I have wanted to have some professional photos taken for me and my husband for a very long time now but I’m so lazy and don’t have the time to trawl through all the companies near me. My sister won a free makeover a few years ago and took my mum along with her. The pictures were amazing; she purchased a few of them but also got one free when she won. Since then I have seen many friends and a few cousins have professional makeovers and they all look really stunning! The latest were my two cousins who are sisters, I’m not sure if it was free but the pictures look really good and one of them even recommended I try it.
I got a call from The Studio based in Central London, Oxford Street today asking me if I was interested in a free makeover. I was as it was something I am looking into, he said that my cousin who had recently had hers done had referred me and he was just calling me trying to entice me over. He asked if I was over 18 (which I am) and asked if I was willing to travel into Central London, Oxford Street. I live around 2 hours away from Central London and taking the train is out of the question when I told the guy it was too far he started to tell me my options (as if I didn’t know). He really wanted me to travel a ridiculous distance to make it to this makeover.
Turning down a free makeover
I must be the first person in the world to turn down a free makeover! The sales guy then told me he travels 2 hours a day to get into work but even it was free I was not willing to travel into Central London by a manky train plagued with delays and faults. The sales person was extremely disappointed to say the least and gave up in the end.
I asked my husband if I made the right choice and he said it was up to me. I thought I had made a mistake by turning the offer down and went online to do some research. I have found that it is a rip off and a scam. You have to pay a refundable deposit of £30-£49 and pay for all your photos, I mean I knew I would have to pay for them but the prices are ridiculous. You can expect to pay up to £310 for just pictures! I knew nothing in the world is free anymore and I’m glad I declined. I would much rather pay for a professional photographer to take my pictures than go for a supposedly ‘free’ makeover. Beware it’s a money making scheme that seems to keep drawing in suckers!
Two years ago I decided to cut off my thigh length hair in favour of a really short funky hairstyle. At the time it was great although my family didn’t really approve. When I went to work I was unrecognisable and it was so much easier to style all I had to do was brush it and I was out the door. Now I’m a little older and wiser I really hate it! If anyone told me how much hard work short hair is I would never had believed them! As my hair has started to grow it’s been very awkward trying to find a style to cut it whilst it grows out. I have found that the bob with loads of layers works really well for me.
My sister in law announced 7 months ago that she will be getting married in April 2010, so since then I have been trying my upmost best to let my hair grow as much as it can so I can style it better for the wedding. I went to the hairdressers for my 8 weekly haircut and she did a really good job but now I’m will wait until April to have my next one so my hair can grow the maximum it can.
Hair growth remedies
Since September 2009 I have been using an old Indian technique that women still using all over the world to make hair grow faster and thicker. It’s very cheap with minimum disruption and safe to use for all. Oil, yes oil, not cooking oil but specially formulated hair oil that prevents split ends, makes hair soft and bouncy and best of all really thick. There are many oils that you can buy, you just need to try them all until you find the one best suited to you. I currently alternated between Gooseberry oil and coconut oil.
Indian hair oil
Amla hair oil is made for gooseberry and will make hair lighter if used very frequently, I apply it once a fortnight for a minimum of 6 hours. It washes of in just one wash so you don’t have to keep repeating making it ideal to use on a Sunday afternoon. Hair will be exceptionally shiny and bouncy for the next day at work.
Coconut oil usually hardens into a thick paste that is impossible to squeeze out, you will need to put the bottle in a bowl of hot water so it can turn to oil. Coconut oil can be very greasy to apply and can stain paintwork if you’re not careful, you may also need to wash hair twice with shampoo. The results are really nice shiny hair feeling soft to the touch.
Almond oil, black seed oil and castor oil are all said to prevent hair loss or help grow hair. As I have only tried gooseberry and coconut I can’t actually say they make my hair grow faster but it certainly makes it healthier using natural products.
