Lifestyle | a storm in a teacup

May
05
2012

Furnishing a Reading Nook

Posted by Lil In Home, Lifestyle | 3 Comments »

Reading Nook

I'm obsessed with the idea of a Reading Nook. Follow my Favourite Places & Spaces board on Pinterest and you'll be met with many a cosy corner complete with bookcase and comfy chair, perhaps some soft lighting or maybe a floor to ceiling window. Having somewhere to sit and read glossy magazines, sunday papers or just a good old paperback away from everything else and preferably with a nice view, is something I've spent many hours dreaming of and something I really aspire to later in life when space and money isn't so much of an issue.

One of the problems Matt and I have faced since moving into our (furnished) flat is how to come to terms with the pieces we don't like. Our sofa, dining table, mismatched beside tables and coffee table are all items that don't really fall in with our tastes and it lead me to think what if I had a blank canvas? We've done a pretty good job so far: moved in two 4x4 Expedit bookcases from IKEA (with books organised by genre, I'll have you know), my beloved Stenstorp Kitchen Island complete with stools, and we created a home office too.

Given the chance, the biggest change I'd make is in place of our glass dining table and chairs I'd be inclined to turn the corner of our kitchen into a little cosy corner where I could curl up in the one thing I really feel the absence of at the moment: a great big, plush armchair.

The Basil Light Grey Armchair (£479) & the Harry Dark Grey Armchair (£349) both Fashion for Home

Though leather is kind of traditional for a reading area, what I really crave at the moment is something soft and warm, unlike my unkind and impersonal leather sofa. I'm after something I could throw a blanket over and really snuggle into. Part of me loves the classic tutor's study shape of the Harry pictured above but as comfort really is the factor here, I think something with solid arms, almost bucket-like would be best, just like the Basil Light Grey option above.

Clockwise from left: the Wimbledon Red Armchair (£289), the Watson Brown Leather Armchair (£629), the Sodapop Ice Armchair with Sky Cover (£449) & the Sodapop Ice 2 Seater Sofa with Mixed Kermit Cover (£599) all Fashion for Home

The Wimbledon Red Armchair certainly ticks the size box. Since a reading chair is somewhere you want to spend hours at a time so only the plumpest cushions are going to cut it. I know I said no leather, but if I were to change my mind, I really think the Watson Brown Leather Armchair would be the one to do it. Deep with high arms and a high enough back - I'm seriously considering it.

The sofas and chairs from Sodapop come in so many prints and colours I'm pretty sure there's something to suit everyone, from leopard print to gingham and beyond! The green stripe is a great option for the corner of a light, airy kitchen, for browsing cupcake books and deciding what to bake next. This sky print chair would be gorgeous in front of a big window with a great view, I'm just not sure it meets quite the comfort level I'm after...

While I make my decision I'm piling up a huge pile of reading. My new book club starts on the 13th, so I'm currently reading Atomised by Michel Houellebecq. Next, I have Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh to look forward too, followed by The Beautiful and the Damned by F Scott Fitzgerald. I also have 3 issues of Elle piled up!

Books To Read

What adjustments would you make to your home if you could? What's on your reading list?

Zumba Fever - Update #1

Posted by Lil In Fitness, Lifestyle | 4 Comments »

Zumba Fever Update

So it's been a week since I posted about my Zumba/Healthier Eating Regime. I've actually really enjoyed it so far which seems really weird and ridiculous considering I have absolutely never enjoyed exercise before. NO jokes. I hated every single PE lesson, every afternoon of Games at school, each of the (very few) runs I've been on and for the brief time I had a gym membership I totally begrudged going.

Zumba has genuinely been really fun. Just like everyone said when I asked on Twitter, it's fun, energetic and you enjoy yourself all the way through. All I did was get a DVD because, as yet, I don't feel confident about going to a class. That is definitely something I'd love to do in the future though. I started off doing half an hour for the first few days and quickly worked up to the whole one hour session. Because I have my diabetes to worry about and I've been struggling with hypos and how to manage exercise on an insulin pump, I didn't want to push myself too much too quickly, but rather ease myself in.

