7 Days of M&S Healthy Dinners: Day 3

Count On Us Spicy Chicken Tostada

Please note: this post is going to be without photographs, as I forgot to take them in all the excitement of some guy blowing his car up outside our house..!  This is Friday's dinner.

First Impressions

When choosing this item, it was an even toss-up between this one, and the spicy beef variety.  In the end, I just flipped a coin and came out with the chicken variety.  I've had tostada before, at the Mexican restaurant Chimi Changa, but never outside of that environment, so I figured it would be interesting to see how they compare.
The packaging, while a complete pain in the butt layout-wise when stacking products, is wholly practical for this type of food, as a tostada is a flat tortilla piled with toppings - it is only about 10mm tall.  Viewing the product through the film, it looked very similar to the one I had in Chimi, all be it a bit smaller and slightly less generous with the toppings.  It did, however, look very appealing and colourful, and to be honest I wasn't expecting some kind of monster serving after my experience with the Ragu on Thursday.
That being said, I didn't end up making myself a side, as I wasn't sure what would go with such a meal, and instead I treated myself with M&S Millionaire Shortbread ice cream afterwards!
To cook this product you have to remove the entire thing from the packaging and put it onto a baking tray.  First off, it was incredibly fiddly.  The tortilla is floppy and soft by nature, meaning it had no rigidity to keep shape while being moved from one place to the other.  Also, the toppings kept moving about, meaning that once the tortilla was in place, I had to rearrange the toppings to be more even on the surface of the tortilla.  In the end, I literally just did tipped the tray up slightly and slid the tortilla into position as quickly as I could.
Secondly, I do note agree with the use of the baking tray, but that is simply because I have discovered the glory of the chip tray.  A chip tray is essentially a twine-like woven sheet, like a small net that you get oranges in, but firmer and heatproof.  They are designed to allow the air to circulate around the chips, meaning that you don't have to turn them over at all and that the chips are evenly crispy all over.  It's a wonderful invention and I chose to use this instead of a tray.  In my experience, trays tend to overcook the base of things, and with something as delicate as a tortilla, I decided it wasn't worth the risk.  if you don't have a chip tray, you can get them from Wilkinsons or sometimes B&M.

Taste Test

Sadly, right at the end of the cooking time, I was distracted by the man who blew up his car outside next door.  This meant that I had to get the tostada out of the oven so that it didn't burn, and then leave it covered for about half an hour or more while I checked that a) nobody was hurt, b) the police had been called and c) the police had all the information they needed.  By the time I got around to eating my dinner, it was pretty much cold.  I have a feeling that I would have enjoyed it much more if it were fresh and hot.
The tortilla had started out crisp, but given the extended amount of time it had been left amidst the chaos, it had turned soggy.  Still, a tortilla is a tortilla, and I still managed to get a little enjoyment out of it.  The chicken was still juicy, though cold, and the rest of the toppings managed to maintain their flavour pretty well given the fact that they too were frigid.  The whole meal had a vaguely Mexican flavour to it, but I was disappointed by how little there was on the actual tostada.  I don't feel that there was enough cheese on top, as I could barely taste any of it, and parts of the tostada were very bare.  The sauce on top also seemed to reduce in consistency during cooking, which considering it was quite thin anyway, was a disappointment for me.  I was also glad I had decided on the dessert of ice cream, as I was still hungry once it was done, and I am beginning to wonder what kind of Mexican sides would go well with a tostada.
However, I found I couldn't enjoy this meal, as I was too hungry and the food was too cold for me to care.  I feel that perhaps, I should give this one another try at a later date, given that my experience was interrupted by an idiot who clearly doesn't read the warning labels on his air freshener.

Overall Rating

Inconclusive Result

The distraction cause the food to go cold and I found I could not bring myself to actually care by the time I got round to eating it.  I will try this again at a later date and review my ratings then.

7 Days of M&S Healthy Dinners: Day 2

Fuller Longer Chicken and Chilli Prawn Pad Thai (£4.19)

First Impressions

I'm going to be completely honest and let it be known that my very first impression of this item was "What the fandango is Pad Thai?".
Seriously, what is it?  It doesn't look that different to any other rice noodle dish I've tried so....  wha...?
But anyway, enough of that.  I chose it anyway, because it had chilli prawns in it.  I love prawns, but I've always found ready meals incredibly hit and miss when it comes to a good one, so I thought I'd give this one a try as there was always the chicken to fall back on if the prawns weren't up to taste.
The packaging, much like the new Count on Us packets, is very simple, and you can see pretty much the whole meal through the film, so it was easy to guess what I was going to get.  It was all very well presented, but had a more sophisticated appearance than the Count on Us product yesterday did.  It looked and felt a whole lot more expensive, and priced at 50% more than the Ragu, my wallet certainly felt it.  But, Fuller Longer is marketed as one of our better healthy meals, so I guess that's to be expected.
The whole concept of Fuller Longer is that you don't feel hungry between meals.  As such, I decided to forego the accompaniment tonight, in order to test the theory of being fuller, for longer.  And as I don't eat breakfast in the mornings anyway (I can't eat before 7am, it gives me a tummy-ache), this will certainly be a test of the endurance of the product!
This product is microwaveable; there are no instructions for oven cooking.  This makes it incredibly quick to prepare, which is convenient if you have a hectic lifestyle.  I personally don't, but I can still see the appeal in a healthy meal that you can prepare in less than three minutes.  And, the clear plastic has a handy little tab on it to make opening easier!  No faffing with this meal, it was so quick and simple to open I almost jumped for joy (as I was pretty much starving by then!)!