After a call from my mum the other day she was screaming in delight over the phone because she had found her home entertainment surround sound speakers. It was a present from me and my sibling’s years ago and after 3 years in her new house she finally found it in her garage. As my mum has a thing with heights she asked me and my partner if we would mind helping her put them up. She meant we do the work whilst she watches! We went over and had a quick look, there were front left and right speakers, rear left and right speakers, a centre speaker and a sub woofer.
We were worried the wires wouldn’t be long enough but after laying them out they were just about enough. The surround sound speakers are by Pioneer from 2004 but haven’t been used for the last 3 years. We set up the speakers in each corner then proceeded to hammer in cable clips to keep them secure. The best thing to do before starting is to decide how you want the wires to travel along the wall and ceiling. By doing this it saves time and possibly the need to buy wire covers afterwards.
It’s always best to place speakers symmetrically and in the corners to the wiring can be hidden easily. When you position the DVD player in its place start hammering in the cable clips from the speakers to the DVD player. It’s much easier to work backwards so you can fold the wires together should they be too long after. Work down a corner of the wall and across the skirting board to join the DVD player. It shouldn’t take more than 2 hours.
At the end you will need to test that it works and adjust the distance settings so that the sound is projected evenly throughout the room. You may choose to buy wire covers to cover any trailing wires that are an eyesore. In most cases it’s not really needed if you have a painted wall then the wires can be painted instead. The cost of wire covers are £5.44 for a 2m strip, so depending on how big the room is you may spend a lot of money. The one thing you should remember is that if you don’t plan in living in the house too long then don’t worry about it. When you move you’ll be taking your surround sound with you so don’t think too much about what prospective buyers will think.
Avon cosmetics have been around for the last 50 years and during this time have vastly expanded their range. I remember as a child my mum would order perfume, creams and make up for herself and gift sets for friend’s birthdays. Nowadays Avon now sells lingerie, sleepwear, jewellery, health and fitness equipment and many more. With a dedicated customer service team I have found that ordering over the internet is much convenient and sometimes cheaper than waiting for the local Avon representative. Ordering Avon online you can be sure that products and offers are still valid and in stock. In the past by ordering through a representative the offers finish and stock runs low.
Is Avon cheaper than other branded cosmetics?
Some products are cheaper whereas some such as foundations can be slightly more than standard foundation sold by L’Oreal, Maybelline and Max Factor. I do find that the choice for makeup is a very wide range. Buying gifts from Avon is also very simple as there is so much to choose from including jewellery and spa products.
Sign up to Avon’s A list
Avon has recently started a new scheme where you collect loyalty points depending on how much you spend. Since I have a wedding to attend I know I will be spending a lot of money on Avon cosmetics in the next few months. Whilst I was ordering the other day I signed up to Avon’s A list, what I should’ve checked first is how much points you need to reach each level. The offers change every 3 weeks and you even get special offers especially for you on your birthday. As an A-list member ordering and reordering is much easier and keeping track of orders better too.
There are 3 levels copper, bronze, silver, gold and platinum after you have reached the highest level (platinum) you can still take advantage of the offers in the levels below. You need to order at least once a year to keep points accumulating otherwise the slate will be wiped clean.
After 30 points you can start redeeming against the offers in the bronze level, these are the points needed for each level.
Copper- up to 29 points
Bronze- 30 – 59 points
Silver- 60 – 99 points
Gold- 100 – 249 points
Platinum - over 250 points
Avon and Charity
As part of being a customer for Avon you can help support charities such as Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence. There are often products that support the charities and when bought a percentage is given to them to help support these charities. There are also exclusive gifts that can be bought for Breast Cancer that are not sold anywhere else, keep an eye out for these offers and help make a difference today.
For Valentine’s Day I decided I didn’t want to cook and suggested to my partner that we go out to eat. As we had just been to eat at an Indian restaurant we decided to have Chinese food but locally as we didn’t want to travel too far. I discovered The East a restaurant that makes food influenced China, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia. As this was a wider choice than the plain Chinese, Thai food we decided we should try it. The East is in an old pub house that has been updated for fine a la carte dining but it also has a licensed bar too. You can also get takeaway food and there is adequate parking. The East is located near Stanborough Park and has many good transport routes, I pre booked my table as I knew it would get busy and I’m glad I did.
