Apricot Scrub for face and body

I love ex foliating products. My skin always feels sooo  much better after using them, like I have been lightened and refreshed in one quick scrub (which is a godsend in this weather!) I tend to favour those exfoliators with natural, gentle ingredients; natural has got to be better when they are going on your face regularly, right? So when I was buying hair dye in my Manchester shop of choice, I was instantly drawn to this pretty large tub of apricot scrub. At £1.99, it's kind of hard to say no...

This is an apricot scrub with elderflower and walnut, much like alot of the popular apricot scrubs on the market. Now, I'm an impatient one. I know that you are supposed to wait a good few weeks for a skin product to show effects, but it's nice to know sooner that all your efforts are not in vain. And this product did not disappoint, showing improvement within the first use. Perfect! Of course, I continued to use the scrub for the next three weeks and it lived up to it's initial showing. Happy Heather. 

This scrub does brand itself as being suitable for everyday use but I have always felt that an exfoliator on your skin 7 days a week is a little excessive, and I like to give my skin a rest so it doesn't have the opposite effect.

A big plus for me is that the scrub proudly displays the fact that it contains no animal ingredients and conducts no animal testing. This has always been a bit of a concern for me and, with the recent Lush shock campaigns, I think it is now at the forefront of the nation's mind. 

I feel that the product far out-ways the price in terms of expectation. For me, this scrub could rival some of the bigger (and more expensive!) brands of exfoliant or apricot scrub. Everyone's skin is different, so I'd suggest a small test first and definitely do not use if you are allergic to any of the ingredients! However, this is a lovely, refreshing scrub for a rather refreshing price. I shall certainly be repurchasing this; although it may take me a long while to get through this large tub!

Band of the Week

Always one for unconventional Band of the Week, this week it's a whole festivals worth of bands! Due to the lovely long bank holiday (thanks, Queenie!) there are lots of lovely events going on around the country, including the rather infamous Dot to Dot festival. Taking over three cities over three days, Dot to Dot brings the best in music for an all day party. If that doesn't excite you then what will?!
Of course, being a northern girl, Manchester is my Dot to Dot of choice (if I was going. Waaah!) The venues for the Manchester event are pretty spot on too, including two of my favourite places in Manchester, The Deaf Institute and Zoo. All venues are in super close walking distance, so I can imagine it to be the most amazing atmosphere ever! My top picks for the day are The Drums, Admiral Fallow, Jake Bugg, Willy Mason and of course, Summer Camp! If you have some spare time, and can get to one of these days, I think you would be pretty mad not to. (at £20 for so many acts, there really isn't alot to say no to!)


You can visit the Dot to Dot festival site here to check out the full line up for each city plus venue information and transport/accommodation links. 

Update #1

Hi all!

I have not been a perfect blogger recently but I have still been around. Life has suddenly got very VERY busy and I hardly have a moment to myself! So, I thought I would do a little update post so that you all know where I've been and what has kept me from writing some lovely words for you. 

It seems like forever ago, but me and Adam saw The Vaccines in Blackpool. I love the venue, Blackpool Empress Ballrooms if you were asking, and I love The Vaccines so it was a pretty great match. We managed to catch support from S.C.U.M., but they just didn't seem to click with the crowd... The top picture one one side of the view from our hotel; quite sunny with a nice view of the football parking! I'm quite a fan of industrialised areas, though...

My new favourite ring from Tesco. It looks like little crystals underneath glass.

A nice way to wake up, with Molly on my bed.

Trust me, cucumber water is the most refreshing thing ever.

Far too much drinking and celebrating. Here is my drunken attempt at an arty representation of how hot a chilli vodka shot is...

At least part of everyday is spent getting this cuters away from the back gate. She peeks to see who is out there!

The bathroom at my new work is pretty cute. it's in a Victorian Warehouse (the place, not just the bathroom!) and has these cute vintage dressing items, as well as a huge Audrey Hepburn poster. 

Hot weather plus cute dog equals swimming in the reservoir. 

As you can see, alot of my time has been spent with my beautiful border collie. There is worse ways to spend my time, though! I'll try and keep you updated rather than be a silent (and over-worked!) reader. Hope you are enjoying the wonderful summer weather we are having. I'm covered in suncream as I burn far too easily. No bronzed summer for me, more like lobster summer!

