Weekly favourites

This week's favourites include not one but two transport things. The first one could also be classed as a day out/adventure as it was our annual trip to the Nostalgia Festival at Croft Racing Circuit. As is often the case with tradition, it was the usual story of lots of interesting cars, a couple of planes flying over making some pretty shapes in the sky, lots of car racing, donuts smothered in butterscotch sauce, a whole heap of fun, and a tonne of walking! So much with the walking that I earned two merit badges from my Fitbit - must have been all those steep banks to get the best view of the track! 

I'll have this one please! 

Next up is my car. My new car! Yep, sad as it was to say farewell to the old Zip, it is beyond nice to have a new car that doesn't have warning lights on when you start the engine - the luxury! The new car is basically a more up to date version of the old car, it's still a Skoda Fabia but as my Pops said, it's just so much more streamlined. It's higher up, the wheels have beautiful alloys, IT HAS A CD PLAYER, it has a funky thing in the roof that you click and a little case comes down where you can keep your sunglasses (genuine excitement every time I show that to someone), there's no gaffa tape holding anything together, and did I say IT HAS A CD PLAYER? I know this sounds so old school but my other car had a cassette player for goodness sake, can you now understand my excitement?! The CDs are back baby! 

I realised as I was bevvying along in Zippy mark 2 that for the past few months I had mainly spent much of my time driving along glancing down at my dashboard just in case more warning lights came on, or the worst of the worst, the car just came to a standstill. Seriously, that did happen. So yeah, not the best method of driving! But now, in Zip mark 2 I am looking in my mirrors all the time. Oh and the mirrors? Wow, you can see so much out of them! My old ones were all scratched and marked and probably didn't have the best view out into other lanes, so it's super amazing to be able to see so much. You new car drivers take so much for granted! Driving to work these days is now a joy, rather than a minor terror. I am the happiest car driver in the world! And just think in 5 years time when I've paid the loan off I can come at you with another new car update! 

Just kidding, let's hope I can drive this one for ten years too - happy motoring! 

Weekly favourites

What do you call it when you're at a wedding but you're not a guest? Nor are you working, you're just kind of there as a favour to a good friend who asked you to help out running a bar for the night...? Not sure there is an actual name for it, but whatever, it was hands down my weekly favourite, and honestly, one of the best weddings I've been to in ages! 

First of all it was in a marquee in their back garden. It was shabby chic meets boho meets the 1970's. The bride wore an off the shoulder lace gown and she and all the bridesmaids had flower crowns in their hair. We were serving behind a giant wooden pallet with hardly any space to squeeze past each other and lots of oops sorry moments. The crowd were some serious drinkers so we were busy all night long, and everyone was just so bloomin' nice! The wedding cake was a massive chunk of chocolate deliciousness, the DJ was bloody brilliant and the dance-floor was full from him opening to the final dance at midnight, just as we all started turning into pumpkins. 

I spent the whole night smiling, laughing, singing, and dancing. It was brilliant and felt like a proper night out, even though I had been working since 9am that day so effectively was at work for 15 hours, yowser! But when the DJ is spinning all the cheesy songs and you're dancing and serving drinks all at the same time, it's simply a grand night out. 

And this song has been stuck in my head ever since, so here it is for your daily ear worm too. Arms in the air and all together now, REACH for the stars...

Weekly favourites

Ooh it's been a while since we've had a Listen Up! And this week it's combined with my weekly favourites as I can't stop singing/listening to this. Christine and the Queens - also known as the really cool French chick who sings awesome songs. 

I first heard this while driving (of course) and immediately turned it up and started car dancing. Came home, bought the album. You know the drill by now. Press play and try really hard not to dance. I challenge you! 

Weekly favourites

This whole switching to weekly favourites has been a good choice, as July is proving to be a good month for loving all the things. This week I have a couple of skincare/makeup favourites so if that's not your kinda thing I won't take it personally if you click away now. If however, you're in the market for a new sunscreen lotion and a loose face powder then this is definitely the post for you as I have a couple of beauties (pun intended).

First up is the sunscreen. This is a new product from the Body Shop and is frankly, bloody brilliant. It's SPF50 and is PA++++ which basically translates to it's very good protection! Where it has the advantage over most of the other facial sunscreen lotions is that is sinks in super quickly, leaves no white or chalky residue, and doesn't take too long to dry so you can start doing your face almost as soon as you're out of the bathroom. It's been a real game-changer for me as the one I was using before took FOREVER to dry and always left me feeling kinda greasy. And at £16 it's a really good price-point for a very effective and user-friendly sunscreen. I haven't tested this in hot hot hot international climates as girl has no pennies for that kind of holiday, but it's been working very well in the UK summer(ish) days. Highly recommended - find it here. 