Upon arrival at 6.30pm there were already a few couples and families with children, the decor are very in keeping with Chinese traditions and they really make an effort. There were fresh flowers on the table with a single candle and helium filled Valentine’s balloons. I ordered the Miso soup for starters and my partner had Won Ton soup. I’ve never had Miso soup before and really hated it, there was seaweed and tofu in it but it just didn’t go. The seaweed made the soup very bitter, my partners Won Ton soup with prawn was very delicious. When we asked for some hot chilli oil it was brought to us without a spoon, the waitress only noticed when we were nearly leaving!
I ordered Cantonese Roast Duck with some plain noodles and a portion of rice and my partner ordered The East sizzling special (lamb) with a portion of noodles. After the soup we had to wait nearly an hour before the main course was served and by this time we were getting very annoyed. The noodles and rice were not hot at this time, they were just about warm. The Roast Duck is supposed to be served on a bed of steamed vegetables but all there was were green leaves, no carrots or any steamed vegetables. When our food was served we had to wait nearly five minutes before we could alert a waiter that we had no cutlery!! The East sizzling special was very tasty but nothing exciting. One portion of noodles is enough for two people and the same goes for the rice. We ordered a third coke as two would’ve been too much but it was sent to the wrong table! After 10 minutes I had to remind them I was still waiting. I wouldn’t advise any fizzy drinks as it is diluted with water, after 30 minutes it’s tasteless.
How much it cost
They were in no hurry to serve us our main course but when we stopped eating they were eager to clear up after us! We had all the leftover food packed to go as there was so much of it; we then waited to order from the dessert menu. After 10 minutes I was fed up of waiting and got the bill, it was just under £50 at £48.50, £5 of this went on a service charge, and they didn’t do anything!!! I have been to restaurants where they actually serve you the food and accept this charge but at The East they were not very efficient. The meal was for two starters, two main courses, two portions of noodles and a portion of rice.
The Verdict
I understand it was Valentine’s Day and they were very busy but it was very ridiculous, waiting times are too long and they forget the basics like cutlery! I have been to other restaurants on Valentine’s Day and have not had problems with service! There was a couple that also waited an hour for the main course and as soon as they finished the had enough and just left! This was not a pleasant dining experience and I will not be advising it to my friends and family let alone visit another time. If you want a place of fine dining then this is not the place for you due to service but the food is not bad but nothing special either.
As winter is nearly over and the warmer sunnier days are now approaching I look at my garden and I’m happy that I prepared it for winter so I have nothing to do for the next few months. It has been 4 months since I last did any gardening and the thought of having to do it all again after so long makes me really lazy. So while I look out my window watching everyone complain and slave over their garden to prepare it for Spring I can relax and know that I did it all in the winter months.
How to tidy up garden for winter?
As the weather in England is very unpredictable I wasn’t sure when the weather would take a turn for the worst. So in September I bought seeds, bulbs and plants and did all my planting, most things can be planted September / October for it to flower in spring. As for the plants I bought flowers and shrubs that would survive the frost and snow and still bloom from spring right through to autumn.
I washed down the patio in October and removed all weeds from bedding; I cut the grass so it wouldn’t grow until April. I pruned the trees and roses and cleared out all dead plants and unwanted shrubs that I didn’t want to maintain.
The advantages of winter garden tidy up
Tidying up the garden in winter allowed me to spend time inside without having to worry about the plants in the garden. By planning ahead and buying all my seeds and bulbs in the autumn it also saves me from having to plant them in spring. Now that we are a few months away from Spring I can already see my Daffodils starting to grow. Whilst I can sit back and watch my garden flourish those who have neglected the garden last winter will have the boring task of tidying up the garden instead of spending time in the great outdoors. Since I last cut my grass in October it won’t need cutting for another couple of months at least. As all my shrubs, trees and flowers have been pruned I won’t need to do that until October as well.
