Aveeno Review

Over the past few weeks I have been trying out The Aveeno Moisturising Range sent to me by Aveeno Skincare Solutions. I do not suffer from particularly dry skin but I do love my skin to be soft and smooth. I was keen to test out the Aveeno products as they claimed contain naturally active ingredients, designed specifically for all types of dry skin. The colloidal oatmeal is such a natural ingredient that the Daily Moisturising Lotion contains. This was my favourite of the two products I tried for the following reasons:
Although it took a while to soak into my skin, it almost seemed to melt into it.
The lotion was not greasy and once absorbed into the skin left it feeling fresh and clean.
My skin felt smooth, even after the first application of the lotion, and stayed this way for most of the day. I did reapply the lotion in the evening but only as I was testing the product. Again the lotion took a while to soak into the skin but it didn't leave any residue or make my skin greasy or sticky.
The lotion also lasted well overnight and kept the moisture locked into my skin. I didn't need to use it as often as I did as it worked very well at keeping my skin soft.

The Aveeno Moisturising Cream is a thicker, creamier version of the lotion and I did prefer the lotion out of the two. The cream definitely did what it said on the tube, it kept my skin soft and smooth. I just preferred the lightness of the lotion for all over body use. I found the cream to better suited for hands and feet.
I would recommend the lotion and handcream to anyone really, as I said I do not have very dry skin but it did benefit my skin anyway.

I made a purse!

Just a quick update on what is going on with me.... not much really! Well not much relating to jewellery anyhow.
We visited family in Kent a few weeks ago which was very nice to see everyone and catch up on what they are all doing. We then went to Wales for a friend's birthday for the weekend. That was really fun, our friend had hired out a Youth Hostel for two nights and with 30 of us you can imagine what the party was like!
Then last week we took a trip to the newly opened Ikea in Southampton which suffice to say is very big... and busy! We did get what we wanted though and after our new chest of drawers being delivered on Sunday we just need to put them together and I can have a tidy bedroom for once (or for 5 minutes anyway).
This coming weekend we are having some friends over for dinner but I am out of inspiration with what to cook. Where we have been away for a few weekends and had busy weeks in between we have not really cooked proper meals, just cooked to eat rather than cooking a delicious supper. So I am out of practice in the kitchen.
Back to this purse - this year I am trying to think of different ideas to give people as birthday gifts. I am trying to steer away from buying things that people don't want or won't use. So far I have made a variety of sweets/chocolates that have gone down very well and this time I thought I would try my hand at making a purse. I found a tutorial on this great website that is full of crafty ideas posted by others who seem to be just as into crafts as I am. The tutorial itself is http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=101026.0 but I would recommend checking out the whole site as there are many good ideas on here. The tutorial was easy to follow and I made my purse within an hour (that's an over-estimate on time) and I did make two in case something bad happened to one!
Unfortunately I am in the library so cannot post any pictures of the purse, but will do over the next few days when I have finished the second one. I may keep this one for myself!

New Logo

You may all have noticed my new logo which has been specifically designed for me by Rosie Wibberley of Snapping Rosie Photography.
Please check out her blog to see her profile and more about her work.

29 Days Of Giving - The First Week

For the past five days I have been taking part in the 29 Day Giving Challenge and to be honest I have found it quite difficult! The first day was easy - I was going to a book club and took along some blueberry muffins I had made. The following days presented no extra ordinary opportunities to give something a bit more than I normally do.
I feel that I am quite a friendly, kind and caring person anyway so when I signed up to the 29 Day Giving Challenge I did think it would be easy. Although I do give a lot to others in my job, i.e. help, attention, time and thought, I do this almost every day and it is something that I do because it is my job. I signed up to the challenge so I could make a more conscious effort to be a better person. I don't know if anyone else ever feels that they are just going through life doing the same things day in and day out and not really appreciating the people around them, but I do at times. The challenge has prompted me to think more about how I speak to people and what I do for others and actually I do more than I thought. It has been eye opening to actively think about my actions and how they will impact on others.
Most of the things I have given this week have been kind words, a smile to a stranger and an ear to a friend, but I have felt good about giving these things and I know they were appreciated. perhaps making myself feel good about giving is not part of the challenge but I know it will help me keep giving for the remaining days in the challenge.

29 days of giving - Day 1 (9th February 2009)

Yesterday I signed up to begin 29 days of giving. I stumbled upon this idea by chance as I was looking at other's blogs. It seems to be a very popular idea in the US and hopefully will develop worldwide. Here is the website to explain a bit better than I can what it is all about http://givingchallenge.ning.com/ the basic idea is that you give something every day for 29 days and I imagine by the end of 29 days you will be so used to giving it will become natural to do so.
So yesterday was my number 1 day and I made some blueberry muffins to share with my book group. Although I do love baking and sharing my baked goodness, this proved to be quite a mission! I worked all day, got home at 5.30pm, waited til after dinner to start the muffins, prepared all the ingredients and then realised I had no eggs! I then had to run out in the pouring rain to buy some, all the while keeping an eye on the time. The muffins were only just ready when I had to leave my house but by the smiles on those eating them, the muffins were a success.
I will be updating my blog to keep up with my progress on the 29 days of giving, so please check back.