HAPPY GRAZING!

Okay, so its probably one of the most traditional clichés, "New Year, New Me". My New Year resolution this year is to be healthier and to tone up - and lose some weight along the way (hopefully, fingers crossed). I really am determined to be a new me when it comes to food.

So why am I doing it now? Last March I left my job as concession supervisor in a large fashion and beauty department store - chasing around to find that last size 12 dress "that is definitely around here somewhere", dashing down the aisles to find the customer I just served that left her card in the machine and not being able to take a full lunch break because of the L O N G E S T changing room queues that have ever existed on planet earth. All of this I did in heels, and I could only eat/drink at specified breaks. I don't want sympathy, I am just setting the scene for someone that probably burnt off most of the food she ate because of all the running around. I was happy (-ish, is any girl ever really HAPPY?) with my body, then everything changed. My new job (a higher wage, just around the corner from home) seemed like a God-send.

This was until I sat down in my fancy office chair and never got up again.

Endless cups of tea and coffee, always paired with a biscuit. Chocolate hob-nobs became my best friend and you can only imagine what happened when a café opened just around the corner, CHIPS ANYONE?! Needless to say my weight increased.

So on Janaury 5th this year, my first day back at my office job for the New Year, I was not falling back into old habits. No way. So far, so good - okay so I've had one or two McDonalds, and I had a chocolate muffin yesterday, but I don't intend to starve myself. Today is day 7 of my 30 day squat challenge and I have being drinking water with lemon at least twice a day (sometimes THREE times) like it is my religion.

Last week, I was a fashion and beauty blogger on a mission I decided it was time to allow myself to have a little indulgence as long as it was healthy, and hello, Graze box. It arrived today and to say I am amazed is an understatement, I wish I'd signed up sooner. I haven't eaten all of it yet (that wouldn't be healthy would it?) but I've eaten the chocolate brownie and I'm baffled how something that tastes SO GOOD can only have 110 calories. HOW, HOW, HOW? Sadly, my "Hot Cross Yum" packet was stolen by a co-worker, but he enjoyed it and said he was surprised it didn't have more calories because it was so tasty!

So thank you Graze for opening up my eyes to healthy, tasty snacking. Oh and to the Royal Mail postman - you couldn't have timed your delivery any better, my box landed on my desk just as I put the kettle on for lunch!

So here's what I received in my very first box.

- Copacabana
- Hot Cross Yum
- Chai Latte
- Brownie

Fancy trying one of your own, use this link: https://www.graze.com/uk/p/9KMK7PJ4U and you will receive your first box for FREE. Alternatively, you can use this code: 9KMK7PJ4P

*Please note, you will only receive a free Graze box using the above link/code if you don't have an account with Graze already.

HAPPY GRAZING!

- Meg xo

Follow me on Twitter: @NPA_meg

BEAUTY BLOG ALERT: Glossy New Mani

Just before Christmas I treated myself to some well earned cosmetic goodies, I figured that as a beauty blogger a trip to Boots was a necessity. I bought my usual staples but this time I also qualified for a freebie! I spent enough (well sort of, I paid using my Advantage card points!), to receive a free Max Factor box of makeup items worth over £30.00.

In honesty, one of the items in the box wasn't to my taste (brown mascara), I gave the shimmery gold eye shadow to my Mum (clearly I had WAY too much Christmas spirit), I kept the red lipstick using it over the festive period. There was also a nail polish in the box, which looked lovely in the bottle but I wasn't desperate to try it, it had potential to be one that I wouldn't really use.

HOW WRONG WAS I? Rookie beauty error received and understood: don't judge a polish by its appearance in the bottle. Yesterday, I took off the lid off the "Raspberry Blush", the polish glided smoothly onto my stiletto nails and the colour was an instant hit - with just one coat.

The picture shows my nail with two coats, but in honesty one coat probably would have cut it - I'm just a sucker for a rich depth of colour with the ultimate shine. The Glossfinity does REALLY live up to its name - super shiny, super glossy, I'm super impressed.

So here it is, my glossy thumbnail with the star of the show herself, (Raspberry Blush is a girly name, right?).

The Glossfinity nail polish is available in a variety of colours in Boots stores and online, I for one will definitely be buying more of them! The Raspberry Blush one isn't featured on the online colour chart, but there Disco Pink looks very similar! At £5.99 which one will you be buying?

http://www.boots.com/en/Max-Factor-Glossfinity-Nail-Polish_1293518/

- Meg xo

Follow me on Twitter: @NPA_meg

An eye for a good eye

Beauty blogger announcement: I am a bit odd when it comes to mascara. Like most other girls I love buying a new piece of make-up and using it for the very first time, but when my mascara needs replacing I dread the initial days of using a new tube and wand. "Why, oh why" I hear you shout, it's because I find that new mascara lacks texture and the ability to stick to my lashes. If I'm trying a new beauty brand I am never 100% sure I like it until after the first week or so and when using one of my tried and tested mascara products I look forward to the second week of use. I like to think of it like breaking in a new pair of fashionable shoes.

