Category Archives: Beauty

July Favourites & Giveaway

Posted in Beauty, Hauls by
GIVEAWAY CLOSED: Winners to be announced
So loves, time to talk about the things I loved in July and once again…. the UK edition cause if you didn’t know, I am in the UK (yay). First of all, I got to say that I loved our 4 day heat wave. Woohoo. It reached about 30 degrees in Sheffield and yes, even though I am Greek, I did feel the heat and ❤ <3. Now, let’s move on. I am going to talk about my faves in beauty, random and best part of all, I am doing a giveaway and you have a chance to win some of the things I am talking about (new ones, not my ones!!).

Beauty/ Makeup

Lippies

I got this nude shade lippie (YSL) which feels really comfy on the lips. It is not at all long lasting and the pigmentation is medium. I like it though cause it is very moisturising on the lips.
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I also got this Rimmel lippie and it is called vintage pink. It’s more of a mauve/pink nude tone (part of the giveaway!).
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Clinique City block
I use this sun block under my makeup and I love it because it is not at all greasy! It feels a bit moist when you apply it but after a few minutes it gets absorbed and you are good to apply your makeup.
Lipivir
I loved it so much it got it’s own blog post. If you get cold sores, you have to check this out. For the full review, press here.
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No7 Eye shadow crayon
I am really loving my eye shadow crayons and I wrote a blog post about them (part of the giveaway).
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My cute pedi set
Oh! To be honest, I just got this cause it looked pretty!! This is part of the giveaway.

Book

Whilst I haven’t finished reading this yet, I like it so far. It’s called  The Singles Game by Lauren Weisberger. Again chick lit. This was written by the author of the Devil wear Prada and it nice to read.

TV Show

Suits is back. Season 6 people. If you haven’t watched it yet, why??? Why? If you love legal drama and clothes, this is the one to watch!

Song

Rihanna featuring Drake, a beat. Work, work, work.

 Elephants in Sheffield

The whole city is full of statues (charity for Sheffield’s children hospital). Here are some of my faves.
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Max Factor virtual consultation

I won a virtual consultation with the makeup artist at Max Factor. It was so much fun and helpful. Post pending but had to mention it cause it was sooo cool.

Clinique asking to share my pic 
So, I got a comment on Instagram from Clinique asking to share my picture on their site. I said, ” Yes!”. I am gonna become a face model (:P). This is half of the the pic, and yes, I look a bit angry dunno why. I am a nice person, I promise!!
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Giveaway

I thought it would be nice to do a little giveaway of the things in my favourites ( I bought new ones. Not sending you my used ones!!). So, if you want to take part in the giveaway, you have to do 2 things:
1. Subscribe to my blog via email or WordPress (see top left hand sidebar)
AND
2. Follow me on Instagram or Twitter (@mypinkrambles on both platforms).
Prizes:
A lippie (Rimmel Vintage Pink)
A pedi set
A No7 Eyeshadow pencil (Gunmetal Grey)
The giveaway is running till the 15th of August (10 p.m. UK time). Once I know the winners, I will contact you via Instagram or Twitter and ask what  you prefer. The giveaway is open internationally. If you are already following my blog, you can still enter by leaving a comment below. There will be 3 winners.
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Do you have any July faves you think I’d like? Let me know in the comments section below. Thanks for stopping by!!
xx
Jo

To the Test: La Roche Posay Rosaliac AR Intense Serum (update)

Posted in Beauty, Thoughts, To the test by

So, I had said that I will revisit this product a while ago and I forgot to give you an update. So, what am I talking about? The La Roche Posay Rosaliac AR Intense Serum which is supposed to be great for reducing redness. .So how is it working for me? Well, I stopped using it for two reasons:

L'orac

Reason 1

I went to the skin doctor and I do have Rosacea and no cream will get rid of my redness. I will probably get the spots of my face with some kind of laser treatment.

What is Rosacea?

Well, redness of the face and according to the National Rosacea Society symptoms are:

  • Redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead.
  • Small visible blood vessels on the face.
  • Bumps or pimples on the face.
  • Watery or irritated eyes.

I actually have sensitive skin, redness on the cheeks (close to the eyes), and watery eyes.

Reason 2

The package broke in my makeup bag whilst I was travelling and I stopped using it. The packaging is definitely a fail especially as there is no cap.I can still use the product but it squirts out of the side and it is kinda disgusting.

