Blogmas Day 7. Cosy Socks

It's the 7th day of Blogmas!!! I can't believe it's already a week in.

Socks are brilliant when it's cold. Especially the Primark 'Cosy Socks'. They are sooo fluffy and soft and really cosy. At the moment I only have 3 pairs of them but I've been on the look out for more. Primark have so many patterns/designs to choose from (There really is something for everyone). I'm hoping I will be receiving some more for Christmas because I'm in love with them and want to try out some other designs.

The picture below is from a tweet I found the other day. I retweeted it on my  Twitter page and it shows just a handful of the variety that Primark offer.

You can get ones with grippy bits on the bottom to stop you slipping over. It's always a main concern for me when I wear socks as I don't want to slip over and hurt/embarrass myself. Although it does take some of the fun out of laminate floors. :/ Most of the socks are colourful and don't have the grips on the bottom.
That's what makes them so fun.

Stay cosy
Fiona xx

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Blogmas Day 6. Tissues

Tissues. There are a million uses for them. They save our noses and sometimes our dignity. Spills are easily cleared up and germs and colds aren't spread as easily.

The reason that tissues have made it into my top 25 winter essentials is that they are small but have a lot of uses.

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A packet of tissues is simple to pop in your bag and won't take up lots of room, even in a small bag. Uses can range from a runny rose to clearing up.

Also they don't have to be boring! Many designs on tissue packets/boxes are fun, cute and interesting. You can also get tissues with aloe vera (to help soothe a sore nose), scents and different textures.

Look after your noses this winter

Fiona xx

Blogmas Day 5. Lip Care

I don't know about you but my lips are always the first things that I notice being affected by the cold weather. I always try to make sure they don't get too chapped or split by putting on lip balm before I go to bed on cold nights. However it doesn't always go as planned. Sometimes I have to resort to a quicker more effective method: blistex. Visit their website: http://www.blistex.co.uk/Chapped-lips

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It doesn't really have the most appealing name, smell or taste but it works wonders. After having a thin layer on for the night, you wake up and your lips feel almost as if it is summer again (will depend on how bad the chapped lips were to begin with).

I'm sorry that this is only a very short post but I was having some technical difficulties (the app I use to write the posts on wasn't working). I only got about 15 minutes to write it.

This is the way that I look after my lips in winter, how do you look after yours? Leave your method in the comments below and I will look through them.

Hope you are enjoying this Blogmas so far
Fiona xx

Blogmas Day 4. Jumpers (Christmas)

Jumpers are a life saver in winter, they keep you warm but you don't necessarily have to ditch your style when wearing one. There are loads of cute and flattering jumper designs out there, some of my favourites are from New Look, Next, and Primark. 

This is just one of the cool Christmas jumpers I have found so far:




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At the moment I love oversized jumpers as well as fitted ones because it gives you a warm, cosy and comfortable look.

At the moment we can get away with fairly thin jumpers but in a few weeks (if not next week) I'm almost certain we will have to bring out ones which are a lot thicker as the frosts come and the weather gets colder.

Stay warm and stylish

Fiona xx

Blogmas Day 3. Healthy Eating (Part 2)

Yesterday I wrote a post about how by eating certain foods you can reduce the problems your skin causes you. This included dry and dull skin, read it here.
I hope you enjoy reading about the next 3 common skin problems and the solutions I have found for them.

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Problem: Pale and Brittle skin
Solution:Eat brazil nuts (if allergic you can eat turkey(perfect for the time of year), lean beef, chicken or eggs)
Brazil nuts have a high selenium content, which had been shown to reduce sun damage and improve the youthful elasticity of your skin. This antioxidant material is high in brazil nuts and the other foods listed above.
Recommended to eat 1 or 2 times a day.

Problem:Chapped skin
Solution: You need more Vitamin B in your diet.
You can get Vitamin B from brown rice and dark green vegetables (especially broccoli and kale).
Recommended to eat with your lunch or dinner everyday.

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Problem:Spots
Solution: Less comfort eating and more Vitamin E
If you comfort eat a lot and your skin is quite spotty, it is probably because you are getting too much sugar. Sugar and sweet things can stimulate the production of a male hormone androgen which can cause acne in women. It has also been proven to accelerate collagen damage, so it really is an ingredient you want to reduce in you diet this winter.

Blend one large handful of blueberries, half a mango and half an avocado for their Vitamin E and skin smoothing properties. A good winter face mask is a mashed up avocado, it includes lots of Vitamin E and when directly applied to the face it nourishes the skin.

Kiwi, papaya and pineapple are available in supermarkets and include good exfoliating fruit acids. This can be directly applied to your face and washed off after 10 minutes. An even easier method that you don't even have to wash off is to rub coconut oil onto sore patches of skin. Coconut oil is high in lauric acid which is very similar to your skins natural oils.

I hope you found all of these suggestions helpful.

Fiona xx 

Blogmas Day 2. Healthy Eating (Part 1)

Skin can often be left looking dull in winter but by eating some of these super foods, you can bring back your summer glow. There can be many problems with your skin in the cold months but with a few changes to what you eat they can be gone forever!

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Problem:Eczema prone/dry skin
Solution: Eat more oily fish

They are full of essential fatty acids that help to reduce water loss in your skin meaning they help maintain moisture. Some fish (like salmon and mackerel) also have anti-inflammatory properties so your skin won't get sore because of eczema.
Recommended to eat 3 times a week.

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Problem:Dull/Tired skin
Solution: You need more Vitamin E and D

Many face creams include Vitamin E but one of the best ways to get it is by eating it. Experts say that yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potato, mango and peppers (orange and yellow ones) all contain carotenoids, antioxidants that the body converts to Vitamin E and nourish the layers of skin under the surface.
Also treat yourself to some blueberries, black berries and black grapes. These contain a pigment that has been found to strengthen collagen fibres, resulting in firmer, healthier and more radiant skin.
Recommended to eat 2 potions a day.

Usually we get 90% of our Vitamin D from the sunlight but now that the days are shorter and darker, the sun isn't out as much. Around 47% of us suffer with low energy levels during this time of year because of it. Tiredness can be reflected in your skin. It is so important to eat the right kinds of foods. To get Vitamin D you can eat oily fish (again), egg yolks, liver and wild mushrooms to increase the amount of Vitamin D you get.
Recommended to eat 1 every day.

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Come back tomorrow for part 2 with more winter skin problems and solutions.

Fiona xx

Blogmas Day 1. Warm Tights

In these cold months there is nothing more important than staying warm, but you still want to have the freedom to wear whatever you want.
The problem of warmth arises when you find the perfect winter dress but the weather is too cold to wear nomal tights, which are usually not warm and they are too thin for winter.

However, I have recently discovered some amazing tights! They have a fleecy lining which means that when you put them on you can instantly feel the warmth that will stay with you all day.
Primark-Super Cosy tights are the best I have found so far, but I have only sampled a few types.

They are super thick and warm and I know that this winter I wont be worrying about what I can wear anymore. Dresses and skirts will be appearing more this winter than any winter before now.

Im not sure if they are available in other countries but I do know that they are one of my most important winter essentials.

Fiona xx (Hope you enjoyed my first BLOGMAS!!!)