Taste Test

I didn't bother decanting this product.  I didn't see the point, as the bowl was pretty handy and didn't detract from the food at all, so I just left it.
Now, first things first.  The prawns.  I tasted one.  And I was surprised at how good they were!  Plump and juicy, they tasted almost exactly like the prawns we've cooked for ourselves from scratch!  I couldn't fault them.  I was only sad that there were not more of them.  Second, the chicken.  That too was fabulous; tender and moist with no stringy or fatty bits to ruin the texture.  A perfect chicken breast.
Now the noodles.  The noodles to me were just noodles; they weren't prepared in any particularly special way, but to be honest, I don't think that causes too much of a problem here.  With all the flavour from the chilli prawns, bland noodles seemed to mix well with the dish, as they didn't overpower anything.
Sometimes, I find that you can easily ruin a dish by having too much flavour, or too many things happening at once on your plate.  It's like an inflatable dingy; too little air and the dingy sinks with you in it, but too much and it pops, possibly giving you lacerations from the violent ejection of the stopper.  I'm sorry, I have clearly been watching too much CSI.  A dish that's too busy is hard to eat as you can't really appreciate the combinations of flavours.  But by including noodles which are quite bland, M&S have managed to keep the balance of flavour fairly even.
However, I did find the cabbage a little difficult to eat regardless.  Mainly because, I HATE cabbage.  But, I wanted to try Pad Thai, so I braved the cabbage anyway.  What actually made the cabbage easier to eat was the dressing.  It was mildly spicy and very flavoursome with added zing that covered the cabbage taste so well.  It also brought out the chilli flavour on the prawns too, and gave the chicken that little extra bite.  I like bite.
Also, this meal was a good size, so I don't think it needed an accompaniment.  Unless I was really hungry, in which case, maybe a bit of prawn toast?

Overall Rating

4 Stars (out of 5)

Sadly it was the overzealous addition of cabbage that spoiled it for me.  If it had been something like spinach, I think it would've been much better, but as I am not an expert in Pad Thai, I don't know whether cabbage is a set inclusion or not.  However, the rest of the meal was delicious, and I would recommend it to anyone.  So long as you like cabbage.  And aren't allergic to peanuts.

On another note: I don't know if it was the fault of the Pad Thai, but shortly after finishing this meal, I had a very strange craving for Red Bull.  I'm just throwing that one out there for you.

7 Days of M&S Healthy Dinners: Day 1

As some of you may know I work at M&S on the Foods Department.  And as you may have realised, January is the season of Healthy Meals, Weight Watchers, Dieting, and making resolutions to go to the Gym this year that you subsequently break in February or March (though that last one may just be me...).

Anyhow, work are encouraging us to try the new products that have just come in on our Fuller Longer and Count on Us ranges, so I decided to do "7 Days of M&S Healthy Dinners".  I bought four Fuller Longer meals (currently on 2 for £6) and three Count on Us (currently on 3 for 2).

Now I am going to be straight from the off: this is highly unlikely to make me any healthier or anything like that.
For one thing, I'm only planning on eating healthy dinners, not breakfasts and lunches.  I am also not changing my exercise regime.  These reviews are purely for the purpose of testing the TASTE, which is, I think, a very important part of the appeal of a healthy meal.  Let's be honest, if it tastes like cardboard soaked in petrol you won't want to eat it!

Also, did you know: M&S's Fuller Longer range now holds a 40% share of the healthy meals market, ousting Weight Watchers as the number one healthy meal brand?

Just thought I'd throw that little factoid out there... ;-)

And thus, I begin with Day One.

Count on Us: Beef and Pork Ragu Cheesy Pasta Bake (£2.79)

First Impressions

The main reason I picked this item is because it's not chicken.  Most ready meals I like are chicken based, as you will see as the week goes on, and I knew that I had to break out of that habit if I was really going to do this properly.  However, I am not a big fan of fish; I only really eat salmon and prawns (not fish, I know, but close enough), so I chose this to be one of my non-chicken meals.

I like the packaging for Count on Us; for the most part it's simple yet stylish with no fiddly boxes taking up air space (yes, Steak Yorkshires, I'm looking at you!).  The dish looked cute and colourful, as ready meals go, and the whole appearance was overall very appealing.  However, when I picked this up out of my fridge earlier, I found myself wondering if perhaps it might be a little on the small side for me to have it alone.

I astound people with how much I am capable of eating (a whole Tuscan Sausage Pasta with Focaccia Crostini to myself?  No problem!), and this to me did not seem enough.  Having not thought of this prior to all the shops closing, I didn't have anything to have as a healthy accompaniment, so I made myself some home-made garlic toast to go with it.

The plastic film was annoying.  It would start to come off easily enough, but for some reason it tended to split up in small pieces.  I don't know if this was just me being a bit of a dipstick, but it was quite frustrating.  The cooking instructions were simple enough: 160C Fan oven for 20 minutes.  I even managed to get the garlic toast in at exactly the same time because the temperature was so low!

 

For anyone that's interested, garlic toast: 1/2 a teaspoon garlic puree, 2 teaspoons of butter/margarine/spread and a pinch of garlic granules, mixed together in a small bowl and spread over one side of a slice of bread; then oven baked.  I usually do it at 180 for 5-10 mins depending on how crunchy I want the toast to be but apparently 160 for 20 mins is fine!

Taste Test

Because I wanted it to look pretty in the pictures I was taking, I decanted mine onto a plate.  A small plate, I would like to add.  I was right with my first idea that there may not be enough there for me, so it was a good thing I'd made my side of toast.  But anyway...

Pasta is a very bland food by nature, so it's really up to the sauce and suchlike to give the pasta it flavour.  The sauce was as basic as you can possibly get, tomato with a hint of basil, and that is always a safe way to go as it's very difficult to get a tomato sauce wrong.  The beef and pork within the sauce was minced, and I felt that perhaps there wasn't really enough meat in the dish, as it was very difficult to taste any of it over the flavour of the sauce.  Delicate, is probably the best way to describe the flavour; it's there, but it doesn't work hard on your taste-buds   Having said that, there was nothing wrong with the taste itself, I just think that perhaps I am more of a carnivore than I would care to imagine!

