Lee Stafford Hair Growth Shampoo & Conditioner - My hair growth diary starts here

For years my hair has NEVER grown past a certain length, It usually gets to shoulder length then just stops and looks boring. It's naturally very curly/frizzy and quite dry so my ends are always wrecked and it generally just doesn't look very nice :(

Recently i decided i was going to stop using as much heat on my hair and instead just leave it to its own devices, drying naturally and being shoved up into a messy bun. It has definitely helped with the growth so far and aside from the odd weekend where i've straightened it to go out i think i've evaded heat for about 3 months. But i want it to grow MORE.

So i've discovered Lee Stafford's range for "hair that never grows past a certain length" and although the products are expensive (£7.50 for a bottle of shampoo eeek) whilst the 3 for £12 offer is on at Boots i thought i'd take advantage.

Have a look here

My original plan was to buy the shampoo, conditioner and the leave in hair growth treatment but unfortunately they'd sold out of it. After much deliberation i decided to go with the Breaking Hair leave in treatment to help combat the dry, brittle ends.

I'm not going to ramble on about what's in the products or how to use as i hope the pictures show that well enough.

All the products smell amazing, i can't really describe the scent though but it's quite strong and its one that lingers so you get a wiff every time your hair swishes. Reviews i've read said that the shampoo can be quite drying on the hair leaving it straw like but i didn't notice anything like that. Maybe because i used the leave in treatment it helped keep it soft but i'm happy with how my hair feels at the minute.

My goal is to update on my hair length towards the end of every month although i'm not sure how long i'll do it for. I suppose it depends on the results after month one. So for reference here is a photo of my hair last night after the first use.

Fingers crossed for boob length ASAP! 

Holi One Colour Festival | Leeds

A couple of weeks ago i was invited as a guest with Carrieanne from Beautiesunlocked.com to the Leeds Holi One Colour Festival.

I LOVE festivals. I'm an outdoors girl and i don't mind getting wet and muddy but that's usually at Download Festival...for 5 solid days of heavy metal and lager (such a lady). Holi One was completely different to what i'm used to but i loved it.

The sun was shining, there was no mud in sight and as it was just for the day, there were no muddy tents to go back to later on. The music was playing from the moment we got there right up until we left and everyone was having an amazing time.

On the hour every hour, from 12 until late there is a colour explosion where you throw your coloured powder, provided by Holi One into the air. It looks amazing. It's just a fine coloured dust that settles on your clothes but can easily be dusted off, although we saw some people mixing it with water which made it stick to you and kept you lovely and colourful throughout the day.

Food and drink were available throughout the day and Lipton Iced Tea were at the event giving out samples which was lovely. They had a camper van set up where you could go get a photo taken using props....

We couldn't stop laughing for the rest of the day after Carrieanne had that wig on!

Overall i had a fantastic day filled with lots of laughs. If you fancy going to a Holi One festival there's still time.

Glasgow - 23rd August
Bristol Bath - 23rd August.

You can buy tickets at www.holione.com

*Tickets provided by Holi One*

Glossybox August 2014 | Unboxing

I always get excited for the arrival of my monthly Glossybox. I rarely see any spoilers for this one other than what's announced by Glossy themselves so it's always a surprise to see what arrives. This month marks Glossybox's third birthday so i was expecting good things.

First impressions are great. The box has changed and is now more squared off on the edges and a matte finish. A subtle change but i like it.

The information for the products also now comes on a fold out card which is great, the information is clear along with the prices. So much better.

                          Essence Long lasting lipstick £2.29 - Natural Beauty

I haven't tried any essence products as of yet and i was pleasantly surprised by this for the price. Its a lovely neutral colour that would suit any skin tone and its very moisturising. I'll be popping this into my everyday makeup bag.

Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer - full size £38 for 250ml - sample size 40ml £6.08

I haven't had chance to try this out yet but i can't wait to.

The elasticizer was originally created for Audrey Hepburn. You use it before shampooing and it's claims to deliver unrivalled elasticity, manageability, bounce and shine without weighing down or coating the hair.

