December Favourites

December has definitely been the month for palettes; well, at least for me it has, and I'm not complaining as I absolutely love an eye shadow palette.

Chronic Illness and Feeling Like a Burden

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, about my life, my contribution, the burden my chronic illness has on my loved ones. I know I'm not the only person suffering from a chronic condition that feels this way but since it's been on my mind, I thought I'd discuss it. 

Daith Piercing for Migraines

As you can tell, I'm a fan of piercings; I now have seven in my left ear. I've wanted new piercings for a while, so when my fabulous blogging pal and twin (spiritually we're totally related) Beth, got her daith pierced, I had to copy. On a less child-like, 'I want the same as Beth,' level, I'd wanted my daith and tragus pierced for ages and Beth getting hers, reminded me. 

20 Things Not to Say/Do to Someone in a Wheelchair

As a wheelchair user I've experienced quite a varied reaction from the able-bodied public, so I thought I'd share a few things that you shouldn't say or do to those of us that use wheels.

Updated Tsum Tsum Collection

The last time I wrote about my Tsum Tsum collection I said I'd probably end up getting some of the Marvel characters, as I'd purchased Spider-Man and Hulk for my nephew. Not only did I get those two characters, I also chucked in Thor, Iron Man and Captain America too. I had to, they're adorable. Just look at Thor's blonde hair and Iron Man's gorgeous little face...And the Cap has his bloody shield on his tiny back.

Magnitone - The Full Monty Review

The Full Monty Facial Cleanse + Tone + Exfoliate + Pedi-Buff

Three Month Follow-Up: Stanmore Pain Management and Rehabilitation Programme

If you pop by here often, you'll know that in August I spent three weeks in Stanmore hospital undertaking their incredible pain management programme. Last week I went back for my three month follow-up; my actual follow-up was supposed to be in November but I couldn't make it as I went home for my nephews birthday, so I guess you could say it was my four month follow-up.

Christmas Beauty Wish List

I thought I'd share some high-end products that have taken my fancy and I wouldn't mind receiving this Christmas.

BBC News: "Too Pretty To Be In A Wheelchair"

"Too pretty to be in a wheelchair."

Flare-Up Plan: Chronic Illness Strategies

Are you ever in so much pain that you can't even begin to comprehend what to do to help yourself?  I know I get to the point where the pain is so consuming that my brain simply won't work and I have no answers to pull out of my bag. Where do I start? What do I do? I can't move. I can't speak. I just want to cry.

Toddler Life #2

KP - Bonjour, cheeky monkey
Welcome to the second post in my Toddler Life series.  If you follow me on Twitter, you'll be familiar with my #toddlerlife tweets, featuring my three year old nephew, Kaine (KP). Carry on reading for the funny things he says...

Jewellery Box Black Friday Reveal

How cute are they? *heart eyes emoji*

When this adorable little box landed, I was having such a bad day and it instantly cheered me up, so thank you so much to Gemma at Jewellery Box, I really appreciate it.

Skincare Haul: Antipodes, Bioderma, Ole Henriksen, Origins

Obviously, one of the best things about Christmas is all the gift sets brands come out with. I've wanted to try a few of these products before but the price tag on individual items put me off. However, I found some amazing deals on high-end skincare that you need to get your hands on.

Assertiveness: Passive, Aggressive and Assertive Communication

Are you confident enough to express your feelings and opinions whilst respecting those of others? Are you able to say 'no'? Do you think your opinion matters? Can you recognise unhealthy communication styles?
There are three main types of communication, Passive, Aggressive and Assertive. My communication style changes depending on the situation but I know I'm not as assertive as I should be.

Why I love Autumn/Winter

I've read quite a few Autumnal posts and I've loved each one, so I thought I'd share a few reasons why Autumn and Winter are my favourite seasons.

Stigma and Chronic Illness

Do you know how difficult it is to live with a chronic condition? I don't just mean the pain (physical and/or emotional), the fatigue, the lack of sleep or concentration; I mean the judgement, the discrimination from other people, the constant questioning. That look you get from someone when you're out in public and you think that they're making an assessment on everything you are. 
But how do you actually know what they're thinking?

Flying Without Fear

Let me introduce my younger brother, Darren. Since the age of nine, he’s been terrified of flying but last weekend he went on a Flying Without Fear course with Virgin Atlantic. 

Mac Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base Review

Mac Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base | £16 | Mac |

Not only does this eye primer by Mac have the longest name ever, it's also wizardry in a tube. I've tried various eyelid primers, Urban Decay Primer Potion (too wet), Too Faced Shadow Insurance (did nothing), Mac Painterly (still a fan), and this is hands down my favourite, I'll tell you why...

