Redhead Rambles #15

Hello everyone and welcome to ‘Redhead Rambles’. The series does what it says on the tin, it is a redhead (me) rambling about her week. I share what I’ve been up to each week, how I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been listening to or watching. Occasionally I will my share favourite blog posts and links I’ve found useful or interesting.

• To be honest I had a lazy weekend. I read, napped and ate pretty much.
• On Sunday I tried to purchase a copy of Kylie Minogue’s new album ‘Golden’ but the store only had the regular edition and I wanted the deluxe! I ordered a deluxe copy online and it arrived on Wednesday. It would have been Tuesday but no one was home when the courier attempted delivery.
• I tested Rimmel’s Match Perfection foundation with MAC’s StudioFinish concealer again and it didn’t crease and sink into fine lines. I only wore moisturiser and no primer – maybe that’s the key.
• On Tuesday I came home from work with a headache. I had some mini cinnamon donuts and lay down until I felt better.
• The Commonwealth Games are on TV and normal programming is on a break so mum and I have been getting through a number of movies this week. They all count towards my goal to watch 20 new movies in 2018.
• On Thursday I got my hair cut. I wanted to get it done before schools break up for two weeks and I had been looking forward to it for a while. It’s so nice to have thin, lighter hair. I decided to keep the layers but only have two instead of three and get a lot of the heaviness taken out. I got my fringe trimmed as well. I never get dye or colour put in. Check out my Instagram @chanellehayley_ to see a pic!
• I’ve been listening to music a lot this week and it reminds me how much I adore it. Music will always be the most important thing to me and it makes me think of days I would come home from school and sing for hours.
• I cleaned my foundation makeup brushes, they get the most use and need cleaning more frequently than the others.
• I mentioned last week the weather was still warm but that’s certainly changed, there’s been a cold snap this week and even though I prefer being cold to being hot it does make me appreciate the mild, in between months.

What I’ve been listening to:

Calvin Harris – One Kiss (with Dua Lipa) – I adore the tone of Dua Lipa’s voice, it is strong and kind of deep but her tracks are always catchy and she’s one of the ‘popular’ artists I like.

Shane Filan – Back To You – Shane is one of my absolute favourite artists! As always his voice sounds beautiful and I love when he drops new music without warning.

Andy Brown – Put That Record On – A singer whose voice gives me tingles when I listen to it. I’m so excited for Andy’s country/pop album in June!

What I’ve Been Watching:

Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated – I’m not a fan of Demi Lovato but I thought her YouTube original documentary would be a gripping watch and I wasn’t wrong. I like how honest Demi and everyone was and seeing behind the scenes of Demi in the recording studio. If you’re a fan or you enjoy music, I urge you to watch this.

How was your week?

Follow me:

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Life Lately #3

Hello everyone! Hope you’re well! I began these ‘Life Lately’ posts in April as a way to round up what I’ve been up to and document where my head and I have been. I break the post down into categories and update you on each one. This will be the last Life Lately post as I am toying with a new segment for 2018 which will include more regular updates, possibly posted weekly. (Some of you may know three is my favourite number so it’s fitting I’m ending this mini-series after the third installment).

Blogging

I have been super consistent with my posting schedule and I have been getting posts written in advance. I am still learning about my camera and getting to grips with the settings to try and make sure my blog photos are acceptable. If you have any tips or feedback on my photos, please feel free to share! I have been thinking about the blog in the near future and as I mentioned in the intro my two posts a week may be going back up to three. I conducted a survey a couple of months back so I will re-read the answers and make sure I’m incorporating what my readers said they want as much as I can.

Work

In the last Life Lately update I had left my job and was getting ready to start at the library. I have been at the library for almost three months now and the difference in my mindset is very noticeable. I have more time and freedom and more of a work/life balance. I’m not stressed and I generally feel happier.

Personal

Everything on the relationship front is still going really well. It was my boyfriend’s 25th birthday in September and I surprised him with 25 presents. Related post: Boyfriend’s Birthday Surprise!

I have been reading a lot and shopping a lot it seems too. I’ve picked up some bargains and purchased new products that I have slowly been trying/using/wearing. (Most items are beauty/makeup related, good beauty blogger). Related posts: My Recent Purchases and My Recent Purchases #2.

I have also done the majority of my Christmas shopping and wrapped the presents I’ve bought. I’m not a big fan of Christmas but I do like giving gifts and wrapping them.

In October I got my hair cut. I don’t know why but I don’t feel satisfied with my hair 90% of the time I get it cut. I like the way it looks when the hairdresser styles it but a couple of days later it’s thick again. I like to keep my hair routine easy and I don’t use styling tools often. I’m still trying to decide if I prefer my hair all one length or with longer layers.

