My New Blog!

After all the wailing and gnashing of teeth I did the other day, I finally decided to bite the bullet and go ahead and just start a new blog, dammit!

It's called ShyCat Beauty. The shy part reflects my personality and my hope to remain anonymous as much as possible, and of course the cat part is my alter ego all over the interparts.



I've transferred all my beauty-related posts over to the new blog. It's still a bit raw-looking; I haven't had time to make a banner for it or choose a background I really like yet. Like I said the other day, I don't know how long my interest in the topic will last, but at the moment I'm pretty enthusiastic about it - I have lots of posts planned. So please check it out!

Quick Update

Just checking in quickly to say - I don't have much to say!
Week 4 of my new job is cruising along much as the others. I was hoping to start exercising again this week, but so far I've been out every night this week after work. Phew! That's not like me at all! Friday night will be my first night in, yup!, and I'm planning on spending it relaxing and vegging out in front of the computer and/or TV. There'll plenty of weekend of weekend left for the getting of fresh air and the sweating of pores.

One good thing I've noticed in the last few weeks - drinking a (1 lt) bottle of water every day seems to be an ingrained habit for me now. In fact, instead of feeling full and bloated afterwards, I actually want to drink more! I'll see if I can get a bigger bottle for work.

I'll post the review of my GlossyBox Beauty Box tomorrow night. I've been meaning to write it all week, but ... see above! My "I Love This Box" is also waiting for me at the post office at the moment, but I won't get time to pick it up until Saturday. It's getting a bit crazy really, getting 3 beauty boxes a month! I will definitely have to cut back once the probation period is over. I also bought a glitter nail polish the other day:


Not my fingers. Photo schlurped from this blog.

It's Rimmel 'Disco Ball'. They're 'in' at the moment and I just couldn't resist! Though apparently I'm a bit behind the times, because they were sold out of all glitter nail polishes at K-mart! After searching for ages, I finally managed to find one bottle on the bottom shelf at the back under a completely different brand at the opposite end of the section from the Rimmel display. Befuddled, but bought it anyway!

I'll say goodbye with a link to a 1950s magazine with an article on Marilyn Monroe's Health Routine. I wonder if she actually said all of those things, or they were the result of some creative editing! (Make sure to keep clicking 'Next' to see all 4 pages!)

Break Time!

I've had a little break from everything - from work, from my food diary ... and from blogging too, it seems! So, a big update today. Things went really well over Christmas. I'm really proud of myself. I didn't once eat so much that I felt sick. I made sure I ate salad/veges at every meal as well as unhealthy stuff. I didn't drink too much.

(Well, I guess that depends on your definition of 'too much'. Enough to make me feel sick? Or enough to make me say things I shouldn't have? ..... )

Up until Christmas, things were not going too well exercise-wise. I was just too busy. Though running around the shops may have done some good, as B noted the other day that I look smaller from the back. Nice! That made me feel confident enough to weigh myself this morning and sadly, the scales and tape measure tell a different tale. Every measurement is higher! I've put on 1.2kgs since I last weighed myself in early November. I didn't have my last set of measurements to hand this morning, but I think they've gone up, too. More's the pity. But on the bright side, I put on less than 2kgs over the Christmas period! Last year I put on over 5kgs, and it took me all year to get them off again, so it's a win, really. Plus I don't feel terrible about myself like I did last year, either.

Not To Mention ...

Just before Christmas, Boy decided that we should have a blood pressure machine. Last time I went to the Doctor, my blood pressure was astronomical, though I'd been exercising right before I went to see him, so it could have been slightly skewed. (More than slightly!) I'd been a bit worried ever since, but not too much because of the skewed results. So then we bought the blood pressure monitor, which is made by a very reputable company that make ones for real-and-proper doctors as well. We took it home and measured ourselves straight away. Cos we love our new toys!
Well, it's still astronomical. Ahem.

So I have decided to Take Steps. Namely - 1) start putting an effort into exercising again (but building up slowly so I don't bust a vein); and 2) really making an effort to decrease my stress levels by meditating regularly.
And I have meditated every day since then. I find it really daunting, I just always get this idea in my head that I'm bad at it. So I've started with 1 minute per day. I don't time myself. In fact I do it in bed right before I go to sleep. And I find it helps me get off to sleep better. Some extremely stressful things have happened in the last few days, and I think it's helped me cope a bit better, in conjunction with the exercise. Now is time for me! I deserve it!
I'm also working on a list of goals for 2012, but I'll talk about that next time.

In Related News ...

Boy gave me what I wished for, for Christmas - the Zumba for Kinect game!



