Inconvenient Annoyances

Ack, just when I thought I was gonna find out the truth about Mel, you just quoted me and didn't say anything!  We are dying to know. My Mr T curiosity must be satisfied.

I pity the fool!! So sorry Jimbo!

Seriously you guys, every so often I feel like I was super spoiled back home by all the convenience.  Latest one. I need makeup. I would normally hit up my local Ulta, or Sephora, or Sallys. I want to be able to try it on and see if it suits my skin tone. Especially here, specifically Tewkesbury, where most folks are a good bit lighter than me and no one seems to carry darker/olive skin tone stuff. (There's a local Avon rep and all her stuff is for lighter skin tones.) I asked a neighbour and she straight up said that I would have to travel to BIRMINGHAM, like a bit over an HOUR, just to go to a department store and try some on. W.T.A.F. yall? Luckily, I decided to do some googling and there's a Boots in Cheltenham, like 15ish mins away with a makeup counter and specialist so I assume there will be testers and stuff.

It may be because this is a small town. Or just generally, it occasionally feels like folks here like to suffer a bit. Nothing is open 24/7. Sundays everything, except for pubs, are only open 10-4. I already can't get me some hot cheetos or plus size clothing (man don't get me started on the pain of realising how your 'size' goes up by two number values when you move here!) so I have to not satisfy my emotional eating and wear clothing that doesn't fit right hahahaha!

Worse is when you ask around, like I did my neighbour, and they speak to me like I'm a complete idiot and should know that there won't be a local anything to pop to real quick. I've lived here less than a year and they're always shocked that I don't know better.

Okay. rant over. Just wanted to get that out.

All toiletries are a mystery to me over here.  Makeup, deodorant... I can't even find a shampoo I like anymore (shops used to carry one I liked, but they discontinued it despite my loyal purchasing).  I don't even know how to respond to your rant other than to say, yes.  All of that.  I am sure I just need to buy a car and go spend some time in a shop looking at things.  But it sounds like you have browsed shops and it hasn't helped.  So I dunno.  I'll check in again in a year, after I am independently mobile, and I'll let you know if I figure anything out.

All toiletries are a mystery to me over here.  Makeup, deodorant... I can't even find a shampoo I like anymore (shops used to carry one I liked, but they discontinued it despite my loyal purchasing).  I don't even know how to respond to your rant other than to say, yes.  All of that.  I am sure I just need to buy a car and go spend some time in a shop looking at things.  But it sounds like you have browsed shops and it hasn't helped.  So I dunno.  I'll check in again in a year, after I am independently mobile, and I'll let you know if I figure anything out.

I know right?! Deoderant got me. Spray? LuckilyI had traveled with loads of the regular stuff I use and I've only recently run out. Like you spray but the aerosol is intoxicating. I actually bulk ordered my normal stuff off Amazon lol!

I immediately started driving when I got here lol! You can drive with a US license up to a year then have to get a UK one. I've driven around but I've also got a 1yo so I definitely can't leisurely explore. It's just so annoying lol!

A while back my kiddo took my toothbrush and played with it in the toilet. On a Sunday. Sooo I had to wait till 1000, when shops JUST start to open to buy one. We were up at 5am that day. It was awful lol! I know it's all minor, first world sorta problems but it can get to you when they start adding up.

I know right?! Deoderant got me. Spray? LuckilyI had traveled with loads of the regular stuff I use and I've only recently run out. Like you spray but the aerosol is intoxicating. I actually bulk ordered my normal stuff off Amazon lol!

I immediately started driving when I got here lol! You can drive with a US license up to a year then have to get a UK one. I've driven around but I've also got a 1yo so I definitely can't leisurely explore. It's just so annoying lol!

A while back my kiddo took my toothbrush and played with it in the toilet. On a Sunday. Sooo I had to wait till 1000, when shops JUST start to open to buy one. We were up at 5am that day. It was awful lol! I know it's all minor, first world sorta problems but it can get to you when they start adding up.

Thursday is late shopping day in Stirling.  Shops at the mall are open to 8 or half 8. Yippee!

But I do have some nice makeup stores just a 10 minute walk from my flat. I've fallen in love with Bobbi Brown foundation.



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I know right?! Deoderant got me. Spray? LuckilyI had traveled with loads of the regular stuff I use and I've only recently run out. Like you spray but the aerosol is intoxicating. I actually bulk ordered my normal stuff off Amazon lol!

