Keeping to A Budget

And Eating Healthily ( Part 2)

Frugal Friday

As I said in my last post on this subject - two of my favourite topics rolled into one!

Eating Heathily

I mentioned previously that we have been following  Tosca Renos Eating Clean diet.

Tosca Reno - Eat Clean

The reason behind this was twofold. While, on the whole do eat pretty healthily and I cook most of my meals from scratch, we were becoming increasingly concerned about the amount of sugar we consumed without even realising it. My husband also wanted to lose some weight that he had gained through being unable to exercise due to a damaged muscle.

The Eating Clean principles see you cutting out processed food and sugar, and adding in as many natural food elements as possible. You eat a lot more protein  than you would naturally do. You are also encouraged to eat 6 times a day to keep energy and metabolism stable. This is the biggest change for me. I could easily eat porridge for breakfast then go all day without anything before crashing at 4pm and eating toast and jam. Not good!

Do you realise how many items contain sugar ? Do what I did and go through your cupboard and look at the ingredient lists of the sauces and cereals you have. You may be a little shocked - as I was. Sugar features in everything. Here are some interesting articles on processed sugar.

Sugar

Hidden Sugar in Foods

If you want more details of the plan have a look at her site here. It makes very interesting reading. Basically the longer you spend in the fruit and veg aisles and the longer you spend buying products that look like they did at the beginning of their journey ( pre processing) the better you will be doing.

My husband has lost just over a stone so far. I would say he has been doing this seriously for about a month. He is still unable to exercise. The loss has been through the eating plan alone. I am hoping that it will help me with my immune system and my health as I return to teaching too.

Keeping to a Budget

However, my dillema of course is how do I keep my budget down and still maintain this healthy lifestyle? We are a family of 5 so our food bills could easily run away with us. Despite this I have realised that just because we are eating healthily it doesn't have to cost lots more. The only item I find increases my food bill considerably is meat so I am careful about how much I factor in. Fresh fruit and veg does not need to cost the earth and can be a useful filler of stews and soups. I have found a local bulk supplier of my nuts and seeds which keeps that cost right down. I think sometimes we feign horror at the cost of some healthy foods, yet we don't hesitate when throwing a multi pack of crisps or biscuits in the trolley without a second thought to the cost. Just a thought.....

Can we put a price on our health?

The kids are embracing the meals, but to be honest they eat anything that I don't lock away so that doesn't surprise me! 

This is what I have learnt so far:

• Plan your meals
• Protein doesn't have to come just in the form of meat
• Plan to have leftovers that you can use for meals the following day.
• Buy items such as nuts and apricots in bulk . SO much cheaper.
• Find reliable local suppliers of meat and veg. They may not be organic, but are as good as, but cheaper. The organic standards are quite high and some suppliers just haven't been trading long enough to meet the requirements - thats all.
• The tinned and whole foods asiles are eating clean havens and not expensive. Black bean curry with wholegrain rice - yum.
• Buy organic on the things that matter to you and that you can afford. 
• Make reasoned, sensible decisions.
• Cut back on/out the expensive unhealthy snacks, more money for the good stuff!
• Make your own healthy cakes, snacks, granola - cheaper and you know what's in them.

A lot if these principles I was following anyway. I think the biggest changes have been:

• The removal of sugar from our diets
• The increase of protein and wholegrains
• Eating more often and regularly
• Smaller portions ( for hubby!)

Have you tried the Eating Clean Plan at all?

How do you continue to keep your food budget down and yet maintain a healthy element to your menus?

Design ©2012 Another New Day

www.takingachanceinlife.blogspot.uk 2012 - 2013

All personal images are owned by Another New Day

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Images may not be downloaded,manipulated or reproduced without prior written permission. All rights are reserved.

Commercial or Private use without explicit written consent is prohibited and action will be taken through UK and worldwide copyright laws.

Concealers

Wednesday Beauty Buys

It's a minefield out there when it comes to concealers. 

There are just so many.

Different colours

Different textures.

Different uses.

I have a built up a little collection all of my own:

Collection2000, Bobbi Brown Corrector, Mac Studio Fix, Soap and Glory, Rimmel Match Perfection, Nip and Fab CC

The reason for this little collection  is that one concealer will not be the right colour or texture for every purpose:

• You may need to conceal under eye bags ( tick) in which case you will need something with yellow or pink undertones to conteract the purple. The best one I have come across is the Bobbi Brown corrector. This is not a concealer as such, but a corrector. You apply this under your foundation and set it with powder. I use light bisque. It is best to go instore and get colour matched. This is an amazing product and worth all the hype it has got. 

• Your skin tone will vary in different areas of your face. You may have darker tone skin and pigmentation in areas that are more exposed to the sun. Even if you wear a high sun factor ( which you should all year round) your skin will still turn a different shade when exposed to the sun's rays. The damage it does will just be reduced. Bear this in mind when shopping for concealers and foundations. Ask to be colour matched by an assistant. It is worth doing and saves you spending money on the wrong product.

• For areas of pigmentation, scarring or the odd blemish a slightly more heavy duty concealer is needed. The ones I use are :

1. Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection in Fair. This is a lovely creamy concealer that works well when my skin is dry. This is very pale, but suits me at the moment. Under £5 too.