Music

I ordered an album package from Shania Twain’s store and I’m still waiting for it to arrive! I ordered it over two months ago and have sent numerous emails to the help team. At first the item was out of stock and now there’s a problem with the delivery partner. I honestly wish I had physically gone to a store and bought the album and not got all the extras. I’m only seeing the order through because my money has been taken and the order can’t be cancelled.

Steps re-released Tears On the Dancefloor this month (with new tracks) and I ordered a copy signed by my favourite band member, Lisa. My CD arrived this week. I have had the album on repeat since April!

2017 Goals Progress

Related Post: Hello 2017!

I have been exercising pretty regularly. I want to find some leg yoga to try and tone my legs up for summer so I’ll feel more comfortable in shorts. I am going with the flow more and definitely haven’t been stressing about blogging. I’ve got a social media routine and try to keep my time using it to a minimum – I check it in the morning and in the evening. I tend to check Instagram more if I’ve posted that day. I’m sad to say I haven’t done any more driving and I want to make that a priority in 2018.

---

What have you been up to recently?

Follow me:

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

What I Did With My Time Off

By the time you’re reading this I will have already been back at work a week. I took a week off at the start of June and it was a much needed break. It’s my first real time off in almost a year and it was bliss! Prior to my time off I made a list of what I wanted to achieve and I managed to complete all of it… almost. Hope you enjoy the post!

Haircut

The last time I had my hair cut was October 2016, so a tidy up was long overdue. The salon I normally go to hasn’t impressed me the past couple of times so I went back to a salon I’d tried a few years ago. I got layers put in rather than have my hair one length how it usually is. The hairdresser did a lovely job and although my hair seems short at the moment it will grow back soon enough, plus, I really like it. I did share my new hair on Instagram and I’ve attached an image in case you don’t follow me/haven’t seen it. My instagram name is chanellehayley_ – follow me and I might just follow you back! 😉

Tidy Up Loose Ends

I’d been meaning to clean windows for my mum for a little while and I wanted to do it on the very first day to get it over and done with. The weather was wet and gloomy and the rain provided a nice backdrop for the cleaning.

One of the items in my latest ASOS order was a wrong send so I had to pop to the post office and send it back. The return service is done online and it’s really easy. It’s also free which is even better! The parcel is tracked and you can view progress online so you know exactly where it is. I’m gutted I didn’t receive the correct jumper and my size is out of stock so I can’t re-order, perhaps it’s not meant to be?

The zip pouch in my handbag where I keep my phone has had a rip in it for months and I finally got around to fixing it. Now nothing can fall through.

Shopping

I only went shopping once during my time away from work and I didn’t splurge at all (I hardly ever do!) I was on the hunt for B vitamins as I have been feeling stressed/tired lately and so far they are working wonders! I bought shampoo and conditioner minis to keep at my boyfriend’s and they smell divine. I’ve wanted to try OGX’s shampoo/conditioner for ages but the big bottles are so expensive at the supermarket. I also bought some underwear and socks, (essentials right?!) and a couple of books to take to work to read.

Motion Entertainment Centre

Late last year an entertainment centre opened about 5 minutes from where I live and my boyfriend and I made plans to go along and try out a couple of activities. We did Escape Masters and ten pin bowling. Escape Masters involves being locked in a themed room and using clues and brainteasers to open locks and ultimately escape from the room. There is a time limit of 60 minutes. My boyfriend and I took 70 minutes but that was on medium difficulty and we wasted the first 10 minutes figuring out what to do. I was absolutely hopeless at ten pin bowling, I scored less than 50 points for the whole game but I did manage to get an 8 and a 2 in one round. We want to go back and try mini golf next.

trip to the snow (sort of)

My boyfriend’s parents thought it would be nice to take me on a trip to see some ‘proper’ snow. I was wrapped up in my puffa jacket and warm clothes, we set off early and the weather looked promising but on arrival mist and cloud had set in and there was no snow to be seen. Hopefully we’ll go again soon and be more successful.

Chill

As well as planning out the things I wanted to do I also took time to chill out and take it easy. I had a few sleeps ins and lazy days. I caught up on a bunch of YouTube videos in my ‘Watch Later’ list, started a jigsaw puzzle and sang/listened to music.

Overall, I had a wonderful time and the weather (apart from the snow day outing) was just as wonderful, there was lots of sunshine which made me happy.

---

Is there anything you like to do when you have extra time off work? How do you spend your days?

Follow me:

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Spring Hair!