I immediately started driving when I got here lol! You can drive with a US license up to a year then have to get a UK one. I've driven around but I've also got a 1yo so I definitely can't leisurely explore. It's just so annoying lol!

A while back my kiddo took my toothbrush and played with it in the toilet. On a Sunday. Sooo I had to wait till 1000, when shops JUST start to open to buy one. We were up at 5am that day. It was awful lol! I know it's all minor, first world sorta problems but it can get to you when they start adding up.

I came over with two of my usual deodorant, and when I was getting dangerously low, my sister-in-law sent a care package of junk food and I asked her to include some deodorant in that.  And when that ran out, I went to Amazon.  Expensive, but cheaper than a shipment from the US.  And now we have Prime, so I can get it shipped for free if I find the right seller.  So that's sort of resolved.  Still not sorted out the shampoo thing.

I have a full UK driving license now.  But every spare penny is going toward saving for my visa next year, because it turns out they were raising the fees much faster/higher than I thought, so I've had to accelerate my savings.  So I have put off getting a car and insurance 'til we can accommodate it in our budget better.  In all this time (5 years and 2 months if you count my six month visit before I went home to apply for a visa), I have only had one chance to go shopping without my husband-who-hates-lingering-in-crowded-places or someone gave me a ride so I just needed to get my things and get out so I didn't keep them waiting.  I am looking forward to just going somewhere and studying everything until I know what it is and why it is.  You don't realize what a luxury browsing is until you can't take the time to do it.

Thursday is late shopping day in Stirling.  Shops at the mall are open to 8 or half 8. Yippee!

hahahha  Compared to back in the US, where 10am to 9pm is standard, Monday thru Saturday, 10am to 6pm on Sunday, and extended hours between Thanksgiving and Christmas!

I came over with two of my usual deodorant, and when I was getting dangerously low, my sister-in-law sent a care package of junk food and I asked her to include some deodorant in that.  And when that ran out, I went to Amazon.  Expensive, but cheaper than a shipment from the US.  And now we have Prime, so I can get it shipped for free if I find the right seller.  So that's sort of resolved.  Still not sorted out the shampoo thing.

I have a full UK driving license now.  But every spare penny is going toward saving for my visa next year, because it turns out they were raising the fees much faster/higher than I thought, so I've had to accelerate my savings.  So I have put off getting a car and insurance 'til we can accommodate it in our budget better.  In all this time (5 years and 2 months if you count my six month visit before I went home to apply for a visa), I have only had one chance to go shopping without my husband-who-hates-lingering-in-crowded-places or someone gave me a ride so I just needed to get my things and get out so I didn't keep them waiting.  I am looking forward to just going somewhere and studying everything until I know what it is and why it is.  You don't realize what a luxury browsing is until you can't take the time to do it.

hahahha  Compared to back in the US, where 10am to 9pm is standard, Monday thru Saturday, 10am to 6pm on Sunday, and extended hours between Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Imagine my shock/horror  when nothing was open and no public transportation was available on Boxing Day.

I cherished my day after Christmas shopping spree.

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Imagine my shock/horror  when nothing was open and no public transportation was available on Boxing Day.

I cherished my day after Christmas shopping spree.

I was just surprised to learn that Boxing Day is actually a thing that's observed here!  I didn't have any prior traditions for the day, but learning that everything is shut down was weird.  It is nice that my husband gets the day off, though.

I came over with two of my usual deodorant, and when I was getting dangerously low, my sister-in-law sent a care package of junk food and I asked her to include some deodorant in that.  And when that ran out, I went to Amazon.  Expensive, but cheaper than a shipment from the US.  And now we have Prime, so I can get it shipped for free if I find the right seller.  So that's sort of resolved.  Still not sorted out the shampoo thing.

I have a full UK driving license now.  But every spare penny is going toward saving for my visa next year, because it turns out they were raising the fees much faster/higher than I thought, so I've had to accelerate my savings.  So I have put off getting a car and insurance 'til we can accommodate it in our budget better.  In all this time (5 years and 2 months if you count my six month visit before I went home to apply for a visa), I have only had one chance to go shopping without my husband-who-hates-lingering-in-crowded-places or someone gave me a ride so I just needed to get my things and get out so I didn't keep them waiting.  I am looking forward to just going somewhere and studying everything until I know what it is and why it is.  You don't realize what a luxury browsing is until you can't take the time to do it.

hahahha  Compared to back in the US, where 10am to 9pm is standard, Monday thru Saturday, 10am to 6pm on Sunday, and extended hours between Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Yes Amazon Prime has saved us here too! Luckily I'm pretty plain in my shampoo needs. I just use head and shoulders for shampoo and herbal essense for conditioner. Girl where do you live? If your nearby I could give you a lift on the weekend? Ooooh no, tell me about the increase in visa fees! I didn't know! I will have been here a year in October so I still have some time but we have been saving for it thinking it will be roughly the same cost.

