This Too Shall Pass

 

source:link

Sometimes life just takes us by surprise, our mind responds to the things that happen to us and most of the time we have no control. I'm talking about stress and anxiety. Personally I am a worrier, if I'm not worrying about the situation I am in, I worry about things that may happen in the future. 

Although sometimes I feel like life is getting on top of me, I try not to let my anxiety affect my life. Here are a few hints and tips I try to remember when I begin to overthink things;

- Keeping Busy

Negative thoughts seem to come to the forefront of my mind when i'm having a night in on my own. It helps me to have plans or if not to keep myself busy eg, taking up a new hobby, cleaning, phoning friends. By doing so it keeps me focused and prevents me from overthinking by taking my mind off negative thoughts.

- Talk

Rather than bottling everything up it helps me to talk to someone about my worries. I find that usually it's a case of getting something off my chest, and the people I speak to tend to give great advice. I also find that if my worries are caused by one person and they are bothering me, it helps to just tell them rather than letting them get me down. 

- Positive Quotes

Keep a journal or create a Pinterest of motivational and uplifting quotes (Here's mine - link). When i'm feeling low, they instantly pick me up.

- You have a Choice

Remember, you always have a choice. 'If things around you don't change, then change the things you're around'. If you find you are always worrying about the same thing or are unhappy about the situation you are in then make efforts to change it. (Hate your job? Get a new one or quit (I've done this). Relationship problems? Talk things through or end the relationship. Money problems? learn how to budget, get a second job. There are ALWAYS solutions and there are ALWAYS other people in the same situation. 

- Get Up, Get Dressed, Get Out

For godsake get out of your pyjamas, have a shower and put some makeup on. Then get your ass out of your house and start living. Nothing good can come from moping alone in your own dirt all day when you're feeling down.

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Another thing which helps to improve my mood is by making a list of things that have made me happy each week (remember my Monday Blues post - link). Below is my list for last week;

- I've had the flu all week - I forced myself into work until friday when my parents stepped in and told me to rest. They let me stay at their house, looked after me and made sure I went to the doctors. I am feeling much better this morning.

- Sun shining through my bedroom window in the morning means i'm getting excited for summer - beer gardens, holidays, sunbathing.

- Payday yesterday YAY!

- Enjoying healthy food. My favourite meal of the week being salmon, cous cous and roasted veg.

- Planning the interior design of my new house, my room is still a blank canvas so i'm looking forward to filling it with beautiful bedroom furniture.

- A customer at work saying to me 'What's your star sign?' me: 'Pisces, why?' 'Because I like to know the star signs of people I get on with' - awww bless.

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These are just a few tips that have helped me. How do you relax or deal with anxiety? What things have made you happy this week?

Makeup Storage - Daily Makeup

I stumbled across this storage box in Wilkinsons whilst I was picking up the basics (cotton wool, facewipes, shower gel etc). It caught my eye because of its similarity to the Muji acrylic storage products which I've been meaning to purchase for a while now but haven't had the chance to visit a store. This Wilkinsons box is a more accessible alternative to the Muji products and I love the cute handles on each draw (which the Muji products do not have). The box is big enough to store the majority of my everyday makeup and looks good sitting on my dressing table.

 

 

I have organised my daily makeup as follows: Top draw - face, middle draw - eyes and bottom draw - lips.

Top draw FACE PRODUCTS 

After completing my skincare routine I'll start off by applying my favourite foundation Bourjois Healthy Mix using a Real Techniques Buffing Brush, this product gives my skin a glowing flawless finish - it is a foundation I always return to. I will then apply Laura Mercier Secret Concealer underneath my eyes and dab it on any spots (such a nice creamy product). Following this I use Soleil Tan De Chanel to contour and bronze my face by using a Real Techniques Stippling Brush. My two current favourite blushers are MAC Melba and Topshop Creme Blush in Neon Rose, I will apply either of these to the apple of my cheeks and finish off my face by using Benefit High Beam for highlight.

Middle draw EYE PRODUCTS

I rarely vary my eye products because I know what suits my eyes and don't tend to experiment. My favourite eyeshadows are all quite similar, I like a bronze shimmery look so I enjoy using either of these products; MAC Mythology, MAC Lie Low, Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo On and On Bronze or L'oreal Color Infallible 021 Sahara Treasure. I line my eyes (both upper and lower lash line) with Clinique Gel Liner and finish off the eyes with lashings of Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara. For my eyebrows i'll fill them in using MUA Eyebrow Pencil in Brunette.

Bottom draw LIP PRODUCTS

My current choice of lipbalm is an EOS product (however i'm not keen and am searching for decent balm which calms my chapped lips...any ideas?), I follow this by using a lipstick. My current faves vary between MAC Hue, MAC Please Me, MAC Creme Cup and Kate Moss Matte Lipstick #107. I'm not a fan of glossy lips but Sleek Pout Polish in Sugar May is my chosen product if I decide to add a slight sheen on top of lipstick.