Exciting stuff.

Yves Rocher Vernis Nail Polish - Full size - £3.60

Cute little polish and a lovely colour. It goes on nicely and i'll probably use it regular as a work polish. Can't complain! 

 Figs and Rouge Rose Berry Hand Cream - Full size £6.95 for 80ml - Sample size 20ml - £1.74

I have hundreds of hand creams and now i've got another one to add to the collection. I haven't even finished the last one sent by Glossy yet! 

I don't really like the scent of this, it's abit sickly so i don't think i'll get my use out of it which is a shame. I did like the Figs and Rouge lip balm that we got in a previous box though.

Lalique by L’Amour Perfume Sample, 2ml - full size £67 50ml - sample size - £1.49

A sensuous floral fragrance. A love potion for absolute seduction.

Bergamot, Rosebud, Tuberose, Gardenia, Ceder, Sandalwood

No. I just didn't like it. And i wouldn't pay £67 for it! Also, ive never used such an awful tester bottle, it went EVERYWHERE.

Kryolan for Glossybox Highlighter in Cashmere £12.95 for the full size 4.5g

Again, i feel like i'm building up a massive collection of highlighters through these subscription boxes. They're all lovely though and this one is a nice one to add to my makeup stash.

It's very natural, not too shimmery and can be used wherever you see fit. It would suit all complexions.

Verdict

Total value - £28.15 - pretty sure i've read somewhere that everyone was guaranteed a minimum of £30.

I'm happy with this months box, although i wont be using the perfume sample or the hand cream. I think with it being a birthday box it could have been a bit more exciting as the products are quite cheap compared to previous boxes. I'll make use of the other products though and will be staying subscribed! Bring on the next one.

Birch Box August 2014 | Unboxing

Birch Box | August 2014 | Unboxing

I'm still on the fence with Birch Box. I keep meaning to cancel it but then can't bring myself to do it incase the next box is amazing and i miss out.

This month's box still has me on the fence, i do like everything i've received this time round and probably will use all the products so maybe i'll wait til the next box to make a decision.

So the products this time, instead of arriving in the little Birch Box bag (which i am quickly building up a collection of) came in a plastic makeup bag, perfect for taking as hand luggage on holiday. This made a nice change although the clasp has broken off on mine so i had to split the bag to get into it.....

Vasanti - Brighten Up Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator - Full size £26.00

I like this, a good facial exfoliator is always welcome in my bathroom and this one makes my skin feel amazing after use although i don't think i'd be splashing out on the full size anytime soon. Maybe something i'd consider with my reward points though.

Lumiere d'hiver Super Comb Prep & Protect spray - Full size - £20

I've yet to try this but i like the sound of it and it smells good. My curly hair is always in need of some TLC so i'm looking forwards to giving it a spritz with this on a morning. 

Wild About Beauty Powder Eyeshadow - 04 Becca - Full size £13.00

This is lovely, i like the shade ,i love the packaging & the fact theres a mirror provided. You can probably tell i've used this a couple of times already. Its the perfect neutral shade. I was surprised to see it was created by Louise Redknapp.

Dead Sea Spa Magic Refreshing Bath & Shower Gel - Full size £7.15

This smells gorgeous, just like the sea. Its very relaxing although i haven't got a bath to use it in so i've been using it in the shower. It gives a really nice lather but for £7.15 i'm not sure i could make the full size stretch to being worth it.

Supergoop CC Cream - Daily Correct - Light/Medium - Full size - £32.00

I havent tried this as of yet but the colour is nice and it adapts well to skin tone. I usually just stick to Clinique as i don't like to change up my foundation very often but i'll give this a go. I'm glad they've provided two of these and one 3ml sample wouldn't have gone very far. 

The Proposal - Tasmina Perry - £7.99

As a lifestyle extra this month we have a sample chapter of The Proposal written by Tasmina Perry. I do like to read but i haven't managed to even open this yet to see what its about. I think its a great idea to provide a chapter and i think you can really get a feel as to whether you want to purchase it or not.

