ding dong! it's the Avon lady

You know that feeling when you think that buying stuff will make you happier and the more you consume the happier you’ll be so you end up with more and more stuff to fill that empty, aching void in your life?

Well, here’s my review of my Avon order!

I have enough make-up, it must be said but I just can’t resist buying more.  It’s my Achilles heel (that’s been buffed and scrubbed and lotioned to perfection). 

First things first.

Gel eyeliner. 

What’s that all about?

Seriously, it’s all over beauty blogs but I simply don’t get it.  I eagerly tried out my Supershock Avon gel eyeliner in blackened metal, hoping for an easy glide on liner that I could draw onto my lids.  I was bitterly disappointed.  The colour is a faded grey, as if you’ve been wearing it out all day rather than freshly applied and it doesn’t glide on easily with one stroke.  The major selling point of gel liners has been application.  Well, I’m sorry but if you can’t use liquid eyeliner you’re an idiot. Oh yeah, I went there!  I’m sticking to my liquid liners and pencils, thank you very much.  I think gel liner will go the same way as mineral make-up.  Nothing more than a fad.

Much better was my Colour Trend lipstick.  It’s the budget, teen range and the colour is a pretty, glittery sheen of red.  I prefer matte colours but it cost like £1.75 which is ridiculously cheap and it’s quite sheer so I can wear it everyday.  Also, the bullet is shaped into a heart which is super cute!

The nail polish is a purplish maroon colour and very glittery.  At £2.00 it’s an absolute bargain. 

Last purchase was a rose-smelling cuticle balm.  My Burt’s Bees lemon one is running out and this Avon one is a nice little buy.  It smells nice and rosy. My nails are in a good condition from regular application of cuticle cream – will Avon’s product keep up the maintenance?  I’ll only know after using it for a while. 

I find Avon very hit and miss with regards to product quality but it's a 3 out of 4 hit rate so I'm pleased.

So those were my products.  I feel so much better but nothing can escape the void... 

my feelings on music: let me show you them

What is it about Bob Dylan? 

I read a homage to Bob on Rookie mag recently (yes, I’m outside the teenage demographic for Rookie mag but, by golly, it’s a fab site with lots of insightful articles and cool fashion) which reminded of Andy Kershaw’s passionate outpourings of love for Bob which began as a teenager. 

I have evidently missed out on a teenage rite of passage which makes me feel kinda sad.  Bob Dylan seems to be the kind of artist that speaks to everyone and spans generations – no matter what decade you live in or age you are - his songs resonate on a personal level.  I guess I just missed the memo on Bob but music has certainly played a part in my life and it’s got me reminiscing on my own love affair with music.

As a muslim, my relationship with music has been… complicated.  It’s a contentious issue within Islam and I’m not going to rehash all the arguments because 1. Its tedious 2. You can find more informed writing elsewhere via Google.

If I could reduce all the differing points into one sentence each they would be:

1. WRONG WRONG WRONG.
2. A voice and drumbeat is only acceptable.
3. It’s okay as long as the lyrics are not filthy or blasphemous. 

I hope this gives a little bit of context. 

My childhood was pure pop.  Sitting in front of the TV watching Top of the Pops every week seeing the Pet Shop Boys, Kylie and Jason, Erasure, Yazz, NKOTB being piped into the living room.  I bought Smash Hits with its printed lyrics and quirky interviews which were conducted by picking questions out of a biscuit tin.  I only gave up on TOTP in 1991.  I was increasingly fed up of the dance music that was turning up.  There was no spectacle or personality to latch onto.  Just a repetitive beat and soulful voice layered on top.  I’m proud to discover that 1991 has been spoken of by music critics as a fallow period for music.  This confirms what I’ve known all along.  I wasn’t just a person who loved music, I had taste!

Actually perhaps that’s not quite true.  There’s no Bob Dylan for me to look back on with nostalgic eyes.  My first CD was Love & Kisses by Dannii Minogue which hasn’t exactly aged well (although the lady herself is an evergreen beauty).

