An update, general chit-chat & this weeks likes & dislikes :)

Hello everyone!

Bit more of a cheerful update for you all this week :) if you read my last post then I am glad to say I'm feeling ALOT more positive about things now. There haven't been any developments on the medical front as yet- I have 2 appointments this week. One is with the GP to get sorted about my endometriosis after last weeks upset. The other one was today with the hand specialist to have a chat about a long-term problem I have with my left arm as things haven't improved like they hoped.

I've been seeing the hand specialist for 2 years now as the problem I've had with my arm is pretty complicated as there are birth defects & old injuries that have flared up as well as immense pain & swelling which has been pretty difficult to find what is causing it. Today when I saw the specialist, he was very sympathetic when he heard how bad things have been since I last saw him (in August last year) & agreed that on top of all my other problems that it was time they tried to sort things regarding my arm. He said my wrist & thumb joints are pretty unstable & wants me to try hand therapy again (gentle exercises & ultrasound therapy) for 8 weeks, then for me to see him again.

After a long chat with the hand therapist she said she wants to make me a new thermoplastic splint, she gave me an ultrasound session & said we'll start the exercises next week. It was agreed between me, the specialist & the hand therapist not to hold out too much hope as the hand therapy didn't work last time, but we would give it a go. If it doesn't work then some kind of surgery could be on the cards. I'll update you as the weeks go along so fingers crossed!

I am feeling generally more upbeat after being able to vent last week & am hopeful that things will start to sort themselves out. I've been quite tired this last week & the pain hasn't been easy to deal with at times but I have managed to have a few hours out today. It's been so warm lately & the weather has been nice so hopefully I will be able to get out more.

What I'm liking this week:

The Bodyshop Papaya Body Butter- this smells incredible & leaves your skin so soft & smooth. I get quite dry skin & this really helps keep it hydrated. Plus it's an absolute bargain- on offer for £5 a pot- usually £13!!!

Jubbly Cola freeze pops- the heat is making me pretty thirsty & these are so refreshing. They're on offer at the moment too- £1 for a box of 8 at Asda

Fresh grapes- I can't stop eating them!

What I'm not liking:

Rude people- they'll quite happily walk straight into you then tell you to watch it!

Litter- living by a seaside resort means I like to go to the beach & some people have no consideration & just leave rubbish all over the beach which then gets washed into the sea.

Poor local bus services- I, like many other locals, rely on buses for transport & the local council really needs to invest money in improving the public transport in out area.

So there we go. Thanks for reading :)

Loving at the moment

Hello everyone!

Todays post is going to be about products & items that I am loving at the moment. I did something similar to this not long ago & thought I would do another. I love to try out different products, whether it's hair & makeup related, clothing, food or general & I hope this will inspire you to try them too! Enjoy :)

1. Tea tree oil (£7.00 The Body Shop) this stuff is amazing. It's really great for acne-prone skin as it treats blemishes, soothes & acts as an antibacterial to treat spots (also great on cuts & grazes!) I use it after I wash my face- simply dilute 2 drops in 1 teaspoon of warm water, soak a cotton wool ball in the solution & gently apply to your face. It doesn't irritate or dry out your skin either!

2. adidas originals Adi Rise 2.0 juniors hi-top trainers (£35-£40 JD Sports) these are possibly the most comfy shoes I have ever had (not ashamed to admit that I own two pairs!) Hi-tops are very on-trend at the moment but are also a more timeless item meaning they won't go out of fashion. I got my first pair for christmas in black, sky blue & white & loved them so much that my lovely man surprised me with some black & red ones yesterday!

3. The Body Shop All-in-one Instablur (£14) & All-in-one BB Cream (£12) I mentioned these in one of my previous posts (News, chatter, likes & dislikes) I got these a couple of weeks ago in a little set that included an amazing foundation brush too (the set was worth £45 & I got it for the special price of £20!) It's incredible- use the instablur as a primer- it literally blurs the imperfections, then apply the BB cream. You would get away without foundation over the top as these give fantastic coverage & just conceal any blemishes. I went back to The Body Shop the other day & apparently it has been so popular that everywhere has completely sold out!

4. Muller Crunch Corner Toffee Hoops (69p Sainsburys) these make a really tasty treat when you've got sweet cravings- one of my favourite snacks!

5. Montagne Jeunesse face masques (90p-£1.50 each, available at all leading supermarkets, Boots, Superdrug & Primark) these come in a variety of fruity, chocolatey or generally good smelling peel-off, mud, clay, warming, exfoliating & fabric face masques. Great for an evening of pampering & helps your skin feel gorgeously clean & soft.

6. My brand new Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0- this was a present from my lovely man today (I burst into tears when he gave it to me) my laptop broke a while back & I'd said I was going to get a tablet instead. The cheapest place I have found it is either Currys PC World or Asda for £139. It's amazing!