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So, there is my update. You can read the original post that prompted this one by clicking here.

So, that’s all for now. Subscribe to my blog if you liked what you read. It does put a smile on my face. Maybe give my Facebook page a ‘like’ so you can get notifications of when I post? Connect with me on Pinterest / Twitter/ Instagram/Google+.

Talk soon

xx

Joanna

Cold sore product review: Lipivir

Posted in Beauty, Thoughts, To the test by

Hi everyone!!

Today I am going to talk about a product I just used, something I had never heard of before and fell in my hands completely out of luck! I went to the #BloggersBal about a month ago an one of the goodies I was given was this Lipivir tube which is good for cold sores. I chucked it somewhere in my makeup bag and totally forgot about it until the horrid cold sore appeared. I tried to deal with the ‘situation’ by using a lip balm cause initially I thought that my lips were dry. Then, I looked at the mirror and freaked out. A huge cold sore! I then remembered that I was given a Lipivir and I tried it.

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Before I move on to tell you my opinion, let’s see what the website says. So, according to Lipivir,

no pharmaceuticals

no one can see you wearing it

no cortisone

skin friendly

no side effects

Is that true?

Regarding the chemicals, I do not know.

Regarding the no one can see it. Yes. That’s true.

Skin friendly?  Read on.

Side effects? Well, I was fine when I used it.

Now the review and my story

So, I had a cold sore on my lower lip. I applied Lipivir for the first time and at the beginning it smelt and tasted like lemon. After a while though, it tasted like YUCK!! I actually got scared and googled the side effects!! I thoughtmine had expired or something! I saw that there were no problems and relaxed. I went to bed and the next morning the cold sore had vanished! It wasn’t there! So, who cares about the poisonous flavour, it’s worth all the bitterness cause my lips were fine!!

Where can I get this miracle worker?

Online.

How much does it cost?

2 gr are about 9 pounds. It is worth every penny.

If you do not mind the yucky flavour and remember to avoid licking your lips, you are fine and this product is totally worth it.

This is not a sponsored post, bu I did get the product for free cause it was part of a goodie bag! You should try it out if you suffer from cold sores. So, that’s all for now. Don’t forget to follow my blog or connect with me on social media. Got loads of these fab reviews ahead!!

xxx

Joanna

No7 eye shadows: 1st impressions

Posted in Beauty, Being colourblind, Hauls, In your 40s by

Hi everyone,

I did a bit of shopping a few days ago. I wanted to try some of the eye shadows and eye shadow crayons from No7 at Boots. So, I went to Sheffield city center and walked into that Boots.

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A very helpful sales assistant helped me choose what to get and also wrote down all the colour for me on a piece of paper which was so helpful. (shout out to the Boots sales assistant cause I am colourblind and I need all the help I can get!).

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Stay Perfect Eye shadow

I got two. Each one costs £7. I got the shades Truffle which is a brown/ orange colour and the shade mink which is a brown / silver/grey shadow. I have not worn them yet. The pay off is quite good but I think I prefer the crayons cause the pigment is better. Not much fall out though.  According to the Boots website, this is

very blendable

But don’t quote me on that cause I do not know!

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Stay Perfect Shade and define Crayon

I got Pink Pearl which is a light pink ( shimmery) and Gunmetal Grey which is a grey/ blue (shimmery).They cost £8 each. I have worn these eye shadow crayons and they are very long lasting. They dry quickly, so you should blend as soon as possible. They do not budge. The packaging is much better than other eye shadow crayons (e.g. y Burberry one). It is not flimsy. You twist the top to get more product. These crayons are supposed to be dupes for the By Terry eye crayons.

Keep in mind that the 3 for 2 sale was on,so you pay for 2 and get the cheapest product for free.

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Swatches

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From top to bottom

Pink Pearl (crayon)

Gunmetal Grey (crayon)

Mink  (eye shadow)

Truffle (eye shadow)

No7 Beautiful Skin Eye Make up Remover

I also got the Eye Makeup Remover and tried it on the spot. It did take a few wipes to take off the crayon, but it did without having to rub my eyes. They eye shadow came off straight away with this eye makeup remover. It does not leave your eyes feeling too oily, but you do have a sense of oil on your lids after using it. Nothing a bit of water does n’t get rid of. Also the top of the bottle is quite big so be careful of spillage and wasting the product. My first attempt was really messy.

