Getting back on track

I'm about to take you on a journey. A journey of getting back on track.

A freshen up of my hair colour always does great things for my self-esteem

For the last couple of months I've been going through a challenging time. Unfortunately, I have let my healthy lifestyle and wellbeing slide - too many hours, not enough gym and poor eating choices.

At first I thought it was fine as my clothes still seemed to fit okay but then other things started happening. I got sick, very sick, not once this winter season but twice. Last year I didn't even have a sniffle.

The other thing was I started feeling very sluggish during my few and far between gym sessions.

And now the weight gain has caught up with me and my clothes don't fit the way I'd like.

So it's time to get tough. I don't call it motivation because it's about being conscious of the goal and the goal is be healthy and feel good again.

And there's nothing to lose, but everything to gain. I'll start feeling stronger and more capable during my gym classes.  I'll sleep better.  My blood cholesterol will return back to normal. I'll start to feel better about myself and not do any of that nasty self-loathing stuff.

My family are honest - they are not afraid of telling me if I'm doing something to tarnish my chances of success. "Mum, why are you eating that?"

I do know that since I've been in my 40s, managing my weight and diet is far more challenging than it was in my 30s.

So what am I going to do - back to doing three gym classes a week. I have a great instructor and social network, so that keeps me keen.

I'm starting to cut out the junk food until the cravings disappear and then I'll start working on my portion sizes.

I've started weighing myself again (first thing in the morning) and I'm currently about three kilos above where I want to be (it's so close, yet so far). I'm also starting to track my food, exercise, water and weight using the My Fitness Pal app. It does take some effort but if I do so, it always works.

I know it will take a few months to get things moving, but slowly is the safe way.

So for me I think it's obvious that I need to treat my body with a good solid routine. Regular gym sessions, walking as often as possible (I'm looking forward to returning to walking home from work), eating clean and having the occasional splurge on the weekend and being kind to myself. And also I'll remember what Michelle said in the book Losing the last 5 kilos.

I'll keep you informed on my progress.

Until next time xx

All about contour

Contour is the hardworking underdog in my makeup collection.

With it my makeup look is complete, without it something is missing. I use contour to enhance the shape of my face, especially around my cheeks, nose and jaw bone.

Before contour

Contour should be a darker cool-toned matte shade that is used to push back facial features. It works in the opposite way to highlighter which brings features forward.

Applying contour

Contour is best worn just under the cheek bone to make the cheeks look more shapely. It can be used vertically on each side of the nose to make the nose appear slimmer. It can also be used along the jaw line to disguise a double chin. And contour is best used in or above the eye socket to make the eyes stand out.

Just before blending, adding blush and highlight

All of my contours are in a powder formula but they are also available in stick and cream formulas. Given my oily skin, powder is best for me.

And done

My favourite is the Sephora Colorful Contour in Tranquil No 26. It is only available from Sephora USA. I was lucky to have my lovely friend Colleen pick it up from the US on a recent order she placed. It retails for $US14.

Second is the Kevin Aucoin The Sculpting Powder. Miss P picked it up for me during her recent trip to the UK. It is very high end at £35.

Third is the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow. I picked this up from New York's Bergdorf Goodman last year. The sculpting powder is a little warm for me but I can get away with it. This is another high end product at $US68.

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Powder Contour Kit in Light to Medium is so much more than just a contour palette. It contains lighter powders for setting the face and highlighting. I'm drawn to the bottom middle colour as it is the coolest colour in the kit. It is available at Sephora Australia for $70.

And a call out to a great drugstore alternatively is the Australis AC on Tour Contouring and Highlighting Kit. It does look very much like the Anastasia one. It is highly pigmented and powdery so you need to be very careful not to overdo it. Again I'm drawn to the bottom middle colour as it's the coolest in the kit. It is available from Priceline for an amazing $16.95.

And the best brush I've found to apply contour is the Zoeva 109 Luxe Face Paint Brush. Available from Sephora Australia for $28.

Until next time xx

Our day at Ekka 2016

It's that time of year - the Ekka is here. For those of you not from Australia the Ekka is the Royal Queensland Show or the Brisbane Show. It runs for 10 days each August.

We love to go every year and I have fond memories of going with my grandparents when I was little. Miss P and Master P, despite their age, still love to go.

This year my niece and nephew invited us to join them and their 3 year old son.

Mr P and I were doing our best to practice being grandparents (although that will be quite a few years off for us). We arrived early to beat the traffic and crowds (yes a superb idea) and decided it was pancakes for breakfast - as you do.

Miss P has just arrived back in Brisbane following a 4 week Europe and UK holiday/study session so she couldn't wait to get to the Ekka.

Miss P and her brother are still in the 'liking each other phase', I give it a week lol.

As true foodies we headed to the fresh food hall and marvelled at the giant lamingtons (sponge cake squares coated in chocolate and coconut).

We saw the incredible fruit, vegetables and pulses that our State produces. There were the biggest pumpkins I've ever seen.

Some people are super clever.

Little Master F laughed his head off on the dogems as he was scooting around and bumping into other cars.

Time for lunch and I decided on a disgusting Dagwood Dog (sausage dipped in batter, deep fried and covered in tomato sauce). It's an Ekka tradition.

We followed that up with the also famous Strawberry Ice Cream - they are now filled with Lick Ice Cream and taste absolutely divine.

We headed to sideshow alley to check out the rides and activity. Master F was mesmerised with all that he could see and hear.

Mr P kept trying to get me to go on a ride - he failed.

Miss P got her hands on fairy floss - a very large container of it in fact... and ate the whole thing.

Next was the showbag pavilion.

Little Master F got this cute Minions bag that Miss P decided looked better on her.

What a fun and exhausting day we had. The weather was Brisbane at it's winter best.

Until next time xx