Tax is always taxing

I've finally finished my tax return.  It's always torturous for me.  There's the trying to decipher what exactly the various sections mean; there's the tedious sorting through and adding up of receipts and in my case invariably there's a sick feeling at the end when you realise that there's not enough money in your tax account because you had a cash flow crisis a few months ago where you 'borrowed' money from it & forgot to pay it back.

I've resolved to be far more conscientious about keeping records and putting aside the money.  Seriously, I have to do it.

Hero beauty product - Balance Me Radiance face mask

What a curious thing this mask is - an exfoliator, cleansing face mask hybrid.

Image via http://www.naturisimo.com

It comes out of the tube looking like an exfoliator - grey with noticeable grains (walnut shells) in it - but you smooth it all over a cleansed face and leave it on for five minutes like a mask.  Then you remove it with circular movements and warm water which exfoliates the skin.

It's very good.  True to it's name, it did leave my skin looking radiant. The mask bit did a good job of drawing out impurities and the exfoliator bit left my skin smooth.

A great multi tasking product.

The year so far...

It's the 9th of January already?  Where has this year gone?

Well, in my case, it's passed in a somewhat inebriated blur of partying, (no, we did not drunkenly attempt to phone Chevy Chase on New Year's Eve, definitely not), polishing off the remains of the Christmas food & chocolate then rounded off with a nasty dose of Norovirus.  Just as I'm on the mend, I now have to start thinking about filing my tax return.  And on top of this all, I need to start looking for work because as a freelancer, you're always on a hunt for the next job.

Phew!  All in all this hasn't left much time or energy for blogging.  I'll see you later when I've emerged from my tax return.

Norovirus and how to deal with it.

I've been unlucky enough to start off the new year with a dose of Norovirus.

It seems like I had rather a mild dose because it only lasted a day but blimey, it certainly didn't feel mild.  The projectile vomiting and the acute gastroenteritis have utterly drained me.

It started with nausea, stomach cramps and bad bloating but it was quickly followed by the vomiting and gastroenteritis.

I'm on the mend now but I'm still feeling very fragile.  I really, really don't want anyone to suffer the way I have so I thought I'd pass on the tips I've learnt the hard way.

Wash your hands!  I'm very hygienic anyway but I've become somewhat OCD about not just thoroughly washing my hands but using hand sanitiser afterwards and then cleaning every surface I've touched with a cleaning wipe.  Yeah, I'm probably on my way to one of those disorders but I don't want my boyfriend to get it.

You'll become very dehydrated so don't forget to drink.  My mouth was soo dry.  Water is very good but I found that fennel tea also helped to settle my stomach.  This really helped me.

I also found that a Berocca a day really helped.

Once you feel you can eat something, try a few mouthfuls of dry toast.  I know it's dull as anything but it's not too rich so it binds the stomach without being overwhelming.  If you have bread with added vitamins, even better.

One thing that happened was, that it really brought home how lucky I am to have such an amazing boyfriend.  When someone sees you with vomit on your face, groaning in agony and is prepared to clean up your sh!t, that's love.

New Year's Resolutions - Mantras for 2013

I'm not a great fan of New Year's resolutions.  It seems to me that you're just setting yourself up to fail.

There are however a few changes I'd like to make to my life...

I must start buying clothes for my actual life not my fantasy life.
  In my fantasy life I swan around at glamourous soirees in impossibly beautiful gowns, rather like Grace Kelly in most of her films.

Image via http://printandpattern.net/2012/09/14/high-noon-grace-kelly/

In my actual life, I walk most places and wait for buses in the rain.  What I really need are stylish practical clothes that suit my life style - coats that keep out the rain, shoes and boots that are easy to walk in.  My fashion mantra for 2013 will be 'useful but beautiful'.

I must eat more healthily and exercise regularly

  I'm not one of those lucky people who can live on beer & kebabs and still remain in peak health.  If I have more than three days of unhealthy living I start to become ill - my asthma worsens, I can't sleep properly and everything starts to ache.  This Christmas has been particularly bad.  I've had a fantastic time but I'm paying the price now.  My health mantra for 2013 will be 'a healthy lifestyle is not boring, it's about loving yourself'.

I must appreciate the little things

  I've been incredibly lucky with my career.  I've been able to tour the world with rock bands, hang out with some of the most famous people on the planet and gain access to places which are not open to the public.  

  The main thing I've learned is that none of that glitz and glamour really matter.  So many people aspire to being 'famous' and yet celebrities are some of the loneliest people I've met.  Everyone, including their families, wants a piece of them and very few people in the public eye have any real friends.  Famous people have always responded well to me because I treat them like everyone else, no gushing, no brown nosing and I will tell them if I'm unhappy with something they've done.  It's really taught me that it's the little things that matter - a great afternoon spent with my boyfriend; a fabulous evening with my friend; simple, honest communication between people. 

  My life mantra for 2013 will be 'love the small moments'.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all my readers.

Thank you for your support over the year.

May you be surrounded by people you love, eat delicious food that doesn't make you fat, drink without getting a hangover and receive gifts that make your heart sing.

In the midst of all the abundance, let's also spare a thought for the lonely and the less fortunate amongst us.

Ralph Waldo Emerson on beauty

I've been rather busy recently with Christmas socialising and I haven't had time to write a Thursday beauty post so I'll leave you with these words by the American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art."

Image via http://www.britishbeautyblogger.com/2012/10/nars-andy-warhol-self-portrait-palette.html

Happy Thursday!