Band of the Week

Hi there!
I know, I've been such a bad blogger lately *Slaps wrist* A combination of over-worked and no internet (cry!) means a lack of posts. I've been around though, don't worry! Thought I would return on this lovely Sunday with a pretty great Band of the Week.
I think everyone loves Frank Turner. It's quite hard not to. He's gone from lead singer of a 'post-hardcore' band (Million Dead, if you were wondering!) to a solo folk singer. Not a leap you would expect, but it completely works. Even if you don't like his music, surely that is something to admire?
Lately, there hasn't been a day gone by were I haven't had a Frank Turner song stuck in my head. These are becoming pretty nice days! But there is one album that stands out. 'England Keep My Bones' provides a rather cathartic experience and, I know it sounds cliche, but there is nothing like a walk somewhere beautiful and this album in your ears to make things seem pretty OK again...
This song has become something of a mantra for me at the moment, my anthem if you will. I certainly could have picked a worse one! And the video is filmed at the beautiful beach in Bamburgh, which I featured here. Favourite song plus favourite place equals perfection!

Batiste: A search for the new favourite

R.I.P Batiste Nude. You were my go to product for a little hair pick me up. You picked me up when I was lacking in lustre and allowed me that extra ten minutes in bed. 

Yes, this little bottle meant the world to me and my hair. It is pretty much a non-scented talc, but it was perfect for my hair and didn't have the tell tale grey/white residue of alot of dry shampoos. But, after some twitter desperation, Batiste told me that they have discontinued it (I must like lots of products others don't as my favourites always end this way, see this post for another example!) Lovely Batiste did offer to send me some of the last remaining Batiste Nude (which I am using so sparingly!) and a couple of other products in their (vast!) dry shampoo range. 

L-R Batiste XXl Volume, Batiste Cherry, Batiste Nude

I have been using these products (bar my Nude, of course) pretty much since I got them. My hair tends to err on the greasy side and I like a matt finish to my hair so, even after washing, I like to use a good dry shampoo to keep the grease at bay! 

Batiste XXL Volume is different from the normal dry shampoo as it claims to add volume to your hair, as well as banish those oily roots. I was really keen to try this, as I have quite fine and often limp hair and love finding new products to help my hair. Of course, I didn't expect miracles but I was pleasantly surprised with the noticeable bounce I received (and created the perfect base for a quick, no backcomb up-do!) It has a light and fresh fragrance, quite like a sweet perfume, and left very little residual product, once I had followed the instructions! 

Batiste Cherry is part of the normal Batiste range with an added new scent. This is still perfect for those in-between-washes days and leaves my hair perfectly matt and soft. The scent is the deal breaker for this product and I am firmly in the happy camp with it. It is a very sweet scent but one that I didn't find too overpowering, though I imagine if you wore a heavily scented perfume they may be competing! It won't be to everyone's taste, of course, but I'm a fan of ANYTHING cherry scented so this was always going to be a winner. Plus, I love the rather kitsch packaging on the cherry one!

Have I found my new favourite, a replacement for the long loved Batiste Nude? I'm not sure if there will ever be a new Nude but XXL Volume is becoming a fast favourite...

Where do you lie in the dry shampoo spectrum? What's your favourite?

Dixi Chick

Dixi are a retailer that I have lusted after for a while. Their store is always full of eye catching pieces, with a wonderful combination of modern and vintage pieces. So I was pretty excited when I saw their new store update, a massive drop of around 200 new pieces!, was going live today. Being at work meant I missed out on some of the one off pieces (boooo!) but I have my eye on a couple of things still available! Everything is marked in two sections, modern and vintage, to help you pick your look. This was going to be a huge post because I like far too much, so I narrowed it down to my bare essentials! 

Niamph Midi Pleat Skirt £22 (modern)

Tilda Multiple Spike Necklace £8 (modern)

Miana Salmon Striped Dress £36 (Vintage)

Phoenix Aztec Arrow Bracelet, £9 (modern)

I adore the style of photography on the site. It's like an uber cool style blog, but you can buy the lust worthy items! Jewellery makes an outfit for me, statement necklaces ftw, and these two pieces would look perfect with almost everything I own! I love that Dixi actively look for new items from small creators/designers that fit their store beautifully. There's something sweet and personal about it! In the new store drop I'm loving the tie dye/ galaxy t-shirts by Sweet Monday (and her blog is pretty lovely too!) so definitely go and have a look at those!

Dixi is a wonderful online store that has pretty much stepped out of my dreams. Just add some vintage books and I'm sorted! Take a trip along to shopdixi.com and grab yourself something lovely before they all go!