The topping was lovely; all crunchy and with plenty of finely grated cheese, two of my favourite things when it comes to pasta toppings!  The cheese was a mild flavoured one, which I'll admit isn't my usual taste (I'm all Mature+) but given the theme of the rest of the meal, it seems an appropriate choice, as a more mature cheese may have overpowered the subtle flavours of the sauce and meat.  The addition of herbs to the crumb was a nice touch, as it gave it a little kick without resorting to an overpowering spice (spice for the sake of flavour is fine, spice for the sake of spice is wrong).  The inclusion of spinach in the recipe was good too, as I definitely don't eat enough greens normally, and there wasn't so much that it overpowered the rest of the food; just complimented.

Overall, this is definitely too small to have alone, though I'm not sure what I would have alongside it other than garlic bread or something like that.  Maybe I just need a smaller stomach?!

Overall Rating

4.5 Stars

A little too small for me as a stand-alone meal, but tasty none-the-less.  Looks good, easy to cook and good for you!

Ravishing Rubies for Luscious Lips...

A few weeks back, I tested Avon's Ultra Colour Rich Rubies Lipstick.  Why has it taken so long for me to write up about it?  Well, to be fair, I suddenly found myself with a whole lot of new stuff to demo, so I figured that I'd try everything at once and then write up about it all later.
As it turns out, that was a terrible idea, but hey, it gave me an excuse to demo everything all over again!

So anyway, Avon is no stranger to the sparkly lipstick.  UCR Rubies is the fourth gem-enriched lipstick that I am personally aware of, with the first three being 24K Gold, Brilliance (pearls), and Rose Gold.  Avon is a lover of glitter and sparkle, and usually, with the release of a gem-enriched lipstick comes the release of a sparkly make-up item.  For 24K Gold, there was an entire 24K Gold collection, including an extension of the quad palettes when they released Golden Twilight and Golden Sapphire; with the release of Rose Gold came Limited Edition Rose Gold nail polishes, and when Brilliance was released, we were treated to the return of Twilight Sparkle and Sparkling Silver Glimmerstick Diamonds, as well as two new shades (Golden Diamond and Brown Glow) and two new nail polishes.

But when Rubies was released, this didn't happen.  It could, perhaps, have had something to do with the release of not one, but two new ranges in the brochure before, Arctic Goddess and Dazzling Diva, both of which featured sparkly make-up items.  But whatever the reason, in C1 2013, Rubies made its appearance as a stand-alone lipstick with nothing matching to compliment it.  For this reason, I was a little disappointed, as I would happily have invested in some eyeshadows with rubies (I feel that Avon is missing out when they fail to include red as a colour in their eye make-up palettes).  Despite this, I bought all six of them to try, as they were going cheap as demonstration products go.  And so, into my collection I welcomed Noble Nude, Majestic Mauve, Radiant Ruby, Princely Plum, Fuchsia Fame and Imperial Pink, as seen below.

Now, it has to be noted, that when these arrived, they actually look a lot darker than in this picture.  I'm guessing that when you have an army of professional photographers at your disposal, you can use all the fancy lighting you want to make your products look pretty.  But all the same, I quite liked the darkness of them.  I am really into statement lip colours that give you a complete pop - a pout worth looking at, and what better way to do that than with a fairly neutral eye and bold, rich lips?

When I opened the, rather sexy, black and red tube, I was surprised to find that the lipstick had a faint fruity smell to it; a soft and refreshing fruit, perhaps peach or something like that?  I can't be too sure, sadly, but it is a very nice smell all the same.  The colours were deep and vivid, with tiny tiny flecks of pinky-red sparkle that you can only see under direct light.  The whole effect is subtle and glamorous - there's none of this over-the-top glitter effect that can sometimes come across in sparkle lipsticks.  The colour of the lipstick compliments the red sparkle perfectly; there is no sense that either one is going to outshine the other, and while the richness of the colours may come across quite intimidating, there is also something energetic and spirited about them.  They seem to inspire a sense of boldness, and while normally I wouldn't be seen in the daylight wearing something as deep as Princely Plum, I actually went to the shop wearing it.  And do you know what?  I didn't care one little bit!

I love this lipstick.  While at first the formula felt a little bit gritty, that soon eased out and went on smoothly.  The lipstick is soft, silky and light; you barely notice you're wearing it.  There's no heavy residue, and my lips felt moisturised, though there is no claim to moisturisation in the advertising.  The effect of the rubies was soft and subtle, giving me a sparkly, shiny pout with no in-your-face, overkill glitz which can sometimes ruin an otherwise perfect look.  The result was sexy and seductive; something I do not often feel, and many people commented on how nice my lipstick was!  What made it all better, was the fact that the lipstick was pretty robust.  I spent four hours at a party wearing Fuchsia Fame (a fabulous party colour), and I knocked back quite a few drinks in that time, yet my lipstick still looked bright and kissable.  After that I went to the after-party, and when the colour finally did fade, it left behind traces of the ruby sparkle, which on its own was also a nice effect - I did not retouch my lipstick all night (seven hours) because of this.  The fruity smell is also ever so slightly present when the lipstick is on, though there is no noticeable taste to the product.  While for me transfer was minimal, I have yet to see how well this lipstick holds up in more mouth-active situations, such as kissing or eating, though I am hoping for good results as I would hate to have to consider that this lipstick has a negative side.

