Where to live?

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Marianna

This is a pretty straight forward question with a very straight forward answer: wherever you want to.

But where is it good really?

The topic came up over the weekend when we decided to go and see some gorgeous houses where I wouldn’t have to smell the farts of my neighbour and my children would have space – more then 20 square meters – to run around in the garden, God help me, I could even get a trampoline what I have always wanted, khm… what I have always wanted for my son… :)

So, back to the question about how to chose the ideal home.

little house on the prairie(this is from the famous series “Little House on the Prairie” and it’s only for decorative purposes, i do not advise anyone to have to be squeezed into a tiny house)

- decide on the size and the attributes of the house

Unless you have heaps of money to spend on moving and buying houses every 10 years, chose the size and chose it carefully. How many bedrooms do you want, open living area, how many bathrooms, garden size, town house, detached, semi-detached, bungalow etc..

- decide on the locality, how long do you mind travelling

Is 1 hour or more a lot for you to travel to work every day? Would you want less? What kind of neighbours do you want to have? Do you want to be able to go to the shopping centre every day? Do you need urbanised localities to make you happy? (e.g. shops, pubs, bars, shops, shops and shops)

Let’s see in my case: I want to have a detached house out in the country with 4-5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, I want to have a conservatory and a room only for my piano, I want the house to be in the middle of a field, and I don’t want to be able to hear the neighbour arguing with the wife over the dinner. I want to have wooden flooring all over the house and tiles in the kitchen. Heating should be oil or gas, cooking should work on gas too. I want to be able to commute by train wherever I need to and the train station should only be a short stroll or drive away.

Summarizing it…

Are you the urban girl who needs everything at her doorstep or are at that stage that you don’t feel you have to rush things, you would like to settle and have peace and quiet?

Anyhow it is, write a list of what you want and whenever you go house-hunting, tick the list, and don’t compromise on what you have decided, unless you are absolutely sure you can live with that.

Good luck!

Posted in Everyday things, Home, Ireland | Tagged house, live | Leave a comment

Holiday with bad credit?!

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Marianna

We were in the car travelling from a city to another one when an ad in the radio started to chant it loudly that “take a holiday now, worry about the costs later” – or something like that.

At the second we looked at each other with my husband, saying: YEAH, RIGHT.

holiday

How on earth could you enjoy your holiday, if you know that the tan you are getting is not only gonna age your skin, but is going to age your soul and deepen your wrinkles with all the worries you get when you are to pay it back.

How many times have I heard some friends telling: “Sorry, can’t make it now, I’m a little tight until payday, still have to pay back the loan I took for last year to the Seychelles” or “Damn… they refused the mortgage because I had that loan from 3 years ago still to finish up.. You know, when I took my girlfriend to Thailand.”

Bad credit?  – no problemo! We will solve it! Go and enjoy yourself!

Car loan to pay? – it’s all right! It’s a holiday, you deserve it!

God help me… MORTGAGE? – Of course.. the holiday will do good for you!

You see that all your friends are taking vacations to exotic and amazing places and you want it too.

That’s exactly what those financial blood suckers are going for.

Your gullibility, your greediness, your humanly wish to show more than there is. (like buying a padded bra to make your boobies look bigger… by the way, I have the ultimate bra for exactly this purpose and I will show you later ;) )

The lack of self-control what we have is hugely abused by the influencing advertisements, the show-off friends and we see that even at this time of the ongoing recession people tend to go to the bank to ask for another loan, only to have the holiday what the neighbour has – or better.

Really. Think about it.

Does it really worth the sleepless nights?

Loans are for more important things, (such as a house – to live in; or a car – to go with), sit on your arse, pay back the loan you have, go for a holiday when you have the money for it.

Posted in Financials, Holiday | Tagged Financials, Holiday | Leave a comment

Make-up mistakes that should never happen

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Marianna

Everybody wants to look their best, but there are things which actually make you look worse instead of showing your better side.

This is how you should never look:

all the bad things on a pretty woman

all the bad things on a pretty woman

1. Don’t wear a mask

Foundation and concealer is great, but if you only put it on your face and not spreading it out properly to your neck and all surrounding areas it will definitely look bad. Also, wearing too much or very different colour to your skin is not great either.