Happy Friday lovely readers! Last week I booked an appointment at the hair salon and on Tuesday I got my hair cut. It’s been about four months since I got my hair cut, the last time was at the end of May. I thought with it being Spring, now would be a good time to get it done again.

As usual, I didn’t have anything extreme done to my hair. It’s still long (ish), red and I just wanted a trim, the weight of my hair to be thinned out and my fringe cut. I also decided to get a face framing layer cut into the front again. I first got this done last June (see HERE) and I wanted to try it again to see whether I prefer my hair with the face framing or all the same length.

I asked for 5cm to be taken off the length but it certainly seems like a lot more was cut. I like to think of myself as the girl with the long, red hair and when I was walking out of the salon and saw a huge chunk of my hair on the floor, I felt a little sad. I know it’s only hair and it will grow but it will take some time to get used to. To put things into perspective, prior to Tuesday my hair would have been down to my waist/hips and now it’s just past my shoulders. I feel almost naked without my long hair and while it is lighter in weight, I will be more careful describing what I want done next time. (Either that or I’ll find a new hairdresser :P)

Now for some pictures!

I’m sorry I don’t have any before but if you follow me on Instagram you’ll be used to seeing my face/hair regularly over there.

Let me know what you think of my new hair! When was the last time you got yours done?

My Weekend In Pictures

Happy Monday! I am officially on my week off from work and I had such a lovely day on Saturday that I wanted to share what I got up to. Sunday however, I spent most of the day in bed as it felt like a cold was coming on. *boo* I didn’t want that to get me down as I did have such a lovely day on Saturday; I got my hair done and treated myself to some new bits from The Body Shop.

I last got my hair cut in December so it’s been a wee while coming and I was super excited to get it done on Saturday! For the past few years my hair has been all one length and the past couple of cuts I’ve asked for some face framing. This time though, I wanted something a bit different and decided to add a second layer to my hair. I still wanted it quite long as I tie my hair up for work. I got my hair thinned out as always, got my fringe trimmed and I asked the stylist to put some waves in.

Hair Inspiration

These two pictures really inspired me. I love the long, wavy layers which is exactly what I was after. (Obviously, I didn’t dye my hair blonde though).

Both the hairdresser and hair stylist said my hair was in good condition which is always a bonus! I keep my hair routine really simple, I wash it every second or third day, let it dry naturally 99% of the time and don’t use heat styling tools very often.

The Finished Look:

After my hair was done I headed into town. I had a few things I wanted to do; I wanted to go to The Body Shop to spend my 20% off voucher and go to the library which I hadn’t done for ages.

At the library I was after Tanya Burr’s book Love, Tanya and I ended up getting Fleur De Force’s book The Glam Guide as well. Both of these look right up my street and are packed full of useful tips. I started reading Love, Tanya on Sunday in bed and have just about finished it already. The parts about her and Jim are so sweet!

I made my mind up that I wanted to purchase the Vitamin E Night Cream from The Body Shop after seeing Rachel mention it on her blog a few times. Normally I just apply my moisturiser morning and night but since we are heading into winter and my skin can get dry I wanted to try something more nourishing and keep my skin looking nice and healthy. I also picked up two soaps for my mum, we’ve used the Shea one before which is absolutely divine and I also picked up the Moringa which is a lovely, light floral scent. On a complete whim I also picked up the  Black Musk Eau De Toilette. I sprayed it on my arm and I instantly loved the warm, sensual, musk-ness of the scent. I am nearing the end of two of my other perfumes so I figured why not purchase a replacement?!

I am a bit of a social butterfly and don’t like to brag but it still never fails to excite me when I get a tweet off one of my favourite people and another one likes one of your Instagram photos. On Sunday morning, I woke up to see Adam Rickitt had liked and replied to my tweet wishing him happy birthday and later on Sunday afternoon I check Instagram to see Dannii Minogue liked a photo I posted of her.

What did you get up to at the weekend?

New Hair!

Hi everyone!

Last week I made an appointment to get my hair done and I got it cut on Saturday. Copperhead Hair and Beauty (what an appropriate name for a redhead) is the same place I went to when I got my hair done back in January. I absolutely love the layout of the salon – it’s got a bit of a 50s vibe and reminds me of the movie Grease with the cars and tool boxes. The reception desk is actually the front of a car and it’s very cool!

When it comes to my hair I keep things relatively simple and don’t try any radical styles. I wanted a change from having my hair all one length but I didn’t want to go for full on layers. I’ve tried layers in the past but as I wear my hair up a lot, I didn’t want the layers falling out. I turned to Google for inspiration and found it by way of Amanda Seyfried. Her long hair looks gorgeous and I really like the framing around her face.