As a 90s teenager, I lived through the golden age of Cool Britannia and Britpop.  The complicated part kicked in as my love for Britpop turned me into a rebellious teen.  Listening to music in my bedroom was okay.  Active participation was not. I learnt that the hard way when my mum cried when I said I wanted to go to my first gig.  It was the first and last concert I went to. 

As Britpop tailed off at the end of the decade, so did my interest.  I was a snooty indie kid – I had no time for Steps, Britney, Billie Piper or Five.  But the music I was into was leaving me cold.  It didn’t reflect me or my circumstances.  I was a British-Bengali girl living in the Midlands.  What did Oasis or Blur have to say about that? 

The next chapter of my life would not involve music.  Britpop was dead and buried.  I went through what I call my ‘Yusuf Islam’ phase of not listening to any music whatsoever.  If I needed to hear something I would open the window and listen to the birds chirping and the wind blowing through the trees.  The sounds of nature were my replacement.  Did I enjoy it?  Kind of.  I began to dislike music but I realised how difficult it is to be away from it.  I couldn’t cut music out of my life.  It was the soundtrack to adverts and programmes on TV, it blared from clothes shops as I walked around town.  Music had an insidious way of creeping back into my life. 

And I craved it.  

My resolve was broken. 

Screw the birds chirping, I wanted to hear Coldplay’s latest. 

And I knew then I couldn’t give up music entirely.  That teenage passion for music hasn’t left me.  There’s still that part of me that wants to say ‘Hey, have you listened to this?’  I recognise that passion when others write about how they feel about Bob Dylan.    

The majority of my IRL friends are muslim and they don’t listen to music.  They prefer nasheeds (religious music) so music is a solitary affair.  I love listening to 6 music and discovering new tunes or songs from the past.  I have my youtube playlist which I update regularly.  I enjoy nattering away on twitter about the latest tunes I've heard (and you're welcome to join!).  It isn’t the be-all and end-all to my life but it’s there.  A voice, a beat, a melody. 

Bob, I’ll be coming for you soon. 

NOTD

Hey peeps! 

Look at my man hands!

I haven't worn nail polish for about a decade and on a whim, decided to wear some pretty nail polish (L'Oreal Jet set) in a rusty coloured red.  The gold flecks in it give the orangey sheen to the red.  It's kinda like metallic mendhi.  Pretty, huh?  

Muslim gals will know why muslimahs wear nail polish on certain days so I'm enjoying my beautified hands while I can.  This includes lots of hand posing each time I pass a mirror, holding my hand in front of me to admire and laying my hands on every door that I open.  Even typing becomes a joy when I see my lovely hands doing the typing.  Who'd have thought painting your nails could be such a pick-me-up?  

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay, nail polish!

Remembrance

If you follow my Twitter *coughlinkonsidebarcough* you’ll know I listen Nihal’s show Asian Network regularly.  Sometimes, I tweet the show and a few of my tweets have been read out on air (which I find quite thrilling #humblebrag). 

Today’s show was about poppies and it was about how asians feel about wearing poppies.  There were a variety of opinions (and one dodgy phone caller named ‘Mani’ who said that muslims/Pakistani shopkeepers had refused service because of people wearing poppies which I think was total BS and some kind of islamophobic wind-up).  Anyway, it got me thinking. 

How do I feel about wearing a poppy?

I’ll be honest and say I haven’t worn one today and haven’t done for a while.  I feel slightly ambivalent towards it.  I’m muslim.  I’m anti-war in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Would I feel right wearing a poppy?  Am I being unpatriotic in not wearing one?

I sometimes feel like there is a pressure to seen wearing a poppy.  I remember my mum talking about how she wore one to work because everyone else did and it seemed to be a massive faux pas not to be seen wearing one.  Personally, I don’t like feeling obligated to wearing a poppy.  It isn’t a sign of disrespect not to wear one and people should not feel bullied into making some kind of public show of their respect. 

But being Muslim it starts to get a bit sticky.  Muslims and poppies have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons recently and maybe a public show of respect is needed in our community when others go out of their way to cause maximum disrespect.  I remember helping to sell poppies at school and donating to charity is something I will always support. 