2. Don’t overdo your eyes for daytime or if you are tired

Strong smoky eyes or excessive use of black eye pencil/shadow is a nono for work in the morning. Looks bad.

Some circles around the eyes are already bad enough, no need to emphasize it with strong eye make-up. The best thing you can do after trying to conceal them, just put on mascara and discrete shine around the eyes.

3.Contrasting lip-liner and colour

Most people need to use a lipliner to correct the shape of the lips, which is fine of course. But since Baywatch and Pamela Anderson is really out of the spotlight, please chose a matching colour to the liner.

4. Chipped nailvarnish

At this point I’m not even going to mention dirty nails because I assume that’s a basic hygienic expectation.

Anyhow. Remove your varnish, don’t put it on, wear gloves or get nail extensions (needs to be refilled every 2-4 weeks) or whatever makes you feel better, but there is nothing more disappointing then to see a pretty woman with scruffy hands and nails.

5. Summertime heels and toenails

This is really basic, but if you want to wear lovely sandals which will draw the attention to your feet, get them done, don’t be “down at the heel”..  (only daring to say in brackets: if they are not so bad, nails cut properly, heels “all right”, you can get away with less extroverted footware, such as flip-flops..)

6. The Blusher

Yes. There isn’t a single day when I don’t see someone looking like a clown on the street. When planning to be seen on the street, apply your blusher in a natural daylight, this way you will see how it will look like to other people as well. Going to a party or somewhere darker with artificial light of course changes the scenario.

7. Fake tan

I know, I know… Sun is bad, it burns etc. But better to have nothing on then a terrible fake bake which makes you look like an Oompa-Loompa, browns you like a toast on the wrists, dirts your toes…

8. Yellow teeth – lipstick

If you have yellowish teeth..

avoid: light shades, pales, light pastel, nude, peach, warm and light colours, basically anything looking like foundation :)

use: cold colours, lipgloss

Also, always choose your lipstick according to your complexion.

That’s all for now!

Come back for more! :)

Posted in Beauty&Fashion, Everyday things | Leave a comment

How to quit smoking

Posted on August 25, 2009 by Marianna

What are cigarettes made of? Surely not sugar and spice and everything nice… just take a look:


smoking

I am off the cigarettes for nearly a month now. Have had loads of cravings, but only had 1/4 of a cigarette last Monday. I thought it was gonna be the “big thing” that I am off them for so long now, and yes, I deserve just 1. Funny thing is, I hated it. And I used to be a big smoker. Enjoying it all the time. I have tried to quit several times without any luck really. I tell you the secret now. I don’t say it’s easy but with the right state of mind and maybe the right technique it’s much better.

1. Make the decision

You have to make the decision that you want to quit for. I quitted for my son, who asked me: “Mama, don’t go to smoke, because you will die” (he is only 4 and I felt so ashamed smoking)So. You can make a list for yourself why you should quit – better skin, no stink, make yourself proud, don’t be tied to smoking places etc.

2. Smoke the cigarettes you have or get rid of them permanently

When I decided I had enough, I still had 5 cigarettes in the pack late afternoon and I tell you, as the decision was made, I really wanted to get rid of them so under pressure it wasn’t nice to smoke them, but anyhow, I finished up the pack for 7pm that day, having the last one actually before dinner – silly, I know.

3. Don’t give up your habits connected to the cigarettes (just yet)

I still go out for cigarette breaks at work.

I still sit out on the balcony for the “cigarette break” with no smoke, just for the fresh air and to clear my head if needed.

Have your coffee, it’s nice without the ciggie too. :)

Whatever your habits were… :)

4. Talk about smoking

I talked about it A LOT, mainly in the first week. How did I used to do, what did I feel, when was the best time I smoked, what did I enjoy about it, etc.

I really don’t know about you, but this was something extremely helpful to me – like a session at the psychologist.

5. Most important - DELAY, POSTPONE, LATER, NOT NOW, WAIT A MINUTE, TOMORROW, WHATEVER, UNTIL

What am I talking about?

