When worlds clash

Yes. It has been a long time since I have written anything.
And in that time a lot has happened. I am constantly juggling work, my son, my hubby, friends etc. And stuff has taken over.
Too much stuff to include in one entry.

However, the one thing that hasn't happened is that I have been looking after myself.  I haven't been looking after myself. I am the largest I have ever been. My hair is greying and I don't care. My skin looks AWFUL. And it shows. I am the largest I have ever been. My hair is greying and I don't care. My skin looks AWFUL. My hands are chapped and my nails are chipped.

I look in the mirror and I don't see me anymore. I see an old-beyond-my-time, tired, sad version of me. And I don't like it.

How has this got to do with this site, I hear you ask? It has everything to do with this site because when I was looking after myself and really caring, I not only enjoyed looking after myself and seeing results, I also enjoyed having a half hour each day where I just did something for me.

Not my husband. Not my son. Not my work.
Just me.

So here's the deal. I am going to start looking after myself again. I am going to take pride in myself and start a little bit of Trash to K'dash pampering. And I am going to be documenting it all.

Because when worlds clash, I shouldn't forget about the most important person of all.

Me.


P.S And if you think that sounds selfish...that's because it is!

Mashed up moosh

Even thought this week has been dedicated to hands, feet and teeth - I still can't ignore the areas I have spent time on before. So I've still been paying attention to my face, my hair and (sort of) my body.

Last night I noticed two things about my egg white face mask -
One: the egg smell can be a bit off putting and
Two: it has started to sting.

Now, I do not know why it has just started to sting just this last week however I do know that that is not a good sign and that I need to wash it off as soon as possible. It could have been just the one egg - one rotten egg...or that time of month or whatever. It just meant I had to find another face mask alternative and it had to be good for my skin (hey, it is getting used to being pampered now!) and it had to be cheap. Real cheap...in fact it had to be practically free.

I remembered a face mask Kim K had used in one of the TV series episodes. It was avocado around the face and grated potato around the eyes. Please let me tell you, I will continue to use the egg white face mask for tightening - but for moisturising and relaxing, the avo mask is the go. It felt so luxurious and at less than $1 a treatment - I was sold. These homemade treatments were turning out okay - so I decided to use some for this weeks focus - hands, feet and teeth.

My hands and feet have been severely overworked and negleted over the last few years. I wash my hands a lot and am always using a anti- bacterial gel, so my hands are very dry and crinkly. My feet are rough and dry - I think the dry skin on the balls of my feet are all that cushion my feet when I walk. My feet are always covered in bites and blisters - especially in Summer, that I don't even look at them. So it was time for some intensive treatment.

Oil.
Oil was the answer. I heated some Olive Oil with some a few drops of Vitamin E oil and soaked my crusty old cuticles in them. Agter 10 minutes, my hands looked and felt like a babies bottom. This stuff was good and free ( had it in my cupboard all along). With the left over oil, I did a Khloe K trick and smothered my feet in it and put on a pair of (old) warm socks. The heat does the trick and helps it to soak in good. I know it will take a lot longer to repair my crusty ole feet than one treatment but it is very relaxing.
And free.
Did I mention it was free?

Getting back on the K'Dash Track

I am so tired.
I am so, so tired.
I am so tired, I tried to wash my hair with shaving lather (don't ask).
I am so tired, I can't think straight enough to write an entry.
I am so tired, 9pm is late going to bed.

This week has NOT been a good week for the K'Dash experiment. I hate to make excuses but I am going to anyway - I worked double the amount of my usual hours, I was preparing for a garage sale, birthday party and overseas trip, my son has decided to up his feralness (not a word but I don't care), my husband is still away and for some reason, I didn't get paid what I thought I would so it has been a penny pinching week too (and yes, even worse than usual).

What have I done according to the Kardashian way? I have washed and moisturised my face morning & night. I have done the egg white facial twice this week. I have kept my nails polished and my hair tidy. I have left the house with make-up on EVERY SINGLE DAY. I have even exercised.
Yes, that's right -exercised. However I only manged the one day as for the next 3 days I could not move....well, my legs could not move. Let me explain.

