Barry M Clear Nail Varnish REVIEW

What is it?

Barry M Clear Varnish – Topcoat, Basecoat & Nail Hardener. All In one.
A basic clear varnish used alone as a strengthener & shiny cover. Alternatively for basecoat under varnish and topcoat over varnish to protect and shine.

First Impressions

A cheap & cheerful product, I love many of the Barry M range. This varnish goes on like a dream. Smooth strokes. Even if you overload the brush it doesn’t matter, it stays on the nail and dries just as evenly. I am terrible at applying nail varnish but I can put this on anywhere!
The varnish dries very quickly, within 10 minutes. However you do need to leave it for a good 30 minutes before you can start bumping your fingers around carelessly.

Lasting Impressions

Basecoat – Works lovely. Nail varnish applies much smoother over a clear coat & makes removing it much easier. No stains or stuck parts.

Topcoat – Adds a nice shine & a bit of protection.

Alone – Lovely, healthy shine & nail protection. Strengthens nails really well.

The protection of this varnish is not great. It does add some cover but I found while working with my hands it is not difficult to chip. However in every day use it lasts well and keeps nails healthy & shiny. With a few days wear my nails are already stronger.
I haven’t used any other basecoats so I’m not sure if any of them do provide magical chip-proof protection.

Final Verdict

4/5I love it. Every girls must have. Quick & easy to apply and gives you nice and healthy looking nails. Especially good if you can’t or don’t want colour. Cosmetic phobic or obsession, clear varnish will give anyone a subtle improvement.

Top Tip: Clean, trim & file your nails before applying to get that nice nail look. Nothing worse than putting clear nail varnish over dirty, marked or uneven nails.

 

Neutrogena Multi-Defence Moisturiser REVIEW

One of my wash kit must haves! This little tub of moisturiser goes anywhere my night bag, suitcase or rucksack goes!
A morning I forget it leaves my skin feeling dull and dry.

What is it?

Daily moisturiser. SPF 15. UVA & UVB protection.
After reading that you should wear at least SPF 15 in all weather types I quickly went SPF moisture hunting. At £8 for a tiny 52ml bottle it doesn’t seem like much for your money, however this miracle bottle will last for months! (Using for my face only daily).

First Feel

Simple yet effective, I love the button top. It is easy to use only a tiny amount that is needed for your face, especially if you apply straight after a shower when your skin is still damp. The product feels like any normal moisturiser and smooths on nicely and evenly. It does not feel thick or oily, leaving skin soft.

Lasting Impressions

Using this daily has made my face much softer and my boyfriend always comments. My skin sometimes feels a little oily but I think that is more down to skin type than product. It smells nice but doesn’t leave a lingering scent. Perfectly fine to use over spots, doesn’t affect them good or bad.
Although I never used this as my only source of sun lotion, the SPF protect is definitely there. I work outside and have spent periods in the sun without sun lotion other than my moisturiser.

Love love love it. Everyone should add it to their daily cosmetics routine.

5/5 Thank you Neutrogena!

 

Week 3! NHS Couch to 5K

Well this week was interesting.

Usual 5 minute warm up walk while Laura explains this weeks program.

90 seconds jogging. 90 second walk. 3 minutes jogging! 3 minutes walk.
90 sec jog. 90 sec walk. 3 min jog. 3 min walk cool-down.

Ouch! 3 minutes jogging?! Bit of a step up. But it’s not bad at all! Not easy, but not bad. It’s really important to keep a nice pace. If you find your pace then you can keep running without getting tired. The 3 minute walk feels quite long so you are more than recovered.

My legs were certainly feeling it at the end. In a nice way. I benefit a lot from taking a bottle of water with me and my running bottle with a handle is lovely.

My second run of the week didn’t really go to plan; turned down a public footpath thinking it was a nice shortcut to the tracks but no.. Up and down hills, through long grass and cow pat! Not the best training route.

I am feeling a bit fitter so far. Let’s see what Week 4 is going to bring!

Related articles

• NSH Couch to 5K – Week 1 (ruthturner.wordpress.com)
• Week 2! NHS Couch to 5k (ruthturner.wordpress.com)

[FYI: It is not me in the photograph, unfortunately, I cannot stride that long. That is my boyfriend & my dog.]

 

Apple > Hotmail Syncing

I read my Hotmail emails on my iPad and phone, and there is nothing more frustrating than sorting through my emails, deleting those that I have read or don’t need, and then logging onto my computer and having hundreds of emails that have never been deleted!

AHHH!

This is because when you add your hotmail account it does not create a pop service and cannot. However if you set it up manually using Microsoft Exchange you can create the pop account and it works perfectly.

Here is how you do it:

Firstly delete your current account: Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendar > Click on your Hotmail account > Delete account

Now…

Settings >;;;; Mail, Contacts, Calendar >;;;; Add Account >;;;; Microsoft Exchange

Fill in the fields as follows:

Email: full Hotmail email address
Domain: Leave blank
Username: full Hotmail email address
Password: your Hotmail email address
Description: Hotmail (or anything you want to know it)

Click Next

The next screen is filled out the same, all your need to add is:

Server: m.hotmail.com

DONE!!

