A Day in the Life of Koolbadges

The hubby & me feel a little stuck in limbo at the moment. Since my dad had his stroke in December we have been living with my brother in Scotland and plan on staying here until he goes home, that should be in around May/June time depending on his progress. He is currently in a center for Brian Rehabilitation, where he is having intense rehab. We want to be close to my dad whilst he needs us but its so hard not having your own space. The good news is my dad is really coming on & has taken his first few few steps (helped by 3 nurses) using a walking stick. There is still no movement in his left arm and although he has slight movement in his leg cant feel the sole of his foot. Its a slow process but we are trying to stay positive.

We have been working hard on the badges and are really seeing alot of orders for Hen & Stag Party badges — we love a good wedding we do! John and I are also getting excited for an upcoming trip to London supporting my little brother who is running the London Marathon for the 3rd year (so proud). We are going for 4 nights and plan to do alot of shopping and eating. If you have any shopping, eating or any other recommendations for things to do in the big smoke let us know.

My makeup spending ban is going OK i did cave and buy a couple of Vivo by Tesco eye-shadows and a brow pallet but they are such great value for money i’m not counting them. I am trying not to buy anything until London and i have my eye on a few things. Like the Urban Decay Naked 2 pallet and some Mac eye-shadows.

I will leave you with some photos of the past week or so.

I am a product Junkie and my hubby really thinks i have a problem. I thought i would share with you some of the products i have been loving and using alot lately.

So the first thing is Boots No7 BB Cream. I have been using this product for around one month now and i have been really liking it. I use it as a tinted moisturiser, on the days i don’t want to wear full foundation. Its light wearing and gives your skin a glow without looking too madeup. I think it would look better in the spring/summer when i have a little more natural colour. But still i have found it to wear well. I prime my skin first as i have found is stays on longer – i get about 7 hours good wear. Not bad. I purchased it using my No7 voucher that Boots always do & this made the product ?Ǭ£7.95. Not sure i would pay the full price of ?Ǭ£12.95. I have shade medium for Normal/Oily Skin

Next item is from Tesco, it’s their new (fairly new) makeup line called Vivo. I have heard alot of great things about this makeup line and was shocked at the variety and range of products they had. The item i have been using the most is an eyeshadow in the colour Mink. It was only ?Ǭ£1.50 and has amazing colour payoff and the quality is very good. I have a few other items to try and will let you know how i get on. If your in Tesco i recommend picking up a few bits to try. Let me know how you get on too.

I have been loving using my Bourjois Volume Clubbing Eyeliner in Ultra Black. I can confirm it is super black. I have been using this for a good few months and its showing no signs of drying out and i have lots of product left. Its really easy to apply and has a small thin wand applicator, this is great for getting really precise lines (which i like for day time). It lasts for the longest time and i have had no smudging. This stuff goes nowhere! Again its a great price ?Ǭ£6.99 and Superdrug always have 3 for 2 on lots of their makeup. So you can always get a bargain.

Now for a little skincare, when i was visiting family i went to the Cheshire Oaks Outlet Village & persuaded my hubby to spend like an hour in the Cosmetic Company Outlet (CCO) — where they sell discounted Mac, Bobbi Brown, Origins, Clinique & a few other high end brands. Its heaven for the beauty obsessed. If you love makeup you need to head to one. I think their are 4 at various Outlet Villages, like Portsmouth, Bicester, Cheshire Oaks & Designer Outlet Swindon. Really worth the trip if you can get to one.

I picked up a few bits, but the main thing i am loving is my Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Set. I like to use it at night not in the morning as i find it quite thick and having oily skin it doesn’t wear too well for me under my makeup. It smells really grown up and herbal, which i like. A little bit goes along way and a pot would last for the longest time. It helps calm my skin down and gives it a real moisture boost. I can’t remember how much i paid as it was in a little set with the Mega Mushroom Face Cleanser & Soothing Treatment Lotion. It was no more than ?Ǭ£25.

Let me know what products you are loving as i’m always on the lookout for new tried and tested things to buy.

We have a great range of St Patrick’s Day Badges on the site. In time to celebrate on the Saturday, 17?Ǭ†March 2012. If you are planning a St Patrick’s Day themed party our badges would make a great addition to your celebrations.

Here are some photos of St Patrick’s Badges that have been sent out this week.

Yes this year is dispersing right before my eyes. I wish i was busy with fun and exciting things, but the truth is i’m not. I’m an either at the hospital visiting my dad (who had a stroke & brain surgery in December) or i am making badges. I seem to split my time between the two.

