Yes, you read the title of that post right. I am over the moon because today I ran my first ever 5k. It's not the longest distance, but it might has well have been a marathon for how unlikely it seemed when I first started running in November last year.

Darling Husband and his sisters are both strong event runners, and it's been bothering me for a while that I was the lazy one! I do a fair amount of gym work but running has always been my bête noire- I wouldn't even go on the treadmill!

Yet last year, I made it one of my 2012 resolutions to tackle the demon, get running and drop those final few pounds that refuse to budge. So I started by doing the amazing Couch 25k podcasts at coolrunnings.com- - these I would highly recommend to any novice runners. They really help you get started and build up the time you can run for gently.

However, I have been stuck on week 5 since forever- first it was Christmas, then I've been feeling ill and fluey. Excuses excuses!

There's a group of people where I work who go on lunchtime runs everyday (who I've always been kind of intimidated by, tbh) and when one of them spotted me labouring away on the treadmill, he invited me to go out with them.

At first, I was too scared and kept putting it off, but today I thought- like Nike- just do it. Just. Bloody. Do. it. I stopped making excuses and went.

They very kindly slowed the pace a lot for me, but I did it!! They didn't tell me beforehand how far we were doing and it was only when we were on the home strait that I found out we'd done 5.8k.

So ridiculously pleased and proud that I've overcome the big mental barrier that was the looming 5k mark in my mind.

Feeling fired up and ready to take on the world now!

Winter gloom is still all around us, but somehow my thoughts have turned to brighter days. The sale items are finally being cleared off the shop floors (paradox: I love a bargain, but I HATE a sale. There's just something so off putting about the racks of sad remnants of a past season that seems to suck all the joy out of shopping!).New stuff is finally filtering filtering through and I seem to want it all.Perhaps its the effect of the first payday after the horrible month of January, but I am so in the mood to shop! I keep seeing stuff that catches my eye and puts a spring in my step. So here is my 'lust list' for this month.

Chunky Agate stone ring - Love Hearts & Crosses (http://shop.loveheartsandcrosses.co.uk/)

This is going to be a really quick review piece about a couple of new items I picked up on my run to Boots at the weekend.

First, a disclaimer: I'm never going to be an in-depth reviewer, with swatches of all the different shades and comparisons galore. I'm just an ordinary girl, speaking about the products I've tried and what works for me. I think make up is so personal, it's generally the case that you'll never really know until you buy it-but opinions can be very useful to guide you there!

So, Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation- lets be clear, this is the foundation and not the lighter coverage Healthy Mix Serum they've just brought out.

I've been wanting to try this foundation for a while. I normally wear Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse for a working day, and Chanel Vitalumiere for the evening if i'm going out. Both are lovely and suit my skin, but I was on the lookout for something lighter than the mousse- which can sometimes feel overly dry-that isn't as pricey as Chanel.

After reading many 'wow' reviews on blogs and Makeup Alley, Healthy Mix sounded just the ticket.

I haven't tried any Bourjois foundations for a while as I've never been overly impressed with them. I did have brief love affair with one they did that came in a built in brush, but it was too expensive for what it was and ran out very fast as there wasn't much product, so after buying a few times I moved on.

The first thing that struck me about this foundation was how liquid it felt- after being used to a mousse it seemed quite runny. I ended up putting small pumps of it on the back of my hand and picking up with my foundation brush from there.

It goes on smoothly and smells gorgeous. On the skin it feels nice and fresh with a low- medium coverage that really seems like its letting your skin breathe. I felt it gave a pretty dewy finish that looked very healthy.

Staying power- its about even with my mousse- it doesn't quite go a full day (7am-7pm in my case) but then not many do! I had to use my pressed powder fairly often during the day on my nose which was really shiny, but then that's a trade off with it making my forehead lines look less prominent than the mousse.

I have seen many postings from those with really dry skin stating they found it left dry patches- I didn't have this, but my skin is normal with an oily t-zone. I think this foundation would be a dream if you also used a primer to mattify a little first.

Smooth even coverage that seems to blend well. I picked shade 53 Vanille which looked the perfect match in the shop. When I first tried it on my face it seemed way too pale, but blended in to a seamless finish when it was on. All the Bourjois foundations seem to have very yellow undertones which suits my skin but may not help a cooler toned girl.

Overall, I am pleased with it and felt it did make me look more radiant. It doesn't steal the crown from my Dream Matte Mousse as must have product but it's a great complement and alternative that gives rested looking skin. I'm going to wear it for a night out on Friday and see how that goes.

As an unexpected bonus, Boots was also running a promo where you got a free full-size Coupe de Theatre or Elastic mascara (worth £9.79- so quite a saving!). I actually needed a new mascara, so I was very pleased.

I went for Elastic as it had a plastic brush which I always prefer to fibre. My current favourite mascara is Maybelline Volum'Express One By One and this isn't as volumising as that.

I always prefer mascaras when they have dried out a little so perhaps this will grow on me! At the moment the formula seems a little too thin and wet. It's very dark black on the lashes. It gives a nice, separated appearance suitable for day wear. It doesn't flake or smudge during the day, which is great. I like it but not enough yet- it just doesn't have enough va-va-voom for my big lash tastes, but it's a pretty nice product.

I will be using both products for my big night out look on Friday!

I'm finally having another night out (my last one was the work Christmas party -that's about how often I go out these days).


I couldn't really decide what to wear as the weather has been so up and down here recently. It's still cold, and it doesn't feel right to break out the spring pastels just yet...so I ended up digging some old favourites out instead!



Outfit


















































Maybelline Cool Effect Blush in Pretty Cool Pink (discontinued...try eBay)

Collection 2000 Metallic Cream Eyeshadow in Platinum Bling (£2.99 http://www.boots.com/)

I thought I'd finish off the week with my only trouser outfit! I don't wear trousers so much at work, probably because it's too much effort to match them with a top at six in the morning when I can throw on a dress and and be done!

So I feel a little more scruffy in today's post!

Dark brown trousers- Zara
White vest top- Oasis
Pink chiffon bird print blouse- Primark
Brown brogue shoes- Topshop

Hope you've had a fabulous week :)

I very nearly didn't do this today. It is the day before our big monthly best practice meeting with the directors and being snowed under with prep, and putting together presentations- I didn't get home until late.

Then I couldn't seem to get a picture that showed how vibrant the purple is on my dress. I LOVE this dress. I've had it for so long, it's getting a little tatty- but I can't bear to part with it.

Everytime I wear it, I get another nice comment, so it's a staple for me!

Purple leopard print dress - Topshop
Black cardigan- Miss Selfridge
Black suede shoe boots- Aldo