It's my last day EVER in my office today and so I thought I'd share some hilarity that kept myself and the beautiful @mollyfay going on a particularly monotonous day. Surrounded by a mountain of lipglosses, attaching vouchers to flyers (glamorous eh?) I shared this video with her and our colleague Joe, to keep us entertained...
For those that read regularly you may have seen my Love Story/Starbucks spoof on Hump Day Humour. If not then head on over here. Todays Hump Day Humour is recycled. This was an online audition I had to do circa 2008, for an online dating comedy series. I can't recall who the writer was or the production company comes to think of it. I got shortlisted for the part but wasn't successful unfortunately. Looking back, I don't love it but it is ridiculous and worthy of some laughs, even if it is at my expense.
Meet Melissa, excited, hyper-active, ridiculous, bunny boiler Melissa and her online video tape with which she hopes to reel in a future beau.
This eye cream was featured in a video by Ruth of amodelrecommends just when I was about to search high and low for a new eye cream. I've tried a few and none have really "done it" for me. After going on what can only be described as a Caudalie goose chase (which included breaking something on the Sisley counter, very loudly...*blush*), only to end up where I began, I finally grasped my hands on this small but perfectly formed product. From the first moments it graced my under eye area I noticed a difference. Softer, brighter and visibly reducing my laughter line indentations can only mean one thing....REPURCHASE. It retails at £49, which for 15ml's does mean I almost choked on my croissant too. However, I can confidently tell you that since purchasing towards the end of April, using both day and night, it's still pumping today on the 14th of July. You may drop a healthy sum of money on it but you are paying for longevity as well as quality, you'll be pleased to note.
If you're a beauty maven you'll have heard of or used this product before. I've read a lot about it and seen it in action on youtube video's and so am at a complete loss as to why it is not more readily available in the UK. On my recent trip to Marbella I stumbled across a bottle of it in a pharmacy there and didn't even blink at spending 17 Euro's on it. I now realise I was ridiculously stupid as actually the 500ml bottle usually retails at about 9 Euro's and actually I'd only bought 250ml's worth. Doh! Besides my being robbed I cannot fault this product at all. It's texture is like nothing more than a water, yet it doesn't dry out your skin, can tackle the toughest make-up and leaves you feeling refreshed and clean along with it being perfect for sensitive skin. I'm down to the last dregs and have done a little rooting around to discover that it is available from the link above for £8.91.
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with dry shampoo. I love the effect it has on my hair and I hate the effect it has on my hair. Common complaints with the dry shampoo is that it can be a killer for sensitive scalps and can often leave a powdery trail straight from your head to your clothes if you're a hair flicker like myself. My least favourite dry shampoo to date is Batiste and my favourite has been the Lee Stafford one, which I've been sporting for some many months now. My latest discovery is Klorane's with oat milk, which I purchased from an independent pharmacy in Holland Park, you know the kind that oozes sophistication, so it must be good right? Firstly it does what it says on the bottle, it's gentle on the scalp, no complaints there. It cleans the hair giving just enough volume but not too much to suggest you could give Cheryl Cole or an ex Dallas star a run for their money. Finally the fragrance is truly delicate and pretty, meaning it actually smells like you washed your hair rather than that bottled, contrived smell so many of these products have. If wearing black and you like to run through your hair constantly in a model like fashion then be warned there is a little dusty residue but I could also be using a little too much product. It retails at either £2.98 for 50ml's or £7.20 for 150ml's. Yes the smaller version is more handbag friendly but I actually love the larger bottle for the dressing table. I suggest you buy both.
Are there any French beauty products you've been coveting of late?
Most of us appreciate the finer things in life. However, with their hefty price tag, the finer things, are usually more aspirational than affordable. So, any news of a sale of luxe products is very well received in my books and of course I travelled immediately to said sale to check out what damage I could cause and by extension, could persuade you to cause. The good news for both my and your bank manager is I want you to obtain the most bang for your buck. Therefore here's my beauty investment list from the Space NK sale.
It's the Summer Holiday Season so instead of decantering all your lotions and potions into obnoxiously small pots from Boots, why don't you do away with all the kerfuffle and simply splash out, or as I like to think of it, merely spray lightly from dipping your big toe in the water, with this Laura Mercier Creme de Pistache Bath and Body Trio...
Travelling in style has never been easier or cheaper, down to £15 from £29. The set includes soothing honey bath for that indulgent soak after a long day in the blistering sun, an exfoliating scrub to buffer up your skin to ensure you're beach body beautiful, followed by the souffle body creme to levae you looking radiantly refreshed.
They also have their Sugar Cookie Candle. I'm not sure if I want to light this or eat it. Scented candles are big in my household especially if it involves a baked goods scent. Light it, whilst cosying up in bed with coffee and a movie or accessorise your bathroom with them, down from £44 to £20 I think you should buy 2, after all, it would be like buy one get one free!
Next up is both the Zelens day and night cream at just £35 each! This is by far the most bargain busting product in the Space NK Sale, with the day cream originally retailing at £135 and the night cream at £169. The range promises to provide "24-hour treatment to fight premature ageing and environmental hazards. The formulations contain a complex of 20 natural active ingredients (including 14 powerful antioxidants) and an exclusive blend of moisturizers that help to improve the smoothness and texture of the skin."
Is more formally entitled Cellular DNA Protection day cream which in itself sounds super fancy and makes me think it's even reducing my age by the minute before I've even clicked "add to basket".
Has an equally impressive name, Cellular Reconstruction. Blink and potentially you could be 13 again. At such a small price to pay, trying out a new product isn't particularly worry inducing.
Finally Feijoa Lime Butter by Mor has been reduced from £24.50 to just £10. A perfect summer fragrance if ever there was one, an indulgent zest scent, packaged beautifully. Gift anyone? Well you could but at this price you'd be silly not to sneak one into your basket for yourself as well.