Soft and subtle, yet bold and daring. These traits are what make this lipstick truly fabulous.  I would recommend them to anyone and everyone.  There is a colour to suit all, so if you're not one for the bold bright statements, Noble Nude is there to help.  If you want something that is sultry and sensuous, I recommend Princely Plum, and if you just want something cute and girly, Imperial Pink is your colour.  I have yet to try out Majestic Mauve and Radiant Ruby, but I see Ruby as a vibrant, sexy colour, perfect for a hot night out, and Mauve as the colour you'd wear on a romantic night with your significant other.

Now, at £8.50, these are in line with most other Avon lipstick prices, so you are probably not going to fork out any more than usual for one.  Having said that, there are cheaper lipsticks out there, which has the potential to make some people think twice.  Please don't.  They are well worth the money!

All-in-all, this one's a slam dunk for me.  I don't have a bad word to say about it, which makes a nice change, as I am incredibly fussy when it comes to lipsticks.  A top-notch five out of five stars!

Want to try it out or fancy looking at more of Avon's lipstick choices?

Go to my Online Brochure or speak to your Independent Representative.  Alternatively, you can buy online at avonshop.co.uk.

Returning to the Fold...

It's been a long time since I blogged on here.  To tell you the truth, this was mostly out of a lack of engagement in what I was meant to be blogging about.  I lost a lot of faith in my Avon business for a while; things were going downhill no matter how hard I tried, and it's only recently that I have managed to once again give myself a boost in the right direction.

So, with my reappearance, there are going to be a few changes to the blog - mainly in that I will no longer be blogging only about Avon.  I will be blogging about Make-Up and Beauty in general, including fashion, where appropriate, so hopefully I will have a lot more to talk to everybody about.  This is going to start with a review on a new lipstick that Avon have just released, as well as a review on a recent purchase of a Gothic Victorian-style jacket, that I probably shouldn't have bought because it was rather expensive!

On top of this I am going to be experimenting with clothing and make-up looks, as I have a Christmas Party at work on Tuesday and I need an outfit for that!

Look forward to it! :-)

List of New Products

Reviews will be available soon.


Make-up and Fragrance:
ExtraLasting Lipgloss in Infinite Berry
Outspoken Intense by Fergie EDP Spray, Purse Spray and Body Spray (Release in Campaign 15)

New Shades:
Glimmerstick Diamonds in Flashy Copper and Sparkling Silver (Release in Campaign 15)

Lingerie:
Hot Cherry Bra and Brief (Release in Campaign 15)
Hot Cherry Pyjamas (Release in Campaign 15 - awaiting delivery)
Hello Kitty Angel Sleep Tee (Release in Campaign 15)

Returning to Business!

Due to personal circumstances beyond my control, I have been unable to deliver books or orders for the last nine weeks.

As I am now in a position to begin distributing Avon again, I am restarting my rounds as of this week.

I apologise for the issues this may have caused, and I hope that you will continue to look forward to flicking through your brochures and trying new products.

The Power of Sampling

Samples are probably the most useful tool a Representative has in her arsenal of goodies and tricks.  A sample gives you the chance to try a product before you buy, and it is something that should never be looked upon lightly.  Many Reps are picky with the way they distribute their samples, so if you receive one, it's because they think that this is a product that you may like based on your previous purchases.  I myself have used samples, both for myself and for my customers.  I will talk about my most recent sample find in another post, but for now, have a look at this list of available samples.  If you see something that you want to try, contact your Representative and ask if they have it in the colour or fragrence you want!  See brochures for available make-up colours.

Foundations

Ideal Shade Natural Liquid Foundation
Extra Lasting Foundation
Smooth Minerals Liquid Foundation
ANEW Youth Awakening Transforming Foundation
MagiX Cashmere Foundation
Mattifying Foundation

Toiletries

Skin So Soft Signature Silk Replenishing Body Lotion
Naturals Haircare Triple Sachet
Advance Techniques Single Sachet Lotus Shield

Lipstick

Ultra Colour Rick 24K Gold Lipstick
Ultra Colour Rich Mega Impact Lipstick
Ultra Colour Rich Moisture Seduction Lipstick
Ultra Colour Rich Colordisiac Lipstick
Ultra Colour Rich Lipstick
ANEW Youth Awakening Lipstick

Skincare

ANEW
Face Lotion SPF50
Derma Full X3 Serum
Clinical Eye Lift Pro
Clinical Lift and Firm
Clinical Thermafirm
Clinical Luminosity Pro
Ultimate Age Repair Day
Ultimate Elixir
Ultimate Gold Emulsion
Ultimate Age Repair Night
Ultimate Eye
Platinum Night
Platinum Eye and Lip
Platinum Day
Platinum Serum
Rejuvinate Eye Moisturiser
Rejuvinate Flash Facial
Rejuvinate Night
Rejuvinate Day
Rejuvinate Emulsion
Reversalist Emulsion
Reversalist Renewal Serum
Reversalist Day
Reversalist Eye
Reversalist Night

solutions
Youth Minerals Cleanser
Hydra Radiance Cleanser
Sensitive Botanicals Cleanser
Ageless Accolade Day and Night
Youth Minerals Day and Night
Complete Balance Day and Night
Sensitive Botanicals Day and Night
Hydra Radiance Day and Night

Fragrence

Women's
Soft Musk
Bond Girl 007
Bond Girl 007 Forever
Celebre
Christian Lacroix Absynthe
Christian Lacrois Rouge
Eternal Magic
Herve Leger
Herve Leger Ete
Jet Femme
Laugh Often
Love To The Fullest
Live Without Regrets
Little Black Dress
Little White Dress
Outspoken
Pur Blanca
Rare Gold
Rare Pearls
In Bloom
Simply Because
Slip Into
Spotlight
Secret Fantasy
Today
Tomorrow
Treselle
Treselle Mystique
U by Ungaro
Up To You
Windscape

Men's
Signature
Christian Lacrois Absynthe
Christain Lacroix Noir
Full Speed
Herve Leger
Jet Homme
Unscripted
Life
Pro Sport
Simply Because
True Force
U by Ungaro
Up To You
Windscape
Urban Edge

Avon Campaign 07 Delivery Due Today

The Campaign 07 delivery is due today.  Deliveries will commence when all items have been sorted and packaged.