When studying the Kardashian Clan thoroughly, as I did earlier in the experiment, I was made aware that Kim Kardashian had released her own exercise DVD called "Fit into your jeans by Friday". I went on Ebay and was happy to get one at half the recommended retail price and was excited to receive it on Monday. What evil Miss Kardashian did not point out was that although you may be able to fit into your jeans by Friday, there is no way in hell you will be able to move in them...at all.
The next day.
Or the next...let alone by Friday.

The morning after the workout I said to the girls that every now and then my leg muscles would "give way" and I felt that my legs were going to give from under me. The girls laughed and said to just do it again tomorrow and that my muscles would start to get used to it. Tomorrow? I didn't even make it to that night!
The next morning I had to roll myself out of bed and get around by support myself with whatever was handy - furniture, walls, my son etc. It hurt to even squat to go to the toilet. I was having trouble getting into the car, let alone attempt the DVD again. It will pass, the girls at work (who are I may tell you, are much younger AND much fitter than me) reassured me.
Thursday saw me considering hiring a wheel chair. I went to the movies and could not - I repeat COULD NOT walk down the stairs to get to the theatre. I had to almost hop, to the embarrassment of my friend. And to go the toilet, I had to slide myself down the wall and then manoeuvre myself towards the bowl.

It's Sunday and still my legs give way on me every now and then. They just go - and I look like a drunkard trying to stand up.
Not a good look.
Especially at 10 in the morning.
In church.

Needless to say I haven't attempted the DVD again. And I am not going to. I'm giving it to the girls at work tomorrow. At least they have been warned.

So the exercising hasn't been going well. Neither has the eating. When I am tired, I get stressed. And when I stress, I eat.
And eat.
And eat.
I will get back on the Kardashian horse and on the right track again.
If only because I am still walking like a jockey.

P.S Photo taken this morning - I think my skin is looking clearer and even though I haven't been getting much sleep, I think the darkness under my eyes is not as noticeable. What do you think?

Crash N Burn- end of week two

I can't do it.
I just can't.
I remember a swimming teacher once telling me there is no such thing as can't. Before she chucked me in the deep end.

I haven't exercised for a week.
I haven't eaten well. In fact, on the weekend I drank so much alcohol I needed the food to soak it all up.
And I broke three fingernails playing 'air drums' (don't ask).
And I went to bed with my make up on - I know "shock horror".

I am tired. I am so, so tired.
I want chocolate. And vodka. And lot's of it.

This is me - before going out....might be a bit of an improvement. But I still don't like me.


I haven't given up completely though.
My fingernails are still painted although a lot shorter.
I have washed my make-up off recently.
I'm still looking after my hair.
I am still a moisturising freak.
And I ensure I leave the house with make-up on.
And a bra.

AND - if I do say so myself, I looked pretty hot on Saturday night. I dolled up to the max and made the most of it. I enjoyed all the pampering in getting ready to go out.
And I had fun.

So maybe I didn't do so bad this week. But I'm not happy with my efforts. Let's hope week three kicks my butt.

Because I don't want to crash n burn. Not just yet anyway.

A Splash in the Ocean

It hasn't been a good week. Probably because it started with egg on my face.
And I'd put it there.

I have been scrubbing, exfoliating, painting, stripping, plucking, moisturising and egging (see before) and I just seem to be fighting a losing battle. I don't know how people keep this up. I am EXHAUSTED.

Maybe this can't be done.
Maybe I need more help
How easy would it be to just spend some cashola and get some injections, suck out some fat and order some extensions?

What I need is at least$50,000. Or maybe $100,000. Or maybe just a sugar daddy. Wait, I would probably have to look hot to get that one.

Or maybe just a little more time.

So my question now is - is beauty not so much about the cash, but how much time the cash buys you?

I am struggling to fit in working, running a house, writing, raising a toddler and exercising, pampering and styling. If only I had a housekeeper, a chef and a nanny maybe I could find the time to exercise and straighten my hair. If I had more cash - I would have more time.