If you get any warning messages showing then carry on, click continue and check it has worked when finished.

I had problems when I first tried while I was connected to BTFON, then when I tried it while connected to my home broadband it worked fine.

Source: Apple iPad Tablet Help on Blogger http://apple-ipad-tablet-help.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-setup-hotmail-activesync-on-ipad.html

 

Week 2! NHS Couch to 5K

Now finished Week 2!

90 seconds running and 2 minutes walking. Repeat for 20 minutes.

2 minutes sounds like a long time walking, however it’s enough rest time after 90 seconds running which feels long enough. 90 seconds is a good time of running, it’s doo-able, but you feel it.
Remember this is designed for people who can’t run very well.

After my first 90 seconds I had a stitch, but I walked it off after 2 minutes and it didn’t come back again.

As long as you keep a steady pace it is quite enjoyable. My muscles felt it afterwards in a good ache way. After last week I wasn’t sure I’d be able to step it up but I really surprised myself.

I feel great! Bring on Week 3.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/get-running-with-couch-to-5k.aspx

 

NHS Couch to 5K! [Week 1]

I have always been a terrible runner! Always. I’m quite fit. I’m quite active and healthy. But I cannot run more than a few hundred metres without stopping, hand clutching a killer stitch, gasping for air.
I’ve tried to motivate myself, to go out and push myself on a run. I’ve managed to commit to a weekly run of 1 mile which I can do in about 11 minutes with a couple of walking breaks.

Recently I grabbed myself some books about running from my library and in one of them it mentions the NHS website for advice to start running.
Here is where I discovered Couch to 5K!

Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K is a program created by the NHS that aims to get any beginner to be able to run 5K in 9 weeks.

It consists of free podcasts which you download to your iPod or other MP3 device. There is one podcast for each week of training. You have to complete three runs for each week with at least one day break in between.

The podcasts are about 30 minutes long and you have Laura, a lovely lady, talking to you, explaining what you are going to do and giving you instructions of when to run and when to stop and walk, accompanied by some background music.

I found Laura’s voice so friendly and encouraging without being judgemental. (Yes I got all of that from a voice). Which is extremely important. I find it difficult to work with a person such as a coach or even a friend because I feel embarrassed and defeated. However Laura’s voice is brilliant, she makes you feel good about yourself and she’s not actually there to see you struggle.

However you must not cheat as it’s easy to stop running before the time as no one will ever know.

Week 1
So far I have completed 2/3 runs of Week 1. Week 1 consists of a 5 minutes brisk walk warm up. 60 seconds jogging and 90 seconds brisk walking, repeated for 20 minutes. 5 minutes brisk walk cool down.

My first time I found it tough but do-able. When I got to my 4th lot of 60 seconds running I was feeling pretty tired and sweaty but I kept pushing. The second to last run is probably the hardest point but knowing you’ve only got two more left is very motivational and it’s very easy to finish.
I run in the evening about an hour after my tea. On my second run I went out before my tea and found myself much weaker.

I didn’t ache or hurt for my rest day and don’t notice any difference so far which is expected as this is a slow period. I’m not looking forward to my first run of Week 2 as I feel like I’m not ready for the increase but I’m sure I’ll push hard and hopefully surprise myself. Looking forward to the progress.

The music of the podcasts is ok but it’s not as good as having my own choice. However it is motivational music with a tempo that I found myself matching to my stride. Ideally I’d have one earphone for my podcast and one earphone for my music!

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/get-running-with-couch-to-5k.aspx

 

Simple Summer Dress – LOOKBOOK

View on LOOKBOOK and give it some hype

http://lookbook.nu/user/624255-Ruth-T

 

A dream within a dream

Last night I had a dream! I woke up from my dream to still be dreaming!

A dream within a dream! Inception come true.

There I was enjoying my dream; my brother and his girlfriend were having a baby, they named it Spice.

And then I woke up.. still in the dream.. laughed at my dream about their baby. Went to see my brother and tell him about my dream, (while still dreaming), and even posted it on twitter. Inside my dream!

Many other things happened, including me having my own baby, going to work, seeing Chris Moyles DJ at my work office, and catching a child snatcher. Haha.

Then I woke up. Properly this time!

A very unique experience!

Related articles

• Dreams Decoded: What Your Sleep Says About You (bellasugar.com)
• Blog of My Dreams (iandanielstewart.com)

 

Your Local Dog Warden

Ever seen your local dog warden about? Do you know what they do? Want to know how to contact your dog warden should you need to?

Check out this post on Doggy Dayz, the blog all about dogs

http://doggydayz.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/your-local-dog-warden/

 

 

Screen Capture on iPad

Press and hold lock button (top right) then press home key (centre bottom below screen).

Done.

I assume this is also the same method for all iPhone & iPod Touch models.

Simples. Works every time. Even with the screen locked. Physical buttons are still needed and useful!