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So, have you tried any of these products? Any suggestions on a product I should try from the N07 line? Please let me know in the comment section below.OH! Don’t forget to follow my blog or connect with me. Talk soon.

                              Joanna

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(This is an affiliate link. You do not pay extra for your purchase, you just help me keep this blog going xx Thank you xx)

Makeup tips for gals who have ‘bad eyesight’

Posted in Beauty, Being colourblind, In your 40s, Thoughts by

Hi!!!

Today I am going to share with you some makeup tips on how to apply makeup if you have difficulty seeing. I have various eye problems. I am colourblind, I am short sighted and a few more things.  All this makes my vision quite problematic, but I have found solutions to help me wear makeup even though I cannot see that well. You see for many years, I did not wear eye makeup or contoured cause I was scared I’d look like a freakin clown, but now I am more comfortable wearing it, and I do do quite well!! So, here goes. My words of wisdom!

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Tip Number 1

Sure, you don’t want to be asking for help all the time when shopping but you kinda have to, so this is me giving you a nudge and telling you. Also, the beautician/ sales assistants job is to help you choose makeup

You need help, so don’t be shy. Just ask.

Tip Number 2

A friend in need, is a friend indeed. Go makeup shopping with someone you trust and a girlfriend whose makeup look you like!! She will deffo be able to give you good advice on what to buy and if it suits you or if you are applying it well. I have D for that. I always go makeup shopping with her!!!

OK!! If you are shy and do not want to ask for help or if no one is around, then time for tip number 3

Look up reviews of whatever you are thinking of buying then and there (Deirdre taught me that too!!). What d I mean? True story: I was in Boots today and saw a lipstick by Rimmel called Vintage Pink, so I thought, “OK! It is pink (dah!!) and vintage (?!?!?!?!)” So, I went online in Boots and googled Rimmel Vintage Pink reviews and loads of stuff came up. What I needed came up as well. The actual description of the colour (mauve), so I got it. Google was my bestie in this case!!

Practice makes perfect

When you are home and have some makeup on, try out the new looks you want to try. That way you will have a trial and see if a look works for you or if you will totally mess up. Trying the ‘new look’ before an important date etc. will save you from a lot of misery if something goes wrong on the actual time you will need this look.

Also, use Pinterest to find makeup looks you like and then blow up the pictures so they are bigger. Same of course applies to blog posts with pictures.

Get your makeup done professionally and learn

Whenever I hear that a makeup artist can do my makeup for me, I go for it. I ask them what they use on me and if I need anything I buy it. They also give great tips and some times guide you on how to do your makeup yourself!

Applying Makeup

Keep it simple

Sure you like to use loads of stuff on your face and imitate what you see online, but it is not that easy. That’s why I always choose simple makeup looks that don’t require a lot of combinations and blending.I also avoid shades that are too dark because mistakes are not forgiven in these cases. Extra tip: Applying makeup on the eyes is harder than other stuff that’s why I focus more on the lips. Bolder lip and simple eye look.

BB

Get your makeup done by a professional (here: Burberry did my  brows/ eyes)

Measure

If you decide to use different eye shadows on your eyes, it is a good idea to ‘measure’ where one  shade stops and the other begins. That way you will avoid having too much of one shadow on one eye and less on the other. I use my iris as a compass or even like a little ruler/pencil something to give me a sense of length. Applying makeup is like maths. I have also found counting brush strokes very helpful. So, I apply a bit of blush on one cheek and apply the same on the other one. If I use my blush brush two time on one cheek, I use it two times on the other.And again ‘measuring’. Where did I stop with my blush? Where did I use bronzer. Loads of geometry!!

Some people use sticky tape, a post-it note or a business card where they want their eye makeup to stop. You can try that and see if it works for you (I don’t do that).

A magnifying mirror may also help cause it gives you a close up of whatever you are doing to your face!! It is also great when you are ding your brows!!

Extra tip: I also use eye shadows that are in sticks/ pencils. They do not have fall out like eye shadows do. You will not have eye shadow under your eyes! Brands that do this: Lancome, Clinique, Makeupforever, Bourjois, No7 and many more. Makeup forever, Lancome and No7 make eye-shadow pencils that do not budge. They are quite permanent.

