Mama Mio Boot Camp For Tummies

I have been using the two (wittily named) products "Skin Tight" and "Get Waisted" for over a week now, and as well as the four minutes of tummy tightening exercises, I have tried to eat a little healthier, and partake in some light stretching and cardio exercises.  Follow the official Latest in Beauty blog to see how the other challengers and myself are doing, to see if the products could work for you too!

www.latestinbeauty.com/challenge

"Spotty Face Wash" from Betty's Page

  I was excited to trial the "Spotty Face Wash" that I purchased from Crafty Mare's Bazaar.  My regular skin care routine was ok, but seemed to be lacking something.  So, after exfoliating as usual, I replaced my usual face wash with my new one.  The smell was lovely and refreshing.  Two pumps dispensed more than enough to use to was my face and neck, and the slight foaming action invigorated and awakened my tired skin - great if you're not a morning person!  After using the wash, I used my moisturiser as usual.  I have been using it for over a week now, and can really notice the difference that it has made.  My skin is clearer, and feels smoother and fresher.  I have been using it morning and night, and still have a substantial amount left in the bottle, so at three pounds, it definitely shows value for money!

Also pictured in the photo is a pink, sparkly bar of soap that I bought at the same time, so I thought I would give that a mention too.  I don't tend to buy bars of soap anymore, and so, I liked the kitsch yet classic idea of having a use for my soap dish!  It smells lovely, and only cost a pound, meaning that it would make a lovely addition to a gift for a friend.  My boyfriend was a bit worried that the glitter would rub off onto him, but that hasn't happened yet!  It has lasted well, and looks lovely in my bathroom!  The only downside is that it reminded me of why I no longer buy bars of soap, as it dried out my skin quite a bit, however, this was not a problem at all, as I moisturise religiously (as I believe everyone should!).  All in all, I am very happy with my beauty product purchases from Crafty Mare's Bazaar, and plan to return very shortly!
 

Crafty Mare's Bazaar, Slater Street

An amazing day of laid back vintage and retro shopping was drawing to a close, and I was looking for a comfy and cosy pub to delve into my latest haul (including a leather bound Jane Austen book from Oxfam, an original Gameboy Tetris cartridge game from Level Up, and a Motorhead record from Cult Vinyl) when I stumbled across a sign saying "Crafty Mare's Bazaar - now open".  Intrigued, I entered the unassuming shop on Slater Street, and could not believe my eyes!

"Bazaar" is definitely the correct word.  The whole shop is filled from top to bottom with vintage, up cycled and hand made clothing, jewellery and accessories, gifts, ornaments, as well as Eco friendly soaps, face washes, and other cosmetics.  I was absolutely enthralled!  I could have stayed in there all day, and still not seen everything that was available.  The friendly staff were keen to help, but not in the intimidating way, which often makes me feel as though I would rather leave a shop, than stay and be harassed.

The shop has been set up by several creative  independent businesses, and also includes a Holistic room upstairs for massages and pampering treatments.  As I am always keen to help independent local businesses (and everything in the shop was amazingly exciting!) I managed to stop myself from buying a whole rack of necklaces, incense sticks and scarves, and purchased a bottle of "Spotty Face Wash" by Betty's Page, which cost a reasonable £3.00, and a lovely pink glittery star shaped bar of soap, which reminded me of the lovely Eco friendly products sold at Lush (except without the hefty price tag - this soap was only one pound!).

And so, with my fabulous new products, I left feeling happy, and exited to return after pay day!  Next on my list is definitely the amazing cake stand, made from old vinyl records.  Crafty Mare's Bazaar will be my new port of call for friend's birthday gifts, as well as somewhere to treat myself to something special.  I will be trialing the "Spotty Face Wash", and reviewing it on here shortly, and I am very excited about spreading the word, and finding out more about this intriguing group of businesses.  So thank you very much ladies, you provided the perfect end to my day, and have given me lots to look forward to :)

Film Review - "Super" (18)

After watching Juno a few years ago at the cinema - and then countless other times on DVD at home, I am always compelled to watch films starring Ellen Paige.  Some of these have been amazing - her role in Inception wasn't the lead, but I enjoyed it nonetheless, however, Hard Candy was another story all together, and the less said about that, the better.  Anyway, the main reason that I wanted to watch Super was because of the usually laid back, witty actress's appearance.  I had seen some movie trailers for it online, and eagerly waited for it's cinema release...and waited...and waited...until I saw a TV trailer - advertising it's DVD and Blu-Ray release.  This alone should have caused alarm bells to ring, but instead, I excitedly purchased it, and rushed home to watch it.

The easy comparison to make would be to Kick Ass - an Average Joe creating a superhero persona in order to change things, however, Super isn't that easy to categorise.  It features a lot of genuinely funny, sometimes silly comedy, which I naively thought was the main idea of the film.  However, a much darker side is revealed, with themes of drug use, paedophilia, and extreme violence.  While Kick Ass flawlessly balanced the comedy with violence in a way that made it all seem reasonable and integral to the plot, Super seemed to use the darker elements gratuitously, making me feel guilty for laughing at the funny parts.

I genuinely can't decide if I liked this film or not.  I feel that if I watch it again sometime, I may not be as shocked, find the comedy even funnier than the first time around, and decide that I did enjoy it (that may seem like an odd conclusion to come to, but watching Napoleon Dynamite for the fist time left me confused.  The second time I watched it, it was hilarious, and it is now one of my favourite films, so you never know!)  however, I would not recommend this film to my friends, for fear of making them think that I am a bit mad.

If you are not faint hearted, and are looking for something that combines comedy with brutal violence, I'd say, give it a watch! If not, maybe this film isn't for you.

The Lodge, Lark Lane

As a huge fan of Negresco on Lark Lane, I was more than disappointed to see that it had undergone a refurbishment, and was now named "The Lodge".  The exterior seemed to have none of it's former Gothic charm, but still, I thought I would give it a go.  Once inside, however, I realised that some of the artwork and furniture were the same as before, but some had changed for the better, giving a lighter and more welcoming atmosphere.

There are a range of world beers available, and a menu offering a variety of meals and snacks, with a good vegetarian selection.  Since it was a Sunday, I ordered a vegetarian roast dinner, and a chicken roast for my partner.   The food was wonderful, with a real home cooked feeling, as opposed to the frozen roast potatoes that are becoming more and more common when ordering pub food.  The staff were really friendly, and the atmosphere was welcoming and relaxed, with a nice mix of indie, rock and classic pop music playing.  Many people were dining with their families, and high chairs are available for babies.

The beer garden is a wonderful addition,  and is a lovely place to sit and enjoy the weather.  It has a  feeling of bringing the indoors outside, which really adds to the cool, laid back vibe.  As for value for money, I would say that it's a little more pricey than some other pubs offering Sunday lunch, at £20 for two roast dinners and two half glasses of beer, but I would still highly recommend visiting The Lodge - you will not be disappointed.