSH event tomorrow evening and Saturday is my brothers birthday so busy few days for me coming up but lots of vlogging fodder so I'm not complaining :)

26/06 - Before & After - DIY Lowlights

I'm going to post properly about this on my beauty blog but I thought I'd share my immediate thoughts and before/after here.

I really like it and I'm considering going even darker with it. It's closer to my natural shade and the lowlights themselves match my roots almost perfectly - natural dark blonde from the loreal preference reusable mousse range in case you're wondering. The problem is that although this is always the shade I have in my mind as my "dream colour" this Jennifer Aniston-esque blonde it's not particularly interesting and I inevitably will grow tired of it and make some drastic change. I'm hoping that now my hair is getting longer I will be able to play around with the style to satisfy my wanderlust but knowing me I'll be raven haired by August.

25/06 - Well That's One Way..

Today I decided to give myself low lights.. I bought the dye which turned out to be mousse and impossible to use in a traditional way, found I had no foil and appear to have lost my tinting brush so this was my make shift technique. I did use the end of my comb to section my hair through the middle but when it came to the top section I just picked out strands and tried to keep them away from the rest of my hair. I dyed the very bottom layer entirely in the hope it would add a little dimension if the rest didn't turn out but I'm actually really pleased with it. I'll share a proper picture tomorrow and I did film it so that will give you a giggle..