The best news yet, is that if you bought one of each of the items listed above then all you're spending is £115. That price for 5 products from Space NK is a feat in itself. Bank managers rejoice everywhere!
I'm a little late to the bridal party with this one as I kind of vowed to myself never to do a Movie Monday on a mainstream film that's been at the cinema for a week or two already. I'm breaking my vow for Bridesmaids though. I figure it's still got a good life left in it, at the cinema and I enjoyed it so much I feel like it's my duty to ensure that you all go see it whilst you still can!
In short, Annie is in her 30's and quite frankly has nothing to show for it when bestfriend Lillian, who she believed to be almost as miserable as herself, suddenly announces her engagement. With this newfound reality Annie struggles to not only figure out how she'll fit into Lillian's life in the future but how she'll do so with new BFF Helen vying for Lillian's attention. It's juvenile, it's narcissistic, it's life.
One of the things that makes this film so endearing to me, on face value, is my shock at the practically "nobody" cast. I don't think I've been living in a cave but the only faces I recognised were loveable Melissa McCarthy aka Sukie from the WB's Gilmore Girls, the late Jill Clayburgh or Ally McBeal's mum to you and of course the very ill placed Matt Lucas, more famously known for his "yeah but, no but" sketches from Little Britain. None of these would particularly induce star struck status though if I were to meet them on the street. Okay, okay so writer and lead Kristen Wiig is most famous for Saturday Night Live but we don't get that in the UK so I'm sticking to my original thought process: Who are these women???
I also feel like jumping on a plane and planting a big wet kiss on Hollywood execs cheeks for the sheer genius idea of using women that resembled, well, women. How refreshing for me to be eyeing up Kristen's crepey skin the entire movie rather than staring longingly at Jennifer Aniston's near perfect complexion, wondering how at the age of 42 she looks better than me, age 26. Or my disbelief at Lillian being the bride we're all supposedly there to longingly wish we had her life, squidgy round the edges, not vaguely attractive groom and all. Even uber glam Helen wasn't too perfectly polished.
Did I lust over the fashion?
No.
Did I turn green with envy for their figures?
No.
Did I go to see the standard shallow, not particularly amusing, oh the mess of a girl ends up turning into the most successful woman ever in the end, film?
No.
I went to see Bridesmaids. The film that throws together six women of all shapes, sizes and personalities all struggling to lead a particular life that the unrealistic realms of Hollywood enforce on all of us and they are failing. Just. Like. Us. The big car wreck of the film is, of course Annie (Kristen Wiig) but she's not the only one, each of these women are pushing themselves to be a certain way and lead a certain life. We watch them try and define themselves with great difficulty and hilarious consequences. This isn't just a chuckle occasionally movie, I was literally doubled over for most of the 125 minutes. It is snort through your nose funny. Don't believe me?
But of course the fact that these are real women, teamed with real flawed lives hits home with the most crucial reason for this films success. It's real relateable. I may not be in my 30's but I sure as hell feel like I'm the woman trailing behind all my friends, so it was only apt that I went to see this with one of my best friends, that I too quite shockingly received news of her engagement when least expecting. I don't know what I was thinking but I'm pretty sure it was along the lines of "she wouldn't dare live happily ever after until I have!"
Tune In...
If you're sick of seeing pretty, thin, Goddesses juggle successful careers and undesirable boyfriends only for said undesirable's to suddenly declare that the Goddesses are "the one"
Tune Out...
If you're living in a dream world and think that SATC2 was realistic.
Team with...
The girl your about to lose to another man and tequila. Lots and lots of tequila.
Firstly, let me please express my deep annoyance at approximately three blog posts sat in my "draft zone" that are now completely inapplicable. I haven't been able to keep up with my regular posts such as Movie Monday, Something for the Weekend and The Stove on Sunday recently, but I'm hoping that starting today, business as usual should resume! So with all that said let's talk about cake...
...I love a good themed event, especially if the baked goods that accompany it take advantage of said theme. If you've been a follower of the blog since the beginning you may recall my How to throw a FABULOUS party, McNally style: Under £200, in which Sex and the City themed cupcakes made by moi were featured here and Charlton Football Club cupcakes (that didn't quite turn out the way I wanted them to) here. You will also probably recall my annual Halloween festivities showcasing these gruesomely green treats here. See, I'm all about the theme. Basically my sheer "themed cake" excitement always gets a little out of hand when you follow certain famous bakeries on facebook and twitter, especially when one store is particularly conveniently located a stones throw from your office.
A cupcake, despite how tasty it may be, is nothing without some kind of awesome decoration. It adds the fun factor and let's be honest we choose based on visual appeal. So nothing has been more appealing to me of late than Wimbledon themed cupcakes! It's finals day today and then alas it shall all be over, as well as these dreamy delights.
If like me you'll be watching from the comfort of your home why not grab some of these from one of the Hummingbird Bakery London stores for £2.95 per cake. Lola's are also producing some particularly apt versions, in the form of Pimms cupcakes.
What better way to bring a Wimbledon-esque atmosphere to your living room!
Just when I thought we couldn't be tempted further, both bakeries have now added July 4th themed cupcakes to their repertoire, available until tomorrow.
Hummingbird's Version
If, like me, you'd love to be able to create some eyecatching decorations then Hello Cupcake!needs to be a staple in your kitchen. Everything from bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon tops to a Van Gogh, they have some truly kooky designs with simple to follow instructions. My copy came from Urban Outfitters but you can also order it from Amazon at £6.34.
To keep up to date with Hummingbird and Lola's tasty treats follow them on facebook and twitter, all links below. And here's a nice little 4th of July inspired How To...from the people that brought us Hello, Cupcake!