For the CB gal

CB (aka Colourblind). Well, apart from everything else I have mentioned, something I do is I label all my makeup products and write the colour on the packaging. Sure, the lipstick looks a bit odd but it is very helpful!!

Also, do a bit of research into your colours. Find out if you have a cool or warm skin tone and what shades match your skin. Once you have that information, go shopping :).

Brands that are good with colour descriptions

Well, I bought a TooFaced Contouring palette that has the colour written on top, so I know which shade is dark and what is light. There is also a pamphlet that shows you what you are supposed to use where.

palette

Clinique does some eye shadow pencils that have the name of the colour on them. So does Bourjois. You may want to check them out. Number 7 at Boots has single eye shadows and some of them have the proper name on them, others don’t.

pencil

Unfortunately, makeup companies do not really care about us colourblind girls and insist on naming their products with random names instead of the proper ones, so girls,hope these tips help you out. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know.

Me against cosmetics companies

I feel like a gal on a mission :). I have sent loads of tweets to the biggest cosmetics companies regarding their products and how they name them, but nothing has come of it. Unfortunately, I do not have a zillion followers, so I do not count. It is kind of a discrimination, don’t you think? 

BUT

I did approach Essie (they actually replied!) and asked if they would do a line that would name the nail polish based on the colour like red for…. red! But nothing happened. L’oreal Mexico made a lipstick commercial that focused on the CB male who saw his partner’s red lippie for the first time which is quite cool, of course when I asked what about the cb gals? Nothing.

FYI I have not found a single company that gives great colour descriptions. If you have, please let me know in the comments below! I will keep trying!!

So, there you have it ladies some ideas/ tips on how to wear makeup when your eyesight is not that grand. Do you have any other tips?

Subscribe to my blog if you liked what you read. It does put a smile on my face. Maybe give my Facebook page a ‘like’ so you can get notifications of when I post? Connect with me on Pinterest / Twitter/ Instagram/Google+.

Happy  makeup-ing ❤ ❤

*In the mood for shopping makeup? Check out Beauty Bar

FREE 1-2 Day Delivery on Orders $49+ For All Customers


(This is an affiliate link. You do not pay extra for your purchase, you just help me keep this blog going xx Thank you xx)

Joanna

Makeup and toiletry (UK mini haul)

Posted in Beauty, Hauls, In your 40s by

Hi Loves!

Back with another mini/not that mini haul.I  have been in Sheffield for a week now and since I will spend all summer here, I need stuff (or so I tell myself). I did a bit of makeup/ toiletry shopping and I am going to tell you what I got and first impressions.

L’oreal

I repurchased Infallible (mattifying foundation). This is my 3rd tube. It is long lasting (although you may need to touch up after some hours) and it has good coverage. It is my go to everyday makeup. I love it. I also got a new mascara. This one is called Hippie and it is supposed to give me ultra mega giga volume (waterproof). I like the L’oreal mascaras and I always buy new ones to try them out!

Super Facalist by Una Brennan

My friend Deirdre bought me this pre-cleansing stage facial oil because I really like rose- scented products. You put the oil in your palms, rub your palms a bit and then apply to your face. You give the oil some time to start breaking your makeup and then remove it with a damp towel. I have only used it once. It feels nice, but I need to give it a few more tries before I have an opinion. Deirdre really likes it and I always agree with her on makeup, so I think this one will be a winner (also the reviews online are great!).

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Deirdre also got me a nail polish from Rimmel in the colour Rose Libertine 405 (beautiful rose/ pink) and those really cool nail polish remover pots where you pop your finger in  the pot and the nail polish comes off! It’s from Boots.

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Aussie

 I got the Miracle Hairspray volume and hold. Another friend recommended this,. I haven’t tried it yet, so no idea if it gives volume. According to S., it does, so let’s see!! I have tried Aussie products in the past and in general I like them.

Batiste Dry Shampoo

People have mixed feelings about this one, but for me it works fine. Yes, it may leave a bit of white residue, but if you rub or move your hair a bit, it goes away. I got the scent cherry and I use this dry shampoo when my hair is a it oily and needs some jazzing up.

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Sleek lip creams

I am still loving them. You can read the full review of the lippies here.

