My favorite movie....

Free WiFi at McDonalds

Moments before this photo was taken I was walking to the train station from work. I was on my mobile having a chat with Wayland and I was just saying to him that I have to go right by McDonalds on my way to the station and that I wanted to fight temptation.

Alas the double cheese burger was calling my name and they have free wifi at McDonalds so I can work on my lap top. Oh this modern world we live in.........I am loving it!

What the heck is this Switch she keeps banging on about

I've made some obscure references about getting a Switch for my birthday and a few people have been a bit unclear about what a Switch is. Well, it's just a faux hair piece. You might know it by it's American name of a fall, but a Switch is just a Switch of fake hair.

So, how did I come to get a Switch for my birthday well it all started maybe two weeks ago. I went round to Mary and Pete's one Sunday evening for a beautiful meal and some fine Dino wine (Dino is a brand of Pinot Grigio sold at Tesco's. It usually retails for 8.99 but it goes on special offer from time to time and at 3.99 a bottle you can't go wrong). Mary being the queen of cool that she is introduced me to a wonderful Australia program called Kath and Kim. I was delighted by the show and they were kind enough to lend me season one to finish watching at home. I ended up watching the rest of the first series the next day, it's that good people!

Anyway, there was a tiny bit in the one of the episodes where Kim wants to buy a Switch to wear at her mother's (Kath's) wedding. For some reason I really liked that bit and the fact that the fake hair was called a Switch. Mary being the good friend that she is remembered that I liked that bit about the Switch and bought me my very own for my birthday! It's very glam and I promise to post some photos soon.

In the meantime check out Kath and Kim, but steer clear of the rubbish American version staring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair. It's just not funny, but I am not surprised. It's like the American Office, so unfunny and I can't understand how people who like the British Office also like the American Office. I guess that's a post for another time!

Sucker for a new product

Here's a little known fact about me, I love perfectly groomed eyebrows. I think a pair of brows that are thoughtfully shaped can do wonders. I've always hated grooming them myself. I can't stand tweezing, not because of the pain, just due to laziness. I prefer to have the suckers waxed and let me tell you there is nothing better than having your brows done by a talented esthetician.

When my brows are in check I feel like I can do anything! Back in Minnesota I would have my brows waxed at Estetica salon. I used to work there part time as a receptionist and I highly recommend it. It's a beautiful Aveda salon in the historic Cathedral Hill area of St. Paul. Anne Marie Roe is the best and I always look forward to when I go home for a visit to seeing her. She won best waxer of the year in 2007! I love phoning in from London to make my appointment.

Anyways, I haven't had my brows done yet in London. Mainly because I don't really know where to go. I am a bit skeptical about threading which seems to be the popular method for facial hair removal. I am just not sure it can achieve that same smooth look, but I could be wrong. I should give it a try. If any of you ladies have good things to say about threading leave me a comment or better yet if have your brows waxed by someone you adore let me know where!

So, I've let my brows go a bit....and I decided today to try a home wax kit. I've tried this once before about 9 years ago. The result was pretty disastrous and I ended up loosing one half of an eyebrow. I thought that there might have been advances in home waxing technology so I was confident that it would turn out better. I had to cut the strips into appropriate shapes, but it wasn't too difficult.

I bought these Veet strips at Superdrug about three minutes before they closed. I was looking at another product that was specifically for brows, but the box was a bit battered and dusty and I didn't recognize the brand. Plus you didn't get very many, so I went with the Veet.

I would say that it was a fairly decent experiment. I wasn't able to do too much shaping, but I cleaned up the areas above and below without doing any major damage. Veet also throws in some nicely scented wipes to sooth the skin, which were very nice. Also the fact that you get 20 strips of 3.50 compared with 14 pounds for a wax, I would say it's good value for money!
Happy waxing ladies!

My S'Bush Birthday bash

The Love

The Husband

The Flatmate

The Awesome Friends

The Lodger

I wasn't planning to do much on my actual birthday. I've got my heart set on a cheesecake and wine picnic in Hyde park once the weather decides to quit being a jerk. So I arranged a little get together at a local boozer, the Shepherds Bush Wetherspoons. Now it's not a great place, I'll admit. What it's got going for it is its cheap and that it's close to where I get off the train. Perfect.

It was a good little crew. Mary and Pete, my flatmate Wayland, our lodger Vance and my husband. The thing I like about the Wetherspoons is that you get people from all walks of life there. It's a real mixed bag and there was even a pigeon in there too! Hiding in the rafters, although he did manage to swoop down and steal a chip off a plate!

We also went from calling Wetherspoons, Old Spoony Love (Vance came up with that one) to just calling it The Love, which I think is pretty cool.

There was a bit of pre birthday celebrations the night before, the same crew was assembled at my flat to watch the final of the Apprentice. We had a bit of wine and some champagne! We got pretty rowdy, but that's what happens when it's the final of the Apprentice.

I also would like to say that I got some very nice gifts! Matthew gave me two books about camping in Europe, a cd, a tennis racket and balls, a lovely kitchy notepad, a dry measures cup and he sent me flowers at work. Mary and Pete gave me a lovely switch
and a great dvd that I've been meaning to watch The Darjeeling Limited. Very thoughtful, I will explain more about the switch reference in a separate post. Wayland gave me a lovely card and bought me a drink after I demanded he buy a birthday drink.

Vance has not come through yet, which is pretty bad form. I am letting the guy stay for free in my flat.....for the second time! Lets see if the lodger comes through, he usually isn't a DB but you never know.....Thanks to everyone, you're great friends!

Cheers to being another year older, it ain't so bad. I accomplished most of what I set out do to before I turned 31 so I am good to go. Here's to a great year!