Band of the Week

Yorkshire. The home of Yorkshire puddings, the rhubarb triangle, lovely boys (hi, Adam!) and a pretty amazing music scene.  It's not all Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs you know!
The Cribs are always firm favourites on my mix cds. There's nothing like dropping "Hey Scenesters!" or "Our Bovine Public" in the middle of a mix to liven things up! There's a dishevelled perfection to their music, like a perfect polished up punk band, and is pretty much right for any mood (which is hard to say for nearly all bands around!) It's hard to believe that they have been going for 11 year (yes, really!) and still sound as fresh as a new born lamb, or some other sprightly metaphor... Of course, you know there is something about a band when indie LEGEND Johnny Marr joins you for an album and a tour. I was lucky enough to see that tour, so got to see two of my music favourites together! Big smiles for me for a while..


I couldn't write a post about The Cribs without mentioning how much I love Ryan Jarman's voice. Honestly, it's amazing! People often think I am making it up but I'm a sucker for a Yorkshire boy (hi again, Adam!) and love his so-laid-back-he's-in-reverse way of talking. Could listen for hours...


But, if you like his singing voice as opposed to his speaking voice, then listen to "Our Bovine Public" and see why I love The Cribs so much.

You can visit the cribs here. 

Skin care favourites: Basics

It's always nice getting to know people a little bit more (and admit it, we all love a good nosey into other people's lives!) so I thought I would show you my skincare 'routine'. I use 'routine' loosely as it makes it sound like some regimented and carefully thought out procedure, which it is far from!
These are just the basic items I use on a regular basis, everyday, and have found that they work the best for me. For most of these products, I use cotton wool pads which you can see at the top. I store them in a few containers, namely cute washed jam jars. Most of my cosmetics is stored in (thoroughly rinsed!) glass jars! Perfect to organise and see your collection in an instant, and add a lovely vibe to my make-up area. 

Johnson's Baby Lotion, around £2 in most stores

This may seem a bit weird, but this is what I use as a 'cleanser', or the first stage of my twice daily clean. I actually got this from a good friend of mine who SWEARS by this for removing make up. I tried it once and have never looked back since! Once a week I exfoliate and use a clay based mask (not on the same day!), and this has started to clear my skin right up. Cotton wool pads (not balls, they make me feel all eurgh) and baby lotion are used to wipe away the day, and the evidence is clear on the pad!

Vitamin E toner, Asda, £1

I used to use a full range of Vitamin E skin care from Tesco, nothing was over 70p!, and it was the first step towards clearer skin. Then, thanks Tesco!, they discontinued it and I was left in a little pickle. So I tried this vitamin E toner from Asda and it is pretty much identical. It has very little scent, which I like in a toner, and is so refreshing. Tempted to put this in a spray bottle for a quick spritz in the summer!

Clear Skin Mattifying Mosturiser, Tesco, £2

Don't let the packaging deceive you, this is my Holy Grail product. I have oily skin, and normal moisturiser can leave me looking like an oil slick by the end of the day (nice image, H!) but this is the only product that has been able to stop this from morning till night. It has a wonderful scent, it reminds me of some childhood sweets, and goes on like a dream. You have to run it through your hands then over your face, like a mini face massage, and instantly you can feel it working and your skin becoming matt. Also, my skin seems to have calmed down ever since I used this, so it's antibacterial agents must work, right?

Nivea Soft moisturiser, from £2 in most stores

At night, I like to help my skin a little bit more (I don't need to look matt in bed, do I!) so I use this family favourite. Nivea is dotted around our house in one form or another, with various moisturisers, hand creams and washes lining every sink. So it was a natural choice to have this refreshing cream. It is a full body moisturiser, but I use it mainly on my face and neck. It is scent free and sinks into the skin without any greasy or oily residue. 

Lacura Moisturising eye cream, £1.49, Aldi

Yes, this really did come from Aldi! I had heard alot of good things about Lacura skincare at Aldi, not to mention their make-up (I swear by the concealer pen!), and they have won numerous awards so I thought I would give it a go. For my skin, with no wrinkles (phew!), this light eye cream is perfect. Unscented, lightweight and takes minimal coercion to sink in (which is good for the delicate eye area).

My skin care basics show that beauty can be done on a budget (so don't worry if you can't afford that £100 cream or high end cleanser that everyone is talking about!) What are your skin care favourites? have you ever tried the beauty ranges at Aldi?

I'm supporting. Are you?

The paralympic scarf print

The year is 2012 and Britain has gone patriotic. We have moved on from the ill feelings of riots and recession and are putting our faith and pride into our wonderful country. 

In case you have been on a deserted island for the past year then you couldn't have missed the hype around the Queen's jubilee and the 2012 Olympics. The country has gone Union Jack crazy (Oxford Street in London is currently awash with huge banners and flags!) So when next were giving bloggers the chance to show their support, I dived right in!