After 3 sessions I figured if I carried on with the same DVD everyday I'd get bored pretty quickly. So I got my hands on a Weight Loss Yoga DVD (The Biggest Loser - damn right!) and decided to alternate workouts. It's important to add that while I am middling un-fit, I am 100% INFLEXIBLE. I've never, not even as a kid, been able to touch my toes. Just the thought of a downward facing dog hurts me. But because of my problems with anxiety, yoga is something I've always wanted to try and though weight loss yoga isn't exactly calm, it will help with my general limber-ness and breathing. I tried it out on Friday and then did a longer, almost 2 hour session on Saturday which I really enjoyed. This week I'm going to alternate days and see how I feel.

On the weekend I popped to TK Maxx and picked up a Nike yoga mat and some 1lb wrist weights. I got both for around £18. The weights mean I can really feel my arms working (this is one area I'd like to improve) so I'm really pleased I got them.

Positives:

Already I've noticed an improvement with my sleep and energy levels. I am energised in the evenings after my work-out and throughout the day after, I find it easier to get up in the mornings and I sleep almost as soon as my head hits the pillow - as someone who has always struggled with sleep, this is a big deal for me.
After the initial few days of post-workout aches and pains I now feel pretty good after workouts - I can still feel that I've done exercise, but it kinda feels good, like I can feel it working as opposed to actual pain.
I actually seem to look forward to it. It's a great way to spend my time in the evenings before Matt comes home from work and it stops me twiddling my thumbs and thinking about work or life pressures that lead to me getting worked up. It's also a great way for me to distinguish work time from relaxing time - something I really struggle with working from home.

Negatives:

Honestly, so far there aren't any.

Eating so far hasn't changed majorly, I've just cut out snacks and tried to make better choices. On the weekend I ate out once and didn't worry about what I ordered and I think this is probably the way I want to continue. I've had one day off from exercise (Sunday) and took it because I felt I needed it (general aches and pains, unsteady diabetes) as opposed to wanting to. Like I mentioned, I did several hours on Saturday and really enjoyed it. I'm not sure what's going on! Ha. I can't tell you if I've lost any weight as I don't own scales and honestly don't intend to keep too close an eye on it - I just want to improve my general health and well-being and in doing so, shift a bit of the excess poundage!

Is there an exercise or an activity that you genuinely enjoy, or do you keep fit because you feel you have to?

Make-Up, Skincare & Hair Storage

Posted by Lil In Home, Lifestyle | 8 Comments »

Make-up Storage

Make-up storage is a somewhat contentious issue. There is YouTube video after YouTube video explaining the best way to keep your stuff clean and tidy. Since I made the move up north there's only been one area of my flat that I haven't been entirely happy with. I have so much make-up, skincare, hair products and jewellery that I haven't had the time or inclination to unpack it all properly and sort it all out. I used to just have one drawer when I lived in London, but it became quite clear after the move that that wasn't going to cut it anymore, and quite frankly, it started to scare me. But after watching Vivianna's Shopping My Stash video I started pining for some once-loved beauty items from my collection so the time finally came to tackle it.

Make-Up Storage

Annoyingly I didn't think to take a "Before" picture, but basically the black shelving unit (£10 from IKEA - bargain) was jammed packed with bags and boxes of stuff, none of which I could get to, and the top of the chest of drawers was completely covered in my whole make-up collection. This area is just behind my desk, upstairs in my flat, and I share the area with Matt too - although obviously his beauty regime is a little less complicated than mine.

When it came to choosing storage crates I went for white because the area is quite dark naturally, despite the big window, so I didn't want to darken the mood anymore with more dark items. White crates also make it much easier to see what you have. I also bought some smaller grey ones to go inside each crate. I bought both types from Clas Olsen and I also picked up some stick-on hooks to hang my jewellery on the wall from Wilkinson.