Verdict

Im happy with this months box but it really annoys me how difficult it is to figure out the value of the box as Birch rarely provide full size items. The eyeshadow is full size this time so the box definitely breaks even but i don't really know where to begin to start figuring out the value of all the samples. I'll be sticking around for next months box.

If you want to subscribe to Birch Box you can do so at www.birchbox.co.uk 

Love Me Beauty Box August 2014 | Unboxing

My favourite time of the month has arrived again. Time for all the beauty boxes to arrive all at once!

I'll start this month with Love Me Beauty as it was the first to arrive.

I opted for option two this month, anything that revolves around eyebrow/liner products is a must for me, so lets get to the unboxing.....

I have to admit, when i opened the box it didn't really look exciting like last months box, it looks quite empty with there only being four products this time but the quality of the products i've received really makes up for that.

Mirabella - Lip Luster Liner in "Charming" - £10.50

I've never used a lip liner....ever. After realising they don't just have to be used to line the lip but can also be used to colour fully i couldn't wait to give this a go.

The colour is lovely and it's nice and matte which is what types of red i go for anyway. I can see myself using this regularly.

"Sheer, brilliant lip liner is easy to blend and layer. Aloe Vera keeps lips soft and application comfortable. Long wearing shiny finish creates the perfect base for lip gloss formulas."

A La Carte - Smudge Proof Eyebrow Definer in "Blonde" - £23.00

New eyebrow products are always exciting although i keep going back to my old faithful rimmel pencil as i don't seem to fall in love with anything else, until this came along.

I forgot to swatch this one but its a really nice light brown colour. I was abit worried that the blonde shade wouldn't be dark enough but as it was the same shade in each box i didn't really have a choice. Its lovely and natural and after a little bit of practice with the application my brows look fabulous. It stays on all day and unlike a pencil there's no worry about smudging it down your face!

"Precision, skinny tip pen for painting individual hairs. Water-based, smudge-proof for eyebrows, eyeliner or semi permanent body art. Its the perfect natural and transparent colour for tinting or filling in brows."

Oriflame - The One Eyeliner Stylo in "Black" - £8.45

I loooooove this. Eyeliner pens are my favourite liners and this one is so good. Its dark, glossy, goes on so easily and i can do my cat flicks to a tee. It also doesn't budge on my greasy lids throughout the day but is easy enough to remove on a night. What more can you ask for?

"Deliver vibrant colour magnitude, delicate felt tip supplies one smooth, precise line with no dragging or creasing."

Marsk - Mineral Eyeshadow in "Foiled again" - £14.49

I'm still learning when it comes to eyeshadow, everytime i try it takes me back to year 7 at school when it was the in thing to rock a bright blue eye. (cringe)

This is a loose powder but it has the little holes to dispense the powder through rather than it being a free for all once the lid comes off.

It's a gorgeous colour and its nice and pigmented however, i found that applying it dry it just dusts right off so its probably better to use it with a wet brush but i'm yet to try it.

"100% Natural, mineral based loose powder that are strictly cruelty free and available in a range of striking shades that offer endless colour possibilities for a professional makeup effect. Featuring a creamy texture, these highly pigmented powders are easily blendable and offer you the ability to create depth and intensity around the eye"

Verdict

Total of box - £56.44

So yet again another great box that i'll make use of everything from, i can't fault it and for the price you pay for the box the value is amazing.

Can't wait to see how it measures up to the other boxes.

If you want to purchase a Love Me Beauty Box you can do so Here

New Years resolutions - Complete!

For 2014 i set myself two big (to me) challenges to complete.

CHALLENGE 1.

Last year i started running and to keep me on track i decided to register for the Leeds half marathon on 11th May 2014. 13.1 miles to anyone that isn't familiar with race lengths.

I had a tough old time finding the right running shoes, but thats a whole different story. But thank god for my Asics GT 2000 trainers that have stuck with me the whole way.

Training was tough. Starting from running 5k a week to upping the mileage to be able to comfortably run 10k took time. I took part in the Wakefield Hospice 10k with my friend Kate to get the feel of what a race would be like and we completed it in 56 minutes.

