Sunday 22 December 2013

The Candle obsession continues... Featuring Bomb Cosmetics



One of the things that I love doing most in Winter is lighting lots of lovely smelling candles, whether i'm just relaxing in my room, writing a few blog posts or having a bubble bath then you can almost guarantee that I will have a few candles lit (unless i'm at my college house, It's a rental so I can't be burning things there.)  I discovered Bomb Cosmetic's candles last christmas time as a shop in the Westfield centre began selling them but as they have since changed their stock I have been unable to repurchase anything as I don't really like buying candles online, I have to be able to check if I like the scent first. So I was pretty happy to stumble across their stand at the Clothes Show this month and for just £10 for two I couldn't resist a little purchase.

Vanilla Honey has a lovely sweet scent that is really comforting in this cold and gloomy weather weather and my mum has already tried to steal this little one from me. However my favourite scent has to be the Chocolate Orange which does actually smell exactly like a Terry's Chocolate Orange and lets be honest you can't go wrong there. Both of the candles are decorated with four small wax hearts around the edge which add a little bit of extra cuteness to these already lovely candles.  My last experience with these tell me that they burn for quite a long time, they lasted me a good month of burning for a few hours every night which is pretty good in my book and I think they do compare quite well to Yankee Candles which is another of my favourite brands.

They normally retail for £7.99 each which is good for a candle this size, especially with how great their scent throw is and how long they last for. They would make a great gift for either Christmas or Birthdays or just a random present for someone you really care about. Since I've decided I love the Chocolate Orange scent I'm also thinkig about trying this gorgeous little teacup candle or this candle in a glass. They also have a massive range of bath cosmetics such as Bath Blasters, Bath Melts and Soaps which are all ridiculously cute and I think we all know at least one person who would appreciate a soap in the shape of a slice of cake or a calorie free cupcake that will leave your skin soft and smooth.

Have you tried any candles or other products from their range? What are your thoughts?

Wednesday 18 December 2013

Help out with every card you write this Christmas.



For the past few years my Mum and I have been making a donation to charity each with the money we would have spent on Christmas cards and while this works for us, This year I just felt like I wanted to give out cards and whilst I was debating whether to buy regular cards or make a donation it got me thinking about how I could combine the two and all of the Charity Christmas Cards that are out there. 

So many different charities have their own christmas cards, I've selected a few lovely ones above but there really is a design for everyone to love and if there's a charity that's particularly close to your heart then this is a small but so significant way to give back over the Christmas season. They are a little bit more expensive and I know quite well that sometimes cheap and cheerful is the only way I can afford something but they're for a good cause so you know your hard earned money is going to a good place and if you've already bought yours and sent them out then why not buy a pack and save them for next year? As there only a few pounds so some might not see how it would make a difference but I suppose that even the smallest donations add up and can really make a difference to someone.

I know a lot of people already buy these cards and if you do that's amazing but I also know it's one of those things people know about but sometimes forget about. It's just something for people to think about this Christmas and something that probably should have occurred to me way before this so I think I've got a new Christmas Tradition from now on. This year I'll be going for the Cancer Research Uk cards as it's something that's affected both sides of my family and I really support the work they are doing, is there a set of cards you have your eye on?

Happy Holidays to you all.

Monday 16 December 2013

My Christmas Wishlist


This year seems to have flown by and as cliche as it is I really can't believe that it's Christmas already! Now this wishlist is a little late for me to receive any of these as my Mama always finishes her christmas shopping practically by the end of October (one day I will be that organised, I hope...) but there's nothing wrong with a little Christmas screen shopping.

I have a bit of a soft spot for both chiffon shirts and anything with a touch of leather so this shirt from Monki is perfect for me and would go with so many outfits which I've decided will be a new rule when I'm shopping, If I can't think of at least three outfits it'll fit into it has to go back, luckily with this one I can fit it into about fifty. Monki also has some lovely inexpensive lingerie and this is one of the only times that having no chest to speak of comes in handy as they are the tiniest slips of lace but they are oh so pretty and made for showing off just a little bit.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love my coffee (mainly skinny caramel latte's with one two shots of coffee and a drizzle of caramel sauce if anyone was wondering) so of course I need lots of mugs to drink it out of and how adorable is this little Minnie mug? As well as coffee, makeup is another love of mine and I've been wanting one of the Ted Baker cosmetic bags for that last couple of years, I might just have to show this one to Jon as a little hint (or a blatant 'I want this!') as it's just perfect, who wouldn't need a sparkly makeup bag for Christmas?

