5 Decorating Pet Peeves

When we/ read I decided that we needed to do a little DIY which started with the changing of a few door handles to the hanging of some photographs which I had framed, it then became a whole task of choosing paint for the lounge, a radiator cover, a new wardrobe for the bedroom - though still no new bed! 

Whilst we are lucky enough that the solid wood flooring we have doesn’t need to be changed, though the carpet does as the wear and tear is much worse than we had hoped, so another task for the ever growing list of DIY to do! I only wish that we could just sand and varnish the floor, but being leasehold it states we must have a carpet, that means a few times a year we look for professional carpet cleaners near me, just to look after the carpets, which by the way are quite expensive.

With all this decorating in mind, which I might add is not one of my favourite things at all, I thought I would share what I think are the worst jobs - by that, I mean worse than ironing clothes!

1 - Glossing.  Why does gloss paint have to be just awful? I have the skirting boards, doors and door frames x 2 to do and it is literally the worst painting job to have to do as far as I am concerned.

2 - Brush Strokes - A huge pet peeve of mine. When we moved into our home, the previous owners decided in their wisdom to paint every wall  a bright almost luminous yellow, it was hard on the eyes and you can see every single brush stroke. So we painted each room, which took a lot of paint and a lot of hours to not only hide the yellow, but to also hide the big thick brush strokes.

3 - Ceilings - I am only 5ft 6", I cannot paint a ceiling without having to stand on a ladder, so it is a bit of a faff to do.

4 - Masking Tape - There is always something somewhere that you forget needs to be taped up, but by the time you realise you have usually run out of the blooming stuff. Happens to me every single time, even if I buy a spare roll!

5 - Moving everything - Probably should be up at number one with glossing, but moving furniture and applying dust sheets is another part of decorating that I hate. 

Is there anything I like about decorating? Well ideally I would pay someone else to come and do it whilst I spend a few days in a hotel sleeping and reading a book, but apparently that is not fun!  

Do you like decorating?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Glossybox x Grazia Best of Beauty Box July 2020

Glossybox have been teasing us with their next limited edition box, which is a collaboration with Grazia and it launches tomorrow  right here* and if you want to get your hands it, then you will need to sign up, because it will sell out.

Worth £165, the Glossybox x Grazia Box is jam packed full with 12 products from brands such as NARS, Too Faced, MAC and Kiehls, all big names that I haven't seen together in a Glossybox ever before.  The last collaboration with Grazia and Glossybox was back in in April, which I had on my blog here, was skincare based, so it is nice to see a change.  If you don't want to know the exact contents of the box then scroll no further, but they are listed below:

The full list of products included in the Best of Beauty Box are:

• Dr. Pawpaw Original Balm Full Size
• St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Gel
• St. Tropez Dual Sided Velvet Luxe Mitt Full Size
• NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder
• M·A·C Matte Lipstick – Down To An Art Full Size
• Dr. Jart+ Cica Pair Tiger Grass Calming Gel Cream Full Size
• Real Techniques® Perfect Crease Duo Full Size
• Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Deep Conditioning Pre‐Shampoo Treatment
• Too Faced Damn Girl Mascara
• Project Lip Lipscrub
• Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm
• Kiehl’s Vital Skin - Strengthening Super Serum

I love that there are many full-sized products within this box and I love the range of brands inside too, most of them I have heard of, but many of the products I haven't tried.

The box will retail at £45 and you can sign up to hear exactly when it launches and get your hands on it quickly, I suspect, it will be offered to those who subscribe to Glossybox first, so there is the option to do that here*

I would love to know what you think to this box and whether any of the products inside capture your attention!

this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Blooming Blends Sleep Easy Collection

I have had these two products from Blooming Blends for quite some time and they are just absolutely divine to use on their own or as part of a pre-sleep ritual. If you follow me on Instagram, you will have noticed that I suffer from bouts of insomnia, though in recent weeks this has improved. For me, falling asleep isn't always the issue, it is staying asleep that I have a problem with, so I was delighted to give these two products a try.

The two products I was very kindly sent are the Sleep Easy Botanical Sensory Facial Mist and the Sleep Easy Herbal Tincture.

I absolutely love a facial mist, there isn't one day which goes by that I don't use one. It was during a facial a few years ago that the therapist suggested that one should be part of my everyday routine because I spend a lot of my time sitting in front of a computer screen. Using a spray not only gives me that refresh, but it also stops my skin from feeling really dry.  However, from Blooming Blends, the Sleep Easy Facial Mist (£18) is quite unlike others that I have used.

