Northampton at it's best

Feast your eyes on a couple of photographs of Northampton's Christmas Market. So simple and pretty, I sat here drinking hot apple juice and cinnamon in the freezing cold, and I loved it!

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...

Here are a few little snippets of things that brought me joy over Christmas (yes, Christmas. I realise it is slightly belated!).

As I think we all do, I felt very bloated and 'bleurgh' after the festive period, so decided to go on a weekend detox! During the detox, I ate nothing but fruit and vegetables, with the occasional serving of brown rice if I was hungry! I have mixed reviews on the detox, as on the first day I felt much 'cleaner' and had a lot of energy. However, I awoke on the 2nd day with a MASSIVE headache that would not budge. Now, I don't know if this was due to the detox or not, so I'd like to try it again hopefully with less painful results!

The photo below may explain why I felt the need to detox in the first place - too much alcohol! These have to be one of my all time favourite shots, even my mum is partial to one! Introducing, the Jammy Dodger! A mix of Chambord and Advocaat; if you are feeling to indulge (and aren't bothered about the calories), I highly suggest you whip up one of these beauties! 

And lastly - the Ugly. It is a little tradition in our family to make and bake lots of food-stuff over Christmas. This year, I decided to turn my hand to coleslaw. I made a last minute dash to the shops, and unfortunately all that was left was red cabbage - which explains why my coleslaw is that funny purple colour. Despite it's unique appearance, it was still gobbled down by the relatives!

So there you have it; the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of my Christmas! Funnily enough, they all revolve around food (story of my life) - Why not share 3 foodie images of your own? I look forward to seeing them!

Fluoro fun!

Summer is here! Okay I lie, it is still freezing, but the sun was shining enough for me to cruise around in Colin (Colin Corsa, my automobile) in sunglasses at the weekend - which soon brought out my sunny spirit! In celebration of daylight, I decided to bring a bit of colour into my wardrobe, and decided on this outfit for a casual trip to the shops;

Graffiti vest top - Hand me down from my Brother

Pink Fluorescent belt - New Look £2

Grey cardi - Hand me down from Mother Hubbard

Leggings - Dunnes £5

Converse-a-like - New Look £3

Yes you read that right, an outfit for under a tenner! It's surprising what you can put together on a budget, especially when you keep a few 'basics' that you can mix-and-match with virtually anything.

What is your go-to basic clothing item? What do you think about clothing 'budget buys'?

Mask Monday - John Frieda

Having platinum blonde hair for over a year now, I've really noticed how much it damages and dries out your hair (not that I am going to change the colour any time soon!) Of course, you should always try to prevent damage where possible, as they say 'prevention is better than cure' - but when the damage is already done, what can you do?

This is when I turned to the John Frieda Frizz Ease Night Crème Serum. The product comes in a shimmery blue tube (below), and I believe I paid around £5 for 50ml. According to the packaging, the Frizz Ease Night Crème Serum is an 'overnight repair formula to nourish and repair dry, damaged or frizzy hair'. It is recommended that a 10p size amount of the product is applied to the lengths and ends of hair and left in overnight, to be washed out the following morning.

So, I slathered on the thick, white formula as instructed and waited. After washing it out the next morning, I was pleasantly surprised! I was left with a soft, frizz-free barnet, and the frizz seemed to stay at bay until the next wash, which is great! When I first realised this was an overnight formula, I was a little concerned about my pillow cases and thought it could transfer, but I am pleased to announce that the serum stayed firmly in my hair and off of my bedsheets.

I've used the John Frieda Crème serum many times now, and I am never disappointed with the results. Here's a little tip for those of you looking to prevent rather than treat; apply the serum before going swimming, then rinse out afterwards (don't shampoo) - doing this simple trick will give your hair an extra layer of protection in the water. Also, the natural oils in your hair will form a barrier which will prevent the chlorine from entering the follicles, and you'll save time after your swim - triple threat!

What experience have you had with John Frieda products? Do you have any hair SOS saviours?

Naughty!

I have been very bad this week, and not updated my blog. I promised myself i'd do it at the weekend, however I was enjoying the time not at work!

Fear not, I will be adding a shiny new 'Mask Monday' post tonight.

Also, look out for another outfit post later in the week!

Hope you all had lovely weekend :)

Introducing...Mask Monday!

You heard it here first! Mask Monday is the new feature to Beauty on a Budget which does exactly as it says on the tin. Every Monday I will be reviewing a different mask, be it a hair mask, eye mask or ye olde faithful face mask.

This week is the Soap & Glory 'No Clogs Allowed!' Deep Pore Detox Mask. According to the tube, it is a 'super self-heating deep cleansing treatment for greasy or blackhead-prone skin'. It has a fresh, minty scent and  a creamy, slightly gritty texture. As with all of Soap & Glory's product, the packaging is retro and cute, so looks great on the bathroom shelf!

I was instructed to apply the mask all over my face, then wet my hands and rub in a circular motion until the mask turns blue - you can then wash it off straight away, or leave it on for a few minutes for a deeper clean. The mask feels really fresh on your skin; the particles exfoliate well, but do not leave your face feeling as though it has been stroked by sandpaper, which is always a plus!

Overall, I'm quite impressed by the Soap & Glory mask - it's thickness, colour-changing ability and beautiful smell make it feel oh-so luxurious. Best of all - it actually worked! My face felt fresh, my pores appeared smaller, and my skin felt smooth (though I did feel I needed a slick of moisturiser on top). I paid £9 when it was on offer in Boots (RRP £11), and have had 4 uses from the tube so far and it's still going strong! Personally I think this was a great buy, and definitely worth purchasing if you suffer from enlarged/blocked pores or dull skin (as I do!)

What is your favourite face mask for skin problems? Have you tried any Soap & Glory face products?

Glossybox Feb 2013 - Valentines!

I am so happy with my glossybox this month, I'm not going to ramble on about each product. Instead, I will leave you to drool over the gorgeous pictures below! P.S. please note the AMAZING pillar box red lipstick (in love with a beauty product).

 

 

Beautiful 'Valentine's' themed box.

 

 

Mmmmmm...

 

All 5 products - and a free heart-shaped lolly!

 

 

Anatomicals ' You need a blooming shower!' shower gel.

 

Dr Renaud Raspberry face moisturiser.

 

MCABella Blusher.

 

 

How the blush looks in natural light.

 

 

Helen E lipstick.

 

And on the lips...

 

Model Co eyeshadow duo - lovely daytime shades.

 

And the eyeshadows in natural lights - very pretty!

 

 

This is possibly the best Glossybox I have had so far, and perfect for Valentine's Day! I am yet to try out the moisturiser and shower gel, so will update you all shortly.

 

Did you receive these products in your February Glossybox? What do you think of this month's product selection?