So there you have it. Hope this has inspired you to try some new products & would love to hear what you think! Thanks for reading! :)
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For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com or post a comment below :)

News, chatter, likes & dislikes

Hello everyone!

Sorry it's been a while- in between hospital visits, being ill & trying to get things done it's been a mad few weeks. At the moment I'm a little better than I was- still in alot of pain but been able to get out a bit more which is good. I've been told I need to see the surgery team next week because I haven't recovered as well as hoped & another lot of (more serious) surgery is on the cards.

This isn't what I hoped for but I know it has to be done so I've just got to pack up my troubles in my hospital bag & smile smile smile...lol. I've been making the most of the nice weather when it's been nice & on my good days I've had some shopping sprees! I've got a whole new wardrobe as I had loads of money that I had saved for ages to get myself some lovely new clothes (plus some lovely treats from my other half).

I had planned on doing a few haul videos but I've decided to leave that for a while yet until I have the time. However I will say this- get yourselves to the high street! There are some gorgeous trends at the moment & alot of them are at bargain prices:

-Debenhams have some huge sales on at the moment, I've bought some gorgeous pieces from Miss Selfridge & Quiz. My local Debenhams have had a 20% off event & loads of discounts & I've bought about £300 worth of clothes for £150!!!

-Bodyshop have bought out an amazing new product called Instablur. You use it as a primer & it literally blurs skin imperfections & blemishes. I use it with their new BB cream (they are on offer at the moment- £20 for both, worth £45!!!) And they are amazing. I've also treated myself to some new makeup brushes & other stuff too- all on amazing offers!

-Primark are doing some great stuff at the moment. I've bought myself loads of summer clothes as well as some great sale items. They've also got loads of pug-related stuff (I adore pugs!) So go & have a look!

-River Island, Dorothy Perkins, New Look & Peacocks. All have some lovely stuff at the moment & bang on trend!

- Superdrug & Boots have a 3 for 2 offer across all beauty products at the moment- I've been stocking up on Barry M & all of my other favourite brands. I also bought myself a new Tresemme hair dryer which is amazing!

-Beales Department Store- I've got a couple of gorgeous new dresses from here (the green & white flower dress from Apricot- £34) as well as some gorgeous black & gold heels from Miss Selfridge!

What I'm loving:
- Animal motif jumpers. I have been stocking up on some new jumpers (It will be winter again before we know it lol) & online stores such as Amazon & Karma Clothing have some really cute styles. I'm also loving quilted jumpers- I've got 3 in black, grey & white.

- Tiger Balm Red: possibly the most incredible stuff for joint & muscle pain. I'm on alot of medication at the moment & thought I'd try this as a more natural way- & it's amazing.

- Fresh fruit from the markets & grocers. It's the season for strawberries, raspberries, apricots, cherries & peaches- all of wich I've been snacking on (healthy comfort food). I refuse to buy them from the supermarket as not only are they so much cheaper from the greengrocers, you get so much more & they are better quality too.


What I'm disliking:
-The illusion that food is cheaper in the supermarkets. In my local town we have THREE giant supermarkets (it's absolutely rediculous) plus loads of smaller ones. Alot of my fresh foods I now buy from the local farmshops, market stalls, butchers & greengrocers- not onlyis it better quality, it's cheaper & it supports the little businesses which sadly are getting fewer.

- Rude, arrogant & ignorant people. Some people are just plain rude- they'll push past you, nearly knock you over & either ignore it or look at you like it's your fault.

- Benefit cheats. These people are disgraceful- they are proud to let the taxpayer fund their lifestyles & have no shame or remorse. There are people in genuine need who can't get the help they need because of people like this & there needs to be changes.


So there you go. Hope you enjoyed reading & keep checking for more coming soon. Thanks for reading :) xx

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For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com

My top 10 favourite hair & beauty products

Hi!
In my first post I said that one of the things I was going to be doing was some beauty & hair blogs. So today I thought I would start by giving a run down of my top 10 favourite products. These are things I use on a day-to-day basis and I have found them to be the best so hopefully you too might want to try them out :) (sorry for the lack of pictures- will upload as soon as I can)

1. Organix Argan oil of Morocco penetrating hair oil (£4.99 Superdrug)- I was a little bit iffy about this at first- there was all of this hype about the latest 'miracle hair product' and I thought as it was oil that it would make my hair greasy. But I was wrong.

My friend told me to try it as it is great for people who use alot of heat styling and stops your hair drying out. So after towel drying my hair I combed it through then rubbed a small amount into the mid-lengths and ends, then sprayed with heat protector. I dried and styled my hair as normal and I was amazed- it was so soft and shiny and it smelled great! And a bottle lasts for ages as you only need a tiny amount.