Much Needed Family Time

Two weeks ago I headed back up north to spend a couple of weeks with my family and friends. My boyfriend and I moved to the village he grew up in at the beginning of the year, and that means I'm three hours away from the people I love most. I decided to spend two weeks back home as my two (now three) year old nephew was having a Halloween party, and a tea party the week after for his third birthday. 

To Wing or Not To Wing: High End Eyeliners

As a beauty lover, I like to try out a variety of different products as I'm forever searching for the Holy Grail item; this is why there's quite a few eyeliners in the above pic. I'm a fan of lining my eyes, I don't profess to be the greatest at it because as soon as I remove my glasses, I'm met with a ghostly blur in the mirror but I still have a damn good go.

You're Suffering but Family and Friends Can't Read Your Mind

You're in pain, you're dealing with emotional issues, you're falling apart, and you desperately want someone to help you but you haven't asked anyone...how can they know? The luckiest of us have people in our lives that can read our facial expressions and know we're not being honest about pain or distress, but even they sometimes need an explanation.

October Favourites

Let's get right into my October favourites...

Pinterest: Skull Edition

Link

I don't do fancy dress or Halloween make up as it's just not me, so I thought I'd share some of my favourite weird and wonderful things I've been pinning over on Pinterest. I'm a massive fan of skulls, skeletons, anything a bit alternative, I always have been, the creepier the better.

Getting The Right Wheelchair For You

Surely, it's easy to pick a wheelchair, right? It's just a seat with wheels, how hard could it be? 
There are many different types of wheelchair and to get the right one, that is comfortable, going to last a while, and be suitable for your individual needs, you need to consider a few things.

Toddler Life: Introducing the Star - KP

Let me introduce my nephew, Kaine, (KP). He's two years old (three in two weeks) and the highlight of my life. I have no idea what I was doing with my time before this child was born.

Above is my favourite picture of us, we sat one day taking selfies and he copied every face I pulled, and this is my favourite one.

I always tweet the funny things he says or does so I'm going to make it a series on my blog. Every so often I'll be dedicating a post to my cheeky little monkey of a nephew and I can assure you, it'll be equal parts hilarious and cute.

Taster:

(My mum, his nan, clearing his toys away)

KP - Good boy, Nanny.

Nan - I'm a girl.

KP - Good boy, Nan.

Nan - Thanks, Kaine.

Stay tuned. And follow my #toddlerlife tweets if you can't get enough.

I'm Disabled and I Wear Make Up, So What?

I've wanted to write this post for a while, in fact, I've changed this first sentence numerous times. How else do I introduce this post when the title says it all? I'm disabled and I wear make up, what's the problem?
If you're not disabled or never experienced anything that I have, I urge you to read on; if only for an insight on what it can be like to be judged for expressing your femininity.

Where to Start with Mac Lipsticks?

I'm not a newbie to Mac, I'm an addict, I own a variety of nudes, numerous berries and the odd red. 

I thought I'd share some staple lipsticks that any Mac lipstick lover must have in their collection. 

A make up counter can be quite an intimidating place; especially the Mac lipstick counter, all the different colours and formulas staring up at you hoping you pick them. Where do you start? 

Tsum Tsum Collection

 It's started. My Tsum Tsum collection has begun and I completely blame Jemma and Tarnya for this. Okay, so it's technically not their fault but if they hadn't posted cute pictures and blog posts about their Tsum Tsum collections, I may not have got any...I totally would.

Autumn Lipstick Edit

I love this time of year, everyone is talking about changing up their make up and rocking a bold, berry lip. I don't tend to alter my lipstick for the season - if I want to wear a dark purple in June, I'll do it, there are no rules, and if there was, I'd break them. 

Chronic Illness is Hard Enough: All I ask for is Empathy, Part Two

First of all can I just define what a chronic illness is as there seems to be so many people that have never experienced anything more than the flu or acute pain who think they're experts on what it is like to live with a chronic condition. If you're one of these healthy little experts please read on and let me enlighten you; do you know what, even if you're not healthy but have some form of condition/are a Spoonie yourself and compare your health to others or don't believe a chronic illness is 'that bad' - carry on reading.
A chronic condition is a long lasting illness 'which causes continuous or episodic periods of incapacity.' The keyword is incapacity - it prevents you from completing everyday tasks, it impacts your life at all times or causes flare-ups. A cold is not a chronic illness. Anyone, can be chronically ill; illness doesn't discriminate.