Does the poppy symbol mean anything to me personally?  I don’t have a personal connection to the wars that other people have.  In my own personal history neither set of grandparents fought in the war.  My paternal grandfather was involved in some working capacity but I’m fuzzy on the details.  So do I have anything to feel proud of when remembering the dead?

On Nihal’s show it was mentioned that Asian kids these days don’t know about the contribution the Commonwealth countries made to the war efforts.  They mentioned the name Noor Inayat Khan who I decided to look up on wikipedia.  Turns out our ‘Nora’ was a muslim princess and quite the badass. 

She was the first female radio operator to be sent to France to assist the French Resistance.  It was a dangerous mission and many radio operators were arrested but she rejected an offer to return to Britain and stayed in France until she was betrayed and captured by the SD (intelligence arm of the SS).  She was eventually sent to the Dachau concentration camp where she was executed with a shot to the head.  She was posthumously awarded the George Cross.  I recommend reading the full story at wikipedia. 

So I might not have a personal connection to the war but I understand the importance of remembering the fallen and the bravery of those who laid down their lives for their country. 

Grease lightnin'

OMG, where do I even start?

Okay, so I haven’t blogged for an entire month.   

WHHHHHHHY?  I hear no one ask. 

Well, because I’ve been super busy on a super sekrit project.  I took an entire month and I didn’t have a brain cell spare to compose even the simplest of posts.  October turned into a complete WRITE OFF blog-wise. I’m back now though and raring to blog again.

It’s November and we are well and truly into autumnal weather.  For me that means berry lipstick, butternut squash soup (delish), woolly tights, hot water bottles and an itchy scalp (Yes, that’s right I’m talking dandruff!).  There was a cold snap and my scalp was itching like a mother****er.  Luckily, it’s calmed down now but it freaked me out to have my head feel so irritated.  I was starting to dream of soothing my scalp by pouring olive oil all over my head which brings me onto...

My product for this month which is Morrisons Moroccan bath and body oil.

Argan oil has been making waves in the beauty community so it’s no surprise to find a supermarket version on the shelves.  If you were being cynical you might say this product was jumping on the Argan oil bandwagon (Cynical? Moi? Noooooo) especially with the prominent Moroccan branding and design.  Morrisons version is formulated with sunflower oil, Argan oil and vitamin E so it’s not pure Argan oil.  

I love applying bath oils because I have dry skin and as well as retaining moisture after a shower, I find using oil helps me to feel less cold.  Isn’t that weird?  I can definitely feel a difference – maybe the oil acts as a barrier for exposed skin against the cold air?

This oil doesn't make any outlandish promises except that massaging your skin with oil will also help to make your skin velvety smooth.  I haven't been using my newly acquired oil long enough to know how good it will be for my skin.  I've found olive oil to be the best product for my skin, however, I think this one will do just fine.  I like my oil to smell nice and retain moisture and it does both.  It actually smells pretty gorgeous!

I’m a big advocate for oils and thick, creamy moisturisers in this autumn weather which has been a little crazy.  

Stay warm and beautiful, peeps! 

rectangular objects review (no, not ipads)

Book post ahoy!

Now that I’ve started using the mobile library I’ve been stocking up on books.  I love the mobile library even though I seem to be the only one under sixty.  Actually, that’s not fair.  There’s a few of us without a blue rinse. 

The best things about using the mobile library are avoiding paying fines and making book requests for free – YAY!

So what have I been reading?

'No Off Switch' - hilarious, brilliant read

My friend recommended to me that I read Stuart Maconie when I mentioned to her that I’d read Andy Kershaw’s autobiography (which I’m also re-reading btw and still loving – it’s hilarious).  I was unsure but picked up one of Stuart's books when I noticed it on the mobile library shelf.  ‘Hope & Glory’ (which I kept reading as ‘Soap & Glory’) picks out an event for every decade of the last century with Stuart visiting each place he mentions.  I don’t know how many adjectives I can think of to describe how wonderful the book is but it truly is a delightful journey through Britain's history.