The most important thing here is that YOU DON’T HAVE TO QUIT SMOKING FOR EVER. Yes, that’s the good news. You can smoke any time, the decision is yours. We live in a free world, we do what we want, we smoke when we want (nowadays when we are allowed to) and I like to keep an open mind about this, that yes, I could smoke if I wanted to.

Where is the trick here? :)

Look:

  • “Hmm… a ciggie would be nice…. but I think i am just gonna wait until 4pm, that’s a better time to smoke”
  • “God.. it’s 4pm, I said I would have a smoke, but since the day is nearly over, I rather have one at home after dinner”
  • “The dinner was lovely, now let’s have that smoke… but the day is over as well…ehhhh…. I’m gonna leave it until tomorrow”

Basically, whatever you do, always try to delay having a cigarette. Never promise you won’t have another one.

I always say to my husband:

“I promise you that I won’t smoke – until tomorrow. But I will do my best to promise that to you every day.”

Posted in Health, How To, Smoking | Tagged Health, quit, quit smoking, Smoking | Leave a comment

How to get up in the morning and be fresh

Posted on July 18, 2009 by Marianna

This is a task for nearly all of us. Very few people were blessed to be a morning person.

Where I think the problem lies is: the brain.

Your body is going to be tired until you wake up your brain!

Tonight I didn’t sleep great. My husband is sick, he was snoring too much and kicking and  pushing in the bed, so after a while I moved to my son’s room, who is basically the spit image of hubby with exact same behaviour – even with the snoring and kicking and pushing in the bed…

Anyhow.. I did have more space near my son, but the sleep was restless – still here I am, it’s only 7.39am, I’m up since 7, haven’t had a shower (yeah, I know, disgusting, but let me be disgusting for another hour…) or a coffee yet and my brain is fresh as a morning rose since the moment I’m up!

coffee

What’s the secret?


Very simple.

You have to WANT to get up. If you think you would rather be in bed and miss most of the beautiful morning, it’s not gonna work. I always WANT IT!!! The morning air on the street, the smell of the coffee, the view for another beautiful day, the time I can spend with people I love.. (or if you have to work and don’t particularly like it, think about the money you earn that day!)

Most “specialists” say that you have to move your body before you fully get out of bed. This may be true, but I don’t need it – I’m repeating myself: I only and exclusively need the THOUGHT that I must get up now, another lovely day is to start and I’m missing it!

There is another reason why I love getting up early. If I do that, I have the house (at least the living room, bathroom and kitchen) all for myself. I can enjoy the quietness, I can relax, have my coffee in peace and get ready for the day.

Don’t forget, morning hours are vital for a woman who wants to look great throughout the day. This is the time you can physically prepare yourself to be fresh, beautiful and pretty. This is the time you can “magic” your eyes to have that sparkle in your eyes and keep it all day long!

You can avoid messy hair, lack of make-up, outfit which you have become bored already because that’s the one you put on when you are rushing, and you can avoid being grumpy and achieve being in a good mood all day long!

Girls! Try it and you won’t regret it!

Posted in Everyday things, Health, How To | Leave a comment

How to get the perfect eyebrow shape

Posted on July 17, 2009 by Marianna

Many women don’t pay enough attention to their eyebrows.

This is a big mistake, since even the perfect make-up with the perfect skin can be ruined by shapeless, bushy or too thin eyebrows.

To define what kind of eyebrows you need, you have to look at your face shape first.

1. Round face:

Round face needs something to elongate it and eyebrows are one of those tricks which can help. You should chose highly arched eyebrows which start from the inner side of your face and end not too long. The more inside you start the less it widens your face – of course don’t grow them together in between… :)

Arch them high so your face seems longer and skinnier.

Just like this:

round face - high arched eyebrows

(ps: actually, I think Charlize Theron is one of the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, so for her it’s really “whatever” when it comes to eyebrow shape…”)

2. Long face:

This is what I have. I am currently “growing” my brows so I can get a fantastic shape for my holidays, but I will definitely insert a picture of myself as well, when they are done.

Long faces don’t need to be elongated more, therefore the best shape is the straight(ish). Shouldn’t be too close at the peak, but can end as far as you can go.

long face - straight eyebrow

Posted in Beauty&Fashion, How To | Leave a comment