The Nude Lipstick Edit: High End

I know we're in Autumn and everybody is talking about berry, vampy lip colours (and I'll get to it, that post is coming soon) but as much as I love them, I have a deep, passionate love for nudes. I gravitate to them, I hear them whispering sweet nothings as I pass a beauty counter, I can't resist, so I thought I'd share my Top 10 high-end nude lipsticks. 

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

It's nearing the end of Invisible Illness Awareness Week 2015 and when I saw that Rachel over at Happy Little Syllables had posted this meme about living with an invisible illness, I had to share my story too. Invisible Illness Awareness week started on the 28th September and ends October 4th.
Many of you know that I'm disabled and raising awareness is very important to me. I use walking aids and a wheelchair most of the time but on my 'better' days, my chronic condition resorts back to invisibility and people think I've been miraculously cured - no, guys, just having a good day for a change. Anyway, let's get this thing started.

September Favourites

September is coming to an end and it's been a pretty good month. I was reunited with my best friend, my parents came to visit with my nephew, I got to meet and go shopping with the gorgeous Tania, my boyfriend turned 30 and I was published in The Guardian (you can read that here, if you're interested).
Let's get on with my favourites, it's Nars heavy, I couldn't help it.

Happy 30th Birthday, Mr Martin

 Dedicating this post to my boyfriend, Ian, who turns 30 today.

Happy Birthday, I love you <3

Adult Colouring Books

* Disclaimer - This post is picture heavy *
Adult colouring books have become a craze over the last year or so which pleases me. I've always found colouring really therapeutic and relaxing but was sick of colouring in houses and teddy bears. Each time I'd have a hospital stay (and it's been a lot - #ChronicLife), I'd ask my Mum to buy me a colouring book and some pencils to keep me occupied on the long, tedious days.

Shine Bright like a Diamond: Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminator

Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminator - Starlight | £28 | Link | A lovely little email pinged into my inbox last week informing me that Cult Beauty was stocking the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminators. New. They were only released in the U.S. last month and us poor beauty lovers in the UK usually have to wait months for the gorgeousness to cross the Atlantic. I mean, come on, I need them ABH glosses in my life already! I knew I had to pick one of the highlighters as soon as I could. I'd been stalking them on Instagram like some weird, creepy make up freak and now it was finally mine <insert insane laugh here>

Productivity and a Change of Scenery

I haven't felt this productive in such a long time and it feels good. I was stuck in a cycle of wanting to be productive but putting things off as other things got in the way.

When I finished my MA (in December 2013), I intended on starting a blog, writing a novel, getting more poetry and short stories published...just basically writing. Writing until my little heart was content, but I didn't do any of it. Every night I'd go to bed and beat myself up about not picking up a pen. I mean it's not like my life is busy. Living at home was chaotic, my two year old nephew was always around and instead of taking some time for myself to get creative, I'd play with him. I don't regret it at all, my nephew is my tiny bestie but I wish I'd have got my laptop out after he'd gone to sleep and bashed out some words.

A Geek who Loves Make Up: Make Up Geek Collection

Make Up Geek Eye Shadow Pan | $6 | Link |

Make Up Geek Foiled Eye Shadow Pan | $9.99 | Link |

Make Up Geek Blush Pan | $9.99 | Link |

Z Palette Large | £15.95 | Link |

What I Learnt at RNOH Pain Management and Rehabilitation Programme

'They tried to make me go to rehab'...and I went. 
I'm on my fourth week home from spending three weeks in Stanmore, on the amazing, life-changing Pain Management Programme. 

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation: Review

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation - Siberia | £31 | Link |
I know, I know, I'm late to the party, everyone on earth has tried this foundation and I'm only just getting round to it. Don't judge me, okay? I'll tell you why I haven't tried it before, two words: SHEER GLOW. I have combination skin with a fairly oily T-zone so this Nars foundation scared me. Surely it wasn't going to suit my skin type? Not only that, I like a matte or demi-matte finish to my base and given the name of the product and the reviews I'd read that highlighted (see what I did there) how dewy and glowy the Sheer Glow is, I stayed well clear. I'm a fan of highlighting products but I don't want my whole face to shine bright like a diamond. 

The Museum of Extraordinary Things - Alice Hoffman: Book Review

I picked this book up on a whim when I was browsing in Waterstones. I judged a book by it's cover, it intrigued me and when I read the synopsis I knew I had to have it. 
'A tale of star-crossed lovers set against a creepy, gothic backdrop of freak shows, murder and mystery.' Independent
'Entrancing...Hoffman has amply succeeded in conjuring the teeming press of life in early twentieth-century New York, laying before us, in all its splendour and horror, the museum of extraordinary things that is humanity itself.' Financial Times

Bag Haul from Grindstore: Backpacks and Chronic Life

A few weeks ago Grindstore had a 10% off Back to School sale and I had to take advantage. 
Many of you know that I spent three weeks in hospital recently and during my treatment my Occupational Therapist suggested I use a backpack. I alternate between two crutches and a wheelchair due to my disability and I'm always struggling carrying a conventional handbag. I've tried them all, they either slowly fall off my shoulder and get entangled in my crutches or whack into my crutch each time I take a step. I also have a lot of problems carrying a bag on one side as it hurts my back and shoulder. Why hadn't I considered a backpack before? It was so bloody obvious.

