A while ago I was sent a pair of Skechers Shape-Up to review by Fuel My Blog. While taking Shape-Ups out of the box, I noticed that not only did it include a pair of white & baby blue trainers (which just so happen to be my favourite color!) but also included a booklet & DVD on how to walk & make the most out of them.

Before wearing the Shape-Ups, I flicked through the booklet which highlighted that they are designed to promote weight loss & tone muscles in various areas in your body without having to step inside a gym (yaay to that!), not to mention:

1. Strengthen the back
2. Firm calf and buttock muscles
3. Reduce cellulite and tone your thighs
4. Increase cardiovascular health
5. Improve posture
6. Reduce stress on knee and ankle joints

Designed to improve your life by changing the way you walk, Shape-Ups feature a unique soft kinetic wedge insert and dynamic rolling bottom to simulate walking barefoot on a giving surface that gives such as sand. With the comfort of Shape Ups, you will feel your heel sink to the ground as you step, roll forward as your weight shifts to its center, and push off with your toes. This movement will result in stronger leg, buttock, back and abdominal muscles as you stabilize your steps

Source: Skechers Shape-Ups booklet

Putting them on my feet for the first time they felt extremely weird, I couldn’t get my balance positioned correctly on them, it felt I was walking on 4 inch heels and going to fall over. It took a while to get used to them because you basically have to train yourself to walk in a different way because they are totally unlike normal trainers and the soles are designed to have a rocking effect which sinks your heel into the ground then roll you forward before pushing your weight off your toes. It took around 5 minutes before I could start walking in them properly which at first seemed a little crazy but the more I walked around on them in the house the more it felt like I was walking on air, or clouds or a sponge and are unbelievably comfortable which makes a change for trainers which I usually detest, in fact the pair I own (also Skechers) I haven’t worn in over 2 years.

It has been a while since I started wearing them and I honestly love them, not only me but my mom has started wearing them at times as well (the downfall of having the same size feet?) and she has remarked that they are very comfortable and even helped reduce the muscle pain in her knees due to arthritis which make wearing normal flat shoes very sore for her. I’ve noticed that while wearing them, my posture changed by becoming straighter while walking, something which I’ve been trying to fix for years after hurting my lower spine, having 6 months of physiotherapy as a result and a rather nasty spinal injection. The muscles in my legs felt like they were stronger while walking Doggy Dog in the park and one thing that made me fall in love with these trainers was when I was out shopping all day wearing my normal ballet pump shoes and my feet were killing me, in particular the heels of my feet. I then got home, put on the Shape-Ups and the pain virtually went away, I couldn’t feel the pain in my heels anymore. I put this down to the special kinetic wedge insert which raises the heel of your foot slightly.

Overall, they are an amazing pair of trainers which I will be wearing time and time again while walking doggy dog (or running errands as my mom does when she steals them off me!) and would recommend them to anyone who asks. I’ve already had people on Twitter ask me about them and told whoever asks that they are amazing. Do they help you loose weight? Well I’m already on a diet loosing 2 stone (13kg) for far without any gym time and with any exercise it needs your own willpower and effort, you can’t put the trainers on and suddenly start loosing weight (otherwise they will be surgically attached to my feet!) but because they are so comfortable, they make you walk for longer periods which in turn helps you loose weight.

Available in various colors, they are approx £90 and worth every single penny!

A few weeks ago I got my eyes tested when I went to buy new glasses and they suggested I get this new feature of where they take photographs inside your eyes. For £10, you get your eyeballs tested, checking the optical nerves and other eye bits for any health problems such as diabetes and cancer.

They then ask for your email address as they forward the images to you so you can keep them for your own records and to compare against any future pictures you get taken (every 2 years an eye test is recommended in the UK).

So here are my eye balls, all nice & healthy

A few weeks ago I was sent a package containing various skincare products from Aveeno®, a brand under Johnson & Johnson’s to review on my blog. I wasn’t quite sure what the products were or what I’d be getting but when the package arrived I was shocked, I knew I was getting samples to test but I never realised I’d be getting the actual market sizes of each, an added bonus! In the package were 3 different items; a 200ml bottle of Daily Moisturising Lotion, 100ml bottle of Cream & a 50g sachet of Colloidal Bath Powder.

Before I give my review on the products, here’s a little background information on the brand:

Aveeno® is a range of skincare solutions containing naturally active ingredients, designed specifically for all types of dry skin – from mild to extremely dry. The makers of Aveeno have uniquely captured the benefits of naturally active ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal and shea butter, to give you beautiful, soft and healthy-looking skin.

The Aveeno range has been recommended by dermatologists around the world for 60 years for the management of dry skin and associated conditions such as eczema, and provides an effective way of undoing winter weather damage.

When I read all the gargon that came with the products, I was happy because lately I’ve been suffering from really dry skin mainly due to the Implanton implant in my arm to help ease my stomach pains, but as a result I’ve ended up with really bad skin which I hate! I previously used E45 cream to help but I found it too oily & thick on my skin so I didn’t use it on a daily basis and was always on the look out for another product to try.

