Recovery...

I don't know that I've ever been so exhausted after a holiday in my life. Having come back tanned, thin and poor I vowed to spend the rest of the month in a state of nun like abstinence - that lasted a week. Having arrived home for some parental pampering I seem to have put all the weight back on and emptied my bank account. I can justify the mass DVD buying that went on, after all HMV are having a massive and irresistable sale, but it was when I found myself leaving Boots with No 7's limited edition Gorgeous Eye Palette. I'm convinced that I will discover that it's not so limited but it better be after I had to return the first one having got home, opened it and found it completely disintergrated. I also picked up some Protect and Perfect Serum by No 7 for Mumma B. This has been selling out all over the UK - you literally could not get your hands on it for love nor money for the first couple of months of its release. I'll let you know whether she notices any effects.

My major concern since getting back however, has been the maintenance of my tan. I have never been this colour before and I have become obsessed with keeping it. I've been basting myself in after sun (the Nivea Sun tan prolonging after sun seems to be working although have started to notice orange bits so I'm not sure how long I can keep using it). My sister has just produced Body Spa's Malama Intense Moisture Body Butter which smells amazing and feels really smooth. Where did she find this sweet smelling wonder? Tesco's. Who'd have thought it. It's available here and is a real bargin at around £4.99. Go and get some it will be worth it and its perfect for keeping post-holiday skin mosturised.

All my pre-holiday purchases were great. I'm really loving Eye-Con and the Gilded pencil is really great for a subtle bit of glamour - was a definate bonus when glitzing up for the clubs. Something which is not worth its £16.50 price tag is Benefit's Rush Hour. The colour is slightly too dark even for a lipstick but for a product that is supposed to be used on cheeks as well it just doesn't work. I bought it at the airport and when I arrived in Ibiza it had spread on the inside of the lid and looked a bit sad. It would have been much better if one end had been for lips and one for cheeks and/or eyes. The packaging as always is beautiful but for once I just don't think this Benefit product cuts the mustard which was especially annoying as it would have been perfect for those post-clubbing 11am-with-no-sleep moments. Luckily I also managed to purchase some more Bad Gal Lash Mascara which is an essential item in any girls make-up stash.

So what has been my recovery plan (apart from spending money I don't have on even more products?). I've been trying to ignore my morning craving to eat everything bad for me (ideally i'd have a toasted bagel with cream cheese pastrami and pickle every morning) by just sticking to a bowl of bran flakes. For lunch I've been making myself a salad of tomato, cucumber, feta and tuna (sounds bizarre I know but is really yummy). I've also been trying to avoid carbs after 6 and drinking booze during the week which is, rather worringly, easier said than done. It is working but it is incredibly hard not to fall off the wagon. I've been keeping up the walking and am hoping that when the new salary has had a chance to kick in I'll be able to take up a dance class or something. One of the hardest things to do has been to give up the full fat Coke. Having accidentally lost weight in Ibiza having tried and failed to lose it before leaving I'm now determinded to maintain my optimum weight and my coke substitues of water and green tea just don't have the same sugary satisfaction. One bonus of the new health drive is I have finally learnt to love Cranberry juice. I can't get enough of the stuff and it will hopefully help me avoid the incredible discomfort and embarrassment of certain infections with which cranberry's have now become associated with.

So I did manage to return from holiday tanned and thin... I did however get my fill and more of funky house music. This has manifested itself in my almost permant singing of Dr Feelgood by Motley Crue and other such anti-social metal tunes. I think my new boss may wonder what he has employed. Speaking of which I am now bound to return to London to get back to the grind stone tomorrow I'm going to spend my week discovering some feel good cheer up treats to boost us through this foul weather, if you are anything like me you will need all the help you can get. Two hours on a horse this morning and I'm still looking like a drowned rat!! xxx