I'm still here!

I just wanted to do a quick post to let you all know that I haven't disappeared! I am sorry I haven't posted anything in a while, I haven't fallen out of love with blogging - in fact the opposite! The ideas are bubbling away and I am chomping at the bit to share them all with you!

Things have been pretty hectic for me at the moment: work has been really busy, I have been working hard to finish my academic year for my degree, my hamster 'Bear Grylls' sadly passed away at the end of May and I had a little accident on Monday!

As you all know, I am currently training to run the British 10k in July and so on Monday evening, I tied my laces, ready and raring to go for my next run. I really pushed myself hard; continuously running for one mile up hills, over branches and on an uneven path through the woods. I was nearing the end of my first mile when I suddenly tripped and fell... spectacularly! It all happened so fast but I was left face down in the dirt, completely in shock at what had happened. Tristan was with me, and I don't know how he managed to not laugh (I would have done if I were him!) I picked myself up, dusted myself off then noticed my fingers were completely bent to the left hand side and I had cut my hands open. Adrenaline, shock, determination kicked in and I marched home from the woods. Half an hour later, I was in A&E waiting for an X-Ray - In the end, I had broken my fingers clean at the knuckle, cut my palms and grazed my knees. In the 2 hours I was at A&E I started to get more and more upset but I realise now I was just being impatient because of the pain. In retrospect, I realise now that we are so lucky to have a health service which we do not need to pay for and we have access to 24/7.

Whilst in A&E, I was looking around the waiting room and there was a couple with their baby girl, who was obviously very poorly. The girl, who looked less than 1 year old, would not stop coughing and you could tell the parents were extremely worried. I just thought to myself, other people have far bigger problems than I do - these are just fingers but people's lives are in danger in this building right now. I began to silently pray for the little girl and realised my previous impatience was silly and immature.

I had to revisit the hospital yesterday as I was under the impression they were going to wire my fingers - they didn't but they may need to next week depending on a meeting with a surgeon. They gave me a local anaesthetic and bent my fingers back into shape. I am not sure if I will regain full movement in my fingers or if they will ever be straight, but I am just lucky as it could be a lot worse.

I am finding it very frustrating not being able to do the most simple things - tying my hair back, using a knife and fork but it will only be a few weeks (hopefully) and I can get back to normal!

I have to admit, my confidence is a little shaken now but I will not let it stop me! I am determined to get back out there and run! I can't let one little fall stop me from achieving my goals so I hope to get back out there next week! If you would like to support me in my training, and you have a heart for the poor and needy throughout the UK; then it would mean the world to me if you could sponsor me to help raise money and awareness for Christians Against Poverty. CAP are an amazing national debt counselling charity, and you would literally be saving lives by supporting me and them. Every pound counts! Please visit: http://www.justgiving.com/Melanie-Broadbent Thank you!

I just wanted to quickly update you anyway, and let you know that I will be back very soon! I have lots of things in store for you including homemade beauty products, more 'how to' tutorials and some hauls.

Have you ever broken a bone? or ever felt frustrated you can't do something? Let me know!

Love, Melanie xx

Weight Loss Blog #2

As I mentioned in my first weight loss diary, I have signed up to do the British 10k in July... so with 9 weeks to go, I thought I had better get started!

I felt a little overwhelmed at the prospect of going for a run as I have never been running properly and my fitness levels aren't the best to say the least! My boyfriend Tristan, an experienced runner recommended an iphone app to use whilst running. Sounds ridiculous but this app has made my life so much easier and I wanted to share it with you!

'10k Pink' is an app designed to train you from couch to 10k within 14 weeks. Okay so I don't have 14 weeks, but I thought it was better to start later than never! It gradually builds in intensity so you can go from alternatively running and walking for 1 minute for a total of 30 minutes to running for a solid hour.

I have completed week 2 and I did my first day of week 3 this evening. The idea is you do 3 runs a week at the same intensity before knocking it up a gear. Tonight was the first night I run a solid 3 minutes. Sounds ridiculous I know, but I struggled with 1 minute, 2 weeks ago! I can really feel the run getting easier each time I do it and although the prospect of running 2.5 miles in 2 weeks time is daunting, I am feeling enthusiastic and encouraged about it.

If like me, you enjoy setting yourself manageable, obtainable, bite sized goals, then this is the app for you! It is a free app which tells you when to start running, and when to start walking after the allocated times. I really enjoy pushing myself through the burn (something I would never do in a gym) until it beeps to notify me the running period has finished.

