Girliest day of the month

Hello hello! :) As of last week, I decided that I should try to get a new girlie treatment (manicure, facial, massage, eyelashes, etc.) once a month, or once every two months, given that it cheers me up, makes me feel prettier and helps a lot with my self-esteem. It is so weird, how in the US, where I was heavier, I felt prettier and sexier... while since I moved to London, for different reasons, I do not feel that way at all... So I think this will help...  It is an investment in well-being :)

Given my super tight budget, I really cannot afford treatments more expensive than 30-35 pounds... So I'll be in the hunt for offers and promotions at different salons, which I'll also review. This month's treatment is....


EYELASH EXTENSIONS! at the Elegant Studio (Gerrard Street, China Town)

I really wanted to try an eyelash perm, but the cheapest salons were either booked or closed for the summer... So I came across a salon in China Town, which had an offer for the extensions, and I figured... why not? They last 3-4 weeks, so I should have them for this weekend's festivities, my trip to Spain, my birthday and my trip to Budapest... Pretty eyelashes for a hectic month :) I tried to take pictures, but they look so natural and discreet, that the camera wouldn't really pick up the difference. You can pick to have flashy ones, or more brownish natural ones, which matched my own perfectly. The procedure takes a couple of hours, as they put the eyelashes one by one, but it is 100% painless... I actually was very relaxed and rather enjoyed it.

We'll see if they actually last as long as they promised (I shouldn't swim, use mascara, eye-liner, and/or rub my eyes and avoid using soap on them). I was told at the salon, that costumers usually become regulars every month after the try them, because it's just makes life so much easier, not to have to put on mascara and the curler every day, plus all the work of removing eye make-up... But if they are not in offer, they usually cost 80-85 pounds! Which is definitely out of my budget... But with this offer (half price, and which is still on until the end of September), the experience was definitely worth it.

Elegant Studio is great. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and the place has a very Asian vibe, which I really like when it comes to cosmetics and make up. The most amazing make up I ever bought, was in Japan... They know their stuff... Also, these are very common procedures in Asia, given that they do open up the eyes a lot. (Sorry about the creepy pictures... haha).  

My next treatment will probably be a cleansing facial, or some treatment to add shine to my hair, perhaps even straighten it... We'll see which offers come up. Although I think this has made me overcome my fear of extensions looking tacky (there is nothing more vulgar than obviously fake eyelashes and hair extensions...), so I might give it a try to hair extensions.... We'll see.

Another two little girlie finds... If you go to Next now, until September the 19th, they are giving out vouchers for 10 pounds off in purchases of 15 pounds or more... haha So I got these great pumps for 5 pounds!

And they have this rather cool system (sorry if you already know this, I never buy clothes/shoes online... so it's a first for me - I'm always afraid it won't fit), in which you do not have to pay for your purchase until you have received it and tried it on... I think it's a great idea, to lure people like me... Although honestly, nothing will ever be better than going to the actual store and trying the stuff on... It's one of my favourite pastimes.

And lastly... I found this little baby for 7 pounds in the H&M close to Covent Garden. Surprisingly, it is more  expensive on their website (!), 10 pounds at the moment. I tried it on the size 38, and it was a little bit big on the chest area... (my boobs are gone! so sad!) but they did not have a 36 left... So in order not to break my promise of not buying clothes until I hit my goal weight, I bought it one size smaller, a 34 :) (34s at H&M are actually rather big, as I already have another dress from there which is a 34... I reckon I'll be an actual 36 when I hit 58-60 kg). It is now hanging on the door of my closet... I so can't wait to wear it! (Although it'd definitely look better with a tan... And on a brunette... Sorry!).

And that was just some of the girlie fun I had today... I just wish my little Ela had been there with me to enjoy it all... :) Well, it's been a long day... night night! xxx