Author Archives: franno

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Varnish

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It feels like a fair old while since I’ve actually written anything beauty related on my blog, however I am starting to get quite a collection for the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine nail varnishes! I am totally loving bright and bold colours and, although I must have about a billion nail varnishes kicking around my house, Superdrug are really naughty in leaving their nail varnishes at the till for me to scoop up at the last minute. Which was the case for two of these beauties.

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As the name suggests, Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine nail varnish provides an extra glossy finish. I really love how reflective it is, but I completely recognise that it’s probably not to everyone’s taste! I’ve held onto Greenberry and Pomegranate for a while now and these were the nail varnishes I loved when I was holidaying in Antigua, back in March. Greenberry is still on my feet and is becoming my favourite toe-nail varnish. Pomegranate reminds me a lot of another Barry M favourite I have, which is Raspberry. I bought Dragon Fruit and Papaya at the weekend and totally love how subtly bright they are. They look like pastels, but with the shine, it really adds something a little extra and Papaya is bang on trend, being slightly neon.

Greenberry is amazing for quick opaqueness in just one coat, and the others need two or more, definitely. The staying power is pretty awesome, lasting for a whole week when I was away and they all dry fairly quickly for a speedy manicure.

Have you tried Barry M’s Gelly Hi-Shine varnishes yet? What’s your favourite spring/summer shade?

WLB: Week 19

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Another weigh in post, after me hols! I did weigh in on Saturday, after I got back from me hols on Tuesday, but I haven’t yet wrote about it. So here goes…

Generally, on holiday, I didn’t eat terribly badly. It was just the booze. Jump off the wagon, drink any kinda fluid flowing. It’s really bad that, in Tenerife, because we know the bar staff, they give us all these crazy concoctions. A Cherry Bakewell, which is one part vodka, one part Disaronno and topped with grenadine. A Black Jack, which is part sambucca, part Jack Daniels. Why do we do it to ourselves?! Needless to say, I had a complete write off of a day on Sunday. I didn’t leave my bed until 5.30pm, which is terrible, even for me.

I was generally only eating once or twice a day and, because it was so hot, it wasn’t anything remotely heavy. Well, apart from the full English on Monday before I was leaving on Tuesday – hangover inflicted munchies!

Since being at home, I have become addicted to My Fitness Pal (and you can find me on there as frannooooo). I gave up Weight Watchers a few weeks ago, because it was another expense I just couldn’t afford, especially as I wasn’t point-counting as best as I could be. With My Fitness Pal, it’s much easier and they do all the hard work for you. You can scan things and it just pops up for you to enter how much of it you actually ate/drank. It’s also linked to my Fit Bit which is hugely useful, as I’m using that with full gusto again to track my steps and my sleeps. I find that MFP helps as it determines what weight you will be in five weeks, if you keep eating as you are eating. Motivation to be half the person I am now!

Anyways, the following is my graph from the past month. The big increase is the holiday weight!

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On holiday, I put on a respectable 3.6lbs for all of my boozing. Rubbish! Since being back from holiday, however, I have lost 2.9lbs of that! Not bad going really, considering I’ve been back for a week. I’m hoping that before next week, I’ll have lost all of my holiday weight.

Things I’m going to change this week is my obsession with weighing myself once a day! I’m going to limit myself to twice a week. Wednesday is my ‘official’ weigh in day, but I don’t think there’s any harm in checking my weight once over the weekend on a Saturday or a Sunday, just to see how I’m getting on. Your body has so many minor weight changes throughout the day that really, it’s not doing me any favours by recognising that I’m losing half a lb, day in and day out. It might not even be true anyway!

I have a wedding this weekend, so I’m really trying to push it so that I’m my pre-holiday weight by Saturday evening. It’s also a really bad time for eating and drinking whatever the hell I want, so I need to watch what’s going in my mouth over the weekend! My Fit Bit aim is between 15K and 18K steps a day and my gym aim is to go four times a week or more. The gym is an area I’ve been slacking in at the moment, but I’ll get back into the swing of it. I went there today and I’m going there again tomorrow, so I need to fit in two more sessions before next week’s weigh in post.

How’s your weight loss going? Better than mine, I hope :)  

My Month: April 2013

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A little late this week, but better late than never!