Also who doesn't need a sparkly Rose headband anytime of the year...Well that would be me if we're going to get technical about it but if I can find a way to justify this purchase even a tiny bit then I will be buying it. It's just so pretty, it would more thank likely end up being used as a decoration in my room but then again it is made to be looked at. Another sparkly item is OPI's Affair in red square which doesn't look all that special in real life but I promise you it is absolutely gorgeous, it's a bright red metallic that is perfect for the christmas season and is also a one coat wonder (aka opaque in one coat.) I used to have a bottle of this but it smashed a few months ago so I think I just may be able to justify buying it again.

This is the not-in-a-million-years-will-I-ever-get-this-but-it's-so-pretty-it's-here-anyway item, You can't go wrong with a bit of Tiffany's and as Swarovski don't seem to be doing many gold charms this year, I have turned my sights elsewhere to the store with all the little blue boxes with the very large price tags. I love this teeny tiny letter charm and it's so perfect for this time of year with all the christmas cards being sent around.

I'm also looking at practical items this year as I really do need a good pair of boots now the cold weathers here, I trust the quality of Office's shoes and I love the quilting on these Chelsea Boots as it's adds a bit of a twist to such a classic item. I'm slightly obsessed with snoods ( I seem to have one on every wishlist in winter) but for some reason I've never purchased one, maybe this is the year and this Topshop version is the one for me.

What's on your Christmas Wishlist?

Friday 13 December 2013

Haircare Review - The Neal and Wolf Smooth Giftset




At the East Midlands Blogger Meet two weeks ago, I was lucky enough to recieve this giftset as a prize in the Lucky Dip organised by the lovely Emma and I have to say I've been really impressed with this set. I hadn't heard of the brand before so I was a little wary at first but after being assured that it's a great brand by Harriet (she know's her haircare stuff) I gave them a go and I'm hooked.

The set includes three full size products - The Ritual Daily Cleansing Shampoo - £11.50, The Harmony Intensive Treatment -£13.50 and the Silk Smoothing Blow Dry Balm - £12.50. This particular set is currently unavailable to buy which is such a shame as it's lovely however they do have three other sets on their website ,which you can see here, all of which would make the perfect gift for any beauty lovers this Christmas.

The Ritual Daily Cleansing Shampoo is a really lovely product, it has the same great scent that the other products have, which is a unusual but strangely nice scent, I would say it's slightly musky/herbally but it's one of those things that can't really be described very well, you'd have to sniff it in person to really understand what I mean. It cleanses my hair without leaving a residue that weighs it down which can be an issue for me but doesn't dry my hair out the way that I have experienced with other cleansing shampoos. The website states that 'An infusion of silk and milk proteins combine to boost vital moisture and reduce flyaway hair. Liquid shea extract delivers brilliant shine' and whilst it does leave my hair shiny and moisturised it doesn't quite conquer my flyaway hairs but my hair is particularly resilient when it comes to being tamed but if you had normal hair then I think it would do the trick.

The Harmony Intensive Treatment is another lovely product and a bit of a godsend in this cold weather, As my hairs been bleached it can get quite dry, especially in winter and I'm always in need of a good deep conditioner. It has the same unusual scent as the shampoo so it is a good thing I like it and does it's job well. They say that after using this product 'The difference in texture and appearance is truly stunning, leaving hair shiny, healthy and manageable.' As with the shampoo this is slightly true, as it does change the texture of my hair (In other words it keeps it looking more like hair and less like candy floss which seems to be it's preferred state these days...) however it doesn't quite tame my hair on it's own, it still needs help.

Which is where the Silk Smoothing Blow Dry Balm comes in and this has to be my favourite product from this set. It's a medium texture balm (by this is mean not so runny it goes everywhere but not so thick you can't get it to go into your hair evenly) and I only need to use a 10p size amount to cover all of my hair which I'm hoping means it will last quite a long time. This product really helps to smooth my flywaway hairs and stop my hair from frizzing as I blow dry which normally happens and it means I can get away with just blow drying my hair and leaving it without having to get the straighteners out as I normally do. I've begun to use this in rotation with my morrocanoil since I received it and any of my long time readers will know it has to be good to make it into that spot.