The first product I tried (along with my mom, the guinea pig) was the Cream which I’ve been using daily ever since I recieved it. The cream is fragrance free which is good because sometimes if you have sensitive skin plus it has some tiny microbead size Oatmeal bits acting almost as an exfoliant at the same time. When rubbing the cream onto my hands & face, they both instantly felt smoother, softer and absorbed into the skin quickly without any oiliness which is something that I’ve found hard to find in other creams. From using it on my face the most, it’s extremely soothing and I have noticed that various blemishes have reduced dramatically. The cream almost acts like a barrier as well to protect the skin & I have been using the cream under my makeup as a base which helps stop any skin from flaking off. I would really recommend this cream for daily use & was my favourite from the items recieved. I will be buying it again once this tube runs out!

I then decided to try out the Colloidal Bath Powder where you had to sprinkle the sachet into warm running water. When I opened the sachet, I was met by a heavy smell of oatmeal which I really didn’t like (maybe since I can’t stand porridge oats!) but I went ahead with the testing. The powder floated on the surface of the water leaving an oily residue and when coming out the bath, bits of clumped powder was left on my skin. All of the above factors ruined the product for me which was a shame as I had high expectations after good results with the cream. I personally wouldn’t buy the Colloidal Bath Powder again, I’m more a bubble bath kinda girl but everyone has their own preferences.

Lastly, I tried the Daily Moisturising Lotion which is supposed to moisturise dry skin for 24 hours. I found this product very similiar to the Cream but with a thinner consistancy, which means it will last longer. I tried it on my arms, neckline, stomach and legs and noticed a difference after a few days of use. Like the Cream it made my skin softer, smoother & dried into my skin quickly without any oiliness. It would be a good product to use after a bubble bath and waxing/shaving. I’d probably buy this product again and use it in conjunction with the Cream as I found that they really do work as all the research & documentation says.

Aveeno® can be bought in Large Boots Stores (in the UK) & Independant Pharmacies (in the UK and USA). To see information on a research study trial between Aveeno® and Netdoctor into dry skin conditions, you can read all about it here.

I’ve had a migrane for 14 hours now! I’ve tried sleeping, drinking lot of water, lying down in a darkened room, eating…. but nothing worked and to make matters worse, I had no pain killer at home & by the time I figured that out, the pharmacy was closed!

I woke up with the migrane at 10am and now it’s 12:30am and it’s not as bad as it has been all day, I don’t feel that my eyeballs are going to pop outta my head but I still feel all weird!

I’m going to go back to sleep now & see how I feel when I wake up

I hate em!

It’s 5:30am & I’m just about to sleep. I was trying for hours & hours but couldn’t and now my back is killing me *argh* yes I’m moaning and I’m blogging about my moaning and lack of sleep! Because of my non-sleepyness I’ll be lucky to wake up before 2pm dammit

So thank you to the repair man across the road who was drilling at 1am & my upstairs neighbour for banging around like an ass & to the 4 fire engines who past my window with loud sirens on just when I nearly past out hours ago

I’m passing out now!

Oh yes it is!

So I went to the doctors with mom, still coughing my guts up in the waiting room, he was 20 mins behind with his appointments, damn idiot!

Eventually we go in & I couldn’t speak to tell him what’s wrong, so mom explains that I’m coughing green phelgm, sometimes blood, hard to breathe and she thinks I have bronchitis again

The doctor said nothing

He took his little scope thing and placed it on my back in various places and I breathed as best I could without going into a coughing fit

He goes back to his chair, asks if I’m allergic to anything & prints off a prescription. He doesn’t mention his thoughts on what I’ve got, why I’m getting this alot, not even what the pills were

I seriously hate this doctor, can’t stand him but I needed an appointment and he was the only one available! He was the same doctor who said nothing was wrong with me, then a few days later was diagnosed with PCOS!

Fast forward to today, I’m still in bed and feel like crap and my period decides to show up! It’s been 5 months since it last showed up & now when I can’t get much sicker, it shows up & makes me feel worse!

Damn this crappyness!

Coughing non-stop, burst blood vessel in throat which results in bloody phlegm, severe coughing fits which end up with vomiting, dizzyness, loss of voice, migrane, loss of breath & dying for some sleep

I’m officially ill, worse than I’ve been before. The doctor & mom says I have acute bronchitis again but it hurts much worse than last time *cries*. I’m on antibiotics, cough medicine & some stinky vapour rub to help me breath easier.

Sedate me til this is over

After going out for dinner with my parents & brother last night, I came home with a sore throat. I wasn’t coughing, it was just really rough feeling.

Fastforward to today, I woke up with the Niagra Falls of a runny nose, sneezing fits every other minute & a slight cough.

I offically feel like crap, oui I do! So I went to bed earlyish (10:30) and it’s now 1:18 and I’m wide awake venting here!

Damn you cold!