I've played it once so far and really enjoyed it. I can see myself playing it regularly - hopefully! I love dancing, and that's what this game is all about! I can't review it yet - 25 minutes of playing the most basic tutorials doesn't really give it justice - but we'll see.
Boy and I have been watching a lot of music videos lately to fill in time (while doing knitting or something like that, in my case) and I've been getting an urge to jump up and try to copy the dance moves! But I feel a bit daft and silly doing that, so I haven't ... yet!

Beauty Blather

Not much to say right now - could my obsession be waning? I'm really trying to save money at the moment, so I'm trying to cut back on the impulse purchases. I got an email just before Christmas from the Lust Have It mob, saying there will be no beauty box for January (and no charge). I was so disappointed I almost signed up with 'I Love This Box' (even lamer name!) as I heard some good reviews. But I've resisted so far! I'm not saying I'll resist much longer!
Writing up my beauty products inventory (see links in sidebar) has had another consequence that I didn't intend - it's made me realise how many things I have that are reaaaaalllly old. So I determined that I would throw away 5 items - and yesterday I did it! I sometimes have a tendency to hoarding, so this was in the Good Thing category.

And Finally ...

I'm absolutely obsessed with my new iPod Touch and all the apps I can get for it. In the last few days, I got a To-Do List, and one that I can use to track my exercise, weight and blood pressure (not actually measure them, just record them! ehehhe) and pretty much anything else I can customise into it. But I think my favourite one is LaoTzuLite, with wise quotes. I like to bring up a random quote every morning. Here's today's:

Health is the greatest possession.
Contentment is the greatest treasure.
Confidence is the greatest friend.
Non-being is the greatest joy.

Time Flies By

Welcome to Day 333 of 2011....
Day 2 of Week 49....
I just happened to find those statistics when I was fiddling with my work calendar before and thought they were mildly interesting. Time seems to go by so fast; it just flies by. One minute it's the middle of winter, the next, it's nearly Christmas. When I was a kid, I didn't think much about the future. I had my head stuck in fantasy novels and hardly ever thought about the real world. I would never have imagined that I'd own a device small enough to hold in my hand, which can tell my anything I need to know**. Not to mention playing music, videos and games, as well as taking photos and editing them on the spot. And so many other things, the mind boggles! Yes, I have a new ipod touch, and I'm in love.
(**That is, presuming I'm standing in the right spot for picking up wi-fi!)

In Other News ...

Sorry to say, but I've taken down sick again. Just as the weather is warming up, too. I've always thought that having a cold in warm weather is worse. The activities you'd normally do to cheer yourself up - like snuggling up in a blanket or eating chicken soup - just make you feel all sticky and vaguely annoyed. It's not a very bad cold, thankfully. But that's not always a good thing. It's bad enough that I feel I should probably take it easy, but not so bad that I have no energy whatsoever. So there's that little voice in the back of my head that says I should keep on exercising as I was before and makes me feel guilty. That's what sucks about being sick. But at least hopefully I'll better by the end of this week (when I go on my holiday!).

Beauty Blather ...

My first order of Asian beauty products arrived in the mail yesterday, including my first BB Cream! I don't know why I have this pathetic obsession with them at the moment; I'm sure it'll pass at some point like my obsessions always do, and I'll be really embarrassed when I read back on this.
I have a love-hate relationship with clothes; I have a fairly large wardrobe, but it doesn't make me happy. Shopping for clothes usually leaves me disappointed, so I don't do it often anymore. Sure, Asos got me excited for a while, but my purchases were really hit and miss, so the excitement's died down a bit now.
Shoes never got me going at all. I have fairly oddly shaped feet, so there are few styles that I can wear. I find shopping for shoes an annoying and draining experience.
For a long time I had an obsession with accessories and jewellery. In the last few years I've been more careful about my purchases, but I still bought pieces fairly regularly. And I churned out scarves and headwarmers and such things with wild abandon! But recently, whenever I look at what I have, I think to myself, that's enough. I don't need more.
But with beauty/skin/haircare products, you don't get any of those problems! That's the beauty of them. (So to speak. ) They're consumables, so you use them up, and then you get to buy a new one, or try a different one. They have nice smells, or colours, or both. I could go on, but that would be just too boring, wouldn't it?

Wierdy Wednesday

Been doing it again! Deluding myself!
I know myself so well, so how do I think I can get away with it?