I have to admit, my legs have ached a lot since running; especially in the calf / shin area however, I have found it a good excuse to have a bubble bath 3 times a week to soak away the tension and relax! In addition to that, I have been drinking half a protein shake to help my muscles recover. I watched a documentary recently that said a glass of milk is the best way to help your body recover after exercise - more so than an energy drink. As the protein shake is made with milk, and tastes like the best chocolate milkshake ever - I look forward to my post-run treat!

I also really enjoy the buzz you get from after the run - the hardest part is tying your shoelaces, honestly. Who would have thought it?! I actually enjoy running!!

And the best part is... without any drastic changes to my diet, I have lost 9 pounds in 2 weeks!! This has been the easiest, healthiest and most productive way to lose weight and it inspires me to eat clean! In fact, my new motto is 'eat clean, train dirty'!

I would highly recommend using this app, or one similar if you are thinking of starting to run and depending on your fitness levels - you might be able to skip a couple of weeks - I would recommend pushing yourself to the limit rather than remaining in a comfortable zone. I have found that the greatest changes have been after the most difficult runs - even if you don't feel like going out, just do it! You will thank yourself afterwards.

One of the greatest inspirations I have had to begin running comes from an amazing guy, Ben who ran 120 pounds off... my dad showed me the video below and I finishes watching it in tears, knowing I had to start soon! Hopefully it will inspire you too :)

Love, Melanie xx

Nail Tutorial: Spring Sparkle

I am really into spring pastels at the moment so decided to express my love through nail art! See below how I created a sparkly spring look!

Start with a clean nail; file into desired shape (I usually go for squoval but my nails are a little short at the moment), push cuticles back with an orange stick, and leave to soak in a good oil for 5 minutes. This is the part where I get to show my beauty find with you! Liz Earle's Superskin Concentrate Oil is amazing for moisturising my skin, goes wonderfully under make up, and helps me to go to sleep when massaged into my face and neck. It is such a diverse product and I have found another use for it! I roll the oil over my cuticles and on any dry patches on my hands, allow to soak in and then massage the excess into my skin. It does wonders as a cuticle oil!

Then buff your nails; removing ridges, smoothing, shining and polishing away to leave a smooth glass-like nail. I then apply a good nail strengthening base coat such as Elizabeth Arden's (below).

Now for the colour! I am applying a mint green, lilac and white to my nails (it's up to you how many different colours you use and which fingers you apply them to - the more the merrier I say!) It's really important you wait for the varnish to fully dry before going onto the next stage as we are adding a lot of layers and will smudge if you build it up before drying.

Take a silver, gold, or any colour nail polish and create a contrasting yet complimentary french tip to the thumb, a glitter polish on a different nail and an irredescent polish to another. You can play about as much as you like here - there are no rules - just have a go!

Once they are dry, time for some decoration! I have applied a clear gloss to my ring finger before dusting it with glitter... this creates a very sparkly effect which I just pat in using a feathered brush (see below).

I also chose a pink bow to decorate my pointing finger as it contrasted with the colour scheme and pops out nicely!

Finish off with a good clear top coat to set the design and there you are! Spring pastel sparkly nails!!

Love, Melanie xx

Golden Glow in a Bottle

Following my visit to Giorgio Armani last month, I received a phone call shortly afterwards, inviting me along to an Armani 'Golden Glow' event at Harvey Nichols in Leeds. I excitedly accepted and booked in for 3 o'clock on Thursday.

I turned up a little early and was greeted with a lovely chilled glass of Prosecco and a goody bag. I felt very VIP from the start! In the goody bag there were some little sample sized products and some containers to put products of our own choice in to take away to try. I didn't really know what to expect, but as the chairs were filling up, I began chatting with Siobhan, the head make up artist who was there to demonstrate the new 'Armani Golden Glow' products and she asked if she could use me as a model. I really didn't expect this as I had gone with my notebook and camera to hand, expecting to jot down lots of tips and tricks regarding application and techniques however, how could I refuse?!

When the event started, Siobhan asked if there was anything the ladies wanted instruction on and someone requested the 'smokey eye'. Siobhan asked me if it was okay to do this and I agreed, I was completely in her capable hands!