Mac Matte Lip Collection: Whirl and Stone

Mac Lipstick - Stone and Whirl | £15.50 | Link |

Recently Mac added 12 new lipstick shades to their permanent collection. The colours are all Matte or Retro-Matte finishes and I had to pick up Stone and Whirl. The Whirl lip liner is constantly sold out due to the popularity Kyle Jenner brought to the colour, so when I saw that Mac were releasing it as a lipstick, I knew it had to be mine.

All I ask for is empathy

It's hard enough being a 28 year old disabled woman without the insensitive comments of abled people, but factor in the dickheads of society and their ludicrous questioning, things can get very awkward, very quickly.

I don't deal well with comments regarding my health. To this day, there are certain people that say extremely negative and hurtful things that really affect me. I wish I was strong enough to let words slide off my back but when it's an attack on something I have absolutely no control over, it really hurts. Being in pain day-in-day-out and told you're not good enough, you're a scrounger or 'putting it on' is worse than the pain itself. It eats away at you and breaks you down even further.

10 Book Challenge

The marvellous Maggie of The Secret Life of Maggie May asked me to take part in the 10 Book Challenge. As a huge bookworm, I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

How does it work? 
It's simple; you are asked to name 10 books you have read in your life which have stayed with you the most. They can be any genre, any length, any author. They might have stayed with you the most because they were poignant, because they were laugh-out-loud funny, or because they were just beautifully written. It's not that simple for a true book lover.
Nominate three other bloggers once you have completed the challenge and use the hashtag 
#10BookChallenge on Twitter and Instagram.

Goin' to the Chapel: We Attended a Wedding

Bank Holiday weekend was busy. We attended a wedding on Saturday and my friend, Natalie's birthday party on Sunday. The wedding was my boyfriend's cousin, Louise and her now husband Steve. They've been together 30 years and married on Louise's Mum's 70th Birthday, so it was a double celebration. The wedding took place in a little village in East Northamptonshire called Wadenhoe, it was adorable and very picturesque. It was a lovely day, the weather stayed nice, the bride looked stunning and her dress gorgeous. 

Chronic Illness Sufferers Be Heard: #SufferingTheSilence

Suffering the Silence is an online community for people living with chronic illnesses to share their stories. They are an amazing movement that are breaking the silence by giving sufferers a voice and a platform to tell others what it is like to live with their condition/s. As soon as I read about #SufferingTheSilence here, I knew I had to get involved. Spoonies all over are taking pictures covering their mouths with their condition/s written on their arms and a paragraph or so about living with a chronic illness. Here's my story...

Rehab Fam: Amazing Friends from RNOH

So many people have asked me how I got on during my three week stay in RNOH Stanmore for Pain Management and are surprised by my answer of 'amazing' or 'I bloody loved it.'
It's the truth, other than learning about my condition and ways to manage it, I made some incredible friends. Every night when the physiotherapy was over, we'd be on the ward laughing our heads off, giggling till the early hours.
I thought I'd share some pics of the ladies that made my three weeks in hospital so memorable. I love them all and I can't wait to be reunited with them.

Top 10 August Favourites

I thought I'd add a few random favourites to my monthly faves this month, so lets do this.

Haulin': Nars and Charlotte Tilbury

If it's not obvious from the picture - I love Nars. I didn't even realise I'd mainly bought all Nars products until taking photos.

Week Three: Stanmore Pain Management and Rehabilitation Programme, Part Eight

| Day One |

That was my last night in the hotel; I can’t believe I’m already in my final week of rehab. I arrived at Stanmore at 9 am and unpacked my things ready for the weekend review. I completed the majority of my goals but didn’t download WorkRave as I was being stubborn and wanted to get quite a bit of writing done. My shoulder paid for the lack of rest breaks I took and I’m definitely going to

All About that Glow: Becca Cosmetics Highlighter Review

Becca Cosmetics is renowned for their Shimmering Skin Perfectors and it took me a while to get round to owning any. I'm a matte skin kind of girl so didn't use highlighters a lot as I thought I'd end up looking too greasy.