Inner Peace

I read an article at work today where a certain niché cosmetics brand claimed it could cure emotional pain through appropriately scented products, facials, massage and holding imaginary emotional camp fires inviting the people who've hurt you. So uh, first thoughts were "what the..." and I assumed it to be complete garbage, but as I read on I started to come around to these seemingly daft ideas. Aromatherapy and meditation are exactly the sort of things you'd expect me to be into, but I've never given them much thought before. Too much sitting around doing nothing for my liking, and thus unproductive. But if I'm releasing stress and focusing my mind, won't I be more efficient in what I do? Doesn't that make me more productive? And I am the most stressed out and irritable person I know, I really do need to just chill the fuck out!
So 10 minutes of meditation and mindfulness has been added to today to-do list. At 9pm I'll light my Neom Happiness candle and just shut up and keep still for a bit. Breathe and relax. Maybe I could incoporate a little into my morning yoga? Hmmm.

My to-do list is pretty full this evening. Even after six hours at work and a lecture, I have a lot more that I want to do! I've done all the printing and boring admin stuff, bread is half made, I've done my hair and tested out a new foundation (Dior Forever something- bit matte for my liking). I still need to hunt out some more data for my dissertation, spend 20 minutes making notes on today's lecture and fill out some more of the job applications.

Oh yeah, bread baking is back on my weekly schedule! It seems wheat isn't the problem, as I still had the shortness of breath after a few wheat-free meals. And a huge crazy reaction to a woman at work who has cats. Urg. Doctors wednesday, we'll see how it goes. I really hope I don't have the miserable bloke who starts writing a prescription for antibiotics before I've even sat down. I do not need anymore antibiotics!

Mmm Flakey

OH is staying at his new place for the night, partly due to the snow still being quite heavy up there and partly to unpack some more. This means I'm free to do any of the pesky little jobs off my to-do list in peace, but my latest little illness means the only one I feel up to is "keeping warm and getting some sleep". I've just had a hot bath and smothered myself in a combination of The Body Shop Passionfruit Body Butter and Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter. The first smells delicious (my idea of comfort and luxury is something that smells good) and the latter is purely functional. Last night I caked OH in the Baby Bottom Butter as his skin is so dry from 1) the cold 2) working in a dusty lab with hot ovens and he wouldn't stop moaning about being sore and dry. Um... moisturise!!

The cold is making me pretty dry too, my face is screaming out for even more oil and butters. I suppose that's partly due to me tackling a mini breakout with salicylic acid. My skin wants to peel but I keep slathering it in oil, resulting in a very drawn out peeling where I've been just slightly dry for almost a week. DELICIOUS.

Never mind fashion hauls, check out my fruit haul!

...or not. As the phone I've been using to take photos lately won't upload them to the computer! GRRRR!!
It seems as if South America has a bumper blueberry crop right now as they're incredibly cheap. I oh so foolishly went to Waitrose first to get one of their big £3 packs (admittedly, they are firm and sweet and just lovely). I went to market second, with the intention of getting some organic veg from the er... organic veg bloke. I'm trying to be good and eat more organic y'see. So I got my beets, broccoli and greens for a very reasonable price then at the next stall along I spied blueberries for £1. Not just one pack for £1, but four! I weighed them when I got in and they're just over a kilo in weight! Admittedly they're a bit soft, but perfect for blending or mixing into yogurt, porridge or muffins.

When I eventually own my own house, I'd like to have enough space to plant blueberry bushes. And sweet chesnut trees, apple treas, pears, cherry, almond, the list goes on really. I basically want an entirely edible garden! And some chickens, ducks or rabbits would be nice. I grew up in a big city in teeny council houses, but weirdly we always had fruit trees, veg plots and chickens. I didn't appreciate them much at the time but now I can't wait to have my own.


Right, it's absolutely freezing and I'm peckish, so I think I'll go make some blueberry porridge :)