Siobhan began by removing all of my makeup which I have to be honest, I was a little apprehensive about sat in front of an audience, however I resigned myself to enjoy the experience and not worry about that! Siobhan cleansed my skin using the 'mineral cleansing milk' which smelt very fresh and left my skin feeling clean and soft. She then started to apply a BB cream - oh my days! It felt like a dream as it glided on and sunk into my skin. Siobhan only did half of my face to compare the difference and showed me the results in the mirror - this BB cream works! All my blemishes were covered, the pink tones in my cheeks were gone and I looked like I didn't have makeup on which is a bonus as I prefer to go for a natural look. Siobhan did the other half of my face; then before applying foundation, began on my eyes (this is so that any fallout from the eye shadow would be covered up afterwards).

Siobhan was quite bold in filling my entire lid with the 'smooth silk eyeliner' in black as a base, which I was quite worried about until she blended and softened it with a brush. She then applied the 'eyes to kill intense eye shadow' in silver/black grey and then added a coppery bronze toned eyeshadow in Gold Blitz to the crease of my eye socket. She blended both colours together and it was this action that really intensified the effect; the copper blended beautifully into the black and softened the look altogether. I really enjoyed this take on the smokey eye - I usually associate the look with gray and black but I think the copper gave it a fresh twist.

The eyebrows were the next on the agenda. I don't have the worst eyebrows, but not particularly the best either (or symmetrical for that matter - I blame it on a incident with the razor when I was 15!!) Siobhan got to work shading them in with the brow defining pencil in Brown. This part of the makeover seemed to get the most attention as other shop assistants started to gather around, 'oohing and aaahing' whilst Siobhan was explaining the importance of keeping eyebrows groomed as they frame your face... I looked in the mirror and it was a different person looking back! I had full, even, straight eyebrows that looked like they belonged to my face (not at all like some experiences I have had whereby they have closely resembled the 'scouse' brow!)

Siobhan then added lashings of the 'Eyes to Kill' Mascara in Black (which I later purchased) before buffing 'Luminous Silk Foundation' in number 2 into my skin, particularly under the eyes to provide more coverage. She then used a liquid based bronzer to add the 'Golden Glow' which the event focused on. I have never used a liquid bronzer before and I am usually a bit apprehensive as I can potentially look St Tangoed opposed to St Tropez. The bronzer only comes in one shade and it apparently suits all - I can agree with that claim as it worked very well with my skin tone and it did create a 'glow' without looking like I was a cast member of TOWIE. Siobhan continued the theme of using liquid based products by applying a blush in 'Shimmering Apricot Pink'. Again, I usually go for pink toned blushers as I think I suit them more however, Siobhan explained that coral toned blushers are better for emanating youth so you might as well make the most of it while you can!

Siobhan finished of with a smacking of the Rouge D'Armani lipstick in the colour 'Tokyo Coral', which felt very moisturising and then I was done! The end result looked quite dramatic, yet glamorous and I was feeling thoroughly pampered!

Siobhan was great at explaining how to apply the products and answered any questions people had. I was made to feel at complete ease throughout the entire experience and learnt a lot. I am going to be more adventurous in the future and not pay attention to 'make up rules' as much. For example, go for coral toned colours if you fancy it, occasionally rock a bold eye and I won't be afraid to wear eye shadow and lipstick together in the future (in moderation!)

The whole event was great and I loved pretending to be a posh lady for the afternoon. Afterwards, I had trouble deciding which products to go for (plus I did have a budget!) so I decided on a mascara and created a 'wish list' instead which I will go back for once I have saved up. I highly recommend the liquid based blusher and bronzer!

If you get chance to go to one of these events (you can call Harvey Nichols and ask to be updated) then I would highly recommend doing so!

Love, Melanie xx

A Girl With Tea

As a kick start to my 'healthy living' plan I went swimming with my good friend Amy on Sunday morning. It felt great to do something active at the weekend to vent all the adrenalin built up throughout the week (good adrenaline!)

It made me feel like I was using the most of my time and what better way than to do something you love with a good friend!? Fair enough, half the time I just float about pretending I am in the Olympic Synchronised Swimming Team but that's not the point!

I am really looking forward to seeing a noticeable improvement in my fitness levels and I can't wait to go on a run and not die of exhaustion!

So in addition to the exercise, I have been trying to be mindful of what I put into my body. I have reduced my coffees to 1 a day (2 if I need it!) and I am drinking more water. So far, I have had a few headaches due to the slash in daily caffeine but I know I will break through this barrier soon and my body, skin and mood will thank me for it!

