Almost 40 - Skincare

I am sure I am not alone when I say that my skin has changed quite a lot through my thirties.  Little lines appeared, some got a little deeper, age spots have appeared and the sun seems to make little freckles appear on my hands.  After years of experimenting with various brands in my twenties, some cheap, some more expensive, I now seem to be more settled in my skincare choices.  The closer I get to another milestone birthday the more confident I feel in my choices to take care of my, dare I say it, ageing skin.  A little bit of polyfiller from No.7's amazing serum has helped no end in the last year.  It is now a permanent choice and always found on my bathroom shelf.  Alongside it sits No.7 day and night creams which assist this miracle serum in it's work.  As for eye cream I am yet to settle on a particular brand, currently trying a clinique sample my sister sent me.  Hopefully soon I will find one I truly like and can accompany me throughout my forties.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo

Should Women Be Worried About MPG?

No need to worry about mpg with the Renault Zoe, an electric car with no fuel costs.

Image courtesy of Renault.

I have to admit it wasn't until I started commuting to my clinical placement hospital that I gave a second thought to how many miles my car did to a tank of petrol.  However it has now become a consideration, especially as I start to consider replacing Doris for something a little newer.  Even though a new exhaust a couple of months ago seems to have improved the number of miles I can do on a tank of fuel, I still wonder if a newer car would help reduce my petrol costs.  Driving 400 miles a week when at the hospital nevermind extra miles running around after my children at the weekends I need something that is economical.  So to answer the question I posed in the title, I think it maybe time for me to seriously consider mpg when I start to look at replacing my car.  Honestly I think it is time to worry about more than just the paintwork choices!

Do you worry about how many miles you can get out of tank of petrol, or are you still blissfully unaware? Should we be paying more attention to other features a new car offers?  I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Until next time, take care.

Zoe
xo

Stylish Festival Camping

I know pitching a tent in the middle of a field at a festival, sharing toilets with who knows and not having a sink to brush your teeth in, is not everybodys cup of tea.  However you may prefer some home luxuries but desperately want to go to a festival.  Well I have the answer for you.....Airstream Facilities.  With home from home luxuries, including iPod docking stations, fully equipped kitchens and your own toilet and shower, these airstream caravans make for the perfect choice of festival accommodation for the camping shy.  Whatever the weather you can return to your festi-home knowing that the heating or aircon can be switched on, so probably no need to bring that extra jumper.  

Now I am have to admit to loving the design of airstreams and am very envious of Jane at Snapdragon who has one in her garden.  The perfect alternative to a shed, maybe I could find a 'little' space for one here one day?! Yet I also love the idea of  my sun soaked (hopefully) and weary family resting in one of these, but sadly we have too many bodies to fit.  However for those of you wanting all the fun of the festival this summer without tripping over guylines and sharing your toilet with strangers, then this could be the perfect compromise.  Airstream Facilities are at many festivals this summer, including Glastonbury, WOMAD and Camp Bestival.  Having spoken with them this week I know that they still have four berth and one five berth still available at Camp Bestival.  So why not take the plunge and enjoy some festival fun with your family or friends.

To book accomodation with Airstream Facilities please visit their website.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo

Summer Festival Hairstyles

With less than fifty days until we head down to Dorset for a fun filled weekend at Camp Bestival, the girls and I are starting to think about festival hairstyles.  We have all been busily pinning ideas and inspiration on Pinterest, with time to practice the more complicated ones.  So I thought as the weather has been beautifully balmy the past few days I would share some of our favourites, to help inspire some summer hair styling for you all.

Full tutorial here

Fabulous beach waves- how to here

Love messy buns - details here

Love plaits - more here

Love this idea - full details here 

Love this - full tutorial

Have fun creating some of these. Until next time, take care.

Zoe

xo

The Last GCSE Exam

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Today marks the end of GCSE exams for Connor.  After two weeks jam packed with exams prior to half term, the past two weeks have seen him able to relax a little as the exam timetable became more sparse.  With two exams this afternoon he can relax and enjoy his summer.  One of the most appealing things it seems is that he will never have to wear school uniform again.  I can remember how liberating that seemed, feeling that little bit more grown up.  And so this chapter closes at 4.15pm and a new one will begin in September when he starts his A level studies.  Until then he can blissfully be in limbo, waiting for those results and for that next chapter to begin.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo

The Year In Books - June

Well where is this year going, June already? So far I am thrilled I have managed to keep up with reading a book a month.  Even though I have had a huge amount of studying to do I have made time to read most evenings, a sacred few minutes at bedtime.  By cutting back on my magazine obsession I have made time to enjoy reading books again.  So last month I read Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling and I am so glad I made this choice.  Quite frankly this book is fantastic.  Being a Harry Potter fan and having already read The The Cuckoo's Calling, penned under her pseudonym, anticipation was high.  Thankfully Ms Rowling did not disappoint.  Her characters were believeable, well researched, gritty and plausible.  Nothing was too horrible to be written to add to characters whole persona, real life captured in it's most basic sense.  Survival became an apparent theme, each character striving for something, better or worse being the readers opinion.  This book will make you question your preconceptions about society, the social classes.  Now I only hope that another adult fiction is being penned by this phenomenal writer. However I am already longingly awaiting the release of the next detective novel from her other pen name, Robert Galbraith.

So now to share my choice for June.  I have a huge list of books I want to read but again was distracted at the library by a display with a copy of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.  I have never read this book, which is included in the Penguin Modern Classics collection.  With a growing interest in young adult fiction, especially as Lucy gets older and we share books more and more, I wanted to read this novel written in the sixties by a teenager about teenagers.  Having got as far as the second chapter already I know this is going to be an interesting read.

Are you joining in The Year In Books? What have you chosen to read this month?  Perhaps you haven't chosen yet, so I can highly recommend Cukoo's Calling.

Have a wonderful weekend, until next time take care.
Zoe
xo

Exam Week - The End is in Sight

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Well it's been a pretty horrible week.  After weeks of hard slog writing assignments and revising every spare hour I had, the end is finally in sight.  It certainly has been a test of my patience and ability to juggle, with little time for much else but studying.  Over the past couple of weeks I have felt frustrated that I felt guilty for taking the children to the park because I should be revising.  There has been no time for fun things, very little sewing and just some essential gardening.  But tomorrow is the last day of assessment week, my assignments are submitted, my exams almost over.  I can already feel the weight lifting from my shoulders.  Feelings of elation are starting to replace that awful dread that has been with me.  Life can return to some sort of normality, my children can have mum back and my husband will get his wife back.  They have all been amazing these past few weeks and Andy has been so incredibly supportive.  Without them watching my back, making me cups of tea or insisting I take a break, I think I would have been alot more stressed than I have been.  Having their support means the world to me and certainly makes retraining easier. Thank you Andy, Connor, Jack, Lucy, Amber and Kitty for believing in me.

So I am off to do a little more prep for tomorrow, to persuade my lecturers that my dissertation idea is amazing and of course they should approve it. Then tomorrow night I am heading out, for a proper night out with my fellow students.  A huge thank you everyone for your words of encouragement this week, it really does mean so much to me.

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

xo