My mascara of choice right now is No7 Lash Impact - Intense Volume Control in Black - £13.50. I am yet to find a Boots store that doesn't stock it, but if it isn't available in a store near you it is possible to order online: http://www.boots.com/en/No7-Lash-Impact-Mascara-7ml_1459318/

A volume mascara is a MUST-HAVE for myself as I have very short lashes which can look sparse. I have found over the years that if I use a lengthening mascara my lashes look longer but also thinner and much less "full". Volume mascara, in my opinion, combats my issues.

As someone with an eye for all things that shimmer and shine, the packaging really stands out! A vibrant red, sparkling tube that really stands out when it is under all the dazzling spotlights in store. It is a real beauty treat for anyone wanting to jazz up the contents of their make-up bag.

The wand is really easy to use, no fiddly angles or impossible to hold parts. The mascara formulation itself is slick and smooth, gliding onto the lashes perfectly. One of the best things I have found about this product is that you can layer it up, making for the perfect day to night transition. I can wear a couple of layers for work through the day, then add a few more layers for a much blacker depth in the evening.

The results: what do you think?

Other make-up products used are:

Lola Make-Up Brow Pencil in 001 Light: http://www.marksandspencer.com/lola-brow-pencil/p/p22310660?extid=ps_gglpla_UK_Gen_,Beauty+_PLABeauty+-->+Make-up+-->+All+Make-up+-->+Eyes+-->+Eyebrows_M&S+Brow+Pencil+DARK&ef_id=VL9togAABEkrEXc7:20150121094854:s
Avon Kohl Eyeliner in True Black (£6.00): http://avonshop.co.uk/product/make-up/eyes/avon-kohl-eyeliner.html
L'Oreal True Match Minerals Foundation in Golden Ivory (£14.99): http://www.boots.com/en/LOreal-Paris-True-Match-Minerals-Foundation_44959/


If anyone knows of a great mascara that gives lustrous lashes from the first use and will add volume and length to my lashes send me a message or tweet me and who knows you might see a beauty review of it here very soon with a big shout out to YOU.



- Meg xo

Follow me on Twitter: @NPA_meg

Not strictly fashion and beauty, but...

Okay, so this post isn't in the typical nature of my fashion and beauty blog but I just had to share it with you.

I adore Alice in Wonderland. I have dinnerware, coasters, books and the highly-coveted Spineless Classic framed artwork (a well-spotted bargain in a Homesense store). So one night last week when ordering greetings cards from Not on the High Street I fell upon Ros Shiers prints.

Immediately upon discovering the Alice In Wonderland print, I raced through the checkout process barely blinking in case the print sold out. After all, it is in the sale.

My next task was to find a frame. I wanted a strong, black frame to make the print stand out against the white wall it is going to hang on. A quick search on Habitat drew up the PERFECT frame, in design and in size.

So here it is, my pride and joy, framed and ready to hang.

You can order your own print for £32.25 here: http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/rosshiers/product/alice-curiosities-print and buy a fabulous frame here for £14.00: http://www.habitat.co.uk/dark-birch-30-x-40cm/-12-x-16in.-dark-stained-wooden-picture-frame/dark-birch-frames//fcp-product/25018.



- Meg xo


Follow me on Twitter: @NPA_meg

Scarf Obsessive

One thing this fashion blog is going to present is my scarf obsession. Summer scarves, winter scarves, scarves for EVERY occasion. It runs in the family, my mum loves them too. You can only imagine my delight when I discovered this fashionable beauty in H&M recently.

It's black with small tassels at either end, and with red, purple, coral and pink tones running through it I can co-ordinate it with every lipstick I own.

I LOVE IT.  And for £7.99 you can love it too.

Sadly, I can't find the scarf on their website- but as I've found a number of times with H&M it's always best to check the stores. I bought mine from the branch in the White Rose Shopping Centre.

The coat I am wearing in the picture is the Soft Bonded Trench Coat from Topshop. It can be ordered here: http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/soft-bonded-trench-coat-3311634

 

 

 

- Meg xo

 

 

Follow me on Twitter: @NPA_meg

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog - No Pouting Allowed!

On this blog I will be posting about fashion and beauty - featuring my favourite clothing, my make up bag essentials and my must have items that are new to hit the stores!

Why, No Pouting Allowed? There is a bit of a running joke amongst my family that I am always pouting, so last Christmas they bought me a custom made sign for my bathroom that says "No Pouting Allowed" so for this blog it seemed a very fitting title.

I will be posting as frequently as I can, all pictures will be my own and feature items that I own or have been given (where provided FOC by brands/businesses for advertisement purposes I will state this on the post).



- Meg xo


Follow me on Twitter: @NPA_meg