April is always a bit of a weird month for me, surrounded with the remembrance of my Dad’s passing, alongside the celebration of mine and my Mum’s birthday. This year wasn’t any different. In fact, it was probably made worse that I was away on a course for both my Mum’s birthday and the remembrance day for my dear ol’ Dad. I didn’t cope very well this year, but after speaking to so many people who are in the same position as me, it differs from year to year. My counselling definitely has helped in that regard anyway; just having a safe haven to laugh, cry, and recount exactly what happened and how I’m feeling has taken a huge weight off of my mind and huge burden off of the everyday emotions that I feel anyway.

Onto happier things that happened last month. I fell extraordinarily off of the wagon, to celebrate the end of my Dryathlon. Honestly, I didn’t see it any other way. We hopped off to our local, which is luckily four doors down, else I wouldn’t have been able to make the walk back, and my ‘friend’, Greg, gave me a shot of Tequila. And then, I remember nothing. Old friends turned up, people I hadn’t seen for about eight years, and it was truly awesome to see some old faces.

A couple of days after that, I went on holibobs to Tenerife with my Mum and my Uncle Pat (his first holiday in about sixteen years!) and I had a completely amazing time, even if Sunday was a complete write off because I felt so disgusting. That’s the thing with becoming regulars in a foreign bar; they give you all these shots and all the drinks were in more than Spanish measures. Yuk. I couldn’t even eat on Sunday. The best bit about that holiday though, is getting back, weighing myself and realising that, although I drank my complete body weight in vodka, wine and Cherry Bakewell shots (vodka, disarrono and grenadine, if you’re interested!), I only put on 2.5lbs! 2.5lbs! Totally weighed in today and realised that I’ve already lost that! Woo hoo!

Telly has been a massive part of this month and I have been addicted to Hollyoaks, Beaver Falls and Glee. And no, I’m not under the age of twenty! I’ve just been really loving those programmes, everything’s being Sky-plus-ed or watching on demand or whatever. Hugely addicted.

Ozzy has actually grown up a lot this month. He’s actually starting to respond to our commands. Breakthrough. Seriously, he’s coming back when he’s called and actually dropping things when Jay tells him to (not when I tell him to, but baby steps, guys!). The biggest test will be this weekend, as we’re heading up to Norfolk this weekend and Jay is determined to let Ozzy off of his lead on the beach. Totally going to be recreating the Fenton chasing deer video… 

>Fenton<

Anyways, that was a quick check in with me. I have been super busy with courses and other bits and pieces going on in life, but I promise I’ll be blogging more. I have so much more to say, but just haven’t had the time to sit down and type! Next week, I’ve got a friend’s wedding in Devon, which I’m really looking forward to as I’m seeing more people I haven’t seen in a small age. That resolution of mine is really working.

Stay awesome, guys and I’ll be back sooooooon :)

OOTD: Working on a Saturday/pre birthday drinks get up!

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What a lovely day it is today! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and… I’m at work. Well, only this morning and then I’m off to spend my afternoon in a beauty salon, getting ready for my birthday drinks (and the end of my dryathlon!). Today is something a bit different from me and I’m actually going to show you what I’m wearing. It’s pretty awkward, particularly as I had no one to take the picture for me, so I had to stand on my bed with my iPhone and take the picture that way, and I look really short! I’m not that short!

Anyways. Here is how I’m looking.

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20130420-105946.jpgThe bottoms are ELEPHANT PRINT from Top Shop! I absolutely love them! It’s so different from what I usually wear (you know, black leggings) and they are so comfy! :) I would say that the elastic doesn’t have much give when you’re wriggling into these, but they are completely transformed when on, and they don’t dig into you once you’ve got them on. When I shopped  this week, I also bought a pair in pink for me holiday next week! Here’s the link to the elephant print joggers, >here<

I put on a plain white vesty top on with a pink leopard print necklace from Diamonds and Daggers, who actually aren’t in business anymore, sadly. I wear this necklace absolutely everywhere when I’m wearing really boring outfits!

Chucked on some flip flops and I was good to go! Because it was a little chilly, I put on my All Saints leather jacket, which I have lived in over the past year!