I have found that the easiest way to drink more water, in replacement of coffee, is to sip on herbal tea. I seem to feel a little bit goody-two-shoes when I am drinking it and as though I am a health goddess! Which is great, because I strongly believe a big part of healthy living and being successful, is having a strong positive attitude.  I stocked up on some different varieties of herbal tea (just to keep things interesting!)

My favourite so far is the TwiningsTeaUK Echinacea and Raspberry - very refreshing and I love the smell! What on earth is Echinacea you say? I thought the same... apparantly it is a herbacous flower, belonging to the Daisy Family which claims to have medicinal benefits, increasing immunity levels, warding off colds and other infections. Double-purpose tea - healthy in every sense of the word!

I am also really enjoying 'Tea Pigs' in Super Fruit - a little more luxurious with silk pyramid bags, coming in packs of 15 at £4.50 each but I will only have these on occasions when I feel like a treat and in replacement of my Friday night 'Rekordilig' cider!

As you can see from the photo, fruit based teas are my favourite however, I love a good peppermint tea to mix things up a bit and I am trying some herbal / flower based ones as well.

What's your favourite herbal / fruit tea?

Love Melanie xx

Weight Loss Diary #1

I want to talk to you about a contentious issue... one that I prefer to bury my head in the sand every time someone mentions it and pretend there is nothing wrong... My Weight.

Yikes! I can't believe I am doing this... but it is time I faced the facts, got into action and got into shape!

I have always been a 'healthy' size, more curvy than skinny since I can remember but in the last 5 years or so, I have piled the weight on. Initially, it just crept up on me and I thought to myself 'ah, that will be easy to lose again' but I never faced up to it fully and did something about it, so the weight kept going up and up and up.

I am the queen of writing 'To Do Lists' whether it be a chores list, work plan list, or life list. The latter always features losing weight as my number one thing I need to do. I am great at ticking off everything else on the list, but losing weight is always left on there but I just tell myself 'but look at everything else I achieved' rather than 'I didn't tackle the number one thing I needed to do'. I think this is a case of what you might call, 'turning a blind eye'!

I have decided though, if I am to really do this thing, I need to tell people, be accountable for my own actions, and be proactive! So I have decided to feature some weight loss diaries within this blog which will hopefully help me to remain focused. (You also have my permission to tell me off if you see me slipping!)

Please understand my heart behind the concept of wanting to lose weight - it isn't to be a skinny minny, but to achieve my main goal which is to be healthy. If that happens to come with a few curves here and there too, then so be it. At least I will be in a better shape than I am now!

With all this in mind, I wanted to share with you a few ways I aim to get started. If you have any great tips / advice you would like to share, then please do comment below. I would love for this blog to be an encouraging place where we can all inspire and motivate one another; so feel free to share any difficulties you are facing as well and we can work through this together! :)

So, here goes:

1. Have breakfast!
I very rarely have breakfast (preferring to stay in bed for an extra 10 minutes instead) so I tend to crash at 11am and succumb to the biscuit barrel! I am going to plan my breakfasts (even if it means making them the night before) so I can be fuelled and good to go all morning!

2. Drink Water
Such a well known piece of advice, but one which I think a lot of us (or I certainly) don't stick to. My plan is to buy a 'bobble' water bottle so I can keep fresh water on me all day but also replace coffees (I drink wayyy too much anyway) with herbal teas.

3. Sip Smoothies

Whilst we are on the subject of drinks, I am hoping to drink more veg juices and fruit smoothies. A great way to cram your five a day into one nose-pinching mouthful and after a while, they really do grow on you! 

4. Say No

I am a sucker for saying 'yes' to everything so when asked 'would you like a piece of cake?' I would never dream of saying no! Although I love having the occasional biccie, I do think I tend to eat too much of the sweet stuff! So I am going to try saying 'no' more!

5. No Carbs before Marbs! 

Okay so I am not going to Marbs, but I definitely think carbohydrates are my worst enemy yet my bestest bestest friend!! I love them so much, but they really don't do me any favours so I aim to eat them only at lunchtime when I know I will be most active and burn the energy, however stick to fresh fish, chicken, steamed veg etc for dinner in the evening.

6. Exercise

Again, this is an obvious one and something which, (being totally honest) makes me break into a sweat just thinking about! I absolutely hate the thought of exercise but that is the difference between a thought and reality - once I am doing it, I absolutely love it! The hardest part is tying your trainer laces, honestly. I plan to go swimming twice a week just to build up my fitness because I then plan to....

