MOP

For the last three weeks I have been testing out Modern Organic Products MOP Glisten Shampoo. I know that Miss F is a big fan and although I snuck a try of hers when we were living together I'd never used it regularly enough to see how it actually works. I have to say I'm impressed - people have commented on how shiny and healthy my hair is looking which can only be a good thing and it has lasted really well. You don't need to use very much for this to have a real effect.

As the name suggests this is an affordable, modern, organic hair care range which protects you hair and your wallet. There are a couple of ranges from Mop - the Glisten that I was testing is a natural shine producing range designed to accentuate the hairs natural pliability and lustre. Because this has made a noticeable difference I really wish I was trying the MOP Glisten Conditioner too as I'm sure together they would have an even more fantastic effect.
The MOP Glisten Shampoo contains linseed oil, whole wheat protein and Vitamin C which thoroughly cleanse the hair, maple syrup and honey to lock in the shine and moisture and protect the hair from heat (which is fantastic if you can't put down your GHD's). Although at approx £10 this is not the cheapest shampoo on the market is is by no means the most expensive - a bottle does last and you will see the difference.

Although this is not specifically a volumising shampoo like I would usually go for this, as with the majority of shampoos (except Head & Shoulders I HATE Head & Shoulders) does give your hair lift if you really massage your scalp - there is no way this is going to coat your hair and hold it down. It adds shine and I can really feel the difference in the texture of my hair. If you are having hair troubles then give this a go. Highly recommended xx

P.s Mr J and I got engaged a year ago today - have been secretly reliving it (the rain, the shouting, the swearing, the champagne) all day. Can't believe it was a year ago... where's the time going... where's my life going! xx

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Atheist's Guide to Christmas

You've all seen and heard about the Atheist bus campaign well now here is the Atheist book campaign. This beautiful hardback, The Atheist's Guide to Christmas, is out on 1st October but available on Amazon and in all good book stores (and Tesco!) now. Buy it - it has great contributions from some fantastic people including Richards Dawkins, Derren Brown, Charlie Brooker, Simon le Bon and David Baddiel. It makes you think, it makes you laugh and it is the perfect present for the atheist in your family - whether it's Christmas or not and all the proceeds go to the Terrence Higgins trust xx

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VMA's

I used to watch all awards show. Slightly lame you may think but if that's the case you're probably not as nosey as I am. I'm very nosy. Mr J is not. I can't remember the last time I sat and stuffed my face whilst making shocked noises at who was wearing what and snorting derisively at acceptance speeches. Mr J went and watched football on Sunday afternoon - by the time he returned home I was fully ensconced in the warm up to the Video Music Awards. There was no escape for him, he had to make me supper and shut up.

I have to say I thought Russell Brand was a bizarre and poor choice. I'm British and I didn't find him funny so was not surprised by the lack of laughter from the audience (but of course the Britishness in me did find the stony silence incredibly embarrassing from my sofa). His suit was also dreadful - how he manages to get laid in such unattractive trousers is beyond me!

I don't really want to dwell on the whole Kanye/Taylor thing although I will say that I do agree with Obama the man is a jackass. I felt his comments about the Beyonce video were partly due to who she is and who she's married to but what pissed me off most was that he later 'apologised' saying he was still sad about his mum. I'm pretty sure she'd be pretty sad to be used as an excuse for terrible and completely avoidable public bad behaviour. Obviously Beyonce rectified it on the night by behaving like a complete lady.

The outfits didn't really set my world on fire. I thought Pink looked great in her Balmain dress and dealt well with the fact that Shakira was wearing the same one and arrived five minutes after her. I do hate Pinks trapeze outfit thought - the star over one exposed boob is not a good look for anyone no matter in how good shape you are. I liked Beyonce's red dresses even if one did seem to have a sort of built in bum bag arrangement at the front - I guess she needed somewhere to keep her lipstick - but I found the leotard she performed in pretty unattractive. She does have a fantastic body and I do hate leotards on everyone but I felt the same as I do every time Madonna dons one - 'I just don't want to see that much of your thrusting barely covered crotch'.

I thought Alicia Keys looked good when she performed (I didn't see her non-performance outfit very well) but again leggings can be unflattering and they didn't do her justice. In fact I can remember being quite surprised at how un-great she looked but I think I'm probably just so happy that she got rid of those dreadful side plait/cornrow things that I'll forgive her many a fashion faux pas.