I also have six brand new products due to arrive to try review you:

• Sweet Twist Lip Gloss
• Summer Breeze Moisture Mist
• 3 Pack Lace Briefs
• Cherry Blossom Daily Refreshing Hair Mask
• Cherry Blossom Daily Refreshing Shampoo
• Cherry Blossom Daily Hair Refresher

On top of this I will also be getting Mark to review the men's QuadraFX Power Body Wash and the Gyroscopic Strength Ball.

Finally, I will also be reviewing a selection of products from Avon's hair removal range, including the Shave Gel, Minimising Body Lotion and Hair Removal Cream, as well as Grow Potion, the Jillian Dempsey Professional Brow Styler, and the Ultra Colour Rich Mega Impact Lipstick.

I have also bought to Colette Summer Set t show you too, so please feel free to let me know your thoughts!

REVIEW: Expressions by Reese Witherspoon

EXPRESSIONS COLLECTION by REECE WITHERSPOON

From left: Live Without Regrets, Laugh Often and Love To The Fullest

Following the success of her first fragrance, In Bloom, Avon's Global Ambassador Reese Witherspoon brings three new fragrances to the Avon table, all created to capture life's richest moments in a bottle.

"Celebrating love, laughter and living without

regrets, the Expressions Collection evokes

the moments that make life feel amazing."

Reese Witherspoon

The first two scents, Live Without Regrets (pink) and Laugh Often (yellow) were available from brochure 6 of the 2011 campaign (pages 6-9), while the final scent, Love To The Fullest (green), was available from brochure 7 (pages 160-161).

In the brochure, Live Without Regrets is described as "an expressive blend of bold gardenia and sparkling bergamot".

Reese Witherspoon explains it as so:

"Life is rich with

opportunity, so we

have to be bold.

Live Without Regrets

celebrates the idea

of living every day

to the fullest."

Laugh Often is "a joyful fragrance with bright citrus and playful florals".

Reese says:

I can't imagine a life without

laughter.  It lifts our spirits, and sets

us free.  Laugh Often was inspired

by that feeling of joyous abandon."

Finally, Love To The Fullest is "a sensual scent mixing velvety florals with rich sandstone".

Reese's final words of wisdom are:

"Love To The Fullest captures the

heart-fluttering feeling of love.

You have to let your guard down

and give into it."

Some very pretty words, along with some cute-looking bottles.  So what are they actually like?  Well, I tried all of them, and I'll give you my verdict on them all!

Live Without Regrets

On the side of it's baby pink box, Avon describes this product as "modern and optimistic".  Optimism from the off!  It then continued to describe it as "a bouquet of wet gardenia flower and sparkling bergamot is enhanced with radiant sun-bleached amber".  Personally, I didn't even know that amber had a scent, let alone a different one sun-bleached(!) but I suppose it will never surprise me what actually smells these days (Black Diamond scented washing powder?  Seriously?!).

Simple and uncluttered, the box does not attempt to pull you towards it so much as it lets the name do the talking for it.  As a celebrity fragrance, it seems to dare you not to try it!  Anyhow, inside the box, the bottle is a cute ball shape, filled with a translucent pink liquid, with scripted writing around it and a simple silver top.  It's quaint, but not over the top.  However, I was surprised at how strong the smell of it was!  Without even spraying a drop I could already smell the flowers emanating from this little bottle of £12 optimism.  And it was pretty.  Like real flowers.  So, on I sprayed.

At first the scent came over as truly overpowering.  I really thought I was going to choke on it, it was so strong!  Thankfully, after a few moments, the scent settled onto my skin, and it was lovely.  Light and delicate, the flowers combine together so well, and it made me think of running through wide open spaces filled with wildflowers.  This is odd for me, as I am not normally a flowery scent kind of girl - as I have touched on before most of them smell truly awful on me!  But this is a subtle kind of floral - it's tantalising and sweet, but not overpowering to the nose, and it's a very cute-type fragrance.  It does have a sophisticated tang to it in the undertones of the scent, giving a modern yet playful perfume that I would most probably be well suited as a springtime scent.  A single spray is enough for long-lasting fragrance, but I do not recommend rubbing your arms together too much as this degrades the smell quicker.  A spritz on clothes is usually a good idea to give off a subtle scent without being too overpowering.  I would most definitely recommend this perfume and rate it a 5/5.

Laugh Often

The box a rich yellow, Avon describes Laugh Often as "fun and joyful.  A spontaneous burst if bright mandarin wrapped in green and white tea leaves and playful pink peony."  As a lover of fruity scents, I had high hopes for this perfume, and while I had already been wowed by Live Without Regrets, I was hoping to be well and truly swept off my feet by Laugh Often.

With the same box design (though in a different colour) and bottle style, the only noticeable differences in the appearance of the two perfumes was the text (it obviously said different things) and the colour of the contents.  Laugh Often has a clear yellow colour similar to clear apple juice - the kind you give to children who hate having bits in their drinks (of this, I am guilty!).  I also noted that when I removed the bottle from the box there was no smell as there was from Live Without Regrets.  I thought that perhaps this meant that this would not be as strong, but I was wrong.  It would appear that my box of Live Without Regrets may have had a spillage during filling!

