Hello hello! Happy Monday!
Today's lip six has a bit of a twist, I thought I would combine it with a little chatty catch up too.
But first lipstick. As always.
Firstly sorry for the lighting in the last two pictures, they were lip pictures I took whilst I was working in Cairo last week and the lighting in the hotel room was very very bright-I don't have a tan!
Top row (L) Kat Von D Everlasting liquid lipstick in Berlin (R) MAC See Sheer lipstick
Middle row (L) Bite Matte Creme lip pencil in Tatin (review coming soon!!) (R) L'Oreal Color Riche lipstick in Blakes Red (Full review here)
Bottom row (L) Dior Fluid Stick in 689 Vertigo (R) MAC Soar Lip liner with Dior Fluid Stick in Tiny Pink over it
So let's catch up (aka lets talk about me!!). Life lately is pretty darn good.
I am feeling pretty fit and healthy after my cancer diagnosis last year. I am less tired and have more stamina. Without a doubt it has changed my life and I am still finding my 'new norm'. There are things about myself I don't like so much and I need to work on for sure but I am lucky to have amazing people around me-not just my family but I have such a tight knit 'core' of friends that I am in touch with constantly who listen, support, advise and cheer me on constantly. There are times when I feel overwhelmingly lucky that I was diagnosed at a treatable stage and this was brought home recently when my little brothers best friends wife (am sure there is nothing grammatically correct about that sentence sorry!) passed away from cancer at 32. Emma Grandison was one of the most inspirational people I have ever met, she fought and fought every step of the way, raising over £40,000 for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, the neonatal unit at the Royal Preston Hospital where her daughter Erin was born prematurely almost 18 months ago and Cancer Research UK. I didn't get to meet Emma, but after I was diagnosed she contacted and befriended me via facebook after my brother told her brother about my diagnosis and we kept in touch and she was always so supportive. Proving she was so full of life and never let cancer dictate her life she recorded this in November last year and self conducted her own funeral.
I am still undergoing regular tests following my surgery and the all clear last year. I am currently in talks with both my surgeon and oncologist about some problems with my lymph nodes but I am hugely positive about whatever path lays ahead. No I don't have a cervix or uterus I don't have a regular smear test but I do have a regular 'vault smear' which specifically checks for tumour regrowth in the part of the vagina I have left and I have now had two consecutive clear ones.
I am back to work full time and loving it. The people I work with are amazing and not a day goes by without a barrel of laughs. Of course I work hard and it's very demanding but the environment carries me through that. Any regular readers will know I adore my assistant James and boss Nick and they have formed Tuesday Club meaning basically we end up in a bar every Tuesday for a quick drink (or 3). I kind of feel normal again.
I am also travelling regularly again to my beloved Cairo and have been seeing my clients and doing the job I love. I have done two trips so far this year and am back there again twice in March.
March is shaping up to be an incredibly busy but also fun month. This week I am in Dubai and then head straight back out to Cairo for 4 days next week before flying back to Dubai and meeting (at the airport!!) one of my oldest, bestest friends who is coming here for a weeks holiday. Am hoping to do some nice 'Dubai' things with them so check my instagram for some touristy shots of Dubai-and lots of food no doubt. I hope they'll love it-Sylvia has been before but Robert her partner hasn't and given he is a chef the stakes are high! If you live in Northern Cumbria you must check out their gastro pub-The Golden Fleece-it's my favourite pub in the world and the food is amazing!! They've just been awarded an AA rosette for their food-I'm so proud!
Sylvia and I are also going to see Ed Sheeran in concert on the 6th-I can't wait!
My old boss from HSBC Andrew and his family are travelling to Dubai the following week so I have a few things planned with them, including a dinner at The Mango Tree which is a great Thai restaurant with fabulous views over the Dubai Fountains and we are seeing Michael Bublé in concert on the 12th.
Lis from ElisabethRilatt.com is also in Dubai that week and I am really looking forward to meeting her!! I am hoping maybe some cocktails and shoe shopping (and of course make up shopping) may occur when we meet!!
It's my birthday on the 18th but we have no plans this year-maybe a nice dinner but that's all before I then hit Cairo again. Today is officially pay day and also annual bonus day so I am planning shortly to splurge on a new piece of bespoke jewellery-I was surprised how well my post on Buying Jewellery in Dubai went down so if you'd like to see pictures of my new ring let me know!
I am absolutely loving blogging at the moment and just really enjoying make up at the moment. I look 100% better with make up on than without and I just love making new discoveries and playing with texture and colour. I am no make up artist but I like to practice! The community is so supportive and that spurs me on to keep writing. I vowed to be super organised this year because my work takes over so I am currently working on a '2 weeks ahead' schedule so even if things get extra crazy in March I should have enough to see me through the month. I feel like I have been doing tons of lipstick and eyeshadow posts recently but they're kind of my favourite to do.
Am hoping to get to the UK asap and meet some of the bloggers who supported me so much whilst I was unwell last year as well as catching up with my brilliant friends across the UK. I am also planning a trip to the US in the summer as we were forced to cancel our Miami holiday last year when I was diagnosed.
I hit quite a few milestones recently I feel-1300 followers on Bloglovin, 2000 on instagram, 1800 on twitter and my 500th post is coming up so to say thank you I am going to be hosting a giveaway very soon so keep your eyes peeled...............
What have you been up to recently? It's good to talk!
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