Of course you can't comment on outfits without a little mention to Lady GaGa who managed three costume changes (not including her performance outfit) and looked horrifically uncomfortable in all of them. The first involved a partial mask and full neck brace necklace. The mask I can kind of get my head around even if it made me imagine her living in the roof of Radio City but she looked so uncomfortable not being able to move her neck and I don't think that's a good look. As for the red lacy number over her face - even she got sick of that one when she pulled it off to give her acceptance speech. Third time lucky? Third time better I'd say even though she looked like she'd been called to attend the VMA's in the middle of an ornithological accident and had a birds nest stuck to her face. As a result of all these face cover costume changes her hair looked so unhappy - if hair could cry it would have done. I was shocked to find she is three years younger than me... she looked older on the night and I now think it must have been the hair.

When it comes to the performances I thought they were all pretty good. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys did 'Empire State of Mind' which was fantastic, really atmospheric... almost made me a little weepy and I've never even been to New York. They both sounded great (Jay-Z maybe a little gravelly) and I'd forgotten how talented Alicia Keys actually is. I'm so used to processed music now that I always get a surprise when a girl has a real good pair of lungs! The Michael Jackson tribute was fantastic - was really impressed with the dancers. It's one thing doing all of his most difficult dances but doing them with a massive screen showing him doing them at the same time, talk about pressure. Thought it was slightly weird that they put someone at the front who couldn't do the famous Smooth Criminal lean but maybe it was stage fright. Thought Janet danced well and was really brave - out of all the dancers though she was the only one slightly out of time she does have that Jackson flair though so I think that makes up for it.

Beyonce of course was duty bound to do the 'Single Ladies' dance but didn't actually sing much of the song. Ok I thought, it's a vigorous dance no one wants to hear her singing in a wobbly exercise voice so I forgave her... until I saw Pink perform 'Sober'. 'She's miming' said the ever cynical Mr J. She was not. By far the best performance of the night (I think it was during this performance that she made have separated her shoulder) the trapezing was fantastic and she sang well enough to sound like a recording only her own personal additions made it clear that she was singing live. The woman was being tossed around in the air upside down and was note perfect. Frankly made Beyonce look a little lame for not singing more.

So that's it. That'll probably be the last awards show I'll be allowed to watch for years xx

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Tisserand

I've had one of those moments recently - when you haven't heard of something and then all of a sudden it's everywhere and you think maybe you were a bit behind the times to not have heard it before. Well that's been happening to me with Tisserand. I'd vaguely heard of the name when I was asked to try out some of their products and now they seem to be everywhere.

Tisserand is a vegan, aromatherapy company that not only make fantastic products but tell you how to blend oils at home for your own therapies on their website here. There are reasonably priced and smell gorgeous.

For my birthday I was given some Tisserand Lavender Hand Cream which now has pride of place next to my kitchen sink. My first forays into gardening have made my hands age about twenty years and this hand cream is thick, great smelling and really soaks in well. I also got Tisserand Indulgent Bath Soak Essential Oil Rich

which smells gorgeous - not too overpowering as I sometimes find bath soaks can be - and contains organic ylang-ylang, ethically harvested jasmine. It softens your skin and really relaxes you. It makes me want to read in the bath - something I rarely have time to do anymore.

I've also been given some Tisserand Remedy Roller Balls to try one for concentration and one to help sleep. The Tisserand Roll-On Remedy Concentrate Roller Ball sits by my desk and the mix of rosemary, grapefruit and coriander oils usually get applied after a particularly heavy lunch. I don't know if I'm gullible but this definitely perks me up a bit! The Tisserand Roll-On Remedy Goodnight Roller Ball contains lavender, ylang-ylang and bergamot and this really does help sleep - something which I've always had problems with. I'm not saying its fixed my insomnia but it definitely helps me on my way to sleep.

Tisserand products are incredibly well priced and are a fantastic way to indulge yourself, help the planet and save your pocket xx

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Calling all Writers

This year Scholl are going to be at one of the hottest fashion events in the world- OnOff during London Fashion Week. They’ll be launching a fashion blog at the OnOff fashion shows giving a behind the scenes review of all shows and the latest gossip and trends to emerge. They’re currently looking for a Scholl blogger to head down to London and report back on all the shows, It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for any budding fashion enthusiast! Further details of the competition can be found at http://www.partyfeetbloggirl.co.uk check it out xx

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