If I was being cheesy I'd say 'Hope & Glory' is a hopeful and glorious read!  

Fnar fnar, oh, I'm so amusing.  

I loved the mentions of the West Midlands – Stuart seems to be a big fan of the region – as he gives a potted history on Handsworth, eats Caribbean food in Perry Barr and even walks down Soho Road (the most famous road in Birmingham for Asian shopping).  It was like seeing myself reflected in a book.  Funny how attached we feel to the places we live, isn’t it?  

Stuart’s account of multiculturism isn’t all doom and gloom (like certain right-wingers would have you believe) but instead upbeat and positive about the contributions minority communities have brought to Britain.  Reading that made me want to stand up and say ‘YES! YOU’RE SO RIGHT! THANK YOU!’  For just the food alone, we minorities must be thanked profusely.  

'Hope & Glory' is wonderful.  'Love Poems' is poetry of the highest quality

The book is such a pleasant and informative read.  I’m definitely going to delve into the rest of Stuart’s output as I’ve been converted to an instant fan.  I’ve even started listening to Radcliffe and Maconie on 6 Music! 

I also read Carol Ann Duffy’s book of love poems which was good but I’ve read most of her work already so it wasn’t much of a revelation.  I liked the book cover though. 

If I had more readers, I'd set up a book club or something but as it is, I just like talking about what I like.  Any book recs are most welcome.  

Get the (Lancôme) Look

I love the Sunday Times.

Even though it’s owned by the tax dodging octogenarian Rupert Murdoch I can’t help but love The Sunday Times.  It’s part of my Sunday ritual to sit and read the papers while sprawled out on the sofa.  And this past weekend was good ‘un. 

I gratefully received my deluxe sized edition of style magazine (A whopping 14 ½ inches by 11 inches - oh my!) which I think is their version of the September Issue.  It’s crammed with fashion tips, the newest trends, glorious photos, gossipy articles – I even love the glamorous, expensive looking ads – it’s like a sugar rush of high fashion each time you turn the page. 

While leisurely flicking through the mag, I happened upon the most gorgeous photoset in the make up section. 

1. 2.3.

They are utterly gorgeous aren’t they?  My photos don’t capture how wonderful the make up looks but believe me, it’s stunning.

I read through the listed products and my heart sank at how expensive they seemed.  I like my budget cosmetics and favour what Americans call ‘drugstore’ brands (the cosmetics section in Boots and Superdrug basically).  At closer look, I realised that all the products were by Lancôme.  I flicked through the other two pages and all the products listed were by Lancôme.

Huh. 

For my own amusement I totted up the cost of each list of products for each look.  They are as follows:

1. £ 148.50
2. £ 168.00
3. £ 233.50 

Now I understand that not everyone is like me in regards to what I’d pay for in terms of cosmetics.  Style magazine consumers are a well-to-do bunch and expensive brands are of course, going to be featured and I have no problem with that. 

The short paragraph accompanying the pictures says that the person who styled the make up is Aaron de Mey, artistic director of Lancôme.  Okay, well that makes sense. 

But is this feature an advertisement or an article? 

I’m not a journalist and I imagine the lines drawn are a little murky with fashion and beauty magazines (by nature they feature lots of brands and products and probably have dumpster trucks full of freebies landing into their offices, I imagine…) but this seems a little erm, blatant in terms of putting a spotlight on a brand.  I mean, the magazine is already packed with gorgeous ads which the brands will have paid for.  So why did Lancôme get this feature? 

To the magazines’ credit, it also shows upcoming make up trends with a variety of products and brands.  I just wish there was a little transparency.  I mean, at least be upfront about this sort of stuff.  Was a deal involved?  (Mag gets the amazing photos if they agree to feature all the Lancome products). 

Ah well. I hope a make up guru out there ( like my fave Klaire de Lys) does a ‘recreate the look’ tutorial or something for a fraction of the price. 

Also note to the mags and brands; consumers aren't stupid.  We notice when you do shady stuff so please bring it out into the open.