I really do recommend the Neal and Wolfe Products and if you can get your hands on a giftset then you won't regret it. These three products together create a great routine for anyone with difficult to manage hair like myself and I'm also thinking about working their Ritual Daily Conditioner into my routine soon.

Have you tried any Neal and Wolf Products? What are your thoughts and if not, do you want to give them a go?

Monday 2 December 2013

Finding the Perfect Christmas Party Dress is easier said than done.



It might seem to some like the easiest decision ever but I know that there are so many ladies out there that are like me and can't find the perfect Christmas party dress for the life of them, everything I try on seems to be not quite right. The three that have caught my eye this season are all from Little Mistress and for once I haven't been drawn to all things sequinned and sparkly (I think I've already overloaded on glitter with my christmas tree, so much so that Jon is considering a ban on anything sparkly next year...)

The first dress I've been drawn to is this lovely red peplum dress, I love the origami detailing and the colour is gorgeous, red dresses always make me think of christmas time. I'm not a big fan of strapless dresses as I spend the majority of my night praying it will stay up but I think I need to be a little bit braver this year and maybe invest in a better strapless bra...

The second contender is this stunning cream bodycon dress with black lace, I adore how the lace is placed to create an hourglass figure and I don't think you can ever go wrong with monochrome as it just means you get to play around with makeup and accessories My only issue with this is that the majority of it is cream, great for a meal where I can tuck a napkin in the top to protect it but if I go down town I may as well chuck a drink down myself before I go as it'll happen at so many points during the night anyway.

The final dress is this black bodycon dress with mesh panels, which even though it's the simplest of the three, it has a classic chic feel with a little modernity added by the cutout sections. I really love the back of this dress which you can see if you click on the link under the photo's, it does mean that I would definitely have to wear my hair up if I chose it (not by law or anything but you can't cover up pretty back detailing can you.) I love that like the first dress I would be able to go all out with the accessories, so of course I would be able to justify the purchase of this little number (only in my ind however, my bank balance definitely doesn't stretch that far.)

Which is your favourite of the three? Let me know if you've already found your perfect party dress.

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Winter Favourites - L O'ccitane Shea Butter Hand Cream


Throughout every other season I seem to skate by using handcream a couple of times a month if that, However in winter I tend to get horribly dry skin on my hands that only gets worse if I don't moisturise enough. It's mainly due to my skins sensitivity to the cold weather mixed with how often I have to wash my hands at work so as they are both unavoidable things, hand cream is my saviour. I use a cheaper hand cream such as hand food or Vaseline hand and nail on a daily basis as I need to use a lot to keep my hands from cracking and getting sore but every now and again I like to use something a little bit luxurious to give myself a manicure with and this is where L O'ccitane steps in.

I've tried a few of their hand creams but my favourite has to be the Shea Butter Version, It may not look like anything special but when it comes to moisturising it works like magic. A little bit goes a long way which is a great thing as it's £7 for a small tube so it isn't the most budget friendly product but It is worth the money. I like to keep this with my other nail essentials to use once a week, that way it ensures I use it often enough to get my money's worth but not so often that I finish it in a few days. It also has a lovely smell that's quite powdery and reminds me of something my Nan would have used. (In a good way, she loved her high quality products.)

I had a version a few years ago that I think was in a metal tube but since then they have changed it to plastic that looks as though it is metal which I actually prefer as it still has that  old school paint tube look to it but without the annoying holes that seem to pop up out of nowhere with metal tubes that waste half of the product.

If your looking for something a little bit luxurious for your home manicures then pop into L'Occitane and take a look at their selection of hand creams, They also do sets which are great as gifts all year round but are especially good as stocking fillers.

Have you tried any of the L'Occitane handcreams? Which one is your favourite?

Monday 25 November 2013

My Mac Lipstick Collection

This post has been a long time coming after I've seen them popping up here, there and everywhere, I attempted to try not to jump on the bandwagon but I caved, I need to share my love of Mac with all of you. After months of trying to convince myself that I don't have a lipstick buying problem, It really hit me that I do when I was struggling to fit all of my Mac Lipsticks onto one photo and they don't even make up a quarter of my lip product collection, I think It's safe to say I have a problem.


Ruby Woo - This is one of the newer shades in my collection and I was lucky enough to win it in a giveway from the lovely Sade - Go and check out her blog, you'll love it - and I'm very happy I did. It's a gorgeous bright red that is very matte so I find it's best to wear a lipbalm underneath, I tend to pair it with my eight hour cream, I give it a little time to sink in before I apply Ruby Woo but it gives me the best application as it can be a little drying but it really is a great colour for when you feel like standing out.