Again, the smell settled, but this fragrance was a juicy tropical burst that made me think of exotic foreign holidays, and California, though I have never been!  And again it felt light on the skin, but this time it was less of a delicate smell, with strong citrus notes that left all other scents fighting to make their presence felt.  I could in no way smell the tea or the peony unless I tried really hard to distinguish them, but even then, their essence was faint.  This scent is fun, bright and sunny, a typical Summer smell that wouldn't be out of place on a bikini-clad beach sunbather.  However, I found the overwhelming mandarin was a little too much for me to wear in any enclosed space, which was a bit of a disappointment.  This happy, feel-good smell is one I would probably use only when going somewhere outdoors, but then again, in the sunshine, this would be a perfect mood-transformer anyway!  One spray is more than enough for my skin, though I did find that spraying it onto skin first and then adding clothes while it was still drying helped me to make the smell less potent.  I do like it, but I'm not sure I could handle it all the time, so I'm going to have to give this perfume a 4/5.

Love To The Fullest

Okay, now, this one I really wasn't sure about.  Why?  Because my Mum actually tried it before I did, and it smelt like cucumber on her!  Honestly, it made her smell like a salad, so I was a little hesitant to try it myself.  However, the cuteness of the pale green box and the translucent green contents won me over to trying it, and I'm really glad I did.  It smells completely different on me, which is why I will never judge a perfume based on my Mother again!  (Sorry Mum!)

The box describes this perfume as "sensual and sexy.  A seductive blend of succulent black cherry and evening primrose coupled with a luxurious creamy sandstone accord".  After having wondered for ages what on Earth sandstone actually smelt like, considering it's a type of sedimentary rock, I discovered that Love To The Fullest is by far the most mature smelling of the three fragrances.  It to me is like the beautiful mother of two fun-loving daughters; fun and playful, but at the same time, sexy and experienced.

The black cherry scent hit me first, followed by the delicious undertones, and it was a truly sensual scent that completely won me over in seconds.  Not as potent as the other two perfumes, Love To The Fullest nonetheless has the delicate balance of scent and lightness perfectly combined, making it a great evening scent; especially an evening with your significant other.  If he, or she as the case may be, doesn't go nuts over this smell, I would be very surprised!  It's seductive and gentle, but fun and playful all rolled into one -  a perfect little black dress accompaniment!  It's only flaw is that it doesn't seem to last as long as the other two scents.  I have thought that it may be due to the fact that it is a less aggressive assault on the nasal passages - my nose simply got used to it quicker than the other two.  I have yet to test this theory in practice though, so I will let you know if my thoughts are correct!  This scent definitely does it for me, and receives a 5/5!

Score

Well, I'm at a bad place now, as I have two favourites that I really can't choose between.  All three perfumes smell lovely, and have their virtues as different types of scent, but I don't know which of them I would choose as my favourite.  Right at this moment in time I am more inclined towards Love To The Fullest, but I always seem to change my mind!  My best advice would be for you to try them out and pick one for yourself!  After all, you know your scent better than anyone!

As a collection though, definitely a 5/5!

Sidenote: Yes, I am aware that the photos are wonky.  I was in a bit of a rush when I took them as I was supposed to be going out!   :-)

REVIEW: SuperEnchant Mascara

SUPERENCHANT MASCARA

Avon's SuperEnchant Mascara saw its introduction to the public in Brochure 7 of the 2011 campaigns.  The mascara formula is made up of 100% naturally derived mineral pigments, and features a Botanical Extracts and Royal Jelly to give beautifully conditioned lashes that are full and soft to the touch*.  Claiming to make your lashes look up to 44% longer** and have 400% more volume*** with a brand new hourglass-shaped brush, SuperEnchant seemed a little too good to be true, so I had to try it out for myself!

Okay, so, I got my demo mascara, and to be honest, when I first saw the brush, I was a little bit unconvinced.  It was such a weird shape, and I wasn't really sure what the point was to it.  Sure enough, on first use, I proceeded to smear a mass of black across my eyeshadow with one of the fat ends of the brush.  Not clever, and not pretty.  The shape took a lot of getting used to, and even now, I'm still not 100% convinced it works that well for me, but truth be told, if you're patient with it (which I generally am not!), it does work really well.  I've also noticed that the shape helps to slightly curl your lashes, as well as surround them for coverage, so teaming this mascara with an eyelash curler is probably the way forward.  In short, it's a strange shape, but you'll get used to it.

Now for the formula.  I myself have delicate, but long, lashes that are blonde at the tips and dark at the roots.  I have to really avoid touching my eyes because my lashes are so delicate they come out if I so much as think about rubbing my eyes if they get itchy!  After fighting with the brush for a bit, I did notice that the mascara coated my lashes well, if it was a little clumpy in places.  I later discovered that leaving this mascara for too long makes it more sticky, which I suppose is down to the mineral and jelly formula used to make it condition your lashes.  Giving it a good shake before using it usually helps, but you really need to remove as much as of the excess mascara as you can before even trying to put it on, which can be a bit annoying if you're in a hurry.  Some mascaras can feel stiff when you touch your lashes, but this one doesn't, it feels just like touching your lashes normally, which is a nice sensation, especially if your significant other is a fan of the 'butterfly kiss'.

While the first time round I didn't really notice any significant lengthening of my lashes, I did notice that they appeared fuller than normal, which is a good thing.  When I actually took the time to do the mascara properly, I did notice a slight lengthening effect, so I guess this mascara is probably best used when you have a lot of time on your hands to really do it properly.  The mascara isn't heavy, and with 100% natural pigments, I feel safe in the knowledge that it's not going to burn my eyelids off with constant use!

As for the conditioning effect, I have to be honest, I haven't really noticed any difference.  My lashes are still as delicate as ever, though I think I may have a reason for this.  I have only been using SuperEnchant every so often, when I have the time to really take care of my lashes, or when I need a really full look for photographs and the like.  As such, the conditioning effect is probably a cumulative one, taking effect when used pretty much constantly.  As I just don't have the patience for a slow-use mascara most of the time, I have been using  my SuperShock mascara because the flat, short bristles are better for me to do my mascara quickly and efficiently.