After completing the 10k it was time to start getting sponsored for the big race. I managed to raise just short of £600 for the RNIB which is a charity for the blind. My Grandad has recently been registered as blind so it meant alot to me to run for a charity that does so much to help him.

My brothers friend Bijan was my training rock throughout the whole journey. He kept me going through all the painful stitches, the uphill climbs, the hot & cold weather and anything else that got in our way. I couldn't have done it without him, it really does make a massive difference to train with someone rather than going at it by yourself.

I completed the half marathon in 02:03:21 and i believe Bijan was about 10 minutes faster. I kept a steady pace throughout and didn't walk once. I think i've set a pretty decent time to beat next year. 

 CHALLENGE 2.

Tough Mudder!

Probably the more exciting of the two challenges and definitely my favourite one to take part in. I kept my running training up for this whilst also doing a lot of kettlebell workouts for strength although nothing could really prepare Team Diamond for what was to come.....

Tough Mudder is a 10-12 mile obstacle course designed to test all-around strength, stamina, teamwork, and mental grit. Tough Mudder is Probably the Toughest Event on the Planet. Probably.

Team Diamond consisted of

From left to right - Carrieanne (Beauties Unlocked), My brother Mike, My good friend Sam, and Myself.

The course was MASSIVE. Other the Yorkshire moors it wasn't going to be easy. There were alot of up and downhills. There was alot of mud. And there were some tough obstacles to overcome.

Below is the course map

 The below images are a few of the standout obstacles for me personally. They are also taken from the official Tough Mudder website as it might have proved a bit difficult to take a camera round with us, haha.

Everest

Conquering Everest takes major grit and teamwork. Sprint up this quarter-pipe obstacle and enlist the help of other Mudders℠ to pull you over the beastly summit. Everest is coated in mud and grease, a combo that might send you right back from where you came. Suck it up and keep climbing. The view from the top is worth it.

 

Hangin' Tough

This obstacle holds the title for the lowest completion percentage. You’ll need a strong grip and precise coordination to conquer it. Swing Tarzan-style across a series of hanging rings spaced 1.2 to 1.8 meters apart and suspended over a pool of muddy water. For those of you who talk a big game, this obstacle will show you just how tough you really are.

Obstacle Stat: Only 30% of Mudders℠successfully complete Hangin’ Tough.

Arctic Enema

This obstacle arguably takes the most mental grit of them all. Some athletes use ice baths for recovery, but your muscles aren’t going to be relaxed after a swim in this freezing skip. Climb right into the floating iceberg abyss—don’t overthink it. When you’re submerged, find the mental and physical strength to swim through the ice, under a wooden plank and pull yourself out on the other end. You’ll come out feeling like shrink-wrapped leftovers straight out of the freezer. Emphasis on the shrink

Electroshock Therapy

Run through a field of live wires that sure as hell don’t tickle. Watch out for hay bales and deep sinkholes, or you will face-plant into some electrifying mud. Some Mudders℠ try to stealthily wind their way through the wires, while others barrel forward to get through as quickly as possible. Just keep your eye on the prize: this is the last obstacle you face before you cross the finish line.

Mud Mile

Slosh through a series of waist-deep mud pits and try not to lose your shoes in the process. Balance and coordination are key if you want to make it through this mud-run obstacle without face-planting…but what’s the fun in that? Real Mudders℠ eat mud for breakfast.

 It was an amazing experience and all four of us can't wait to take part again next year and become MUDDER LEGIONNAIRES.

All Mudders are rewarded with a tough mudder headband & a t shirt. The headbands change colour for each course you complete so you don't just end up with a million orange headbands.

There's also a pint of delicious Ginger Grouse Ginger Beer waiting for you as you cross the finish line.

The pictures below do not do any justice as to how muddy we actually got, one of the obstacles close to the end results in jumping into water which washes pretty much most of the mud off you.

 

So that's my resolutions done for my fit 2014. I'm also taking part in the Leeds Abbey Dash in November and then it's on to planning next year's challenges.

Bring it on.