There are 3 things which my parents refused to buy me when I was growing up which to this day still upset me; A Mr Frosty machine, a Soda Stream and a Baby G watch. Here’s me all deprived and scarred but it’s funny how they always had money for their things like bottles of wine and the gas bill. Pfft.

I tweeted something to thing effect a few weeks ago and it was amazing how many other people felt this similar deprivation. Honestly, it’s a small wonder we all weren’t on the phone to Esther Ranzen every 5 minutes because this is clearly child abuse. Anyway, the wonderful people at Soda Stream Uk decided to right the wrongs of my parents and decided to send me my very own Soda Stream. The inner 12 year old in me felt vindicated.

I just thought I’d tell you all a bit about what it’s like being a Soda Stream owner. It’s boss. It’s everything it was cracked up to be. First of all I was made up that it doesn’t required plugging in, I have an original 70’s kitchen (bought my nans house) and the lack of plug sockets is a real issue. It runs off a pressurised gas bottle. It required minimal setting up and it’s so easy to use. They’ve got a full range of diet drinks, not just diet coke. They actually sent me diet pink grapefruit and diet blackcurrant and they’re both gorgeous along with marguerita, mojito and cosmo mixers. Yes while they know they’re appealing to the inner deprived child, they know that deprived child is now an alcoholicadult, with adult needs, such as vodka. And yes, fizzy vodka is amazing by the way.

I’m not great at drinking enough fluids but I definitely find I’ve been drinking more since I got it and ok ok it’s fizzy so it’s not THE  healthiest thing in the world but come on, I haven’t got (that) many vices. So yeh, all in all, thumbs up to Soda Stream. Thanks guys.

XOXO

Scouse Bird

Now that I'm depressingly back from holiday I thought I'd do a holiday related blog to get you all in the mood for booking the next one.

Firstly no matter where you go you're probably gonna get feasted on by mozzies an there's nothin itchier an more irritating than a bite. Then when you've itched it it just spreads the poison which makes it even more itchy and then it looks a sheow! 

I'm redecorating the bedroom and recently a local designer was brought to my attention. She's an ex JMU student who's launched her own company Token Homewares. I popped a picture on Instagram the other day and had a few people asking about it so here's all the info! http://www.tokenhomewares.bigcartel.com/

No one wants yellow peggies. My aspiration is to have teeth as white as Ross from friends in THAT episode, however, short of using domestos as mouthwash or getting horrendous veneers a la Rylan I doubt that’s ever going to happen.

Back in the day I used to get 35% bleach peroxide from ebay for a fiver and my god it was amazing, lifted those teeth right up! However it’s kind of a bit illegal in the UK now as it destroys your gums so I haven’t been able to get hold of any for years. I’ve been using the teeth whitening trays from Btox Clinics for a while now which are 6% bleach I think? They do work but it’s a gradual whitening process and for the same reason why I’d be no good on the pill (I’m forgetful and forget to do it daily) my gnashers aren’t where I want them to be. I also lost one of my trays and dilly dallied (ay that’s something you haven’t heard from anyone except your nan isn’t it?) about getting a new one so we’ve ended up a couple of weeks before my hols and I need a quick fix.

Enter Suresmiles. Me and me fella (yes a new one, keep up) went to see the larger than life Maxzine who is passionately anti bleach and pro blue light technology. The offer at the time was £30 instead of £80, bargain.

We were a little dubious when we turned up as Maxzine works out of her house which I didn’t know beforehand BUT within 2 minutes of being there we were made to feel welcome and at home. It was just unexpected. She did a shade test on us both on her peg chart, he was a 24 & 26 (smoker, tut) and I was an 8 & 12 (already pretty white). The treatment took about an hour each and afterward she did a shade test on us again and he had lifted to a 14 (10-12 shades!) and I had lifted to a 2 which is the lightest shade on her chart and the lightest she’d ever had. Yes that’s right, I won at teeth whitening.

The next 48hrs we could only eat white food and drink while the teeth ‘closed’ which was a little bit of a pain but not horrendous. All in all we’re both made up with the results and for £30 you can’t really argue.

https://m.facebook.com/pages/Sure-Smiles/412347255527487?id=412347255527487&_rdr

XOXO

Scouse Bird

I have a bit of a fetish for nice smelling deodorant. I’m still to this day mourning the discontinuation of Sure’s Calming spray – that was the mac daddy of boss smells and I’ve yet to find one quite as amazing.

I was excited when Sure brought out a new range of cream roll ons (the likes of which I hadn’t seen since the late 90’s when that was all the rage) so I decided to try all 3.

The formula gives maximum protection against perspiration…don’t they all claim to? Although after the gym and hot yoga I still smell fresh and great so I’ll give them that.

Scent wise none of them can replace the Sure Calming shaped hole in my olfactory heart but they all still smell fab. The pink one "confidence" is my favourite - they all have a clean smell to them rather than fruity or floral.

Bring back Sure Calming!

Most people will have probably heard of Tangle Teezers and if you haven’t, you should have.

Now that I’ve got 22” extensions I find the amount of time I have to dedicate to keeping them looking amazing has increased along with the length.  Once you’ve forked out a small fortune on the hair of your dreams the last thing you want to do is wreck it trying to comb the tats out. I swear by Tangle Teezers.

They have a growing collection and limited edition & kids ranges and my own personal collection is growing fast. I have the elite salon teezer in hot pink which is used in high end hairdressers. I have the compact one in metallic gold which is amazing for popping in your bag on a night out. Then I have the aqua version which is great for combing wet hair and for at the beach on holiday (that’s my fave, it’s easiest to hold).

The flexible bristles mean that they work through the tats without catching and dragging half your hair out. It’s definitely less painful. I’ve heard of many people who swear by using them on their daughters for less tears after bathtime. I still to this day remember the torture of my mum ragging my hair everywhere after washing.

The tangle teezers are available from loads of places like Boots etc or you can buy them from the internet. They’re about a tenner which is the cost of a good hairbrush anyway.

XOXO

Scouse Bird

As I've already talked about before on my Laser hair removal blog http://scousebirdreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-laser-clinic-beauty-boutique.html?m=1 I have suffered really badly with ingrown hairs on my legs. Some of these went infected and unfortunately left scars. I've tried everything to get rid of them; bio oil, scar gel, exfoliating, salicylic acid, you name it!  The laser hair removal has prevented any new ingrown hairs forming but unfortunately they've left a scabby leg legacy which had blighted me now for nearly 3 years.

I was lucky enough to be invited to the new Louise Walsh salon opening in Formby the day before it's actually officially opened (Scouse Bird perks). It's Saturday so naturally I was gonna be spending all day in a salon anyway so thought why not visit the waggy neck of the woods and go all out.

With the annual trip abroad fast approaching its time to talk bikini line. Getting a bikini wax is not something a girl looks forward to, unfortunately it’s a necessary evil unless you want to spend your entire hard-earned holiday lying on the beach fretting over whether or not you look like you’re smuggling spiders in your bikini. To me shaving isn't an option,  it's still prickly even straight after AND you're just askin for a clitorectomy really.

I love a good bit of costume jewellery. There's some shockingly bad tat out there which every fucker has imported from China and is selling on for a £15 mark up but by the same token there's some amazing pieces out there at the moment.