New music from Daley

Yes new music from Daley, who I'm a fan of. If like me you were late to the party then please do check out his previous work, my personal favourite song is Game Over although I also love his duet with Marsha Ambrosious. Do check out his latest single on his website where you can also sign up to receive his new EP for free.

Another artist that I'm feeling at the moment is part of Neyo's Compound camp Ravaughn and since hearing her song Best Friend being played on Love & Hip Hop Atlanta I'm totally in love. Love her voice and the song, it's been on serious replay for the last two weeks, at home work and on my travels #obsessed, will be checking out the album when it drops.

Moving towards your target customer

So I'm not sure if I've ever shared this on the blog but I work in marketing and have done so since I left uni, many moons ago. Working in the industry I look at advertising differently then most other consumers; so when I watch an advert on tv I don't just think about is it entertaining or would I buy that product, I actually look at what is the underlying message they were trying to convey or who is the advert targeted at (yes, watching tv with me can be rather boring).

This morning I woke up to read two moans from two different sources about two completely different ways that a company/brand  (different organisations) had chosen to proceed and it riled me up enough to write a post. The first of these was on The Daily Mail online (which I'm addicted to reading even though I'm bound to find at least one article that makes my blood boil); a response to Marks & Sparks new lingerie line.  Now we all know that M&S is a British institution but if I'm honest I haven't bought anything in there for the last 5 years that wasn't food or a card.So this morning when I saw the new lingerie range I was kind of excited, excited enough to contemplate actually venturing to M&S on my lunch break (not today but in the near future) to check it out. The clothes side of the business is declining so I'm sure they would love to get me (and others like me) in their doors, for a number of reasons:

I'm totally addicted to shopping and shop regularly. I buy on sight - if I want it I'm buying it, life is too short to be weighing up if I need it.

I have money to spend. 

So when I see articles complaining that most M&S shoppers in their 60s want comfy knickers and not the uncomfortable new collection it gets my goat because what the author fails to realise is that the range isn't aimed at the traditional customer but at me who may just purchase on a whim and isn't wearing those undies for comfort!! What really annoys me is that I have little faith that M&S will wholeheartedly follow through with this strategy -one season I'll see some really cool stuff and the next it's back to good old M&S basics. But consistency is key if they are really focused on getting Nadie and her fellow shopaholics through the door and if they want to see long term growth rather than short term profit.

The second example is a response to Nike's We Own the Night women's only race and womens races in general. Although I didn't attend or race,  I have been to a few Nike Training Club events which I've really enjoyed. The general feedback on the event was that it was a great but slightly tacky and too focused on an image of women that could be seen as frivalous (post race manicures etc). Again when I read the post on Spikes and Heels I thought yes it does sound a bit OTT and slighly passe but I'm sure the event wasn't aimed at running enthusiasts but at those women who want to get fitter, have never ever entered a race or signed up because a friend was doing it ie me if I ever signed up to a race. Would I want to get a manicure post race probably not but pre race when I'm thinking why the hell have I signed up to do this especially as I haven't done a lot of training; yes please as a distraction from the regret I would be feeling. The motivation signs during the course sound like real motivators to run even faster to pass them as quickly as possible

So you are probably wondering what is the point of this post as I dont actually disagree with some of the viewpoints and I guess its to say although the customer is always right, the truth of the matter is that you may not actually be the customer that the product is aimed at and just like a tv show we don't like (switch it off) we have the choice to shop somewhere else or not 'buy' the product. But I also wanted to send a big blog hug to my fellow marketers everyone thinks we have amazing jobs (and personally I think we do) but sometimes feedback can be hard to take - I feel their pain.

Products I love - foundation

I haven't found a product I love for a while but the other day I decided to try a new foundation, mainly because I haven't renewed my MAC card and refuse to pay full price for any MAC products. Anyway I've been hearing great things about the Revlon foundations so decided to check it out for myself and I love it. Let me tell you why:

1. Even with primer foundation seems to melt off my skin - it doesn't with this foundation.
2. My make up still looks good, contouring, blusher etc are still there at the end of the day on top of this foundation - I actually have to reduce the amount of blusher I apply to prevent myself from looking like a clown.
3. Skin isn't breaking out, clogged or looking luck lustre.
4. Base doesn't feel heavy, actually I look flawless without actually feeling like I have anything.
5. I've been able to start using my other primers which I always felt were a let down, especially as I need to restock my much loved Smashbox one.