Yes Amazon Prime has saved us here too! Luckily I'm pretty plain in my shampoo needs. I just use head and shoulders for shampoo and herbal essense for conditioner. Girl where do you live? If your nearby I could give you a lift on the weekend? Ooooh no, tell me about the increase in visa fees! I didn't know! I will have been here a year in October so I still have some time but we have been saving for it thinking it will be roughly the same cost.

We don't know for sure what the new fees will be, but the fees have been going up about 25% every year. They actually change just in time for the new tax year in April. Sometimes they tell us early, this year they put them out a week or so before they changed. You can take a look at the 2017 fees vs the ones you paid last year.

Seriously you guys, every so often I feel like I was super spoiled back home by all the convenience.  Latest one. I need makeup. I would normally hit up my local Ulta, or Sephora, or Sallys. I want to be able to try it on and see if it suits my skin tone. Especially here, specifically Tewkesbury, where most folks are a good bit lighter than me and no one seems to carry darker/olive skin tone stuff. (There's a local Avon rep and all her stuff is for lighter skin tones.) I asked a neighbour and she straight up said that I would have to travel to BIRMINGHAM, like a bit over an HOUR, just to go to a department store and try some on. W.T.A.F. yall? Luckily, I decided to do some googling and there's a Boots in Cheltenham, like 15ish mins away with a makeup counter and specialist so I assume there will be testers and stuff.

It may be because this is a small town. Or just generally, it occasionally feels like folks here like to suffer a bit. Nothing is open 24/7. Sundays everything, except for pubs, are only open 10-4. I already can't get me some hot cheetos or plus size clothing (man don't get me started on the pain of realising how your 'size' goes up by two number values when you move here!) so I have to not satisfy my emotional eating and wear clothing that doesn't fit right hahahaha!

Worse is when you ask around, like I did my neighbour, and they speak to me like I'm a complete idiot and should know that there won't be a local anything to pop to real quick. I've lived here less than a year and they're always shocked that I don't know better.

Okay. rant over. Just wanted to get that out.

We were 'spoiled' in the US. Haha. I know that now. Being able to go shopping after work is something I will never take for granted ever again! Haha. It sucks. The US used to be like this too, we just extended the hours because so many people asked for then.

Just keep trying products, it's really the only way to find what will work. We've all had to do it. I've got my John Frieda brilliant brunette shampoo and conditioner, my oral b toothpaste (it's crest), dove maximum strength cream deoderant, and most of my makeup is available at Debenhams. You can try make up at the large Boots stores. I don't know if they do samples or not. They also have counters at Debenhams.

I'm fairly certain you can buy products from Boots, try them and return them you can check on their website. They do free shipping online on specific amounts or you can have it sent to your local boots if it's £10 minimum? Check the amounts. You can do returns to your local store.

Seriously you guys, every so often I feel like I was super spoiled back home by all the convenience.  Latest one. I need makeup. I would normally hit up my local Ulta, or Sephora, or Sallys. I want to be able to try it on and see if it suits my skin tone. Especially here, specifically Tewkesbury, where most folks are a good bit lighter than me and no one seems to carry darker/olive skin tone stuff. (There's a local Avon rep and all her stuff is for lighter skin tones.) I asked a neighbour and she straight up said that I would have to travel to BIRMINGHAM, like a bit over an HOUR, just to go to a department store and try some on. W.T.A.F. yall? Luckily, I decided to do some googling and there's a Boots in Cheltenham, like 15ish mins away with a makeup counter and specialist so I assume there will be testers and stuff.

Do you know if there's a KIKO around you? I mean it's their own brand - you won't find brand name stuff so I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for but they do have testers! It reminds me of a cheaper version of sephora. I like it because I can get in and get out without spending a fortune! haha Unfortunately it might just be your location Where I am, I don't have anything but a pharmacy that has a verrryyyyyy tiny make-up section (luckily has the eyeliner I use and that's all I use on the regular) but I am within range of several different options in that sense (furthest one is 30 minutes away max if there's traffic). Makes it even easier as one of the places is in the town I work and our office does a coach into town at lunch so I don't even have to drive (this is when I take the chance to get the hair dye and stuff I need so I don't have to drive myself later because I'm lazy haha).

