Things you cannot live without

So it is perhaps inevitable that after 3 months of trying to get by in the U.K. without certain niceities, it seems that I am going to give in to temptation and a desire to save money, and I am going to ask my family to send me anouther care package. This time I am going to ask for things that will help me feel better and fit in at work. I am also going to request their help to fulfill a request that has the potential to change my life forever. So the things we girls sometimes need to help us feel better are cosmetics. As I have not gotten paid yet, will not have enough in Pounds to buy anything good, plus the fact that I have a small suitcase full of cosmetics, I am hoping my mom will send me what I need. I was lucky to get my brushes, a mascara, some lip balm, and my perfume however I really wish the mascara was black,and that my perfume was actually my Estee Lauder Intuition lotion and perfume. I have also found that due to the grey and wet weather that my bronzer does little to cover the sallow look of my skin so it would be good for me to wear foundation make up. Thankfully I already have some color-matched in my Mary Kay collection. I will probably go through a brand new tube since even though it is now summer here, the weather is more winter to spring like. I am not surprised that all the women at Harvey Nichols wear make-up. It is a High Street fashion store so they all want to look their best. It will help me to use my Mary Kay color kit since it is a small, cute, silver case that holds 3 eye shades, 1 rouge, plus a matching lipstick all together. I think my mom sent me the lipstick already so the kit will be complete. Once I have my pretty face made pretier I will need to have the essential products to take it all off. A selection of Mary Kay products specific to each purpose will ensure that my skin stays looking young and more lively than it does right now. The purple bottle of eye make-up remover, a white bottle of cream cleanser, a blue bottle of toner, and a smaller white bottle of moisturizer are the basic tools of a great skin care regimen.

In case anyone has not figured it out yet, I am not this journalistic. The truth is that I still cannot afford to go to the cyber cafe and I do not yet have the ability to email people from home so, I have to write somewhat cryptic and more entertaining blogs that hopefully are informative and get my messages out to those I need to reach.

Something else that should help a single and searching girl attract her man is a stunning dress. I am really wanting to have my family send me my Coffee and Cream Zebra Print wool dress, White dress blouse, and Yellow Polka Dot belt from my J.Crew clothes. I also have to give in and realize that even in Edinburgh a girl is nowhere without her best handbag. I am going to risk using my Burgundy Patent Leather bag I got at Nordstroms instead of the cheap brown purse I brought. I am also going to upgrade as this brown bag is now falling apart due to a pin in the handle falling out. I have already had the pin replaced once before and now that the bag is scratched up on the outside, I would rather let the bag go for a newer one. I hope that Ian and his eco-friendly friends will not hold this against me. I figure that the dress, shirt, belt, and a short slip will all fit in the red handbag for easy mailing. I also imagine wearing this outfit when I am traveling around France, Spain, and Italy in October and November.

The most important request I have to make of my Mom, Ian, and Sarah is to search my storage unit, gather, carefully wrap and ship my entire Baroness Scrope Golden Gown Ensemble, hat included. I have been telling people at the Palace at Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh Castle, Mercat Tours, local booksellers, and also the current General Manager of Bolton Castle all about my interest in Mary, Queen of Scots and her relationship with Baroness Scrope, and all of the people I talk to have told me to participate in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August and the GM at Bolton is considering hiring me to play the Lady Scrope at the castle as well. Wearing the golden gown with all the accessories and presenting my storyand the story of Queen Mary Stuart and Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk could mean greater opportunites for me to start my hotel/restaurant concept here in the UK instead of having to copy and duplicate what already exists here.

I am worried about the expense of sending all of these above items overseas yet I don't see how I can go without them as they could have a direct effect on my future dreams of success and happiness. I would love to hear peoples opinions about this. Encouragement is also greatly appreciated.

Living and working abroad for six months and living like a backpacker is not recommended. I am looking forward to my travels through Europe with Ian and our friend Richard when living out of a backpack will make more sense. I still plan to go and look my best. And in talking to Richard by mobile phones recently it seems we will be staying in places better than hostels for backpackers. Thank you Richard. xx

Stay tuned everyone as my next blog will outline all the places I/We plan to travel in Europe with a day by day itinerary. For anyone who would like to see how I am organizing this trip feel free to check out RickSteves.com. I bought his Europe through the Back Door 2008 book, and used it, along with his website itineraries and suggestions about sites to see and places to stay, as the foundation and inspiration for what I hope will be a dream trip to the continent.