It really does help to be organised and do the tedious little garden tasks that people seem to forget. By having a healthy happy garden it will also help to sell the house in the future if it has been well cared for. Once the initial things like planting have taken place you only need to remove weeds every now and again leaving you to sit back and enjoy the sunshine. It’ll also mean that when the weather improves and you want to hold an early Spring Barbeque you won’t have to spend hours clearing away your garden as it has been done well before hand.
My best friend and I were talking the other day about taking prenatal vitamins, as she wants to start a family straight after marrying her long term partner we were discussing how she should get ready for starting a family. The first thing to do is to take a prenatal supplement to aid you to get the best nutrients and vitamins you need for your body to support a growing baby. With so many prenatal vitamins to choose from where do you start?
Choosing a prenatal vitamin?
The first thing you should do is visit your doctor because if you have a family history of certain medical conditions you may be able to get medicines on a prescription that is not available over the counter. This is also helpful if you have had a miscarriage as you will need a higher dose of folic acid that is essential for the development of the baby’s’ spinal cord and brain development. If none of this applies to you, you will have the hard task of picking a prenatal supplement. There are too many to choose from, some more expensive than others and some that are own brand from your local pharmacy or supermarket.
Should you go for a cheap vitamin or a more expensive vitamin?
There is no right or wrong answer as even the cheapest tablets have had to pass thorough testing to be allowed on the market. What is important is to decide what is best for you and baby. Make sure that the antenatal supplement you are buying contains the following: folic acid, iron, vitamin D, vitamin C, Vitamin E, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12, vitamin K, Selenium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iodine, Biotin and Copper. There are more that can be part of your antenatal supplement but the above are the most commonly found in antenatal supplements. You should take one a day with your main meal and on a full stomach. Do not exceed the recommended dosage.
As most of these vitamins are found in the food we eat anyway the supplement is take ‘just in case’ you’re not getting your daily average for a women that is pregnant or trying to conceive. Your GP will advise you to start taking supplements 3 months before trying to conceive, this is advisable as your body will be in tip top shape when you do conceive. The first 3 months are the most important as the baby is developing organs and neural tube so to prevent any defects or disabilities antenatal supplements are advised.
For my mums birthday she wanted to see a new film at the Cinema, we agreed to take her out as a treat and watch a family film. We went to Cineworld Wood Green as we hadn’t been there for at least 2 years, there are also loads of places to eat after wtahcing the film.
As we arrived the qeue was very long so we waited, I was a little disappointed to see they didn’t have any self service machines as this would have saved a lot of uneccesary witing. After 15 minutes standing in the qeue it only took a minute to issue tickets. We arrived to the cinema usher who asked us to wait 10 seconds before we could be let in? 10 seconds it was a little silly and when she did let us in we laughed in her face for being an idiot. The screen number was 12 and we had to go down the escalator, it was broken! There was popcorn all over it and the hand rail was dirty! The last time we came which was two years ago it was broken then and it still is now.
As we arrived to the screen I went to the toilet first before seeing the movie, it is small and smells like week old urine! When i washed my hands there was no hot water, how are supposed to stop the spread of germs, bacteria and swine flu if there is no hot water! I will be complaining to health and safety about this. I went to the screen and it said Sherlock Holmes due to start in 40 minutes? I went on ahead anyway and found the same people in my que had already seated. I went on to find 5 seats togethwe and was horrified. They were absolutely filthy and the floor was even worse! I didn’t want to take my coat off but then again i didnt want it to get dirty.
The movie started 5 minutes late and there were half an hour of adverts before the film was actually shown. The film itself was fantastic but the service and comfort was non existant, the whole cinema is dirty and poorly run. There were a lot of ticket dodgers that kept popping in and out of films; you could see them outside other screenings as well trying to talk their way in.
If you want a good night out where you can get dressed up and watch a movie in comfort stay at home, Cineworld is very downmarket i wouldn’t advise it to anyone!
After months of searching for a good local Chinese restaurant near Waltham Cross, Enfield and Cheshunt a colleague told me of a good restaurant in Cheshunt called China Star. I called up and made a reservation for Valentine’s Day. As its just off the main high road in Cheshunt the first thing you will notice is there is no parking but if you take the first left after the restaurant there is a car park where you can park for free after 6pm.