Verdict:
A good mascara - light, soft and it definitely helps to add volume, length and curl, but it's a high maintenance mascara, which doesn't suit my rush-rush approach to life.  It's well worth having in your make-up bag for a dramatic evening look, but I suggest not making it your only mascara.

Score: 4/5


* Consumer Study, 147 people
**  In Vitro Volume Test Study
***  Clinical Study, 21 people
Details in Avon's 2011 Brochure 07, pages 24-27

RECOMMENDATIONS: Campaign 7

RECOMMENDATION 1

What?
ANEW Regime 14-Day Starter Kits

Why?
These kits are a great way to try out a new skincare regime without forking out for full size versions of products you may end up not liking.  For a mere £10 you get yourself a trial size day cream, night cream and cleanser, with a full size eye cream, AND we also give you a £10 ANEW voucher to redeem on the full sized regime kits in brochure 8!

RECOMMENDATION 2

What?
Modesty Panels (B7 Pg 141)

Why?
Let me give an example first.  My sister has a rather ample cleavage, and she buys tops that often show it off.  But sometimes, you need to wear something that doesn't have you falling out all over the place.  Sometimes, a revealing top just isn't a good idea, and that's where the modesty panel steps in.  It attaches to your bra straps to help cover up your cleavage, saving you from embarrassing boob moments in front of, say... your boss or something!  If, however, you're like me and actually have little to hide in terms of cleavage, then the modesty panels are simply a great way to zazz up an old top.  In this pack, you get three panels; black, white and leopard print; so you can turn a single top into four!  I use the leopard print one to jazz up my black vest tops on nights out!

RECOMMENDATION 3

What?
The BOGOF offer, pages 48-63

Why?
It's really quite simple.  Order any product from these pages, and choose a treat from pages 46 and 47 absolutely free!  And that's not all, buy another product, and choose another treat!  Seriously, every product you buy from pages 48-63 entitles you to a free gift, so go mad, you're getting double the product for your money, and some of these free gifts are worth over £8!  Bargains!  Choose from Calming Effects Skin Revival Foundation (6 shades), Nail Experts Gold Strength, Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel (4 colours), Ultra Colour Rich Mega Impact Lipstick (8 shades), SuperMagnify Mascara (2 shades) and True Colour Eyeshadow Duo (3 colour schemes).

RECOMMENDATION 4

What?
Manicure Must-Haves, pages 64-65

Why?
It's all half price!  Do you need any other reasons?  Oh well go on then...  Winter has been a terrible time for hands.  All that cold wind and snow and ice...  Your nails probably need a lot more pampering, especially with Summer looming ever closer!  I know mine do!  Thanks to the harshness of the snow and wind in Lincolnshire, my nails took a serious battering, and now they look desperately ugly.  If you're a reforming biter, like me, Grow Potion is your product.  For damaged cuticles, Lavender Cuticle Oil does the trick.  Peeling, brittle nails?  Try the Peeling and Brittleness Solver, while generally weak nails could benefit from trying Strong Results, which contains diamond dust!  Finally, the French Manicure Set will ensure your newly reformed nails look stunning!

'The Avon Box' - Items For Sale

Since becoming an Avon Rep I have managed to accumulate a lot of stuff that I have been hoarding in an 'Avon Box' for future use.  I have now managed to get around to pricing these items!  See below for the full list.  Quantities are one unless otherwise stated.  Prices are equal to or less than those found in C4.  Some items are no longer available in brochure.

Windscape for Her EDP  £8.50
Footworks Marine Salt Hydrating Balm  £3
Live Without Regrets by Reese Witherspoon (PRE RELEASE)  £12  Qty 4
Laugh Often by Reese Witherspoon (PRE RELEASE)  £12  Qty 4
Slip Into EDP (Released C6)  £9  Qty 3
Solutions Vibes Vibrating Eye Roll-On (Released C6)  £7  Qty 4
Active Balance Anti-Perspirant Deodorant  £2
SSS Signature Silk Body Lotion  £2.50
SSS Signature Silk Hand Cream  £1.50
  *BUY BOTH SSS SIGNATURE SILK PRODUCTS FOR £3*
FootWorks Deep Moisturising Cream  £2
Advanced Techniques Smoothing Cream 200ml (Medium to Coarse Hair)  £2
Advanced Techniques Recovery Treatment Mask 150ml (Extremely Dry or Damaged Hair)  £2
Senses Winter Magic Shower Gel 250ml  £1.50
Amelia Gift Set (Necklace, Bracelet and Earrings)  £3
Planet Spa Mediterranean Olive Oil Foaming Hydrating Oil Body Wash 150ml  £2
Planet Spa Himalayan Goji Berry Rejuvenating Moisture Beads Body Wash 150ml  £2
Planet Spa Japanese Sake and Rice Illuminating Body Lotion Trial Size 50ml  £1
Planet Spa Dead Sea Minerals Firming Body Mask 150ml  £3
Naturals Red Rose and Peach Shower Gel 200ml  £1
Naturals Red Rose and Peach Body Lotion 200ml  £1
Naturals Strawberry and Guava Room and Linen Spray 125ml  £1.50
Country Rose Fleece Blanket  £8
ColourTrend Kajalstick (Black)  £1.65
Supershock Vivid Liquid Eyeshadow (Glistening Teal)  £10.50
True Colour Eyeshadow Duo (Fresh Jade)  £6

Amelia Gift Set (£3)



Delivery Issues - Campaign 4 orders

Due to a delivery error, I have received the wrong stuff :-\

Whilst I have managed to rectify most of the problems, there are still one or two orders that have items missing.

I will begin deliveries of the full orders during the week and will contact those with incomplete orders to discuss the situation with them.

