Zoe Loves the Second Act

  FIRST MAKEUP & BEAUTY REGIMES I started wearing makeup in my early teens (although as a dancer I'd worn it from a very young age on stage) and I remember the very first lipstick I had was Autumn Shimmer by Rimmel. As far as early makeup looks go, I didn't do too badly and definitely didn't go for the shimmery blue & green eyeshadows thank goodness.   I've always felt brown and neutral shades suited my eyes better preferring to go for a brighter lip. I've obviously evolved and adapted this over the years, but the basics have always stayed quite true to what I know suits me. At high school we weren't allowed to wear much makeup, but I did always wear eyeliner and mascara once I hit my teens, it's always been important to me to look my best for as long as I can remember. My mum has always worn makeup and loved good clothes, so I guess I followed her lead really.   HOW I'VE LOOKED AFTER MY SKIN OVER THE YEARS I was always told to cleanse,...

Self-improvement is a vital part of life & every so often, be it every 2 months or every 2 years we often need a re set to take stock of our health & fitness, work/life balance, boundaries, whether the people we have in our life are ‘our people’ etc etc. Trying to change everything at once can be overwhelming and often just leads to any good intentions falling by the wayside within a couple of days. This is why it is vital to ensure we make small changes daily & turn them into good habits that we can stick to. Here is where the 30 days to improve your life comes in to play as you can see results as you go along without being overwhelmed with too much at once.      Days 1-6 Setting intentions – clear achievable goals De clutter your physical & digital spaces Sort & plan your summer wardrobe Get your to do lists in order & condense them   Days 7-11 Develop some health routines Workout, yoga, pilates, fitness classes – it must...

    Life can be hard at times, especially with the cost of living at the moment and the knock on effect from covid. However, it's always so important to stay focused, positive and motivated & to think of future plans, hopes, dreams and bucket list things you want to do. Although many things on this list are luxurious and indulgent many are not and if recent times have taught us anything it's that the people we have around us are far more important than material things. Take care & enjoy! X   1. Live abroad 2. Own a dog 3. Watch a Broadway show 4. Fly First Class 5. Take a road trip 6. Go to a world famous sporting event 7. Eat at a Michelin star restaurant 8. Go to a black-tie event 9. Ride in a limo 10. Learn a language 11. Go on a thrilling roller coaster ride 12. See a sunrise     13. See a sunset 14. Quit a job you hate 15. Travel for more than a 2 week break 16. Volunteer 17. Take on a fitness challenge such ...

  It’s often the little everyday things that make our lives that little bit better and run that little bit more smoothly. With a very busy few months ahead, I’ve now got myself back into a good daily routine with some little game changers that I love & help me live my best life.   Podcasts I absolutely adore interviews with well known people who take my interest or unknown people with an interesting story so Podcasts are right up my street. I got into Podcasts during lockdown whilst on the many many dog walks I went on. I now mainly listen to them whilst driving and I have a few which I listen to every week. I’ve already learnt so much from them and in many ways they’ve helped me grow as a person. I’ve done so much work on myself this past 2 years and I feel so much more positive and confident, I put a lot of this down to the choice of podcasts I listen to & they’ve helped encourage me to get into reading again which is the best educator of all.     A...

  IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR MAY ELEMIS PRO-COLLAGEN CLEANSING BALM  Elemis is a brand I’ve used since my early 20’s when I worked as a dancer on cruise ships. I love the bath products, body products & especially their skincare products. As most women do, I’ve tried many beauty brands over the years but the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is my all time favourite. This luxurious balm is nourishing and melts away makeup and the days pollutants & impurities leaving skin feeling completely cleansed & hydrated. Most skin products need to be changed over the years as the skin ages, but this is one product that has worked for me throughout the decades. Although my skin has aged since I first started using it, I still find it to be hugely beneficial & I plan to use it for years to come.   A 100g pot is approximately £46. A very small amount goes a long way so this size pot can last up to 4 months when used once a day. It can be ordered online on the El...

  So today’s the day, my baby boy, who now towers above me, set off for his first GCSE exam & I feel nauseous! Having a girl first, I’ve quickly learnt that boys are far more reluctant to study than girls initially!! However, during the past two weeks leading up to the exams he’s really put the work in along with staying behind at school every day!   Exams are so different these days, especially since covid, and can cause a lot of stress for our teenagers so it’s vital we support them through this period to ensure they stay as calm as possible!    1.      MAKE SURE THEY EAT WELL My teenager doesn’t like eating breakfast & usually waits until1st   break time at school to eat. However, it’s vital to eat   to fuel yourself before an exam!!! My son’s school is amazing and during exam time has a breakfast club for this very reason but as a parent I recommend getting some healthy breakfast snacks in that they can take wit...

  Chapter 5 Lighter evenings, warmer weather, flowers in bloom, butterflies, birdsong, dreams of Summer in sight, green fields & trees, Spring cleaning & de cluttering, bank holidays, hedgerows thickening, open windows, bumble bees awaken, open toed sandals, coats off, hay fever season, lawnmowers rumbling, a risky early BBQ praying it stays fine, village fetes, happy thoughts. Breathe in the fresh air and relish in the glorious season that is Spring!!   FABULOUS THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST MONTH 1. A lovely family Easter 2. 10 days off work 3. Putting on a fabulous production of ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ 4. Seeing my boy Max fall in love with teaching himself guitar – he’s getting really good 5. Putting on an amazing production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame   LIFESTYLE, LEISURE, PLACES & HOME The Coronation Street Tour – Manchester Yes I’m a Corrie geek and I’ve wanted to do the tour for ages so, on a cold, grey Sunday I dragged Tony, I...