I'm currently using the Revlon PhotoReady in Cappucino as I'm still sun kissed from my holiday. I can only say that I ADORE this product, based on the price, I think it was £8.99 and its performance. I use a foundation brush to apply my foundation, so the coverage is slightly heavier than if you use a sponge or your finger, but personally I don't feel that it looks caked on. In the after photo I have on primer - Smashbox, concealer - Sleek and foundation - Revlon, concealer applied using finger and foundation with a MAC brush.

Sorry about the quality of the photos - I blame the iPad.

A subject that's never discussed

Saw this article (link below) and had to share, its definitely a subject that isn't discussed - when the female partner has a higher sex drive than her male counterpart. There is a belief that women don't really like sex, and to be fair I have a few friends who state that they have sex with their husbands once a month like its their duty?! Anyway each to their own, do take a read and let me know what you think. Have you ever been in a relationship where you felt you weren't being intimate regularly enough to meet your needs?  Have you ever had to cajole your partner to have sex with you?

Sex Confessions: 13 Women Who Want Sex More Than Their Male Partners Share Their Stories - The Huffington Post.

I've previously been in a relationship where we had very different needs, it's a very difficult thing to deal with. In the end it was another indicator of how different we were.

Personally I found it interesting to read these womens stories. Let me know what you think.

Yeah I'm feeling myself right now

So I'm super happy right now - since I last weighed myself about 2 months ago I've lost over a stone. This is great especially as I haven't been working out as much as I was before, but have reduced the amount of sugar I consume by only drinking one sugary drink (juice, tea with sugar, squash) a day except when going out for drinks. I stick to warm water with or without lemon most days.

I decide to start exercising regularly for two reasons, my health and because I like to wear fitted clothes and my spanx no longer made my stomach look flat. The benefits are I can run 5k non stop, my knees no longer ache when it's cold or bent for too long and I can go without my spanx if needs be.

I still have areas I would like to tone up but so far so good and I also hope to run a 10k this year. This is one resolution I was able to stick to, although I have been getting to work earlier lately, so maybe I can nail that one too.

Back on it

So April has been a slack month for me in terms of fitness, since the new year I try to workout 3/4 times a week (mix of gym, yoga and Pilates) but have only consciously worked out 8 times this whole month. Although I have played tennis and been on a few walks, that should really be referred to as hikes (which I haven't included). I decided that it was time to get back on it in May. I always think its best to break yourself in so reduced the amount of carbs I eat last week (the headache only lasted one day) and I dragged myself to the gym this morning. The class I wanted to go to was cancelled, so I reacquainted myself with the free weights and spent an hour dead lifting, squatting and shoulder pressing. It all sounds more intense than it is.

Although I hate to admit it I do like working out its a great stress reliever, and it makes me feel more confident in how I look. Over the next couple of months I'm going to focus on toning my stomach and my back and improving my fitness so that I can run a 10k - I'm also considering getting a bike, inspired by my friend who is always harping on about how much she loves riding. I'll keep you up to date on how it's going.

My Gymbox membership starts this week which should help to spur me on, looking forward to Ghetto Zumba on Wednesday.

I love ratchet tv and I can not lie

So I recently came back from a very chilled out break in the sun where I spent most of my time drinking cocktails on a lounger on the beach whilst watching ratchet tv shows on my iPad. it was sun, sea and shameless tv viewing, I totally over indulged in black women sitting on couches commenting on their behaviour over the last season of their 'reality' shows and it made me realise:

1. Scandal needs to stop it with the ridiculous mid season breaks - so annoying
2. Games of Thrones books although at times slightly overindulgent, how many books does it take to travel around Westoros, are preferred to the tv series. Controversial I know. You miss so much about the characters with all that is cut from the plot or totally changed.
3. The Following is still must watch tv - still not sure what will happen in series 2 and still saying 'I'm scared' when watching each episode.
4. My love of Love and Hip Hop ATL is slightly concerning I'm not sure it's healthy to be so excited by a trailer - although Kirk is so rude.
5. Deception is rubbish.
6. The Carrie Diaries is entertaining as long as you are not expecting it to be anything like Sex and the City.

You'll be pleased to know I haven't spent all of my time watching tv, I've also recently went to see the musical The Bodyguard - I didn't think it was that great, but if you're a Whitney fan worth seeing for the use of her additional backlist (not just the soundtrack) in the show. I also had a short break in Brighton and caught up with loads of my friends who all seem to be pregnant.