Izzy Muses

Patience Proves a Virtue for the Japanese Snowball

Izzy Muses — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:29:14 +0000

May is blossoming time for my once showy Japanese Snowball. This year, for the first time since the wrong plant food disaster of 2007, I am seeing something approaching a decent show of blossom.

Japanese Snowball

Actually, the wrong plant food incident was just one of the troubles that beset this virburnum. I made another mistake by planting dahlias underneath and I think they may have been to blame for introducing some kind of pest on to the leaves causing them to curl up and die prematurely. I have been reluctant to spray because I have robins and tits visiting the garden and they seem to enjoy feasting on the pest.

So, to get rid of the pest from this viburnum, I resorted to trying to manually pick off infected leaves but it has seemed a fairly hopeless task — until this year. Perhaps the late frosts worked some magic because there is a definite improvement. The pest is not entirely gone but the extent of the affected leaves is much reduced. Better still, the flowers are much bigger this year than they have been for the last five years.

So, it seems that patience, and a little persistance, can eventually prove a virtue for the Japanese Snowball.

Where to buy Crocs in Ireland

Izzy Muses — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:56:32 +0000

Dublin is getting a Crocs shop and not before time! Regular readers know that I am a quiet fan of Crocs and own a couple of pairs including a flip flop style and also a wedge mule.

If you haven’t a clue what Crocs are, you can find all about them at www.crocs.co.uk or facebook.com/CrocsEU

Let me digress for a moment to tell you that more visitors come to this blog in search of flip flop toe post protectors than come looking for Crocs. If you are one of those and have landed in this post by accident, the post you should be reading is here.

But back to today’s business and it was with some excitement that I learned that Crocs are to open a shop just off Henry Street in Dublin city centre.

From what I hear, the new Crocs shop will have about 79 of the 300 or so Crocs styles in stock including the latest styles. The range has moved on a bit since I last looked too. They have a new Crocs at work range where the Grace Heel court shoe caught my eye. I also like the more casual look of the Crosmesh.

The new shop is at 32 Upper Liffey Street. I might just have to pay a visit one day soon.

Bare Escentuals Skincare Range

Izzy Muses — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:15:47 +0000

Having used Bare Escentuals make up for the last six years, I was curious when I heard that they had launched a skincare range. I picked up some samples of the cleanser and moisturiser in a local department store to see how they would work on perimenopausal sensitive skin. I like the cleanser and also the nourishing moisturiser for normal/dry skin so I subsequently purchased full sizes of both products

Unfortunately, I accidentally purchased the wrong cleanser — I should have bought the Purifying Facial Cleanser but instead I bought the Deep Cleansing cleanser which turned out to be drying on my skin. In its favour, you only need to use a pea-sized pump to cleanse each time so the product represents very good value but even though it is pleasant to use, it just doesn’t suit my skin so I will be passing it on to someone with younger, oilier complexion.

I am also trying out the moisturiser and have the Purely Nourishing Moisturiser for normal and dry skin. I quite like the texture and find that it gives a good base for applying my makeup but when I have used up my supply, I suspect I will be reverting to my usual Decleor Hydrafloral and Philosophy Hope in a Jar.

Meanwhile, I am reverting to Liz Earle to fix the damage that I’ve done by experimenting so it’s back to Cleanse & Polish for the basic skincare routine and a couple of treatments with the Liz Earle Intensive Nourishing mask to tackle the dryness.