Forget Fags – I Want Things

Looks like it's no smoking o'clock all over again, can't believe I've been a non-fumeur for more than a month, big bravo. Last week I showed you my belated 2 week present choices. This week, I am back on schedule with 2 weeks worth of sans-cig spending, Giving me £60 to splash on ANYTHING... Whatever... As long as it's on ME.

So, how's it all going?

Good question. Been so preoccupied with sharing my no-smoking treats that I haven't thought about discussing the here now & in-between. It is going well.

On average I am thinking about smoking for maybe 10% of my waking hour - Impressive, non?

(Although the above does vary, with less & more... Today is a more day. I am getting those craving feelings, making me want to be a little bad & reckless, fags, booze any vice... Gonna keep strong & ride it out.)

I have had quite a bit of coffee & red wine and been able to resist - Big Tick

I have had nasty stressful moments in my personal (cough) life but steered clear - Huge Tick

This is how I feel: It is just as easy for me at the minute to say yes to a cigarette as it is to say no. However, saying yes will pull me back to smoking (obvs). It is all about choices & having control over that simple decision.

By saying no, it is then done, over. I have chosen to continue as a non smoker.

If I say yes, I will have to go back through the decision making process of... Will I start again? How will I stop again? And so on...

On to purchases! Treats over fags anyone??

Yes, please.

Real Techniques Makeup Brushes

I already own a lovely collection of Bobbi Brown brushes, however it only includes the essentials and I have been in real need of a few individual tools to perfect my daily makeup ritual. With Bobbi Brown being super pricey, I opened up to mixing up my brush brands (I know, ridic non?)

Makeup artist Samantha Chapman's brush range has been creating a bit of an online storm. In addition my fellow BBlogger Pal Holly recommended them, a reliable source... For a few weeks now I have been planning to invest my ciggie money on a couple of Real Techniques brushes, however, on the day of purchase Boots were having an amaze 3 for 2 offer, which drove me to buying more than anticipated.

Core Collection - Includes 4 full-sized brushes & case - £21.99

1. Detailer brush
2. Pointed foundation brush
3. Buffing brush
4. Contour brush

Eyes-Enhanced Starter Set - Includes 5 full-sized brushes & case - £21.99

1. Base shadow brush
2. Deluxe crease brush
3. Accent brush
4. Pixel-point eyeliner brush
5. Brow brush

Powder Brush - £12.99

The brushes that I was after were: Pixel-point eyeliner brush, Buffing brush & Contour brush. I have NO idea how to use any of them yet... But Holly has promised to teach me, I C.A.N N.O.T W.A.I.T.

Note: The 3 for 2 offer is still available at boots, click here for details.

Spend: £43.98

Mac Powder

Every contour brush needs some contour powder. My girl Hol recommended this Mac powder in Harmony. Like with the brushes, I am not exactly practised with contouring, however, I have had it done on me a number of times and I love the look, another exciting beauty awakening on the cards... See, this has to better than dragging a fag, non?

On checkout there was a 10% discount on all beauty in Debenhams, so this £16 powder, cost £15.75.

Primark Nails

Gold talons, whoa. I sort of love but despise these faux-nails. I was looking for nail bits for my niece's birthday present & thought these could be fun (she's going to be 10... Eeek!) Carried away in the moment, I grabbed myself a pack too, after all I had over a pound left in my forget fags budget. I am wearing them now and they are very distracting, completely wrong & overflowing with tack but I am keeping them on and seeing how it goes.

Primark - Ooh La La - comes with 24 Nails & Adhesive -  £1

Total spend: 60.73

73p over budget but if you take the revised budget (2012) into consideration it's an underspend.

If you would like to see more presents over cigarette spending, click here.

Note: Giveaway ends tomorrow at midnight.