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Bourjois

 I got a single eye shadow to use as a base all over the lid. I got the shade Ingenude 01 which is a cream/beige/subtle gold hue.

Organic Surge

I went to TKMaxx and got a more fancy body wash. This is by the brand Organic Surge and I love the scent. It is supposed to be an invigorating body wash and the smell is so nice. Citrus Mint. That’s all I have to say. I really like it.20160626_114118-1 (1)

So, that’s all!!Have you tried any of these products? Any thoughts? Any suggestions on what I need to try whilst in the UK. I have at least 3 months of shopping ahead <3<3 . I will be back with a new post some time soon (clothes and home-wear haul).

Time to beg for followers. Subscribe to my blog if you liked what you read. It does put a smile on my face. Maybe give my Facebook page a ‘like’ so you can get notifications of when I post? Connect with me on Pinterest / Twitter/ Instagram/Google+.

Have a lovely Sunday!!

Talk soon.

xxx

Going to the #BloggersBall

Posted in Beauty, Blogging, Thoughts by

Hi everyone!!

Today’s post is about my first Bloggers ball/meetup/ convention or whatever term you choose to use. It is basically an event with a lot of bloggers, brands and exhibitors.

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So, let me tell you all about it. But first, a bit of background info! I am in the UK now (as I said in my last post). I arrived last Friday and stayed a couple of days in London. I had a really good time in London. I went for some nice meals in China town an in Kingly court.

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I got to check out Liberty ( a store in London that sells designer brands and more eclectic makeup). I went to the National Portrait Gallery (which is amazing).

As I said at the beginning of this post, during my stay I also went to the Bloggers Ball and it was a very interesting experience. Let me start by saying that this was my first Bloggers ball/convention/ meetup.

How I found out about the Bloggers Ball

Easy. I googled “blogger events in London” and it showed up. I went to the website that had details about the event, bought some tickets, and went to the Ball.

Why I wanted to go

I wanted to meet people who do the same thing as I. I wanted to see what it’s like to talk to brands and I live in Greece and these things do not happen on my little island, so I am deffo gonna take advantage of any opportunity I have whilst in the UK.

The Bloggers Ball

The dress code was formal/semi formal. I got dressed up (just a bit) and went. There was a cloak room to leave any clothing/ extras (aka umbrellas). Once I entered the venue, I realised this event was packed and there were loads of things to see. There were many exhibitors from different brands. I learnt a lot about brands I had never heard of before, got to speak with people from these brands and also got samples.

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They had lots of stands and they were exhibiting their products/ services. I got to give them my business card which was great.

I didn’t talk to any bloggers though! So, I will try to be a bit more sociable next time. You see I went with a friend and I was chatting with her and not really talking to other girls there.

I think this was a great event and I wonderful opportunity to get in touch with brands especially if you are a small blogger like me.

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I will be attending events in London and Sheffield in July and I am really looking forward to that. I will also be posting mini reviews about some of the free samples I got in my next posts so stay tuned!!

So, that’s all lovelies!

Time to beg for followers. Subscribe to my blog if you liked what you read. It does put a smile on my face. Maybe give my Facebook page a ‘like’ so you can get notifications of when I post? Connect with me onPinterest / Twitter/ Instagram/Google+.

Talk soon

Jo

 

Product Review:Sleek Matte Me Lip Creams

Posted in Beauty, Hauls, In your 40s by

Hi everyone!!

I am in the UK at last!! No more hot summer weather!!  I will be working hard, but will have some time to pop onto here and share with you guys all the lovely stuff going on in England. So, let’s begin. Last weekend I was in London with my friend D. We ❤ ❤ makeup and always end up buying loads of makeup we do not need of course! We were staying close to Oxford street and on Oxford street there is a very big Boots and we went in. My friend D. noticed that one of the sales assistants was wearing a really nice lippie and asked her what it was.

Sleek

said the sales assistant and both D and I said,

Sleek does lipsticks? We need to check them out!

and we did. I got two Mate Me lip creams. One is called ‘Birthday suit’ and it is a nude/pink/peach. I also got ‘Shabby chic’ which is a plum colour. They cost 4.99.

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Time to review

Let’s see what Sleek says about this product.

Matte Me is a matte finish liquid lipstick that glides on in one smooth application

Yes, it is matte, it does glide on, but I did need more than one application.