But I am perservering. Except for the exercising - I don't know how to fit that in. And I really, really hate it. I think that better be the focus next week - to force me to move!

The positives?

My teeth are whiter. My hair is softer. My nails look pretty. My skin is smoother. My bank balance is still healthy.

I'll continue. God only knows if this will make a difference - but I'll let you dolls be the judge at the end. All this could just be a splash in the ocean. And a not very big one at that.....

P.S that's me with egg on my face..attractive - yeah?

Awash with sadness...

I have been thinking these last couple of days how this blog may be considered trivial in regards to what is happening in the world at present. I watch what is happening in Japan with a sob caught in my throat and a ache in my heart. Some people have also commented on how they thought I was a seemingly intelligent woman who wouldn't lower herself to write a blog about beauty. I quote one such acquaintance (and I quote) "Ho-Hum, another make-over blog. Have you given up on your serious writing?"

Hmm..it has taken me awhile to respond to this but now -
if you don't like it, don't read it.
if you find this trivial, don't read it.
if you have more 'intelligent' things to do, don't read it.
And, finally, if you have nothing constructive or positive to say, don't read it.

I still think I am an intelligent woman and this blog/experiment is just one of many things that I am participating in at the moment. I am enjoying taking part in this little trial and just because I am painting my nails and watching what I eat does not mean I am ignorant to what is happening in the world and that I am insensitive to all the distress in the news.
It does mean that I am comprehending and handling all these horrors in my own way - and if that means escaping into a little superficial and selfish indulgence - then so be it.

So excuse me while I slap on a restorative and soothing hair mask.

If you have better things to do - go do it.

A beautiful face in a flash- beiginning of week two

I am sitting writing this entry with a stiffy. Too much info?

Well, it's a stiff face actually. As I wanted to make this week to be all-about-the face I have decided to try a mask that my best friend recommended - an egg white face mask. Couldn't be easier or cheaper: take one egg white, mix and brush onto face. Wait until it stiffens and wash off with cool water (not hot or you'll end up with scrambled egg on your face!) It does feel cool and it gives me a really good tight face - shame about my bum though....wonder how many eggs it would take to stiffen that up!

I feel that my face needs a LOT of attention. In the last few years I have seen my skin become really floppy and lose it's glow. And I have really lost my way as in what products to use. I have been asking friends and family -what should I use? what would be good for my skin? and more importantly, how much does it cost????

The Kardashian sisters talk about consistency in looking after your skin - cleanse and moisturise day and night, use products from the same range to complement each other and use treatments on a regular basis. Since before I had my son I decided to use only natural products and I have to admit, I have watched my skin go downhill. I do not only blame the products, I have had major stress in my life as well however I really have lost my way with the variety of cleansers, moisturisers and treatments on the market. I decide to take the scientific approach. I open a magazine and the first revitalising, toning and firming product I see I will buy....

According to the magazine, the product I chose is the number product for firming skin worldwide....fair choice I would say.

My best friend is a connosieur of beauty products - if a product has been released, she has tried it. She has been looking for the holy grail in skincare for over 2 years. But there is only one thing she swears by for a glowing complexion. And that, my friends, is something called the Healthy Skin Diet. There is a website and a book - and it is all very interesting. However, I don't want to give up on my meal replacement powder as I am feeling great on them and have lost some weight. So, I will add Chlorophyl to my diet AND drink 3 litres of water a day AND add oily fish and berries to my one meal a day......Let's see how that goes.

I am feeling a difference doing this Trash to K'Dash - even if it is just in my confidence levels. Some people may think that spending all this time on myself and being just a little bit obsessed with looking good is a waste of time and truthfully. a little selfish. This is something I never thought I would do - let alone document in a blog. Yet I am enjoying pampering myself, enjoying trying out new products and enjoying spending a little time on just myself.

And I'm enjoying writing about it.....now to just wash this goo off and swig that Chlorophyl. Oh, the things I do for my art!