No pic pre-haul post..

I have had a rough few days with my epilepsy so my gorgeous husband took me to our local high street yesterday and let me go wild in Boots and Superdrug!

With my little list that I had been compiling over the past few days when I had been reading all the lovely blogs that I follow safely saved in my phone (and after the endless reading of decent dupes for certain things) off I went. 

Now, living where I do - the Isle of Man - our choices are limited, hence my total wish list, accompanied by my "dupes" alternatives.

First up? Boots! I have to admit, I hadn't been upstairs (where the makeup selection is) for about 5 years. Since breaking my back I had got out of the habit of wearing ANY makeup whatsoever. I hadn't been able to get there either as they have only recently (in the last 2 years) had a lift put in. The store had a huge refit and in went an escalator, lift etc. 

Needless to say - it has changed! Beyond recognition! A lot of the girls were busy but the gorgeous Mary from the Lancome section was on hand to help me. 

Being in a wheelchair I can safely report back that there isn't much you can see. At all. She asked me what I was looking for and I handed over my phone. She asked what I had got already (a few bits from theBalm, NYX, E.L.F and NYC - all this in my mega haul posts later today and more this week when I can get the camera out. I am writing this at 4.30 am so I didn't think my husband would be too pleased if I got the camera out just now!) and seemed impressed that I had got my head round the basics. 

So, after stops at Revlon, No 7 and Rimmel she took me over to a stand that I couldn't see from where we had been. We have a Benefit stand!! 

Just to put this into context - it would be the equivalent of a Sephora suddenly popping up in every high street in the UK. Yes, we are seriously that far behind the times. 

I did reign it in at the Benefit stand but treated myself to the two things I was trying to get my dupes for. 

She also let me into a secret. Well, not so much a secret but I am the only person who has asked about this brand and they are coming to my local Boots in October. Smashbox is making it's début ! They are actually coming over the week before my first wedding anniversary, and she is going to be running it. 

Normally, as with any other Boots you can't book a makeover, but she has booked me in for one on the morning of my wedding anniversary (I saw it in her diary) so I am ridiculously excited for that. 

Next stop - Superdrug. I knew Maybelline was on offer there, so I got 3 for 2, some Accessorize and a couple of MUA things, a gorgeous little brow kit from B and some bits and bobs (including a new set of tweezers as my last ones ended up being used by my husband for soldering something). Anyone else have this problem?! 

Then, my better half who usually couldn't tell you if .I am wearing makeup or not took me to TK Maxx. I have a confession. I absolutely hate TK Maxx with a passion for clothes but he took me upstairs as they have some home wear items. 

(I have just realized how bad this sounds that my husband has to take me everywhere. I am perfectly capable of getting myself round in my wheelchair, but I have uncontrolled epilepsy so that is why I can't be left alone. Ever. No, not even the loo!) 

He had looked at my viewing history on YouTube and I had been watching the storage videos. Not the ones with people who have lots of make up, but ones for those with just enough for a few looks. 

I wasn't allowed down the aisles that he went down, I had to stay at the end. He came back proudly brandishing the most beautiful flip top box in a chocolate brown with cream writing on it (it goes with our bedroom), a beautiful little brown pleather twirling thing for my brushes and a little stand alone vanity mirror that flips over to  4 X magnification. 

To say I was stunned would have been an understatement! They are perfect for the amount of stuff I have, and perfect for what I wanted.

I have been reading, lurking and watching SO many videos to get an idea of what I wanted and I am now finally there. To do one huge haul post would be ridiculous, but I am going to split it up by brand, and then my gorgeous little F Features (my daughter) has agreed to be my guinea pig and is going to let me do a makeover on her.

I must admit to having information overload so I decided that I was going to take the basics that really did perform across the board, and find my own way from there. I have swatched, taken advice from professionals and have what I hope is a great little "kit" that will see me through the seasons for now. 

I knew if I bought the Urban Decay palette it would only be because everyone else had it which is why I bought theBalm one instead as I had received a sample of their blush in a Birchbox, which had given me actual access to the quality of the products in person so I wasn't buying blindly over the internet. 

So, over the coming days there will be daily posts with my new things, from the "tools of the trade" down to the foundations, concealers, primers, bushers and bronzers. 

Genuinely, I would really appreciate ANY help I can get. If anyone has any ideas as to what might help something I have work better, or something that I have completely missed then I would be incredibly grateful for their help. 

Makeup hasn't been a regular appearance on my radar for ohh, about 15 years now so I really do need all the help I have got. I have also made myself a promise not to get thing just because everyone else has them. I am going to get what suits me, and nothing else. I don't want tons of the stuff lying round that will never be used at all (although I am going to have to repurchase something already - I made the mistake of showing my incredibly glamorous 71 year old Mum my Sleek BB cream and that was it - GONE!). She may be 71 but would pass for late 50's, early 60's. Unfortunately, I do believe I haven't got the "I don't look my age" gene! She seriously is one stylish lady. 

So, when the sun comes up - the camera is coming out and I am really hoping that you guys could help me out with some feedback as to things I might need, or things that I have wasted my money on. As is my mission statement in my little corner of the net - I am just starting out again and it has changed so much since the last time I was here!

Pic heavy posts to come, but I always resize on the computer before uploading onto PhotoBucket (Flickr and I just don't seem to get along too well), in case anyone is worried about data usage etc. 

So, with that, a haul post to come later today - I am thinking I have enough for a week, then I will be trying out the stuff I have bought, and who knows - maybe even a YouTube video. 