Make-Up Storage

First I sorted all my nail products into one crate. As well as polishes, nail pens, stickers, jewels, glue and nail polish remover, I made sure to stick in a little pile of cotton pads and buds, some scissors and a tube of hand cream that I don't use often. This was so if I ever want to paint my nails in front of the TV(this happens often) I can just grab the crate and take it downstairs and I have everything I need. My lip products also found a home here because there was some extra room. I organised all my glosses, liners, lipsticks and balms into one of the smaller crates and stuck them in ends up for easy colour selection.

Make-Up Storage

The next crate (I've skipped my make-up one on the second shelf down - coming back to it later, promise!) houses all my skincare. It's quite full at the moment thanks to several months of GlossyBoxes and Feel Unique Boxes which I'm now taking a break from - my supplies were overflowing! I've also got hand wipes which I like to carry in my handbag, hand creams, body lotions and perfumes in this box as well as all my day to day skincare supplies. My new moisturiser is right there at the front - Skin Drink from Lush. After the success of my Lush skincare reviews last year I'll probably do a full review on this product which I've been recommended for a bout of very dry skin.

Make-Up Storage

Lastly we have hair. This looks cluttered because it holds my hair dryer and diffuser (yay no more stepping on upturned plugs) plus the fact I have loads of haircare at the moment thanks to very welcome freebies from Aussie and John Frieda. I'm working my way through them as I type, a John Frieda Full Repair review will come once I feel like I've used it for long enough to give an honest review (probably within the next few weeks). I've organised this crate from within too, so I have mousses at the front, sprays at the back etc. I really love having everything within reach and not having to pick up several bottles to find what I'm looking for.

Make-Up Storage

Moving on to the top of chest of drawers I have a little crate holding my everyday most-used items which includes foundations, tinted moisturer and primer, a selection of mascaras, 3 lipsticks, 2 blushers and powder. In front is my Label.M Souffle which is the only hair styling product I feel I can't live without. Despite the feminine appearance the stuff to the left of the crate is actually "Boy Stuff" so I won't waste any time on that. Buddhas hold my favourite rings and stud earrings, and hooks on the wall hold bracelets and necklaces plus a Marc Jacobs bag to hold brooches and anything else that won't hang. I also have a jewellery tree you can see in the pictures but not all my jewellery is unpacked yet so that's still bare for now. There's also an angel wing pot I picked up from Tiger in Hammersmith during my student days which houses all my brushes.

Make-Up Storage

Having done all this stuff last night, this morning I woke up still in full organisation mode. I took my make-up crate downstairs and cleaned everything. I often find myself ignoring loose eyeshadows or palettes because it takes me a while to find the one I'm looking for so I just stick with what's on hand. Thing is, things get so grubby from product fall-out that I've never wanted to label anything before, knowing they'll only get all stained and look horrid soon.

Make-Up Storage

Then the other day I was in Paperchase getting some sticky labels to mark up all the meat and fish we picked up at the market to go into the freezer and I found some small labels that you write on and then cover with a layer of sticky plastic. Perfect! Durable and efficient - I set to work. Pretty soon everything was labeled so I can see exactly what I'm looking for. I cleaned up all my palettes and found some hidden gems I haven't used in forever, including the Ludwig palette by Kat Von D. Very excited to start rediscovering my whole collection instead of sticking to the same products everyday the way I have been doing.

Make-Up Storage

So there you have it. I feel pretty damn pleased with myself. Everything looks so uncluttered and easy to find compared to how it was before and it also makes me feel less stressed when I'm in my bedroom because everything is spacious and visible. If sorting out all your make-up and other products has been something you've been putting off, I highly suggest you get down to it. I had a lovely time finding some items I used to use all the time and it genuinely does give you a similar rush to buying something new. Give it a go! Now - clothes next!

How do you store your make-up, skincare and hair products? Is everything clearly placed and labeled or are you a more "organised chaos" kind of a gal? Let me know in the comments!