On Monday, I didn't feel like going for my lunchtime walk. All morning, my brain was zinging away with reasons excuses not to go. The clothes I'm wearing are too nice, I'm wearing my nice top and I don't want to get sweaty, the sun's out and I don't want to have to put on sunscreen, the sun might fade my hair dye, I don't want anyone to see me. I can't help but snigger now thinking of those lame excuses! I said to myself, I'll walk after I finish work. or when I get home. (I didn't! I was too tired by then.) Deep down inside, I knew I wouldn't exercise later, but I talked myself out of exercising earlier anyway. Then I went around all beatin' myself up about it. Of course, as I do.

But I know myself, I know what works for me and what doesn't. Yesterday was a little different. I wanted to go for a walk after work, on the way home. But I had to go and check something out in a shop near my house before it shut. So I couldn't go for my walk before I got on the tram. I was feeling pretty tired, and I knew that, once I'd gotten in the door at home, I'd flake. So I had to think of something else. The shop was only about 2 blocks from my house, but I could walk 'the long way home'. Before I even got into the shop, I put on my ipod with my exercise playlist playing, because I know that always motivates me. Once I got out, I was still feeling pretty tired and stiff, but I knew that if I just did a little bit, things might get better. And they did. I ended up walking for about 25 minutes. When I got home, I felt justified in being able to relax. I was hungry, but it wasn't a craving, it was genuine hunger, so I ate something reasonable.
Today I feel good about myself instead of feeling lousy. And it all came from just being honest with myself.
So I guess the upshot of this is - I'm feeling quite all right! Yay!

Beauty Blather ...

As I mentioned last week, being the OCD, listy person I am, I decided to go through all my skin care, bath and beauty products and draw up an inventory. Well, it took me days! But I finally finished it last night. I had to divide it into 2 categories, it became that unwieldy. Links:
Skin & Hair Care, Bath Products
Makeup & Perfume
A note on the symbols I used. Items in Italics are ones still in the cupboard, that I haven't started using yet. Items with a '!' are ones that are running low. Items with '!>' mean I have a replacement for it already. Items with '!x' mean I'm not planning to replace it.

I also made a couple of other lists:
Bath & Beauty Products Used Up (includes ones thrown away)
A '>' after an items means I would get it again. A 'x' after an item means I wouldn't get it again.

And of course, the inevitable:
Bath & Beauty Products Wishlist
A '$' after an item means it's pretty expensive and it's really just a pipe dream.

I think my inventory will save me money as, instead of just buying new products when one runs out, I can check and see if I already have one in the cupboard without having to rummage through random stuff. I can also keep track of products I wasn't happy with, so I know to avoid buying them again.
Also - one of the odd, quirky things I get a sense of satisfaction from is using something up and throwing the container away. I'll cut the container open if I have to, to eke out the last drop of lotion or paint, and that makes me feel even better when I throw it away and get to buy a new one. My inventory will make it even more fun.

More Random Stuff

Beauty Blather ...

The obsession with beauty products continues. The other week I was out with a friend and she touched up her face with a loose powder compact. I wanted one!! I do carry a beauty pouch in my bag, but it's full of stuff I hardly ever use. I decided to replace that stuff with stuff I'd use a lot!

I was eyeing off some compacts on YesStyle when I was choosing my BB Cream, but I was unsure about spending so much on something I might not like or use, so I didn't get one when I finally went ahead and placed my order. Then on Sunday when I was at Daiso getting some other things I needed, I saw a large range of them. Everything there is only $2.80, so I wouldn't be too upset if it didn't work or match my skin colour. As soon as I got home, I put some on, and it was good! My skin looks less red, and feels fresher. I popped it in my beauty pouch and I'll use it before I leave work to freshen up. I'm starting to feel more like a lady. A real, purty lady!

Beauty Blather

Perhaps I should create a section called Beauty Blather or something like that.
Cos I'm obsessed! I've started to draw up an inventory of all my bath and beauty products, and it's taking a while! I've had to look, not only in the shower and bathroom cabinet, but in my cupboards, at my computer desk, at work, through all my handbags, etc! I'm getting there though. So far the big trend I'm seeing is with bath products. I'll buy them on a semi-regular basis, but this winter I used hardly any up. In the new apartment, there is a bath, but it's set up a bit differently to the old one, and I just don't find having a bath to be as relaxing as it used to be. So I've more been having a shower at night instead of a bath. However, that does mean I can use lots of lovely-smelling shower gel, so can't complain there. But I don't know what I'm going to do with all my bath bombs!!

I mentioned BB Creams last week and, yes, the obsession continues. After trawling through various reviews, I decided to hedge my bets and order a gift set of 4 mini size creams from Baviphat, a South Korean brand. I can't wait til they arrive! (Also got some essentials - face wash and nail polish topcoat - well, essentials for a girly, anyway!)