Apologies for the delays.

Review: Avon Naturals Room and Linen Spray - Black Cherry and Nutmeg

I've used room sprays before, and recently I have been relying on a Glade Sense and Spray to keep my living room fresh, but when I noticed an offer in Avon's brochure, I couldn't resist trying the Room and Linen Spray.

Not wanting anything too girly for the sake of my boyfriend, I went for the Black Cherry and Nutmeg fragrance.  When it arrived, I wanted to try it immediately.  My Sense and Spray had long died over Christmas, and I couldn't be bothered trekking out to get a refill while it was snowing, so spray I did.  The smell was lovely, and filled with room with a fragrance that was not too heavy nor overpowering.  It was refreshing, and didn't make me want to choke like most room sprays do.  The cherry and nutmeg scents were delicious and light, with the nutmeg merely a complimentary addition, as opposed to a main one.  The cherry is true to it's regular fruit smell, and forms the main component of the spray's smell.

After reading that it was also good to spray on linens and suchlike, I had the idea of using it to fragrance some fake flowers I had made over Christmas.  I love the fresh scent of newly cut flowers, but what I don't like is the mess left when they die and pollen gets everywhere.  So, these fake flowers got a blast of the spray too, and the effect is a rather lovely effect, if a tad unusual for the shape of the flower!

I would recommend the Room and Linen sprays to anyone, and am going to try other smells myself :-)

When Pockets are Tight, Avon is Here to Help!

Perfumes and fragrences are expensive, especially if you're the kind of person who loves Clinique or Estee Lauder.  With New Year soon to be arriving upon us, and pursestrings tightened after Christmas, it may seem that you'll have to forget getting something new to try.

Well.... not true!

Avon has a whole host of fine fragrences and Celebrity scents to choose from, and if you like any of the smells below, we have a perfect match :-)

Women's Fragrence

If you like...                                  You should try...
Lacoste Love of Pink                      U by Ungaro for Her
Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue         Jet Femme
Estee Lauder Pure White Linen        Little White Dress
Clinique Happy                               Just Play for Her
Yardley Honeysuckle                      Timeless
Body Shop Aqua Lily                      Simple Elements

 Men's Fragrence

If you like...                                  You should try...
Hugo Boss Soul                              U by Ungaro for Him
Calvin Klein Man                              Black Suede
Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue          Jet Homme
      por Homme
Clinique Happy for Men                    Just Play
Adidas Team Force                          Pro Sport

WARNING: Campaign 02 Length

WARNING TO ALL MY CUSTOMERS

Campaign 02 is slightly different in length than previous campaigns.

Usually, a Campaign is three weeks long with a Deadline-to-Delivery-Wait of one week.  This is not the case with Campaign 02.  Instead, this campaign will be only two weeks long with a DDW of two weeks.

Therefore, the following applies:
Deadline for C02 is Wednesday 23rd December; 7:30pm for book collections, 9pm for e-mail and text orders.
Delivery will arrive with me on January 4th 2011.
Orders will be sorted and delivered starting January 5th.

Thanks everyone, and I hope you have all got your Christmas all planned out!

:-)
Cx

MIA: So Very Sorry!

Hey everybody,

I have been missing for a long time now, and I am aware that there have been promises of videos and such that have not come about.  For that, I can only apologise - as it turns out, my video editing software is not compatible with my boyfriend's phone camera software, so I have had to give up on videos for now.

Due to snow and icy conditions, I have also been unable to get up to my round on Alexandra Terrace - the hill has been far too dangerous to risk taking my car up and carrying everyone's deliveries up the hill in the snow was also far too dangerous.  I am going to attempt deliveries today by foot.

Also, due to lack of interest, and my inability to sell tickets due to snow and general bad weather, the raffle competition has been postponed until further notice.

Sorry again everyone :-(

C16 Delivery Has Arrived!

As the title says, C16 has arrived and I am in the process of sorting and packing everyone's orders.  Sadly, I have been struck down with a cold, so I am not going to be delivering tonight unless otherwise arranged.  I don't want to be giving anyone my germs now!

If you would like a reminder as to how much you owe, please give me a call or text and I will get back to you with all the details :-)

I have also sorted out my own haul.  Tonight, I am planning on FINALLY making a little video, with the help of my lovely partner Mark and his Satio phone.  I don't know what the quality will be like, but as my camcorder is still broken, it's the best I have.  Hopefully I won't cough and sniff too much!

Haul!:
Diamond EDP (DEMO)
Glimmerstick Diamonds Black Ice (Back Order)
Glimmerstick Diamonds Brown Sugar (Back Order)
Glimmerstick Diamonds Emerald Glow (Back Order)
Snowman Mug with Chocolate Shaker Hat
Hello Kitty Necklace
Hello Kitty Bracelet
Global Empowerment Necklace (Demo)
Silver Light-Up Christmas Garland

Campaign 17 Clearance Sale Picture Warning

Okay, on page 2 (inside cover) of the Campaign 17 clearance brochure, they are showing the Tigers Eye Limited Edition eyeshadow quad; shown below.

I would like to issue a warning to all Avon customers: I have the Tigers Eye Quad, and it looks nothing like the colours shown.

As you can see, the Avon image shows a yellow, a peach, a brown and a purple.  The casing is black with gold decoration.

This is the palette I received when I ordered the Tigers Eye Quad.  I have checked all labels, etc, and this is most definately the Tigers Eye Quad.  While the casing is the same, the colours are yellow, gold, light brown and dark red-brown.

Now, I don't know if they have simply printed the wrong name by mistake, or the wrong picture/s, but please be aware that Tigers Eye in the brochure is not the same as the one I received three campaigns ago.  By all means order, but I cannot guarantee which one you will receive, and for this, I apologise.