As you walk in to the restaurant you are greeted by friendly smiling waitresses waiting to seat you, if you do not like the table they are happy to seat you elsewhere. The decor is very nice and authentic and the lighting and music was really soothing. For Valentine’s Day there were candles on the table and roses everywhere. We were given enough time to choose our food and asked if we wanted them in order of dish or all together. I ordered the crab and sweet corn soup and it was very delicious, soon after the man course was served.
As there are so many options to choose from it’s very difficult to decide what to choose for a main, I chose the shredded duck with some rice a vegetables as a side. My partner chose sweet and sour chicken with noodles. As we enjoy spicy food we had to ask for some chilli but all they have is chilli oil which is a bit disappointing. A small portion of rice is actually quite a lot even for two people so I would only order one. The services are very efficient but beware when they serve you because they do charge you for that.
At the end of the meal you can ask for the desert menu, they have ice cream filled into little porcelain mugs that they wash and you can take home with you. For Valentine’s Day they all had hearts on the cups. For children they have cartoon character cups such as Tweety, Sylvester and the Coyote.
Overall the food and service was very it was so good that we go for birthdays, anniversaries and whenever we have a lazy weekend. Due the food being inexpensive but very delicious you can expect to pay under £100 for a group of 5. I do recommend this restaurant as they have everything even the lobster is exquisite try it once and you’ll keep coming back.
As I have recently done my kitchen my mum was so impressed at ho something so simple could transform the home she decided to do hers too. My mum has been extremely lucky in some ways as she has never had to do a kitchen before in her life. I offered to help her choose one and plan it all as I had recently been through it myself so off the journey that would soon turn into a nightmare began.
Finding Wickes kitchens
As I had already advised my mum against Homebase kitchens she looked into getting a B&Q kitchen instead. She had made an appointment and I was there with her, we went a little earlier to check out the whole kitchen range. It was very disappointing and massively overpriced, as we contemplated if we should stay or go when I looked at the carcasses I knew B&Q wasn’t for her. We proceeded to Wickes and looked at all the kitchen ranges in Waltham Cross. When my mum found the kitchen she liked we made an appointment for the following week. We went home and double checked all the measurements and other kitchen companies.
Wickes kitchen designer
We were greeted by Andy the kitchen designer who thanked us for making a wonderful choice; he then said straight away that he had a Wickes kitchen and that he had sold 10 alone this week! He then made the kitchen plan and we then started to choose accessories such as door handles sink and tap. I’m so glad I was there with my mum as he tried to make her buy a £250 sink excluding taps! There was nothing special about the sink and we declined, the taps were also overpriced so we decided to purchase it separately. The cost of the kitchen rose to £4,500 and my mum got a free dishwasher for spending over £3,500. As I looked at all the costs the appliances alone were costing over £2,000! I went onto Curry’s, Comet and even Dixons to find the appliances cheaper, we purchased them separately saving my mum over £800.
There is a design flaw with Wickes kitchens as all cheap DIY store kitchens do. The corner cabinet doesn’t allow one of the handles to stick out as the doors have been badly designed. It’s truly a shame that there were also some fitting problems due to poor workmanship. As we got an experienced carpenter to fit the kitchen he truly did a good job where you can’t notice all the imperfections.
If you are looking to buy a Wickes kitchen I would only advise them for rental properties, and to buy appliances separately. Also be careful of Andy as he just wants to make a sale to claim commission and doesn’t really care about anything else. I would also never advise a woman to go alone as these sales people can be very persuading and persistent.
I would like to add that ideally we all want a luxurious kitchen where no expense is spared but in the current climate where no one stays in the same house for more than 5 years it was silly to buy a Moben kitchen at the cost of £10,000+. If my mum had a lovely country home in the countryside where the style and cost would be appreciated then that’s what she would’ve gone for. At the end of the day you only buy what you need and all my mum needed was a hob she could cook on a some extra worktop space.