The world of BB Creams is a complex and (for a noob like me) confusing one. But it's also an exciting one. As far as I can tell, to qualify as a BB Cream (BB stands for Blemish Balm), it just needs to be a face cream that does more than one thing in one cream. For years I've been thinking, how annoying to have to apply moisturiser in the morning, and then sunscreen, and then foundation and whatever else you want to put on. Why can't they come all in one? I was so thrilled when I found a tinted sunscreen a few months ago, it was bordering on silly!

BB Creams are doing all that and more, and they've been doing it for a while. Most of them are formulated for oily skin and are tinted to hide pimples (as the name Blemish Balm implies). They can also have any combination of sunscreen, anti-ageing, whitening, brightening, moisturising, soothing, and others I can't think of off the top of my head at the moment. They have various textures, levels of coverage and colours of tinting. Just like any other beauty product, they can have various ingredients, from mushroom and peach through to caviar and gold dust!
How confusing!
Though, when I think about it, my sunscreen could be considered a BB Cream, I mean really. As well as being sunscreeen, it's tinted and has anti-ageing AHAs in it. I'll just get my label-maker and turn it into a BB Cream myself!

Why this sudden obsession with beauty products? I don't know. I've always liked bath and skincare products. I've liked makeup on and off over the years. I went from flat-out refusing to wear any as a teenager, to not being able to leave the house without mascara on a few years ago. For a few months at the start of this year, I had a problem with chronic eye watering which meant I couldn't wear any eye makeup at all for 2 months. It was insanely frustrating at first, but I got used to it. Now I'm a bit more relaxed about wearing makeup.
I started reading a new fashion blog recently; she has a lot of reviews on Asian beauty products and BB Creams. In one post, another blogger interviewed her - in answer to the question: "why do you wear makeup?" her reply was short and simple: "to hide".

How sad is that? She's a beautiful girl with a sought-after figure. And that's what she thinks of herself. It just goes to show. I had a think about it, and I realised that I'm the opposite. When I'm feeling bad about myself, I don't wear any makeup, or I wear less. I want to sink into the background, not draw any attention to myself. When I'm feeling good, I want to enhance the way I look. So I'm chalking this whole beauty product obsession up in the 'good things' category!

Here's a picture of my BB Creams; come to me quick!


Source: yesstyle.com.au via ApartmentCat on Pinterest.

It's Friday!

Had a few hiccups earlier in the week, but today I'm determined to give myself the treatment I deserve! I'm proud of myself because I've been drinking much more water this week - at least 1 litre every day. Haven't noticed much effect yet, aside from feeling bloated a lot of the time. Also, having to visit the ladies' room much more often during the day, and also about 1/2 hour before I'm due to get up in the morning. Very frustrating! I made sure to drink all the water during the day and not at night so I wouldn't have that problem, but I'm having it anyway.

This week I've eaten the same thing every day. I don't actually mind that. It helps with planning, and it takes me 4-5 days to get sick of eating the same thing, which fits in well with the working week. This week my food diary has been:
before work - half an Up & Go squeeze box.
breakfast - multigrain oat porridge with fruit. two coffees.
morning tea - dip with celery sticks.
lunch - noodle salad.
afternoon tea - milo, trail mix.
dinner - various things, pasta with salami and veges a few times.
dessert - banana with custard. tea if the weather's not too hot.
I usually get cravings for chocolate after lunch, (the more stressed I am, the stronger they are) but the last few months I've gotten into the habit of having the milo instead. I gradually added less milk until now I have it with water only.
Now I only have my after-work cravings to deal with! Might leave a discussion of that to another time.

Meanwhile ...

I've always been a lover of bath and beauty products, and I've developed a sudden interest (obsession?) with BB creams. They've been big in Asia for a while, and I've recently discovered that one can get them online! (Cue dastardly cackles.) Now I just have to decide which one I'll get first. I could go on and on about them and the process of choosing one, but this blog is boring enough already. If I was going to write a beauty product blog, I reckon I would have to get used to my photo being taken!

In Related News ...

I'm going to a big wedding tomorrow and I need to prepare! Tonight I have to dye my hair; and tomorrow paint my nails, finish altering my outfit. Decide what makeup to wear. A few months ago I bought cheap makeup as a 'treat' for myself and I won't be doing that again. It's crap! If I'm gonna get myself a treat, then I'm going to get something decent because I'm worth it! Back to beauty products again. I've got a one-track mind at the moment...........