7. Run! 

So I have something to aim for, I have signed up to do the British 10k *gulp!* so I have to train, have to work hard and have to increase my fitness levels. Secretly, I am looking forward to it, and I know it will be good fun but I desperately need to put some serious training in! I think signing up for a sports event is a great thing to include in a weight loss journey as you have something to aim for.

8. Look good, feel good

I am going to put some money aside every month to save up for some nice sports gear - I always think if you look good, you will also look like you mean business and feel more confident as a result. I am already paranoid about running by the main road, never mind thinking 'people are sooo looking at my paint splattered decorating joggers right now!' My first goal is to buy some beautifully girlie and garish running shoes! 

9. Keep a Food Diary

This really does work! I have been the most successful when tracking what I am eating for a number of reasons: if the food you are eating fills an A4 page, you know you are probably eating too much! So visualising the food you are putting into your body in this way, really does put things into perspective. You can also keep a more accurate track of your calorie intake and record any exercise you did that day. I found it really helpful to look back at previous weeks where I lost the most weight and tried to copy that routine again. You begin to notice which foods are a winner and which are a no-no.

10. Sleep More!

As if I need an excuse, earlier nights will hopefully make me feel more energetic the next day, allowing me to exercise and will stop me from filling sleep deprivation lows with sugary quick fixes. 

These are my initial goals, which I aim to focus on in the next month, see what the results are, and then step it up a gear if I reach my target. I decided 71bs in a month is a healthy goal to begin with, and if I lose more, that is great! 

Can't wait to update you all. What are your motivational tips for getting fit and healthy?

Love Melanie xx

Busy Bee Candle Review

I don't know about you, but I love candles so much! I constantly have one burning... In the bath, reading a book in bed, sat watching TV, right this second as I type... I love to fill a room with delicious scents! So I was really happy when I came across Busy Bee Candles - a company based in Wales who specialise in handmade candles made from soy wax. This company appealed to me for a number of reasons; I love to support independent companies as the level of service, product quality and value for money is often much higher than mainstream companies (For me, they definitely beat Yankee Candles!)

The fact these candles are made using soy wax is also a bonus -soy wax is much healthier than paraffin wax for the environment and they typically burn slower and last longer. I don't know if I am imagining this, but the scents seem to be much nicer and fill a room better when made from soy too!

Busy Bee's website is choc-full of incredible candle scents; from foody smells to fabulous florals - you will have a hard time choosing! To test out the products, I purchased 3 of the mini-me candles (pictured below). These were; Peach Cobbler, Blackcurrant & Nectarine and Banana Nut Bread. Upon receiving them, I immediately wish I had bought more!

These candles smelt absolutely delicious and I wanted to eat them all! The names really do describe exactly how they smell. The peach cobbler has a fruity sweet smell which reminded me of spring time and fruit salad with icecream. The Blackcurrant &Nectarine smells like starburst sweets and blueberry juice mixed together and the banana nut bread made the house smell like I had just baked a fresh banana loaf cake!

When I purchased these candles, Busy Bee's also kindly sent me a wax tart in the scent 'Vanilla Lime'. I loved the smell of this, but didn't use it immediately as I didn't have a burner. I purchased a really inexpensive duck egg blue burner from sainsburys, popped the tart in and melted its scenty goodness until it filled the room with sweet vanilla lime. I was in love! The tart lasted a good few weeks and when completely cooled and solidified, you can pop it out again and swap for a different scent as you fancy. At £1.25 each, you can afford to try a few different scents and I highly recommend this if you are interested in buying one of their larger candles, but can't decide which scent to go for.

I was keen to try more of the tarts so I stocked up and purchased another 'mini me' candle at the same time:

How cute are these little jars? Although this is the smallest candle size, they still last for ages and if you fancy a change, can easily be stored away. I chose Blueberry Cheesecake and although I hadn't tried it before, I knew I would love it as the Busy Bee descriptions are true to their word. This smells so so yummy! I can't begin to explain how good these candles are! The scent of this candle reminds me of all my favourite things; blueberry sugared loaf, juicy fruits and a sweet scent which makes me feel happy when burned. 

There were 7 tarts in the package; Bramley Apple, Strawberry Crush, Tutti Frutti and Baby Powder. I am really looking forward to burning every single one of these! The company is renowned for their amazing baby powder scent which I was intrigued to try out - it sounds like an odd fragrance however, I feel safe when I smell this! Sounds strange I know, but it is such a crisp, clean, warm cotton, home-comfort smell which seems to relax me a treat! Highly recommend this one!