Next sure know how to make something special

A booklet celebrating GB and supporters scarf

The challenge was to style the scarf and show your support, so I decided to incorporate it into my favourite hairstyle of summer, the simple plait. It was easy, I just clipped the one end of the scarf at the back of my head, and plaited my hair as normal, using the scarf as one of the sections. I pulled the plait to one side of my head to display the scarf fully. Look pretty good, right?!

To give an alternative style I twisted the end of the scarf, the bit that is longer than my real hair, and pinned it to the opposite side of my head, at the back. This allowed me to create a hair trend that I love but that my hair length has never been able to fulfil!

I love how the colours of my hair mix with the scarf!

Feels rather summery and perfect for a festival, even though the weather at the moment does not feel that way! The scarf is a beautiful hand painted lion on a soft cotton fabric and a perfect way to support our athletes with fashion.

Next have designed a whole range of Olympic and British themed items, from shorts to sideboards, tops to telephones (I really have my eye on the Union jack print phone!) You can buy your supporting scarves from next, priced between £5 and £10 with a choice of paralympic or olympic (mine was the paralympic small scarf.) and upload your scarf style here for a chance to win a fabulous array of Olympic prizes!


Are you a patriotic person or have you been swept up by Olympic fever? How would you show your support through your style?

My name is Heather and I have a problem...

It seems like forever ago that Adam and me had our little Edinburgh and Northumberland trip (you can relive the memories with part one here and part two here!) but there is one part that I keep dreaming about.

Fact one about me: I adore books. Like ADORE them. there is nothing like the smell of an old book, or settling down on a rainy day with a duvet and a book. So when my boyfriend mentioned a little trip to Barter Books, one of the countries largest second hand books shops, I was there like a shot!

The only book shop I have needed a map for!

Fact two about me: I love history. Barter Books is in a beautiful town called Alnwick (the castle was used as the outside of Hogwarts!) and is actually a disused train-station. The little waiting rooms are now cafes. Cute! It has such a wonderful history to it, including a worker's mural which lists the names of every railway worker that has worked there from 1890! We recycle everything else, why do we not recycle beautiful Victorian buildings?


There are three rooms in total just CRAMMED full of books (two moderate and one HUGE room) and I just didn't know where to start! I think I spent at least 2 hours in there, looking and enjoying the atmosphere. If you have not gone to look for anything specific it takes you a while to see what you might want, but that's half the fun!

'Spicy' books sound fun, right?

My sneaky shot of a guy looking
at records and a lurker!

They have made this place just a wonderful place to be. It is so calm and peaceful (so much so that I felt bad for taking pictures!) and has seating areas dotted about for you to soak up the tranquillity. There are art installations on the walls, including a beautiful neon sun in a warming glow, a writers mural (where famous writers from different eras have been painted, full sized) and lines of poetry around the top of all the bookcases. If it sounds too dreamy, that's because it is!

It's kind of like my dream house! Not like Barbie's, with a real working lift, but a place crammed full with old books. It's like there is piles of adventures and education just waiting for someone. There are some books in glass cases, which are obviously the very, VERY expensive ones (I think we saw a set of really old bibles for over £800), but this just made it feel like a museum for me. Fact number three: I love museums!

Not enough shelves? Simply display books under seats!

My favourite shot of the whole trip, taking sneakily whilst looking at classic poetry, was this one. They didn't really move for about 15 minutes. One guy just reading, the other snooping. It just kind of summed up the whole place for me.

Unless you've been living in a cave you will have seen the "Keep Calm and Carry On" slogan everywhere. What you may not have realised is that that now iconic poster was first made famous by Barter Books. OK, it was first made famous by the British Government during WWII, but Barter Books helped its second resurgence. In 2000, the owners discovered an original "Keep Calm..." poster in a box of books they got at auction. They liked it so much they put it on display in the store. People kept asking what it was and where they could buy it, so they started to sell copies of it. Soon it swept the nation and is everywhere (including The Only Way Is Essex's version "Don't Be Jel be Reem"...) So, if you want anything with this design on PLEASE go to Barter Book's website, as they don't get any credit (let alone money!) for bringing the poster to the world!

So, you may be wondering what a bookworm such as myself bought in this treasure chest. Well, I currently have a stack of books at home (all St Catherine's hospice buys! That place is a goldmine!) so couldn't buy too much, but I did manage to get a couple of stacks of books plus a few extras. I can't wait to get into "Where Angels Fear To Tred" by E.M. Forster and the Sweet Valley High book was a nod to my friend's childhood for her birthday. 

My name is Heather and I have a book problem. Well, the first step to recovery is admittance, right?