My dad was told yesterday that he wouldn’t be able to go home to his current house as he will not manage to get up and down the stairs so he has to somehow look for & purchase a new house whilst in hospital. Stressful!

We did manage to get over to St Andrews for dinner last night, which was a rare night off for me & the Mr. I will leave you with a weekly round up of pics.

:o)

It could be any day of the week, they all feel pretty much the same at the moment. Really working hard on the badges. We love it but it can be long hours. Its pancake day today. What did you all have on yours? I had strawberries on one and on the other i had nutella. Delicious. No photos as i ate them way to fast to think about taking a picture.

A catch up of whats been going on over the past few days at Koolbadges HQ.

 

No words needed. Just feast your eyes on these pretty finds

This BEAUtiful ring from Lazy Oaf *swoon*

Oh my & they have a necklace too! You need to pop over to Lazy Oaf & have a look

This cool leaf silhouette. What a great idea from All Things Paper

These look like so much fun. Classic Skates from FredFlare.com

Oh & I thought it was Tuesday for the longest time today. Oh well i guess my weekend is 2 days closer as its really Thursday!

 

And its Monday again, just like that in a blink of an eye the weekend come and goes. I was busy visiting my dad in hospital & also helping him go home for a day visit. Which is great to see, its hard work to get him in and out of the car & to remember all of his medication and things he needs to take with him.

John also took me to St Andrews for dinner on Saturday night, we also walked along the coast followed by a coffee and cake. Nice to get away from whats been happening and have an evening to relax.

As i mentioned in a previous post i am on a strict NO BUY on makeup & products for at least 5 weeks. But if i get on ok i may extend. I am trying to re discover products i have & finish half empty bottles of stuff to really asses what i have in my collection and what i really want to re purchase. I am doing ok so far. I am keeping all my empties to show you in a post.

I’m not doing anything for Valentines Day as John & I do dates as often as we can. But let me know if you have any exciting plans? Or receive any cute gifts.

 

 

So Friday is here and this week i have not managed to catch up. I was so organised and wrote my To Do List on Sunday night – its still sat at the side of me & i have only crossed off 2 things, one of which someone else kindly did for me. Its sage to say that this week was just about keeping my head above water (or badges). We had a surge in Valentines Orders from Wednesday & as Valentines Day is on Tuesday they had to be made and sent out quickly.

I now have a To Do List that will carry over until next week & will be double the size. I have packaging & supplies that i have yet to unpacked and put away. They are blocking my front door. This will be a job for Saturday. Stationary is my guilty pleasure. I may not have had time to sort them out this past week but i am secretly looking forward to doing it. I love having lots of shipping supplies, paper and craft bits in the studio. Makes me feel like i am ready for when its busy. Now all i need are some orders :o)

No grand plans for this weekend, my dad has been getting out for day visits, so thats really good. Its takes 3 of us to help him out his wheelchair (he likes sitting on the sofa). He enjoys getting out the hospital. Its a nice change of scenery for him & its nice to be somewhere familiar and relaxing.

Hope you all have a fab weekend. I will be trying to relax and start next week with more energy and smash my To Do List.

 

Scotland is in the middle of a big freeze. We were all getting a little cocky thinking winter had passed us by without too much fuss. Oh how we were wrong. This past week has been so cold. We have been trying to stay in the house where its warm. So the only trips we have been doing is to the Post Office, Printers and to see my dad in the hospital. All unnecessary journeys are on hold until the temperature gets above freezing. I am a fair weather girl & made for warmer climates.

If you know me then you know i love products, makeup, skincare & all things girly. I have given myself a challenge of not buying any beauty items for 5 weeks. Apart from essentials like cotton wool & face wash. I am one week into my challenge and its hard, but i have not cracked. Only time will tell how i get on. I am hoping buy not buying anything new i re discover items i have forgotten about & use up products to scale down my collection so its more manageable.

I will leave you with a round up of the past few days. We have been busy making Valentines, St Patrick’s and Easter Badges. So many holidays coming up. Have you bought your badges yet?

Scotland has really turned cold & we are trying hard to keep warm in the koolbadges studio. This means we have to dig out our fingerless gloves & keep the hot cuppas flowing.

No plans for the weekend, just some hospital visits. My dad is gaining his memory back & we have been asked by his therapist to think of games to play that will help his memory and concentration. My dad was never much of a games man, so we are finding it hard to come up with good ones. They can’t be to hard ot long and he needs to be able to play them with one arm (as he only has the use of one). Does anyone have any idea at all?

Now we are getting stuck in to 2012 i have been thinking of lots of crafty things to pass the time. I have a few new projects up my sleeve. I thought i would leave you with this print from Chris Piascik — More Ideas Than Time