The remaining three were; Honeysuckle Jasmine ( a floral fragrance), Lemon Verbena (a crisp clean lemon scent which would be great for the bathroom or kitchen), and pina colada (a delicious mix of pineapple and coconut which really makes me want to go on holiday!)

Collectively, these candles smells like a beautiful cocktail and are stored in a wicker basket in my living room  crying out to be used! 

Although I only have mini-me candles and was tartlets, you can also buy tea lights, small, medium, large and jumbo sized candles, fragrance bars, fresheners and sachets. There is a variety of different products in a long list of scents to choose from - there is something for everybody!

Busy Bee's also make candles known as 'Splitz' - if you have two favourite scents, you can choose to have a candle which mixes them both, alternating the scents released. This is such a great idea and I am currently trying to decide which of my two favourites compliment one another so I can order one of these! 

Please do check this amazing company out at: www.busybeecandles.co.uk 

If you do purchase any of these great products, let me know which one is your favourite! 

Love, Melanie xx

Giorgio Armani Beauty Review

During a recent visit to Harvey Nichols, I was browsing all of the beautiful beauty products, when I noticed the Giorgio Armani stand. I realised I never really look at their products so decided to venture over for a nosey. I am so glad I did!

The products on display all looked so beautifully presented in their minimal packaging and I wanted to try everything! The most helpful shop assistant came to me after a couple of minutes, asking if she could help with anything. I began asking her about the different foundations, explaining my skin type, the effect and coverage I wanted to achieve and what I would be using it for.

The shop assistant, Jackie was so warm and friendly, she sat me down by a large mirror and began by cleansing my face to remove the make up I had on, added a deep skin nourishing serum and topped off with a moisturiser. I felt thoroughly pampered before she even began testing the foundation!

Jackie prepped my skin using the 'Light Master make up primer' (pictured above) which claims to 'create a mirror-like sheen which emphasises the cheek bones and contours of the face whilst toning down any uneven tones'. The primer glided onto my skin and sunk in a dream. The colour of the product is a beautiful iridescent fluid which you can wear on its own if you like or with a loose powder to achieve a natural dewy look. Jackie then proceeded to carefully match the different shades of 'Luminious Silk Foundation' with my skin tone and we both agreed that number 2 (pictured above)looked the most natural - hallelujah! I have finally found the perfect shade!

When Jackie had finished buffing the liquid foundation into my skin using a soft blending brush, she showed me in the mirror and I couldn't believe it! My skin looked as though it had been air brushed but still looked really natural and as though I wasn't wearing make up! I have to admit, at this point I embarrassed myself a bit by letting out a little squeak of delight before telling myself 'be cool Mel... you are a sophisticated young woman who shops in Harvey Nics all the time...'!

Jackie continued by applying a pressed face powder (which is also on my wish list - it felt like silk on the skin!), a beautiful dusty rose powdered blush, lashings of their 'eyes to kill' mascara in black and finished off with a slick of 'rouge d'armani' lipstick in 508 pink (pictured above).

I was so happy with the whole experience; the level of service I received and the products themselves. I think I have found my new favourite brand of foundation! Which I am really pleased about as they are hard to come by. The only thing that wasn't pleased was my bank balance as I walked away with the primer, foundation and lipstick. I cannot recommend these products highly enough though; you really do get what you pay for and a little really does go a long way, so I am convinced they are value for money!

If you would like me to do a foundation routine video, let me know in the comments below!

Love Melanie xx

www.armanibeauty.co.uk

ITunes Current Favourites

Music is such a versatile and amazing thing. When I think of music I can become overwhelmed with what it represents, how it is used and what it means to people. Music can be used to influence people in mood, fill a quiet room with happy sounds, and bring people together. We are constantly exposed to it; on the radio during a commute, walking round the supermarket, at the gym, in the local cafe during lunch... it is all around. Have you ever listened to a movie on mute? It doesn't have the same impact... Jaws would not be as scary without the simple 'dur dum dur dum' in the background. That simple tune has become iconic in depicting fear and danger. Music represents something. For me, it represents not only emotions, but eras in my life where it is particularly valid or current.

UB40 for example, reminds me of sitting in the backseat of the car, singing along to 'der's a rat in ma kitchen' during a family trip to Wales. Anything by The Spice Girls reminds me of school uniform and the smell of the school's freshly cut playing field. Sum 41's 'Fat Lip' reminds me of buying my first pair of baggy jeans and hanging round the local skate park. Music means something. Victor Hugo, the French Poet once said, 'Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent'.With an indefinite number of songs in the world, it is impossible to define what each one represents as they all mean something different to everyone, at different times. 