Or just generally, it occasionally feels like folks here like to suffer a bit. Nothing is open 24/7. Sundays everything, except for pubs, are only open 10-4. I already can't get me some hot cheetos or plus size clothing (man don't get me started on the pain of realising how your 'size' goes up by two number values when you move here!) so I have to not satisfy my emotional eating and wear clothing that doesn't fit right hahahaha!

Some Tesco are open 24/7! It's wonderffullllll because if I'm realllyyy not feeling people, I can go later on a weeknight not see a single soul!   Like everything else though, it's limited hours on a Sunday because of labour laws. Sundays here are DEFINITELY a pain (even the hours pubs are open can be irritating. There's nothing worse than sleeping in on a Sunday and wanting to then go out and do something because by the time you get up and moving you have to rush around to get to the shops before they shut!

I would definitely suggest online shopping! Maybe if you see something you like, buy a few different sizes and return the ones that don't fit and use that as a starting point for what size to buy. I definitely agree that sizing here can be a pain. It's not even consistent from store to store (which is why I mentioned using it as a starting point because it's bound to change every so often with different retailers). So many people do online shopping these days that I think there's just more available online than in shops. Just did a quick google for you and it looks like H&M do plus size clothing. They do in-store pick-up and free returns which can be helpful. Loads of stores do in-store pick-up now adays so if there are shops that have a limited plus size section but have more available online, definitely look into shopping at those shops and picking the items up in store. Give "Plus Size Clothing UK" a google and there seems to be a good few selections (some are online only like Boohoo so you need to maybe look at reviews before ordering but I can vouch for Boohoo as I've ordered from them before). it's definitely frustrating and I feel your pain (my issue is finding a damn bra that is cute AND fits! and don't even get me started on finding comfortable jeans!) but don't give up hope on that front yet!

Definitely vent! Better out than in!

All toiletries are a mystery to me over here.  Makeup, deodorant... I can't even find a shampoo I like anymore (shops used to carry one I liked, but they discontinued it despite my loyal purchasing).  I don't even know how to respond to your rant other than to say, yes.  All of that.  I am sure I just need to buy a car and go spend some time in a shop looking at things.  But it sounds like you have browsed shops and it hasn't helped.  So I dunno.  I'll check in again in a year, after I am independently mobile, and I'll let you know if I figure anything out.

I will say that the deodorant situation was a bit of a culture shock to me the first time I needed to purchase some (can't remember if it's when I visited or actually moved here). It was SO difficult to find a stick vs a spray or a gel roll-on! It's gotten MUCH better in the last few years, but I remember having to pay more for what I was used to and what I liked (I tried the other kinds and I just wasn't a fan).

What types of shampoo and make-up are you missing? Maybe somebody here can help you out?

I know right?! Deoderant got me. Spray? LuckilyI had traveled with loads of the regular stuff I use and I've only recently run out. Like you spray but the aerosol is intoxicating. I actually bulk ordered my normal stuff off Amazon lol!

I immediately started driving when I got here lol! You can drive with a US license up to a year then have to get a UK one. I've driven around but I've also got a 1yo so I definitely can't leisurely explore. It's just so annoying lol!

A while back my kiddo took my toothbrush and played with it in the toilet. On a Sunday. Sooo I had to wait till 1000, when shops JUST start to open to buy one. We were up at 5am that day. It was awful lol! I know it's all minor, first world sorta problems but it can get to you when they start adding up.

You can get normal stick now in most places! I've only really noticed DOVE but might be other kinds as well. I get mine from Sainsbury when we do our food shopping haha. When there's an offer I'll get multiple and I keep them in the cupboard as backup. I definitely suggest buying multiples of things (even just one "as a backup" because it makes it easier I've found to deal with the awkward hours and the difficulty it can be to get to some shops after work. I typically have a spare, non-electric (as I have my electric one I bought in the US but bought a UK charger for) toothbrush in case we need to use it or if we have a guest that needs a toothbrush - learned that trick from my mom haha. We have a backup toothpaste, backup mouth wash, loads of £1 backup body washes for me, etc. I find it's just SO much easier to have at least one backup than it is to worry about running out last minute when you realise you forgot to get a new one and you've run out!