2. Bodyshop Shimmer Cubes palette (£16 each Bodyshop)- I love Bodyshop products. Not just because they aren't tested on animals but also because they aren't as harsh on your skin as the other brands. For £16 you get a quad of four different shades of eyshadow- some people might think that's expensive but it really is worth it!

The four different shades in each can be blended for a sophisticated look or used individually for a hint of colour or to make your eyes stand out. They have a lovely soft texture (easy to blend) and a nice shimmer too.

3. Shwarzkopf got2b Guardian Angel heat protecting spray up to 220ºc (£3.00 Boots) This stuff is fab for those who use alot of heat on their hair. Towel dry hair and use in combination with Argan Oil and blow dry and style as normal.

It's great because I have noticed since using it my hair doesnt get as dry and damaged. Also this is a must if, like me, you dye your hair often (I've gone for blonde this time so as you can imagine the bleach took its toll on my hair and I need this stuff) it helps protect your hair against further damage.

4. Johnsons holiday skin- fair to medium (£5.10 Boots) I love this stuff- its great when you want to get a natural-looking tan without the nasty fake tan smell or ending up looking like you have been tangoed. I'm not naturally pale but I've been ill alot which means I wasn't able to get a tan last summer and this gave me a lovely natural looking colour (great for winter too to keep you looking good).

It has a kind of suncream smell to it and a thick creamy consistency. It's easy to apply and within a few days you will have a lovely colour built up. A bonus is that you don't get any streaky lines either. Only thing I will say though is don't put this on your face- use the facial version as this can be harsh on very sensitive skin. Other than that it's great.

5. AR2 borage oil cream (£4.85 Holland & Barret) this stuff is a fantastic facial cream. It's a mixture of herb extracts and oils in a cream that has so many uses! It helps reduce the appearance of blemishes, moisturises, can be used on sensitive skin and even makes a great primer!

The pot seems small but a little goes a long way and it's great on acne-prone skin with a drop of tea tree oil mixed into it. It leaves skin so soft and smooth with no horrid oily residues. It absorbs easily and protects it from drying out. Worth every penny!

6. Bodyshop moisture foundation (£13 Bodyshop)- this is the best foundation I have come across. It comes in a range of shades so you can find the one that is right for you and it really is great for giving your skin a healthy, smooth and dewy looking base.

It comes in a pump action bottle (no messy drips ) and its very liquidy which makes it easy to apply and you only need a small amount. There's alot of debate on how to apply foundation- some use a brush, others use makeup sponges and some just use their hands. I find it easiest to use a small wedge sponge as it gets it into all of the creases and helps it blend easier. This foundation is great for all skin types as it's non greasy, moisturises and doesnt block pores. Finish off with a light dusting of transluscent powder and you have a gorgeously flawless finish.

7. Eyelure naturalites false eyelashes (Around £5.49 available in Boots, Superdrug and large supermarkets) As false eyelashes go these are the best to buy if you want enhanced but still natural looking lashes. Until I found these I didn't really like false lashes- they were often uncomfortable and wouldnt stick properly and generally looked very fake (looking like you had dead spiders on your eyelids- not attractive).

I bought the glamour (no 116) lashes and for the price I was so impressed- they're so light you can't feel them once they are on, they stay on great, and they really do look so natural! They can be re-used over and over and they are just great for the price.

8. Maybelline Volum' express turbo boost mascara in very black (£6.19 Superdrug) this mascara is great if you want big, volumous lashes. It makes lashes look really long and thick, great for enhancing your eyes.

As long as you wipe off the excess from the brush before applying it doesnt make your eyelashes look horrible and clumpy. It stays on great with no smudges and is easy to remove. Looks great for dark, smokey eye looks too.

9. Barry M glitter nail paint in Yellow Topaz (£2.99 Superdrug & Boots) fantastic for adding a touch of glitz and glamour to any look. It can be applied as a single coat over a coloured nail polish to add just a touch of glitter (also doubles up as a top coat) or can be applied in seveal coats for sparkly, glamourous nails.

I like to use this on top of base colours such as red or dark blue for a touch of glam, and it also looks great for a festive look or for a big night out. It's pretty chip resistant and lasts for ages but is also easy to remove.

10. nspa jojoba and rosehip oil lipgloss (Asda- not sure of price) my lovely fiancee got me this as part of a gift set that had a body wash and body polish in it and unfortunately I haven't seen it since as it was a christmas gift. They all have a lovely floral/rose smell to them and are a nice little luxury.

The lipgloss is gorgeous- a kind of mid to dark pink colour with a shimmer to it. It has a gorgeous smell and a smooth, non sticky texture. It lasts for hours without needing to be re-applied. It moisturises and gives you nice soft lips too.


So there you have it (sorry it was so long)- my top 10 favourite products. I hope you enjoyed reading and let me know if you found this helpful!
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Any questions, comments, opinions or suggestions I would love to hear them! Email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com