The light as air texture provides you with comfortable wear for hours, that doesn’t cake, flake or dry out, ensuring long lasting colour all day.

It feels drying on the lips after a bit. It doesn’t cake or flake. I want to point out though that Birthday suit, which is the nude colour,  needed reapplying and did fade away after some hours. Shabby chic on the other hand, was more long lasting, so maybe this has to do with the colour/ formulation of the products.

Other random info

Packaging

The lip cream comes in a plastic container. You can see the colour of the lip cream. It does not look that expensive. The dope foot is just the right size and I like it!

They sell quickly

Now this is interesting.We walked into Boots in the morning and I got ‘Shabby chic’ only. Later on in the day, I tried ‘Birthday suit’ I wanted it, so I had to get it! We went back to Boots in the afternoon and they were almost sold out!! These beauties sell quickly!!!!

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Would I repurchase?

Yes, especially if Sleek comes out with new shades.

Would I recommend buying it?

Deffo!!!

 

So, that’s all lovelies!

Time to beg for followers. Subscribe to my blog if you liked what you read. It does put a smile on my face. Maybe give my Facebook page a ‘like’ so you can get notifications of when I post? Connect with me onPinterest / Twitter/ Instagram/Google+.

Talk soon

Jo

To the woman who calls her leg a troll (NOT cool)

Posted in Beauty, Thoughts by

Today I am going to talk about something very difficult for me and something I have never shared before and I am going to do so because I am upset and kinda disappointed.

I had the dumb idea to search the hashtag #lymphoedema on Twitter last night and while I did read some lovely stories, I also came across an article that was supposed to ‘inspire’ me. Guess what? It did, but in the wrong way. The article was the story of a woman who got lumphoedema out of the blue, and is now trying to deal with it. To cope, she gave the affected limb the nickname ‘troll’.

Troll? Really? That makes me mad. I am going to TRY to compose myself though and write a post that makes sense. So, I will start with  some background info and then share my thoughts.

Struggling with Lymphoedema

What is Lympoedema?

My explanation will be nice and simple because I am not a doctor, but a patient. This is how I understand it. So,  lymphoedema patients  have a problem with their lymphatic system. The lymph vessels do not work properly. They cannot move the lymph in the blood, so it builds up and that leads to swelling. The swelling can be mild or severe depending on how much damage there is to the lymphatic system. The end product? A big leg, hand or whatever. It is incurable, but manageable.  In order to treat your lymphoedema you wear compression stockings, get lymph drainage (massage) and wrap your legs with bandages (kinda Flinstone-ian- I know). Of course there is more treatment available, but the purpose of this post is not on how to treat your oedema.

Someone who does not know about lymphoedema, may think it’s only a problem that has to do with your appearance, but you can get very bad skin infections, when it is hot, it hurts, and the psychology of patients with lymphoedema is not always ‘oh what a wonderful world this is’. You see, you look at your health problem every single day. It is there. You see it. It does not go away and that is why I have a problem with the word ‘troll’ and using it to describe a lymphodema leg/hand (especially if it is going to be in a public platform and ‘disguised as an inspiration’. There are teenagers who have lymphoedema reading. It’s not OK.). When you have lymphoedema, you do not feel pretty. Trust me. I know. You feel insecure. So why ‘lymphoedema shame or leg shame?’.

My life

Well, if you see me, you can see my lymphoedema. I have lymphoedema of all four extremities. Hands and legs. I also have a bit in the face. I am a ball of swollen-ness (that is not a word) and  I look overweight (which I am), but there is a part of my big-ness which has to do with oedema (it’s not all kit kat folks).

Every day I wake up and wear my compression stockings. For 16 years my stockings have been my second skin. When it is 40 degrees, I wear the damn stockings. When I go to the beach, I wear the stockings. I have to, because when I don’t, my legs swell more, and I am in pain.

I haven’t worn a short dress since I was 8. I do not wear shorts and I don’t go to crowded beaches. I cannot deal with the comments/questions and stares.

What’s wrong with your legs?

Why do you need to wear those (those as in stockings)?

Or worse ones like

You need to lose weight

Lympoedema is not an easy thing. And to have someone call the affected leg a ‘troll’ as a nickname? Is that supposed to be funny? No. Not cool.

