Three "Cant Live Without" Product Suggestions

Every now and then we start to use a product or beauty tool that we suddenly decide.. "Now this has made a difference"
I am going to share with you three products that are my current favourite's 

Beginning with "The Coco Beau Big Fat, Firm Foundation Brush" it is just amazing, I am fairly sceptical when it comes to make up and beauty products and tools that promise the earth, but my favourite makeup guru Donna Artz, is usually a very reliable source and as she sends to England from the USA for this, I thought I would give this one a go.
The is the perfect foundation brush, enabling anyone to create the impression of flawless skin, that also looks natural. Never before have I been able to achieve such a natural look, I am not usually a huge fan of foundation, on my face, I always feel it looks a little mask like and have always preferred a more natural look. Luckily I have been blessed with good skin and can get away with just a little moisturiser.  Yet, I do love that flawless look that others seemed to achieve.  Well, now thanks to this brush, that look is within my capabilities.  The texture is amazing and it is so easy and comfortable to use, it is not however cheap at £29.75, yet I think worth every penny, the company is also a delight to deal with.  The first thing that you will strike you about this brush is its generous size. The brush measures 150 mm (5.9") in total length, with the brush head 35 mm (1.4") long, 33 mm (1.3") wide, and 15 mm (0.6") thick at its widest point. This is approximately twice as thick as the average foundation brush

The Big, Fat, Firm, Foundation Brush

Having long curly hair, I am always looking for a wonder drug... 

Freudian slip there sorry.. I meant to say product.  I want something to make it appear what it is not, straight, glossy and swishy .. 

Nope still not found anything, expect of course, extreme heat and silicone's.  Neither of which are great for the long term health of your hair.  The latest product that I have tried however, I am very impressed with.  It also works well when sprayed into dry hair, then scrunched in, leaving soft waves, "non frizzy" soft waves too.  I have tried the whole range, but I am unfortunately allergic to the shampoo, this however I am fine with.

 It is made up of mainly plant extract's and vegetable oils, so it needs to be shaken before use.  It is applied after shampooing, on damp hair before blow-drying or before exposure to the sun for its protective properties.  Available from Michael John at £28, it is fabulous. 

Leonor Greyl Lait Luminescence Bi-Phase - Hair

Finally, this is more of an indulgence and maybe a passing phase, but I am so impressed with this item.  Its a waterproof liner by Terry, once on, it does not move....

So easy to apply too, as it is a pen liner, I have used many of these often they are only available in black , yet this comes in a gorgeous "Bamboo Brown", which has a much softer tone to it. 

I still like my pencil as I love a natural smudge.. That is if black rock chic eyes can be called natural.  What I think I am trying to say is, although I love the kitten flick eyeliner look, of the fifties and sixties "Mad Men" and screen star style, which is so easily achieved using this pen. I do not think it is for me.  What I like is that I can use the two together, achieving a long lasting eye.  This is available from SpaceNK at £24.50

Ligne Blackstar - MAKEUP - BY TERRY - SHOP BY BRAND - Space NK

Donna Artz...my guru, swears by the Sue Devitt pencils, so when I am in London this Monday I am going to Harvey Nichols to have a browse and maybe to treat myself to a couple, as they are also supposed to stay on forever.. I will let you know.

Custom Wear Flamenco

I have a friend who is very dear to me, we have many things in common, we share some of our inner most secrets.  Spiritually we are of a similar mould, we both are mother's of two boys and share a love of Spain and flamenco. We have written to each other, exchanged gifts and phone calls, yet we have never met.   The only reason is purely geographical, she lives in New York and I live in Wales, without the internet we would not know each other and yet our friendship is now longer than ten years, longer and closer than a lot of my terrestrial acquaintances.  My friend is a dancer, a very talented dancer she specialises in Flamenco, she also makes her own costumes and commissions some for others too.  It was when I was looking through her portfolio that I realised that the shirt that I had in my mind and had been searching for, was very similar to one of her own designs.  

My Flamenco Shirt

So using the wonderful fabric shop The Berwick Street Cloth Shop which came highly recommended by Fee Doran" Mrs Jones "  I purchased some fabric.  Shopping with them was a wonderful experience, I rang them and asked them to send me a selection of swatches of heavy silk to make a flamenco shirt in shades of orange and red.  The next day they were here, 12 strips of fabric, all labelled and priced, different weights and stunning shades.. I was totally spoilt for choice.  Once the decision was made, I was able to place the order over the phone and they sent it via courier, directly to my friend who was living in Sevilla last summer.   

Self covered buttons 

I have to say it is the most wonderful shirt that I own, probably as it is made to measure, and each little detail is wonderful.  Like the little self covered buttons and the depth of the neckline, we were able to discuss everything little detail as to how I wanted it to fit ..I think it is perfect. I wore it with  my J Brand waxed Agness jeans and some sparkly black Pedro Garcia shoes at Christmas.

 J Brand waxed Agness jeans available from Net a Porter

I think it would look equally as good with some really distressed jeans..