2. Mac Studio Finish Concealer. This is my go to product when all else fails and I have a week like last week. If my skin is terrible and I need to use a great, will never budge, cover all sins concealer, this is the one! A small pot of genius and worth the money. Again pick your colour carefully and if you can, be colour matched. I have NW20 .

• A highlighter concealer is excellent for areas such as the nose and under the eyes, but not so good for covering blemishes - you don't really want to be highlighting them. I use: 

1. CC eye fix by Nip and Fab  which has had mixed reviews. I probably wouldn't repurchase this as it is so fair, but it does an adequate job. 

2. My other choice at present is the Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer by Collection 2000 which is a thicker, creamy conceler with better coverage. This is light reflecting. The Brightening Concealer in Natural 2 is a better colour for me now although looks scarily dark in the swatches below! It gives great coverage and for the fantastic price you can't go wrong. I would certainly buy this again.

I have two other concealers in my photo above. One is great. One not so much.

• Match Perfection by Rimmel - a great product. I am on my second tube of this. It is a 2 in 1 concealer and highlighter. Slighter thicker than an illuminating product usually is, so gives great lasting coverage. This goes with me in my handbag- Love it! On my second tube of this one.

• Trick and Treatment by Soap and Glory - when I first used this I liked it, but I find it doesn't last and the colour is too yellow for my skin tone. If you have more olive skin it would probably do a great job on under eye bags. Just not for me. I have used about half, but won't be finishing this one I feel.

Here are the swatches. Bear in mind they always look darker on the inside on the arm which is often a very pale skin tone.

In the summer months I tend to wear a very light coverage and I  reach for my Dr. Jart's BB . Any other areas that may need concealing I will rely on the Bobbi Brown corrector for under my eyes and my match perfection by Rimmel. The powder I use is by Channel and is a real treat ! I think as I have got older the less make up I wear and I don't try and conceal any lines and wrinkles. They are part of who I am and if you try and cover them with heavy concealers they are only accentuated. Therefore a tinted moisturiser or a light BB cream topped up with concealers if needed are my go to routine. This is why my concealer collection is far bigger than my foundation collection! I think as we get older and our skin begins to reflect this, it is a case of less is more.

design ©2012 Another New Day

www.takingachanceinlife.blogspot.uk 2012 - 2013

All personal images are owned by Another New Day

unless stated otherwise.

Images may not be downloaded,manipulated or reproduced without prior written permission. All rights are reserved.

Commercial or Private use without explicit written consent is prohibited and action will be taken through UK and worldwide copyright laws.

Matching or Not

Ok so I think we all know I am a bit of a Monika.

So, you can understand my inability to wear a different colour nail polish on my feet from my hands.

Oh yes.

As shallow as that today people!

I have to match.

Pink on my hands. Pink on my feet

Purple on my hands. Purple on my feet.

So at the start of the sandal wearing months here we go again......

Essie Boat House

To match or not that is the question?

Design ©2012 Another New Day

www.takingachanceinlife.blogspot.uk 2012 - 2013

All personal images are owned by Another New Day

unless stated otherwise.

Images may not be downloaded,manipulated or reproduced without prior written permission. All rights are reserved.

Commercial or Private use without explicit written consent is prohibited and action will be taken through UK and worldwide copyright laws.

Shopping My Wardrobe

This past week I have not felt myself.

It has taken me a while to recover from the bug I had and although I am back to health now I have felt exhausted and gave into it. Fortunately I only had one day when I was working last week so I took the opportunity to rest. The housework and the Blog took a complete break......

It has done me the world of good and I feel my energy returning. I have learnt that, despite my excitement at returning to teaching, I do have to pace myself with everything else I have on.

My little girl has become ever so attached to me all of a sudden. She doesn't want me to go out without her at the weekends or in the evening. I think she has noticed the change too and is nervous I won't be around when she needs me. She has always had me picking her up and dropping her off at school. Although on the surface she doesn't appear to mind I think underneath she is struggling a little with the changes.

I do feel blessed with the time I have had with my children at home. I have many happy memories, but am ready for the next chapter and to do something for myself too.

I have an old picture this week as I have worn this outfit a number of times .It is just so comfortable! The top was a bargain from a Charity shop. The Spring Boots are on, but I feel will be off again this week looking at the dismal weather forecast.

Charity Bargain Top

I am wearing:

Wallis Top - Charity Shop £2.50
Fransca Trousers - £40 Sale 2012
Scarf - Caramel £10
Open Toe suede Boots - Sale 2011 around £29
Missoni Sunglasses - Brandalley around £40



It is a constant struggle - trying to meet the needs of everyone and yet getting something out of life for yourself too!

How do you manage it?!

Linking up with Visible Monday.

Design ©2012 Another New Day

www.takingachanceinlife.blogspot.uk 2012 - 2013

All personal images are owned by Another New Day

unless stated otherwise.

Images may not be downloaded,manipulated or reproduced without prior written permission. All rights are reserved.

Commercial or Private use without explicit written consent is prohibited and action will be taken through UK and worldwide copyright laws.