As I’m having a facial later on, I’m actually not wearing any make up today other than some eyeliner with my glasses! And I semi-straightened my hair, as it’s going to be exposed to so much heat later on when I get ready for my actual drinkypops!

What do you think of my elephant print bottoms?!

WLB Weeks 15 and 16

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Hi guys. I was away last week, so I didn’t get a chance to publish my weigh in post last week, as I was away on my course. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting that much, as I had been pretty naughty, eating wise as I was emotionally down in myself.

I have started not eating as many carbs as of late to try and lose a little bit more before my birthday at the weekend and my holiday next week and, although it has been tough, I am starting to see the results. It’s not as if I’m going to stick to this diet forever – I don’t think I could – but for a quick tone down, I think it really has done the job. Anyways. Visual aids!

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That’s a change of 1.1lbs. But I’m even shocked by that massive peak! I have no idea where that even came from!

I have reordered my Fit Bit and it’s being delivered today. I have also started using My Fitness Pal (of course, you can find me at frannooooo) and I’m really loving it. I love the fact that it’s linking my Fit Bit scales and it will be linking my Fit Bit pedometer too. What I love most is the scanning option; gone are the times where I have to stare at the back of a packet and enter every single digit! Welcome to 2013, Franno!! I think I just need everything all in one place as well, and it’s a real good indicator to share with my friends, followers, and everyone else!

I am on holiday from next Tuesday, so I may do a quick Monday evening update on my weight and how awesome I have been. It would be amazing if I was under 170lbs for holiday, but even I think that might be pushing it a bit…!

WLB Week 14.5

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Hello all. Sorry this post is late. Work has been completely and utterly MANIC. Everyone wants to swim their babies, as it happens. Even though the weather is still rubbish.

My diet was pretty appalling over the bank holiday weekend. I have been gorging on chips and brownies because it has been so bloody cold, so this is another ripping off the plaster week… Here’s how it went over the last week and a half…

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Up and down this week. Surprisingly, I’ve actually managed to lose 0.9lb. A loss is a loss and although it’s not a big one, it could’ve been worse; it could’ve been a gain! I have cancelled my WW membership as I really wasn’t following it. I am more aware of what I’m eating, the portion sizes and generally about how eating too much cake will make me gain weight. I just wish I could zap away through this stupid plateau phase that I’ve been on for about a year now!

Next week, I’m on a course in Southampton, which I have a feeling might be testing my weight loss. You never know what you’re going to eat in a hotel and it’s generally tougher to make good choices when there’s a limited menu and you’re a fussy eater like your’s truly. I will be in the pool lots though, so I’m hoping that it’ll even itself out that way.

My Month: March 2013

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I can’t quite believe that we’re already in April and there’s only a few weeks left of my Dryathlon. It’s absolutely flown by!

March saw my first sunny holiday of 2013 in Antigua with Jay and his family, which seems like a lifetime ago, but it was only over a week ago when we were landing on a snowy runway. Yes, March 2013 will be known as the Spring it snowed. And that year that PJ and Duncan made a return to the charts and got to number one. This month’s been a bizarre one.

I feel like March has brought me closer in my relationships. Jay and I are getting on better than ever, my Mum and I are having an awesome time, and I’m still getting in contact with friends that have fallen off of my radar. I spent a whole evening Facebook chatting to one of my oldest friends who I don’t speak to as much as I used to, and it was lovely to catch up.

In terms of work, that all seems to be going well this month; although it was very stressful when I got back from holiday and spent two days dealing with clients and enquiries that just wanted to deal with me. Its good for my reputation, but not good to divide and allocate my time.

April is also going to fly by. I have so much planned, my next free weekend isn’t until about June time! I have another holiday booked, hen do’s, birthdays (mine in particular!) and it’s going to get a bit crazy for the next couple of months. I’m generally feeling in a good place right now, so I suppose I’ve finally cracked the fun/work balance. Although everyone could probably use a bit more fun.

WLB: The Post-Holiday Weigh In (Week 13)

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Here we are. Week 13. Unlucky for some, eh? So this week, it’s the weigh in after my holiday. I had a sneaky weigh in yesterday, so I roughly knew what to expect, but nevertheless, sharing this with you all is always nervewracking when I know it’s inevitable that I’ve put on.

