Get ready for a good giggle

Relax on 8820 spikes?!

When you first come across this curious thing, you're likely to touch it with your fingers or hand. Ouch!

But the yantra mat promises better sleep, more energy, stress and pain relief. Sold!

Anything, I thought, that will improve blood circulation and reduce backaches. Even if it means lying down on 8,820 spikes!

Apparently this is based on the ancient healing art of acupressure and improves blood flow by stimulating various parts of the body.

After 10-20 minutes of lying on the mat, I have a pretty pattern of 'holes' in my back. But it feels great. Since starting this, my chronic shoulder-arm-back pains have almost completely disappeared. I have had these pains for YEARS! And I have never been able to get rid of them.

Sometimes I even fall asleep on this thing!

It's not just for the back, though. I roll the mat with the spikes on the outside and prop my legs on it. I sit on it. I even stand on it. I also put my head on it to massage the scalp. 

I have become so dependent on this - I use it every day! - that I was happy to read that it travels well, too. All you have to do is take out the foam mat and just pack the spiky cover in your suitcase.

Do be careful when handling the mat. If you accidentally brush your hand or foot against the spikes, you'll get nasty scratches and some bleeding even! (excuse: "It was my cat.")

A very similar mat was featured in the May issue of Tatler:

It's worth trying out! Let me know how you get on. 

"I would die without lemons"

What do you do with your lemons, once you've squeezed out the juice?

Mine usually end up in the bin (feeling guilty now) because I can't be bothered to keep them for peeling later etc. They would just take up valuable space in the fridge. 

I was quite surprised (but nodded with approval) to read that Jamie Oliver peels the zest from every single lemon that he squeezes, and I'm sure that's a lot. He continues:

"The zest can be dried out in a dish then used in a curry or meat rub. Or mix it with dried lavender to make potpourri, then put it in a bag and keep it in a drawer with your clothes."

I like the potpourri idea. Let me know if you get round to trying it. 

Check out his magazine(s) for more tips and recipes.

The great big MAC Pret-a-Papier haul and review

This is one of those times when I think, "It's a good thing my husband doesn't read my blog!"... because I ended up getting quite a few things from MAC (and not just what's in the photo!). Here is the Pret-a-Papier collection.

Let's start.
I adore blush. Especially in pink, coral and sometimes also bronze (but not plum, for example). So no surprise here that I had to get both Instant Chic (a pink coral sheertone) and Light over Dark, which is a two-toned mineralize blush. Light over Dark could be used as eyeshadow, too, by the way.

In the swatch, Instant Chic is on the left. It swatched nicely but it's quite sheer when applied to the cheeks with a brush (as you will see in a different swatch). It's a pretty colour. Quite matte.

Then we have Light over Dark. In the middle, the light colour on top, the darker colour on the bottom, and swirled together is the colour on the right. You need to apply this with a light hand because it is well pigmented. I like the colour - perfect for those sunny summer days - and the shimmer that you always get with the mineralize blushes.

Here is another swatch, this time applied with a brush (131) over Studio Sculpt foundation in NC30. In the photo below, Instant Chic looks plum. The colour in the photo above is more accurate.

* * *

I got two (lustre) lipsticks, both perfect for spring/summer. Dressmaker, Dressmaker is a beautiful, soft pink coral that blends in nicely with the rest of the face and make-up (if you know what I mean); I love it. Made to Order is a deeper coral. It's absolutely wearable. They're both incredibly pretty.

Made to Order (L) and Dressmaker, Dressmaker (R)

* * *

I only got one eyeshadow, Tissueweight (frost). It is a... pink beige, perhaps? It would make a good highlighter, depending on your skintone. It is not as pink as it looks in this photo.

I swatched Tissueweight with some like colours (all from MAC). It's like a pinkier version of Shroom.

L to R: Tissueweight, Jest, Naked Lunch, Shroom

* * *

I also got the Paint Pot in coral crepe. This is brighter than I thought. I tried sheering it out but this is about as sheer as it will get (without using anything to dilute it or anything).

Here it is again (referring to the swatches below). The lighting is different.

Top picture: swatched on its own again. It actually makes a pretty blush!

Middle: combined with Tissueweight eyeshadow. Not really a combination I like.

Bottom: combined with Mythology eyeshadow. Now this is pretty! First I swatched Mythology on its own. It's hardly visible but to be fair, it's without a base. Below it, I applied it over coral crepe and look how nice that is. It goes well with Smut, for example.

* * *

I decided to get the chromagraphic pencil after I read it was safe for the waterline. It's very soft and easy to blend. I tried NW15/NW20 but for me it was too light on the waterline and obvious - just like those white pencils that have always been on the market. I got NW25/NC30 and it looks more natural.

* * *

The nail lacquer, Originality, is a frosty gold. When I first saw it, I got excited because I thought it was similar to Mercenary (Style Warriors collection). But Mercenary is a deeper bronze, which - to be honest - I prefer to the much more golden Originality.

I did not get the other nail lacquer from this collection - I thought it was just a blah brown, rather ugly.

Top row: Originality.
Bottom row: Originality and Mercenary. (Thumb: Mercenary)

And that's it!

Sorry this was such a long post but I hope that was useful. Do let me know what you plan on getting and then how you like them when you get them!

A teaser: Pret-a-Papier haul

Here's an overview of what I got from MAC's Pret-a-Papier collection. Lipsticks, paint pot, blush, nail lacquer, eyeshadow and chromagraphic pencil.

The post will be up tomorrow, after I've done better swatches in daylight!  

Massage ball: Lost and found?

After I wrote about my white massage ball last week, it went missing...

Then I thought I spotted it in my son's room. Ah ha!

But upon closer inspection, I see it's grown ears, eyes, mouth and an attitude.

Ok, it's not my massage ball.
But the 'transformation' from harmless to fierce reminded me of the Gremlins. Remember that film?

Sugar Shock Sunday

Finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, cakes, tea and champagne... I knew it was going to be too much food but I ordered this 'champagne afternoon tea' anyway.

I was so full afterwards (and I only ate about a third of what was served) that I secretly vowed to myself never to order this again. The vision of this woman from the film Wall-e, which my son happened to be watching, haunted me as I still sat at the cluttered table:

Tomorrow I am going to re-start my yoga with renewed determination; I have been slacking off due to the allergies and a cold. Shouldn't be too difficult to motivate myself!