Sleep Easy is described as being a is a botanical sensory facial mist to soothe and settle the senses and help you find the perfect night's sleep. The mist is made using a balanced blend of soothing essential oils and Blooming Blends very own, homemade flower waters which are designed to help your body relax and quieten as you drift into an easy sleep.

The Blooming Blends homemade flower waters include a mixture of lavender, petitgrain and chamomile three ingredients that I associate with relaxing and calming and as a mist it does smell absolutely lovely. You'll notice there is also a hint of Witch Hazel, which I am told is included to help preserve the mist. To use, the advice is to hold the bottle 30cm from your face, spray liberally over your face and pillow and sheets and inhale deeply. As a mist, it doesn't soak your face thoroughly, it is more of a light dusting. Delightful to use and definitely a very calming blend.

The second product is the Sleep Easy Herbal Tincture (£22) which was created, as Blooming Blends state, to help you sleep deep, long and well, the Sleep blend will try to bring you comfort and peace. Unlike the Facial Mist, this is a liquid designed to be taken internally.

To use, it is one pipette under the tongue before you go to sleep. It is made up of a botanical blend of ethanol (25-45% v/v) and vegetable glycerine extracts which include - Oat Straw, Passionflower, Catnip, Chamomile, Lavender and Ashwagandha.  Blooming Blends state that their tincture formulas are created using a ratio of 1:3 to 1:1 herb to liquid so they are at their best possible strength.

When taking this blend, I didn't notice any immediate benefits, it doesn't have a particular taste to it, it definitely doesn't make you pull faces! I think for me, knowing it should and is designed to help me get a better nights sleep rather than fall asleep, I don't stress myself out if I don't immediately nod off as soon as my head hits my pillow, but instead, if I wake up feeling refreshed, it is a bonus.

You can find out more about Botanical Blends from their website. Alongside the Sleep Easy Range, you will find a whole host of other ranges such as a De-Stress and Brain Boost Range.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

4 Things to Know When Buying a Hair Brush

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A hair brush is an essential tool when you want to groom yourself. This is because it enables you to straighten hair strands without breaking them, especially if they are already entangled. It’s actually the secret to donning beautiful curls. In fact, styling your hair is supposed to be fun and easy when you are armed with the right brush. And since sharing brushes is not healthy, it’s always a good idea you buy your own to minimize the chances of spreading bacteria such as dandruff that might end up damaging your hair.  On the other hand, buying the right brush is easier said than done. In fact, most people settle for the first brush they see when they visit a store. Here is a list of considerations that you should make when shopping for Spornette Hair Brushes.

1. Brushes come in Various Shapes - If you ask most people, they will tell you that all brushes are the same. The truth is that brushes come in various shapes which also determines when they should be used. Lest you forget, a comb can never replace a brush and vice versa. The most common type of brush is known as boar bristle brush. And just like the name suggests, the brush comes with bristles that have smooth tips. This design helps in ensuring that they don’t break into delicate hair strands. A vented brush is also made to look like a boar only that it’s bristles are widely spaced. This is done to aerate the hair strands to prevent entanglement. The brush also has open gaps at the back. Then there are those that are round in shape. These ones are ideal for setting long hair.

2. Bristles are your Friend - The experience you get after using a hair brush is usually determined by the bristles. In fact, the bristles are the ones that let you know to replace an old brush. There are actually brushes that come with either metallic, plastic or wooden material. The advantage of using a brush is that it can last for many years without calling for replacement. It’s also important you confirm that the brush is made from stainless steel. Wooden brushes should only be used on short hair as they can break easily. On the other hand, plastic bristles rock the most because they are strong enough to withstand an entangled hair.

3. Never Ignore the Handle - If you are like most people, you obviously look at the bristles of a brush and ignore the handle. Opting for a brush that has a smooth handle is a huge mistake. This is because you will have to hold the brush firmly when setting your hair to prevent the brush from slipping out of your hands.  You can avoid such time wasting instances by picking a brush that has a rugged handle. Such a brush can never slip even if your hands are wet or oily.

4.  Bigger is Always Better - This one is needless to say. A brush that has a bigger length is always much better than a smaller type. This is because it helps in ensuring that you finish setting your hair within the shortest time possible as you are able to cover a large area in a single stroke. Smaller combs should only be used when you only want to style a small part of your hair such as the side or the front.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.