Fi xoxox

Slowly gathering my Autumn wardrobe.. Fashion post (from a different perspective)

I know, I know. It is the beginning of August and I am blogging about my Autumn/Fall wardrobe. Quite ridiculous! The heart of the matter is that I like to be organised. I have mentioned before that I am also in a wheelchair, which although inconvenient at best, opens up a whole world of sartorial problems for me. I like to look nice - what girl doesn't?! The problem is that good fashion (whatever your price range) and wheelchairs are not good bedfellows. I can make the most gorgeous dress from Monsoon (my favourite High Street store) look like a bed throw the minute I put it on and plonk my butt back down! It will billow, crease, lose shape and form in one swift move. 

Sitting in a wheelchair is very different from sitting on a chair or on the bus/tube etc. You are clamped into your chair, and believe you and me - you are going nowhere once that lap belt is done up and in my case, my legs are strapped together. I suffer from muscle spasms in my legs and have complete nerve damage so I don't feel any pain if I knock or bang my errant limbs, so I have to strap them onto my chair too. Oh the joys!! 

BUT - it isn't all doom and gloom, I promise. First up - skirts and lots of them (not included in this post as I have enough to see me through this winter). I wear ankle length skirts with leggings on underneath as boy do my legs and feet get cold in winter. I love soft jersey skirts, generally plain rather than patterned. The bonus with skirts is that nobody stares at my leg straps (well, they stare less!). I do occasionally wear jeans, but that is usually on exceptionally cold days. I am only in my 30's and I refuse to grab that tartan rug for my lap just yet!! 

Ok, first up - this year's proper winter coat.

It comes from Karrimoor (found here). Yep - a short coat. No long coats for this girl - not a chance. They get caught up in the wheels and if it is raining the splashback causes more dry cleaning or washing than it necessary. Unfortunately functionality has to take precedence on this one, so I have got a cream and brown coat that I can sit comfortably in the chair in and has a built in hood (have you tried holding a brolly and propelling yourself round? - NOT the easiest job, I promise!). So, snug, waterproof and everything I need (just not everything I want!). 

  

Next up, a gorgeous lighter hoodie coat in a light marl grey, with a darker grey fleece gilet from VooDoo Dolls (found here). Thick sleeves are the bane of my life, always getting in the way and generally adding at least 6" to the overall width of "me + chair".  This fits the bill perfectly and is just what I need.

I also have uncontrolled epilepsy too, which is affected by sudden changes in temperature (amongst other things). I tend to layer up an awful lot as the minute I get too hot my husband can literally time it to about 30 seconds before the fits hit! Lots of easily removable layers are the way to go for me, and I love this little grey jacket. This year, I have decided to expand in my brown/cream and grey sections in my wardrobe. If I could only wear one colour for the rest of my life it would probably be grey due to the sheer amount of shades you can get knowing they will never clash! 

And, finishing on 'top' layers, something I have had my eye on for some time - a VooDoo Dolls gilet with furry trim on the hood. I think this is what I will probably get the most use out of. Navy wasn't a colour I had been thinking of but seeing the colour of the fir trim set my mind on a rampage of what I could do with it. 

Now onto something I buy year in year out - long sleeve t shirts. I literally have tons of them in every colour you can imagine. Last year I even bought M&S long sleeve thermals! I got these from my local charity shop still in their bags to unfortunately, I have no idea where they came from. I think the beige and brown will look great under the navy gilet and the black with the grey fleece gilet - all leaving my arms relatively manoeuvrable! 

I have a confession - I am a Kipling bag and purse addict! I have a large bag that clips on the back of my wheelchair but it is rather painful twisting round to get things all the time, so I treated myself to this gorgeous purse and little shoulder bag in cafe latte (found here). It is just perfect for the purse and mobile phone. 

Aaand I liked it so much, I bought it in soft grey too. Whoops! Well - I might be in a wheelchair but I do like to match! Joking aside, I adore Kipling bags. They last forever. I have one that was bought for me 15 years ago still going strong and looking as good as the day I got it. The only problem I have is that I always have to have the matching purse. Please don't tell my husband - I may have omitted to tell him that they don't come together! 

And lastly onto my new footwear for this year. I have New Rock boots, Iron Fist shoes but I didn't have a pair of creepers. I know I am far too old to wear them, but when people bang your feet day in day out, they look pretty sturdy for the purpose and I really like the style of them. I got these from here. I am studying for my Masters at the moment online, so money isn't that plentiful (especially as we have 4 children), but if there is any left over - I get to treat myself and treat myself I have! I was going to get some leopard print ones, but my darling 17 year old daughter and I have the same size feet and I wasn't going to loose yet another pair of shoes to her before I had got them on my feet. I guess I should take it as a compliment that she wants to wear what I buy! 

And lastly, a present from my gorgeous husband. I lovely pair of boots. He is quite a private man so I haven't asked where he got them from as it would just spoil the whole "present" aspect of it. They are absolutely divine and have a pretty knitted top bit to them. 

As I mentioned, I wear skirts. Lots of them with leggings underneath in the winter. He even though on to get me a size bigger to accommodate the leggings too. 

So, with last year's clothes that didn't end up in the charity shop when I had my huge clear out I think I am absolutely covered. 

I would genuinely be thrilled if any other wheelchair users pass this blog by and could give me some tips to look a little more stylish. I have only been in the chair for a few years and am still finding my feet (pun not intended) fashion wise as I am not ready to throw the towel in and cover up in one of those all in one raincoat things! (Although some days it would definitely help me not having to decide!).

Fi xoxox