The Original Tangle Teezer

Until fairly recently, I'd never really had a problem with brushing my hair. However, with growth, the task has become more and more laborious - particularly when the weather is like it is today in Norwich!

I'd heard so much about the Tangle Teezer that I thought I really must give it a try, considering the thousands of fans it has already clocked up (not to mention that I'm a self-professed sucker for anything fluorescent pink!)

Perhaps seeming a touch on the pricey-side at £10.99 (Boots), the Tangle Teezer was soon to make known to me the real definition of 'value for money'.

Emphasising the British origin of the product, the packaging at first glance is catchy, allows you to inspect the hairbrush itself through the clear front and sides, and isn't wasteful, with the brush fitting snugly inside.
I opted for 'The Original', but I'm aware that Tangle Teezer also produce 'Aqua Splash', 'Salon Elite' and 'Compact Styler' variations.

I've used the brush on both wet and dry hair and in both cases found it to be extremely gentle and smooth, tangle-free results show after just a few sweeps through the length of my hair. Most importantly, for me (a girl who always seems to be 'running late', no matter how much time I allow to get ready) it's hassle-free - and I love it! 

My application to join the Tangle Teezer fan-club was certainly late, but in this case it was definitely 'better late than never!'

The Big Debate | Glasses vs Contact Lenses

My glasses - 'Delores' - by Specsavers

Unfortunately I am one of the millions of people who are unable to say that they have perfect vision. In fact, mine is far from perfect. It's just one of those things. But although my vision may be restricted, my options for rectifying it are most certainly not.

I've had poor eyesight and glasses since my high school years but in recent years contact lenses too - I like being able to have a choice about which to wear on a day-to-day basis. However, I have found, through my own experience, that there are positives and negatives for each.



Glasses:
‣ Although it used to be that having to wear glasses was one of life's burdens, nowadays they are more often than not seen as being stylish and more of an accessory.

‣ Glasses have different styles of frames, some are smart, some are casual, some are brightly coloured, some are plain black, so a huge range of choice is available.

‣ Unlike contact lenses, glasses don't require frequent replacement purchases - so long as your prescription doesn't change, one pair of glasses could last you an awfully long time.

‣ Sunglasses are not an option unless you buy a prescription pair

‣ They are breakable (although touch-wood I haven't had to deal with this yet!)

‣ Low maintenance - just a quick wipe with a lense-cloth every so often

‣ They don't give brilliant peripheral vision - you are at the end of the day restricted by the frames around the lenses - no sly glances out of the corner of your eye!

‣ Changes of temperature make them fog up - I forget this fact every single time I bend down to take something out of the oven...


Contact Lenses:
‣ Contact lenses do not need to be matched to what you're wearing (unlike those thick rimmed tortoishell brown specs you bought last week which look horrendous with that little black dress!)

‣ You can choose any pair of sunglasses you fancy and are not restricted by those available for prescription lenses

‣ Great for sports/swimming where you would usually have to remove glasses

‣ Contact lenses and solutions require frequent replacement purchases

‣ Contact lenses require cleaning and up-keep.

‣ They don't fog up with changes in temperature!

‣ You can get great direct-debit schemes which include free eye-tests and the lenses being sent directly to you in the post.


My personal opinion? There is a place on my dressing table for both my glasses and contact lense cases. Although my contact lenses may give me that little extra boost of confidence on a night out, I always enjoy the days where I rest my eyes behind my glasses. It's really a question of personal preference. 

Thoughtful Thursday.

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Things don't and won't always turn out as you expect or want them to. It's going to happen to everyone at some point and it's just the way life goes.

I have certainly had my fair share of disappointments, be those through my own bad judgements and decisions or from something which I thought was a great idea at the time but it turned out just not to be. 

I'll be the first person to stand up and say yes, I've been in awful relationships, I've made huge mistakes with regard to my post-16 education, and now on a degree course in something I thought I loved, although happy, I'm not as happy as I thought I was going to be, and have started wondering if my life is heading in a direction which is not going to be fulfilling and bring me happiness. 

As I sat in the university coffee bar this morning wondering what to blog about, my mum sent me a text, which prompted me to write this post - she is full of wisdom. 

Taking it out of the context of my own life, the message would read as follows: 

               Get some advice and do whatever it takes to find happiness. If it's a

               temporary blip, then ride the storm. But if not... then open some new 

               doors. Remember though, opportunities will not come to you, you have

               to go after them. It's note easy, but you have youth and ambition. You 

               just need more courage. 

Aside from making me shed a quiet tear into my caramel macchiato, hearing this made a huge difference to my mental approach to the situation. I managed to see how my problems looked within the bigger picture. What may have seemed like a huge waste of time, be it through an end-of-the-road relationship, or like me, years spent re-taking exams that you probably could have passed the first time if you'd have only got your butt into gear, is really only a tiny, tiny part of your life.

We all just need to have the courage to take steps toward making change.

   

A Fond Farewell to 2014

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I'm sat at my laptop this afternoon, finishing off the last of the Christmas-period pastries that have been plaguing our fridge for the past week, and have been casting my thoughts back over the last year.
As with any year of my life thus far that I can ably recall, I've loved, lost, had some truly high moments and then the inevitable low moments, too. But 2014 really has been a special year.
I finally made it out of sixth-form with grades to be proud of, I gained a university place, I was able to cross a role off from my 'theatrical bucket list' by playing Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors earlier this year, and as cliché as it sounds, have made some wonderful friends through all of this.


But with any New Year, there always comes the resolutions - the often small changes that you'd like to make to your life having learned from the past three-hundred and sixty-five days. I thought here would be as good as any a place to share, with you, some of mine.

• Say YES more. Grasp with both hands every opportunity that this year sends my way. You never know how many doors may be opened by one simple, 'yes'.
• Stop biting my nails when I get stressed. Seriously Fran, it's a catch 22, you get stressed so bite your nails, then end up feeling even worse because you're now stressed and have not-so-fancy fingers!
• Blog more. In 2014, my posts have been very few and far between. Life gets busy and there always seems to be 'more important' things to do. However, when I actually do sit down to write, I love it. So, in a way, this resolution could be fall under the umbrella of 'do more of what you love'.

Whatever your own experiences of the last year may have been, I wish you all a wonderful 2015, and, as long as I stick to resolution number three, I shall be posting again very soon.