With this in mind, I thought I would tell you what I am currently listening to, and why I love these songs so much! 

1. Bon Iver - For Emma (A Capella version)

Oh how I love this version - the fact they are just singing in a hallway produces an organic feel and I love the way their voices reverberate from the walls. We all sing in the shower right? The echo makes vocals sound even richer, not that Bon Iver need that!

2. Josh Osha - Redemption Days

Such a great, clean pop song. Really catchy tune, super smooth soulful voice. Need I say anymore? If you like Redemption Days, Josh also does a great cover of Kanye's 'Jesus Walks'.

3. Birdie - People help the People

I came across this lovely lady just over a year ago when she released 'Shelter'. Beautiful lyrics, beautiful voice, beautiful girl! So grounded for a younger pop star which is nice to see too. 

4. Bastille - Pompeii

I am really enjoying this song at the minute. Great male vocal which breaks in parts adding an extra something. I like the message of the song too - I tried to Wikipedia the meaning to see if it meant what I thought it did. Nothing came up along the lines of my thought - I might be over-spiritualising, but I think it has a double meaning or at least it does to me!

5. Hunting Bears - Heavy Tree

This band describe themselves as a 'Five Piece Alternative Folk Outfit' and I first came across them at the Love Unplugged charity event in Leeds www.loveunplugged.co.uk. I am an absolute sucker for two things; great harmonies and string instruments so both combined made me a fan of this group right away. Check out their video above; which was filmed in the clock tower of Leeds Town Hall. 

6. Duke Dumont - Need U

This tune makes me so happy!! If you watch the video, you will see that one guy has a cassette player inside of him which is belting out this great tune making everyone around him dance. It makes me want to do the same! It reminds me of all the great 90s dance classics which never fail to get people on their feet and singing along.

7. Incubus - Wish You Were Here

'The World's a roller coaster and I am not strapped in.

Maybe I should hold with care, but my hands are busy in the air'.

This choice was an easy one - one that I have always made, I am making today and I will always make! Ever since that day during English class in 2002 when I declared to my best friend I would be Mrs Brandon Boyd one day no matter what it took; my undying love and loyalty to this band (and it's lead singer) has never died. The lyrics are so beautiful, never get old and for me, represent a really good time of falling in love, getting my heart broken and falling in love all over again. 

8. James Arthur - Superman

I admit, I am a James Arthur fan and proud :) I came across these unreleased songs when I frantically googled James following his first audition. I simply could not wait until boot camp to hear his voice again so I stumbled across this and have been listening ever since! I love everything about this song... the passion, the pain in his voice, the vibrato - oh, the vibrato and so what if I imagine he is singing it to me!?

9. The 1975 - Chocolate 

Not the most appropriate lyrics in the world but I love the vocals and the catchiness of this tune. Also makes me want to eat chocolate...

10. Beyonce - Countdown.

I have to be careful where and when I play this song. Car journeys are off limits; mainly because I can't listen without pretending I am the Queen B herself by dancing and singing along so I leave this for when there is no risk of me causing danger to anyone! This song in a nut shell? Beyonce's face, the lyrics, the tune - perfection in every way!

Phew! Well there you go - my top 10 most played songs of the moment. What does music mean to you? What's your favourite song of the moment? Comment below! 

Love Melanie xx

Make Your Own || Upcycled Jewellery Holder

I don't know about you, but I am forever buying ear-rings, wearing them once, and never seeing them again as they become lost in the bottom of my handbag, jeans pockets or dressing table. I was thinking of ways to store my stud ear-rings when I thought of making a framed holder. You would like one of these too you say? Then read on!

To begin with, start with an old shirt, item of clothing which has a solid colour or pretty pattern of your choice. Bear in mind that the thicker the material, the longer it will last, and less it will go baggy over time. 

You will also need....

A picture frame (mine was £2 from Wilkos - bargain!), scissors and a staple gun.

Begin by marking out on the material the frame's dimensions - I just made a mark in each corner and cut accordingly. You should be left with a cut-out larger than the frame (Bigger is better, the first time I attempted this, I cut the fabric to the same size as the frame which made it really difficult when attaching). 