 

So there's my daily face - sorry about the cheesiness of my smile in the photo above. I would definitely recommend these storage boxes to store your favourite everyday makeup in, but can also be used to store other things such as cotton wool buds, hair grips, hair bands etc, the list is endless.

You can pick up these storage boxes from Wilkinson for £10

 How do you store your makeup?

 

Mac Mythology Lustre Eye Shadow

 

 

MAC Mythology eye shadow is a product which I wear on a daily basis. It is a coppery/rust colour which I feel suits my hazel eyes perfectly. The reason I bought it initially was because I thought it looked very Olsen-esque, and I decided I would try to copy their style by placing it below my bottom lashes (FYI - I'm not sure the Olsens use this exact colour but it looks similar). I apply the eye shadow all over my eyelids and below my bottom lash before adding eye liner and mascara. (I attempted to take photographs wearing the shadow but my camera would just not pick up the gorgeous colour).

When swatched, the product looks a little lighter than it does in the pan. Mythology is very shimmery so if you prefer a matte shadow then this colour may not be for you. As with most MAC products this eye shadow is quite pigmented, a little goes a long way so i'm hoping it will last me a long time. I love this shade and would 100% recommend, it doesn't crease (even on my oily hooded eyelids!) and hence has found its way into my daily makeup bag.

What should my next MAC eyeshadow purchase be? What are your favourites?

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm £27.20 - Feel Unique

I have been using this balm cleanser for about a month now and i'm starting to see positive results. My skin is oily/combination and prone to breakouts. In the past I have struggled to find a cleanser which will nourish my dry patches as well as helping to clear my acne prone skin. Foaming/gel cleansers tend to dry out my skin where as other balm cleansers leave an oily residue which tend to break me out. This cleanser however takes care of both the oily and dry patches of skin, it has since become one of my all time favourite cleansers.

I use the balm both morning and night, I double cleanse at night. I rub a small amount in between my fingers to heat up the product then massage into my face onto dry skin, I take time with the massage as I feel this really lets the balm sink into the skin. When removing makeup I also rub a little into both eyes (with no stinging whatsoever!). After the product is rubbed in I wet a flannel/face cloth with warm water and remove all traces of the cleansing balm off my face. Makeup is removed so easily, there is no tugging of the skin, it just slides off, including waterproof mascara.

This cleanser is especially good for use in the cold weather as I can really feel the nourishing effects without any tightness or dry patches. When my skin feels particularly dry or dehydrated I leave the product on my face for about 5-10 minutes before removing, in this way it works as a nourishing face mask. Once I have removed with a flannel there is no oily residue left over (unlike many other cleansing balms), my face feels thoroughly cleansed and soft. Definitely a HG product which I will repurchase.

Kate Moss Rimmel Matte Lipstick #107

Kate Moss Rimmel Matte Lipstick #107 £5.49 Boots

When it comes to lipsticks I prefer to stick to nudes, but now and again when i'm feeling adventurous I'll keep the rest of my makeup basic and go for a bold lip. I picked up this Kate Moss Rimmel Matte lipstick in #107 over the weekend and I love it. The shade looks quite scary at first glance but once swatched it is slightly lighter than first thought. It is a berry/wine shade which is highly pigmented. The product applies smoothly and easily, it just glides on the lips (which is rare for a matte lipstick). The lipstick stays put for approximately 3 hours before needing touch ups.

I think this shade would suit all. It doesn't wash out my pale skin and even suits me with my blonder hair, I do however think that the colour would be more suited to those with darker hair. The lipstick looks way better on my sister than me who has darker features.

 

2012

Well hasn't this year gone quickly. 2012 has been an eventful and enjoyable year, here are my highlights;

1. I became a blondie

Before 2012 I had always been a brunette. I never thought blonde hair would suit me and thought the upkeep would cost too much. At the start of 2012 mainly due to boredom I decided to pop up to the hairdressers to get highlights, which gradually turned into full on blonde.

 

 

3. Parents wedding renewal in Mexico

 

This really was a trip of a lifetime, somewhere i'll never forget. As well as my parents renewing their vows it was also my dad's 50th birthday.

 

(my dad and sis)

 

 

 

 

4. Promotion at work

 

In May I was promoted at work, i'm still in the same role and really enjoy what I do.

 

5. Italy (Venice, Florence, Pisa and Rome)

 

Another amazing trip, I would definitely recommend a visit to these cities if you've never been before if only for the food and wine, yum.

 

 

 

 

 

6. Going to the London Olympics

7. Afternoon Tea (this one was on my bucket list - look how happy the tea is making me)

8. Finally, moving out!

Happy New Year everyone, I hope 2013 brings you alot of happiness!!!



Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. Here's my slightly wonky new christmas tree in my new home. The last few weeks have been so busy with moving out and getting everything sorted for Christmas, I've finally had chance to relax for two days.

 

I haven't yet got the internet in my new house, not until February (why must companies insist on making you wait that long?), but i'm back home today so thought i'd throw up a random quick post so you know i'm still alive.

 

I hope you all have had a fantastic Christmas!

 

Robyn xx