So, let’s get straight to the point, shall we?

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Surprisingly, I only put on 1.7lbs when I was on holiday! I was expecting a lot more, so generally, I’m quite happy with that. Not overly happy, as the best result would’ve been to lose something, but then again, I ate what I wanted, I didn’t exercise and I drank on two occasions to excess.

This week, it’s the bank holiday weekend for Easter, so I generally need to watch what I’m eating. Boredom is my worst enemy when it comes to losing weight, but I’m hoping to keep busy and most importantly, keep out of the fridge. I would love to lose my holiday weight by the weekend, though I know that that’s really pushing it.

I’ve been to the gym three times this week, with my last appointment for this week tomorrow. I’m waiting for some money to clear in my account and then I’m going to repurchase a FitBit as I drunkenly lost mine on a Christmas night out. I think it’ll be a good way of keeping track of how active I’m actually being rather than how active I think I’m being.

Generally, I’m feeling positive about how I’m going to reach my goal, particularly after not putting on that much after holiday. Ideally, I would love to lose half a stone before my next holiday (23rd April), but realistically, my body is going to do whatever the hell she wants so I suppose we’ll wait and see!

How did you get on with your weigh in this week? Do you have problems with putting on weight over the holidays?

Captain Turbz: Jodi’s UKBA woes

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I may have mentioned her a couple of times, but please meet my friend, Jodi (>link to her blog here<). Jodi is Canadian and despite being over here for quite some time (and being the awesomest line manager ever in my first grown up job), the UK Border Agency (UKBA) have decided she is no longer eligible to live and work here in the UK. She has blogged a little about it and her progress (the first post is >here< outlining all of the details of the first letter). I have never had this problem personally, being from the UK and never adventuring to live or work beyond our pastures, but if you have, please head on over to her blog and comment all sorts of love and helpfulness. 

If the Internet was designed for anything, it was probably to help one another.

Aaaand I’m BACK!

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I am back in the UK after a very chilled, relaxing and tanning holibob. I had such an amazing time, but I have a confession… I broke my Dryathlon. Twice. So, I’m going to put monies in the pot to say I’m sowree for being completely and utterly rubbish and not sticking to my Dryathlon all the way through. But I was on holiday. I am, however, happily back ‘on the wagon’ after the severity of my two hangovers after breaking it twice. Seriously, I missed two WHOLE days off of being in the sun and just staying in bed. Sob. Karma. But people were surprised I lasted as long as I did (three months, in case you had forgotten!) before finally snapping.

I stayed at the English Harbour in Antigua and it was beautiful. Beautiful beaches and views, a little bit of history around the corner in Nelson’s Dockyard, lovely people (including the company that we went with) and the most amazingly big boats dinghies yachts that I have ever sawed. Incredible! I would thoroughly recommend it; it was probably one of the better (if not, the best) holidays I’ve ever been on! But I did miss my home and Ozzy. For a bit. Now, I want to go back with Ozzy…

I’m back on home turf for one whole month of solid work and diet before I head on out to Tenerife to my Mum’s house for a family/pub friend’s 60th in the sun! And, of course, I’m hoping to blog a little bit more than I have been of late. I’m hoping (with the help of my boyfriend, as I don’t have a camera tripod – potential Birthday present, methinks!) that I can start with some outfit posts as well, which I hope that you’ll find interesting. I’m going to try and do these when I’m not teaching and definitely out of the pool – and when I’m not wearing my standard ‘massive jumper and baggy leggings’ combo, like I am today. It’s sooo cold compared to Caribbean climates!

I will be weighing myself on Wednesday – much against my own request… Antigua is not for exercising or eating well – but I know I need to know where to start again for the hard work to start before Tenerife. That being said, I did manage to drag my tired, sorry ass to the gym at 6.30am this morning, despite only landing home yesterday morning and being very jetlagged and tired. Kudos to me. Three more sessions this week and another four booked in for next week. BAH!

I hope you’re all well and warm. I can’t believe it’s this cold in March. If it continues like this, it’ll probably be snowing on my birthday (April), which has happened once in my lifetime before. Bloody England. Hopefully this means it’ll be a warmer summer? Peace out for now!