 

Using a staple gun, pin down the material, holding it as taught as you can so that the material is tight. Continue stapling around the edges; on the final edge you want to pull as tightly as possible, without distorting the fabric so that it will hold the jewellery without sagging. Once you have the fabric secured down, go round the edges, making sure there are no gaps and trim any excess fabric from behind the frame.

Now, time to decorate! I chose two pink ribbons which I cut to the same size, tailoring the ends to a triangle to stop the ribbon fraying. I then made a bow with one of the ribbons, attaching with some double-sided tape and made a loop with the other ribbon and stapled to the back. This is so that you can choose whether to hang the frame or leave it free standing.

Et Voila! A pretty, pink and practical jewellery holder!

Love Melanie xx

Sunday Night Scrub Up

Sunday evenings are one of my favourite times of the week... A chance to unwind, relax and prepare for the week ahead. It is also another excuse for me to have a mini at-home pamper and scrub myself up ready for the next day at work! My skin isn't the best - I have extremely sensitive skin and I also suffer from eczema. Your face is an important thing, strangers make their initial decision on someone within the first 7 seconds of meeting them, so I dreaded to think what people thought when they saw my flaky face! I have managed to calm my skin down though in recent years, I have trialed and tested a lot of products and just spent some time figuring out what works. For me, +Liz Earle skincare is amazing and my skin hasn't been as soft since my pre-teen years!

I thought I would show you my Sunday Night Skincare Routine, just to show you what products I use. Hopefully I might introduce you to a life-saving product... They have certainly saved mine!

So to begin with, I tie my hair in a top knot and remove jewellery. I also grab a large glass of iced water (especially if I am having a bath afterwards). You might think it is weird having a drink but this isn't a usual 'wash', you want to treat yourself and pretend you are in a spa! You will also be doing a DIY facial which will stimulate lymphatic drainage so it is important to stay hydrated too.

I begin with cleansing my face, using Liz Earle's legendary Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. I find I don't need to remove my make up first, because the cream based cleanser melts any make-up away very easily, without leaving any residue on my skin.

I buff the cleanser into the skin using a +Soap&Glory facial buffer. This has tiny little rubber bristles which gently rub away any product, lightly exfloliate the skin and is great for getting into the nose and chin areas.

I then soak a Muslin Cloth in hot water and apply over the face, taking 3 deep breaths in through the nose and out of the mouth to really relax me and open up my pores. I remove any left over cleanser with the cloth and again, rub over t-zone areas.

Now for the deep clean - I squeeze a generous blob of Soap and Glory's 'Greatest Scrub of All' to my skin, making small circular motions over my face - from my nose to the temples, along the jaw line and around my T-Zone area - this action will encourage lymphatic drainage and is the same technique skin therapists use to achieve that post-facial glow. I remove the scrub with a facial loofer to leave an extra smooth canvas, ready for the facemask!

Now my pores are all open and skin is clean, I apply a Biore nose strip, and Liz Earle's Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask to all other areas of the face.

This is the part where you can completely relax for 15 minutes!! Sometimes I will have a lie down, light some fragranced candles and apply two cotton wool pads soaked in Liz Earle's Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion to my eyes, or cucumber and focus on my breathing. Otherwise, I usually paint my nails, shave my legs or apply a hair masque.

After 15 minutes, remove the nose strip and the face mask using a clean, hot muslin cloth. This is now the part where I add an optional step... lip scrub. I am using the Bubblegum flavour sugar lip scrub from Lush which smells incredible! If you have tried any of Lush's products before and you are familiar with the comforter or the Fairy Godmother soap, it smells just like that! The edible scrub tastes as sweet as it smells and I find it as hard not to lick my lips as when eating a sugary doughnut however, I remove any excess scrub with my toner (otherwise you would be licking dead skin - lovely!) The toner I use is the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic which is very cooling, calming, non-drying and smells like aloe vera, cucumber and all things fresh. I apply this very liberally and allow to soak in. 

Finally, I use Liz Earle's Skin Repair Moisturiser (Liz Earle again, can you tell I like things to match!?) and allow to quench the skin overnight. This moisturiser smells as fresh as the other products so it isn't too distracting just before bed as it is a nice clean scent which doesn't feel greasy on the skin. Polish off with a smack of lip balm - I like to use Burt's Bees Replenishing lip balm with pomegranate oil as it has natural ingredients and doesn't feel like you are wearing lip gloss for bed! 

And that's the end of my Sunday night skin care routine! Hopefully, I will have inspired you to try one of these products. Do you have an amazing skin care favourite? Please leave a comment to recommend it!

Love Melanie xx