I particularly loved these two images so I made them into a collage and printed them out for the hairdresser. I posted this image to Instagram on Friday with the caption “Inspiration for tomorrow’s haircut 💇” and received a great response.

Before…

After…

My hair must have been about 70cms in the before photos and my hair is naturally thick so it weighs a ton! Now, my hair is roughly 50cms and I got it thinned out which means it will be a lot lighter on my head. I did ask for 10cms off but the hairdresser took more. My hair is shorter than what I’m used to but it makes a nice change and it will grow. I really like the face framing and how soft it feels after having all the fancy products put in it. I also had my hair blow-waved and straightened so it feels even lighter!

While I’m happy with the result overall I feel it wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t address a few niggles I had with Saturday’s experience. I felt at times the lady cutting my hair was trying to make me feel guilty for not using a certain product or coming in more often. I understand up-selling is part of business but I don’t have a problem with the shampoo and conditioner I use and what I do with my hair. I would love to get my hair done on a regular basis and treat myself and while the salon is not particularly expensive I don’t feel I could justify spending that money. (This is probably just another example of me overthinking, pay no attention). I really am pleased with how my hair turned out and this won’t stop me going back.

I’d love to know what you think of my new hairstyle! When was the last time you treated yourself to some pampering?

Birthday Plans

In last week’s Cry and smile post I mentioned I was a little stressed out over my birthday and what to do. A week later and there have been a few developments – good and bad (but mostly good) – and I simply wanted to get them out there. Call this post self-indulgent but getting my thoughts off my chest last week really helped so I’m hoping this will do the same.

I have decided what I’d like to do, dinner and clubbing (whoop!) and I’ve even made a little checklist of what I need to do to make sure I don’t miss anything.

I’d planned to go out on my actual birthday (next Saturday) but a friend has a family reunion that weekend so wouldn’t be able to make it. Initially, I was gutted I had to move my plans forward from Saturday to Thursday to the point where I was in tears and felt like nothing ever goes right and doing nothing altogether. Then I started thinking about it and came to terms with the fact there are pros and cons to pretty much every situation. As long as I’m happy and enjoy myself that’s the main thing.

Despite not getting to celebrate on my actual birthday and one friend not being able to make dinner as she’s working (hopefully she can come clubbing) I’m getting my hair done on Thursday so it will be nice and pretty for my night out. I also have a bigggg birthday badge I’m planning to wear even though I’ll feel slightly guilty I’m two days early! The club is having a glow party on the Saturday so I won’t have to worry about getting glow in the dark paint on my clothes and going out on a weeknight should mean town is less busy.

I’m also one step closer on the present front. My mum came up with the idea of getting me my own digital camera, nothing fancy just a point and shoot. I’ve been looking at some online and think I’ve settled on one I like. I’ve used the family digital camera a few times in the past for photos but it would be really useful having my own. All my blog images would be HQ and I enjoy taking photos so I wouldn’t just use it for my blog.

---

After writing this post I feel better and I’m ready to let go of the initial reservations I had about moving my plans forward. I’m incredibly excited about next week and the only thing left to do is brush-off my dance moves!

Chanelle x

Week In Review: September 1 – September 7, 2014

The start of a new month is always exciting! September also marks a change in seasons, so if you’re like me and live in the southern hemisphere we’re going into spring while our counterparts are going into autumn/fall.

I will be posting an update here every Sunday giving an overview of my week. Accompanying photos from my Instagram will also be included. Here’s the latest:

The week got off to a great start! On Tuesday I weighed myself for the first time in a little while and discovered I’d lost 3kgs – I feel pretty proud. I think it might have something to do with the 30 day squat challenge I’m currently doing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday saw one of my closest friends turn 20. For her birthday she invited a group of people out for a meal at Abracadabra, a Mexican/Moroccan restaurant. I’d never eaten there before but nearly everyone ordered off the kids menu anyway. I had a good night and the next day she dropped round with a little thank you message. She had printed one out for each guest, which I thought was such a cute gesture!

Today (Sunday), I had my fringe cut and the rest of my hair trimmed. I’ve had my mum do it for a while now and she always makes a good job.

Today is also Father’s Day. Father’s Day falls on the first Sunday in September in Australia and New Zealand. Sadly, my dad isn’t part of my life and our relationship is a strained one but I wish all the dads out there a Happy Father’s Day!

There have been nationwide internet outages since Friday night which has been a pain but I’m glad the problem seems to be sorting itself out. With everything being computerised these days it shows how reliant we are on digital technology.

Hope you enjoyed reading about some of the happenings from my week, would love to hear about yours too!

Chanelle x