There is definitely something wonderful about having something made just for you

Vintage Purses

Everyday practical satchel by Aubin and Wills 

availably from Net a Porter

I always say that I am not a "Bag girl"
I am more a connoisseur of shoes and jeans..
I have never really had a thing for an "it" bag, for me it has to be functional and suit my everyday needs, like my satchel pictured above.
Yet who am I kidding, I may not be an expensive bag fan but, I do have a passion for a vintage evening purse.  It all started with my mothers collection that she had inherited from her older sister.  There was a particular velvet clutch, with intricate metallic embroidery, that I adored, I still do..

My aunts evening purse

My own hidden treasure

I came across this little beauty in the local junk shop, as I was buying a few things, he threw it in for free. The detail on these bags is absolutely fantastic, all hand stitched with metallic thread.  I have not as yet met anyone with the same purse either.

Kite and Butterfly Jacket from Mywardrobe.com

Just to diversify for a moment, these purses did influence one of my Sale purchases this January, as soon as I saw this Peacock jacket on sale with 50% off, I just new I had to send for it, as it would be one of those "forever" wardrobe piece, that looks perfect, equally with both jeans and dresses.  It is from Kite and Butterfly clothing and I adore it, plus it compliments both purses.

Fabulous embroidery and fringing..

Ok back to bags ...

1930's snakeskin evening box style purse, 

another junk shop find.  I love the little clasp and the boxy shape.

As its a little deeper you can carry more in it too

Red  1930's Alligator purse from Ebay, 

This reminded me so much of the Zagliani "Puffy bag"..

 but a mere fraction of the cost

1940's Pony skin purse Ebay

1970's Snakeskin clutch, inherited from a family friend

1940's alligator purse again from Ebay

There is one missing from my collection that I am looking to replace.  It was a lovely 1940's black snakeskin framed purse.  I bought it about ten years ago from Ebay, but coming home one evening from a party, my husband was sick in it, so I just had to throw it away...

Poetry

Please pop over to my good friend the Wildernesschic's poetry blog as she has a new poem and would love some feedback  To Be Lost

My mission

Hi there, sorry I have been neglecting to post of late.  I have actually been neglecting a lot of things of late.  I seem to be in a place that is far removed from where I should be.. but that is another story.

I am being and extremely good Absolut addict .. as in, I am not drinking it.  During the last three weeks, I have been extremely good restricting my intake to Sunday's only .. and then only a couple..as we all know what happens if I drink too much on a Sunday....Oh Fuck!

Yet I this week has been rather stressful, underpinning the building ..mud everywhere...and a thousand other excuses.  I have not been sleeping well etc, so I decided to have a drink on Friday evening, I began to look forward to it....
Thursday, I rushed to school to collect my son, planning on buying a bottle. To my annoyance I found when I arrived, that in my haste I had forgotten my purse.  Frustrating but never mind, Sainsbury's were delivering the next day.
Friday morning the delivery arrives minus the Vodka !!

So this was my day yesterday in pictures....

On A Mission

Got To Get There Fast

Mission Complete...hic

River in flood...risking your life for football

I know that this is nothing in comparison to the adverse weather conditions that people are suffering across the globe. but, here in Wales over the past 24 hours, we have suffered some horrific high winds and now torrential rain.  

It is definitely a day for lighting the fire and watching a movie, or as Manchester United are playing Wolves this afternoon, it will be the match.   I know I promised a vintage post and I will get around to doing that.  I just wanted to show you the height of the river running past the house today.

It is a fabulous sight, although quite scary.

For those of you who have told me in the past, that they don't have sound, I am showing a tunnel that goes under the road, it is about five feet in diameter and during my sons ninth birthday party, he was nearly killed  in it.. 

Being totally football crazy, he entered the river, after his new football had been kicked in, it was probably as flooded as this!

I did not see what happened but about ten little boys came screaming into my kitchen " George J, has gone through the tunnel and is clinging to a tree on the other side of the road" 

I could not believe what I was hearing we ran out and sure enough there he was one hand on the tree, the other holding his new football tight to his chest.  

He was rescued by his dad... 

Became a legend to his friends..."He was prepared to risk his life for a Football"

I told him.......

"For Fuck sake, I will buy you a new football..... Next time.. Leave it !!"

Little French Hens ..... Especially for Lily

The post that I had planned for today, was to be about my love of vintage handbags ... that is now on hold, something for you to look forward to.  Instead today's post is dedicated to a lovely Egyptian friend of mine from New York, this lovely lady has been a faithful follower of my blogs since I first began.  As she worked in the high end of the fashion world, I had always thought that it was my sense of style, wish lists and fashion posts that she enjoyed...
But apparently not ..

After meeting up she informed me, that the posts she loved the most were my chicken posts...

So this morning when I was walking the dogs feeding the hens, I took my camera along, so that I could make a little movie for her..

Fucking hell Lily we were lucky, as I walked up the steps my new baby hens came to meet me... I had forgotten to lock them away last night, and Mr Fox missed them.  There is one about at the moment too, I think my hat has scared him away for the moment, I will have to get the big guns out and wear the coat today... Just so he thinks that its silver fox territory.

Anyhow enough of this madness, I know you are going through a tough time, with everything that is happening in Cairo at the moment, so this blog is especially for you, I hope it makes you smile xx