Next up is a product from history - who knew?! Turns out this powder that I have just discovered dates all the way back to 1879! Whaaaaaaat? The Bourjois Poudre de Riz de Java is in a funky green pot, smells kind of like old ladies but in a mildly floral and inoffensive way (best description ever, eh?) and is truly lovely to use. Dusted over your face using a big ass powder brush it takes away all the shine yet leaves you all kinds of glowy. Magic! If you're not put off by the old lady smell description you can find this brand in most high street/drugstore shops for around about a tenner. Link here.

Same place next week for more favourites? See you then!

Weekly favourites

I have two favourites for you this week. As you've probably figured out by now these weekly favourites are kind of random, but there are no rules here, favourites are favourites - the end. 

First up is a golden glittery eyeshadow. Yes, I am 41 years old and I love glitter, ain't no shame in that. Ever since the Florida haul of joy from D, I have basically been wearing everything that she bought me on my face every single day. It's summer time, summer-ish, so I embrace a barely there base with a hint of colour on my eyes and cheeks for that no makeup, makeup look. I must be doing something right as I was actually complimented on my subtle eye makeup just the other day. A quick swipe of the golden glitter just adds a nice sparkle that catches the light just so. Yep, it's love. Makeup love. 

The second favourite of the week is that transparent springy looking thing. I know some of you are probably wondering why girl is showing you a strange springy looking thing but let me explain. That is a hair bobble/tie, and it is a thing of absolute genius! My hair, as most of you know, is thick and coarse and kinda batshit crazy, and normal elastic bobbles/ties do the whole snapping thing, including the evil prang on your finger from said snap which hurts like a mother-effer! That springy thing up there - no snapping, no pranging, and it wraps round my hair THREE TIMES! THREE! Genius. I have no idea who invented them but if I ever meet them, I will run up and kiss them with sheer gratitude for upping the hair bobble/tie game! I also have it on good authority from a fine hair work buddy that they work equally well in that type of hair too. I'm pretty sure you can get them all over the place, but to save you time looking here's a dandy link to the ones I got: Bargainous £2.50 genius hair bobbles. You're welcome boys and girls, totally welcome. 

Weekly favourites

Consider this a combination of MUST WATCH and all new weekly favourites combined, as it is absolutely both. Let me introduce you to Marcella, a crime drama that played out on ITV in April and May. Starring Anna Friel, it will keep you on the edge of your seat for every single episode. So in a way I've done you a favour by bringing it late to the party as you can get the whole series at once - believe me when I say you need to watch it this way. If I'd been watching it week by week I'm not sure I would have slept in between each episode! 

I'm not too good at describing plots of shows, and frankly there is so much going on that it would be impossible to explain. In the briefest of summaries: there's a killer, Marcella is on the case, you'll probably decide the killer is a different person each week until it's finally revealed in the penultimate episode...or is it?! It's dark, gripping, creepy, totally thrilling, and bloody brilliantly acted. It's definitely one of the best series I've seen this year. 

I watched it in two days flat (there are some perks to my weird work rota). And I have no fingernails left. It's that good. 

You can download and watch the entire series here. If you are in the UK it is also available via the ITV Hub on-demand option. And according to the world of wiki, it will be available internationally via Netflix soon. I'm already envious that you get to watch it for the first time...

Weekly favourites

Look at me, all mixing things up. I've decided to switch up my favourites and instead of the usual monthly round up, on a Wednesday I'll now be bringing you my weekly favourite(s). Mainly because it also starts with a 'W'. I know, I know, genius idea or what... As always, shout out any feedback below, because frankly, I always get ridiculously excited when someone comments. Ahem. 

So weekly favourite! I'm going to try really hard not be smug here but frankly it's been the absolutely gorgeous weather we have been having. Blue skies, sunny days, balmy evenings, stunning sunsets, what a bloomin' week! For anyone else who lives elsewhere in the UK please don't send the lynch mob to get me, I know, I know, you have been having endless rain, but bloody heckers, it's so rare for us to have nice weather compared to everywhere else that it has to be celebrated! 

When I was at work I practically ran to the coffee shop down the road at lunchtime as they have outdoor seating - win!

When I was at home, other than doing ALL the boring chores, I was outside at every single opportunity - win!

We ate our dinner outside every single night - ding ding ding, jackpot!

And then finally, after ambling home from rehearsals at theatre, staring up at the beautiful sunsets with my mouth wide open, I got home, cracked open an ice cold beer, and sat out on the bench until bedtime - sigh. What bliss!

It's bound to rain tomorrow. But until it does, I'll be enjoying the Summer and praying that it's here to stay!

Blue skies and fluffy white clouds from the bench of joy