Popping My Cherry

That's what we'll be doing tonight. No I haven't decided to turn this into an intimate and graphic blog the 'cherry' I'm referring too is my Westfield shopping center cherry. I used to live down the road from it and now live slightly further down the road from it so feel that I do really have to go at some point. I'm using Christmas shopping as my excuse and secretly hoping that Mr J will arrive and whisk me off to Yo Sushi (I've got a raw tuna craving). I've heard good things about Westfield... but maybe that had to do with the free champagne that was being handed out (god damnit I missed that) so I'm thinking that it won't be quite as horrific as I'm expecting it to be. Wish me luck - if I never write again I'm still wandering round the Westfield trying to find the exit. Send help xx

Heroin Diaries

I thought that The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star would not appeal to me as I'm not a fan of heroin. That sounds odd but there is nothing more boring than people (usually boys) telling you proudly how many drugs they've taken in what quantity... blah blah blah. But I was pleasantly surprise. Nikki Sixx is my least favourite member of Motley Crue (bet you didn't know you had to have a favourite member!) but I could not put this book down. It has made me want to go on a bender dressed in leather trousers (I'm just about suppressing this urge)... I would say that a love of rock music is quite a necessity for this book. otherwise you'll be bored by the various Whitesnake, Ratt and New York Dolls references. Go get it, it's great (as is The Dirt - Motley Crue: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band) xx

Pretty Polly

This may not necessarily be the time of year to be concentrating on your legs but I guess it is the time of year for tights and so, in a way, we will still be getting our legs out and we all need a little help when they have been deprived of the sun for... well basically all year. Pretty Polly have not only launched the new Pretty Polly Love Legs Prepare to Bare collection but they have taken it one step further and have staged a protest against cosmetic surgery on Harley Street. Models paraded down the road in tights lead by 'Coleen's Real Women' winner Sasha Parker. OK so they are models which means they are unlikely to need cosmetic surgery in the first place but taking over the streets clad only in skimpy tops and tights is one way of getting noticed! With short skirts, tights and boots being prominent this winter you've got to keep those legs looking presentable.

So for the last two weeks I've been using the Pretty Polly Lock in Moisturising Leg Oil (£9) which is lovely and actually very non-greasy for a leg oil. I'm not sure it is better than This Works Skin Deep Dry Leg Oil 120ml (£32) although I do think it is a little less greasy and is absorbed quicker but if your dry legs aren't that bad this is a fantastic cheaper alternative. This is great post shaving - use on slightly damp skin the mixture of coconut oil, passion flower and vitamin E not only locks in moisture but soothes dry skin.

The Rich Leg Mask (£9) - this is the only product of its kind. It contains hydrating clays and minerals to nourish and moisturise your legs. Use once a week and you can really feel the difference. And, its the perfect excuse to sit and read for 10 minutes!!

The Pretty Polly Secret Slimmer tights are amazing. I wore them to a wedding recently. Wintry wedding what do you wear? I found a great Audrey Hepburn style dress in LK Bennett which is knee length and has quite a lot of black on it. To avoid looking like I was mourning the loss of the groom to single women I wore natural colour Pretty Polly Secret Slimmer (£4) tights which are built to flatten your tummy. These were the perfect colour and thank goodness for the flattener. I bought the dress a couple of months ago and had definitely more tummy than before. Mr J admitted they were not the most ravishing he'd ever seen me in. In fact he made me stand in my nude tummy flattening tights in my nude seam free M&S underwear and nude bra whilst he rolled around laughing... thank goodness it's too late for him to retract the proposal!! The best thing about these tights was that I forgot I was wearing them they were so comfortable (and I usually hate wearing tights!).

I'm left wanting to try more - the Nourishing Leg Shaving Butter looks fantastic (you can use it on dry legs - perfect for when you realise that you haven't shaved just before you leave the house) and the Moisturising Exfoliating Leg Wipes which are great for a holiday. I've still got the Invigorating Leg Scrub (it can be also be used to exfoliate your back) and the Soothing Leg Gel perfect for energising tired aching limbs, at home to try so I'm looking forward to a winter of luscious legs. xx

Dry Skin Rears its Ugly Head

I've mentioned this before I have terrible trouble with dry skin bumps on tops of my arms and thighs. Thus far I have tried most kinds of exfoliators, oils and moisturisers to get rid of them and although I have succeeded in softening them up a bit after one day of lapsing they are back in force. I mentioned this whilst having a pedicure at Essence Beauty Rooms in Hammersmith and was recommended Environ's Derma-Lac Lotion. I nearly didn't get it as I have tried so many products that haven't worked and it is around £32 but I need to get this sorted out before I get married so I'll give it a go. I work close enough to the Essence Beauty Rooms to go in and complain if this doesn't work.

Its designed to treat rough, dry skin specifically feet and elbows and so far (fingers crossed) it really seems to be working. I've been using an exfoliating cloth in the bath and then applying the Derma-Lac with cotton wool. Although it was pretty pricey it should be used within 6-8 weeks so I feel that that's a fair trial period. After that I'm going to leave it for a week and see if they come back just as bad as they ever were. If they are reasonably fine still then I'm going to continue using this because so far the results have been fantastic. xx

Good Choice

I have to say that to my own detriment I am not a big follower of politics. Don’t get me wrong as long as I am able I will always vote and in the run up to any elections I do make sure I am up to speed on who’s saying what. So I was surprised that I was as caught up in the American elections as I ended up being. Mr S came round last night and we ate chicken nuggets and watched the votes coming in and I did find it exciting and I was pleased that Obama will be the next American President. Although I do find myself being slightly doubtful of any promises in the back of my head (surely that’s what all politicians do when they want to be or have just been elected into office) I have more faith in Obama than my rational self would normally allow. I actually had a tear in my eye in the bath this morning whilst listening to the speech Obama made this morning. What triggered it? Obama thanking his wife ‘the rock of our family and the love of my life’ and telling his children that they had earned the puppy that would be moving with them to the White House. I don’t know why but that instilled more confidence in me then anything else because it reminded me of how normal he and his family are (even under the circumstances). Also its hard not to notice just how damn cool he is... Go team Obama xx