To the writer of the article

You must think I am nuts. I have gone all cray cray on you. You may be saying, “I am allowed to call my leg whatever I want to”.

You are actually.You can do whatever you want to cope with this big change, but please don’t consider it something that is horrible. I know this was not your intention, but don’t drag me down as well. Please don’t give your oedema such a negative name. You say you call it ‘troll’ because it is not like it is part of you (you are slim everywhere else). But it is part of you and it’s not a troll……

But

I am going to give you thumbs up for having the guts to take pics of your leg and share them. I cannot. I feel insecure. I cannot do it. So good on ya. You have actually pushed me to share this. You have also pushed me to provoke you. Is this ugly? Do you think I should call my hands my two little trolls? Do you like hearing me say it?

This is me

hands.jpg

I have been dealing with this crap all my life and I cannot have someone who knows how I feel, consider a part of themselves or myself (by association) ugly, even if it is a joke/ a coping mechanism (if you wish).

I am trying to understand though. It must be very difficult to go from a fine, pretty leg to a swollen one. But your leg is not ugly. It is just not healthy anymore. You will not be able to cure your lymphoedema, but you will be able to manage it. There will be days where you will hate it, and you will ask ” why me?”, but you will get over it. You will get out of bed, kick yourself in the butt, and just go on about your daily chores and you will feel fine.

I know I will always have lymphoedema. I am OK with that, but  please don’t associate your lymphoedema, my lymphoedema with a troll. My post is not inspirational. It is a long rant, but bear with me.

For more on Lymphoedema, press here.

The article that got me fired up.

I am sorry if this post is all over the place. If you want me to tell you how I get treatment or my journey, let me know.

Jo

xx

 

How to make a Business Card for your Blog

Posted in Beauty, Blogging by

Hi everyone!

I decided to get a business card after a lot of thought. I say after a lot of thought because the whole idea seemed silly to me. Why silly? Well, I have a small blog, not that many followers and I spend most of the year in Greece. I blog in English. I mean, how many chances will I have to actually use the card? Then, I was asked to supply a media kit, got taken on as a writer, I got my first actual partnership with Uber UK, and I will be actually living in the UK for the next 3 months, so I started thinking more seriously about the whole business card business. Then I realised that I will definitely need one since I will be attending a bloggers’ ball in June, a bloggers’ conference in July. I took the plunge and made my card.

How to make a blog business Card Pin.jpg

Business Card vs. Media Kit

I have a media kit, which is 2/3 pages long. That’s too much paper to carry around. A business card is more practical and you can give it to anyone who wants your contact details. Then , you can email your media kit.

My thought process behind my card

Step 1

I googled bloggers business cards and saw what other people put on their cards. Unlike a media kit, a business card is more about connecting you to whoever wants your contact details.

Step 2

Decisions, decisions, decisions: One-sided or two-sided?

I went with two-sided. One side would have my face, my blog’s address and what I like to write about. The other side would have my social media handles/ details on how to find me.

Step 3

Design

I wanted something fun, girly but chic. My blog has the word PINK in it and polka dots, so that was going to be my theme. Now, this is where it gets tricky. I am colourblind, so I cannot really tell the difference between pinks and what matches with what. So, I needed to get my card made by someone who I trusted which is where Irini (the card’s designer) came in. I was very specific with my colour palette. I said,

I want pink and white polka dots (I actually sent her the digital paper I wanted her to use) and I want the rest of the card to have shades of grey, pink , white and black. I want you to choose the shades and how they match.

I wanted to use the Lucinda handwritten font. I also found some royalty free social media icons I liked and said that I would like to use these. Irini put everything together and this is the result.

Blogger Business Card.jpg

You can find Irini on Facebook, by pressing here. She speaks English so feel free to contact her if you like her work. She is great to work with! She makes lots of things (cards, pamphlets, wedding invites etc.).

On hindsight I realise that there may be a bit too much of a match-y match-y polka dot theme going on (my blouse matches the polka dot background by mistake), but I like it. It’s me. So, that’s how I cam up with my business card. You can read about my media kit here.

Subscribe to my blog if you liked what you read. It does put a smile on my face. Maybe give my Facebook page a ‘like’ so you can get notifications of when I post? Connect with me on Pinterest / Twitter/ Instagram/Google+.

Talk soon!

xxx