Russian Red - This is my go to red all year round, I'm so addicted to it that when my second tube got stolen along with my makeup bag I had to go and buy a new one straight away before anyone else as I had an audition coming up and I couldn't possibly go without it (silly I know but we all have our rituals.) It's another matte but it's not quite as dry as ruby woo, it has more of a velvety texture which means it's harder to keep on the lips but it is such a lovely deep red shade, really lovely in Winter.

Lady Danger - I've actually come to the realisation that I own more red lipsticks than any other colour so I'm using that as an excuse to why this doesn't get used that often as I don't actually know the real reason. Lady Danger is a bright orange toned red that I absolutely love in the summertime, It's probably the brightest colour I own and is only for the days when I'm feeling particularly brave (and I think we just found our reason as to why it's not used.)

Viva Glam Cyndi Lauper - I've had this lipstick for a long time (probably longer than your supposed to keep them) and it makes me sad that it's now discontinued as it's such a gorgeous colour. It's a muted pink toned red and I also have the matching gloss that is slightly more pigmented. It has a gorgeous creamy finish and is so easy to wear if I want a little bit of a bold lip but I don't want to fully commit.

Girl About Town - This one I have a little soft spot for, I've never had so many compliments on a lipstick (or been told that I look like one of Little Mix) as I've had when wearing this, everyone seems to love it and It does make a great alternative to a red lip. It's a bright blue toned pink with an amplified finish which means it's insanely pigmented, not one for the faint hearted but it does make me feel happy when I wear it and I don't really know why.

 (let's pretend I didn't get the order in the second photo back to front shall we...)

Hue - This is the colour I tend to use the least, not because I don't love it but purely because it melted and snapped in the summer and using it is a bit of a pain, I have to faff about with a lip brush and I just don't have the time for that. I do the colour, it's quite a nude toned light pink and it has a lovely finish, the glaze finishes are my second favourite next to Cremesheen's but it can look a bit strange when my skin is quite pale r.e most of the time so I would say it's better for those who have a tan.

Creme Cup - This was my first ever lipstick purchase and to be honest I mainly keep in for sentimental value as It just doesn't suit me. It's kind of like a more blue toned version of hue which means it can look a little bit Barbie on me which is not a look that I go for (If you do like that kind of look then you really should try this one out) I preferred this on me when I had dark haired. I do love the finish as I don't think you can beat Cremesheens in that department to be honest and it does have good staying power.

Peach Blossom - I didn't buy this all that long ago and I actually picked it up on a whim when I wanted Blankety and it was out of stock but it has become my most used lipstick next to Russian Red. It's a lovely peachy pink which for me is the perfect daytime shade, one of those and I dread to say it 'my lips but better' colours that adds a little something to your makeup without taking it too far. The finish is great Cremesheen is a winner once again) and it lasts for a good few hours and as it's such a subtle shade it's very easy to reapply even without a mirror.

Shy Girl -  This is my latest purchase and I love it almost as much as Peach Blossom but not quite. It's also a pinky peach colour but leans a lot more to the peach side and toes the line between being a lovely nude shade and being too matchy matchy with my face, I find it works best for me if I have a slight (fake) tan. Again Cremesheen finish, Love it.

Vegas Volt - This is probably the most unique colour in my whole collection, including my non Mac lipsticks as I don't tend to go for orange shades but this has a slightly neon quality and looks amazing with a tan in summer so I just had to buy it. As I am pale as a milk bottle I tend not to wear it all that often but once I have bothered to fake tan I love taking this on nights out with me. Like Girl about Town it has an amplified finish which means this little one is bright so if you love a bold lip with a twist then give this one a try.

Do you own any mac lipsticks? What's you favourite? Let me know if you've written a post like this as I love to read them.

Thursday 21 November 2013

The Christmas Tag


I recently saw this tag over on Ella's blog and as I am a Christmas obsessive I decided to give it a go, I love tags like these and if you love christmassy posts then you should definitely check her posts out at Hello Ella as she has some seriously lovely Christmas posts (and the rest of the year it's lovely too of course!)

What time of the year do you start your Christmas shopping?
I normally start Early in September.October but this year I am ridiculously poor so I'm thinking there will be a lot of Homemade and we'll say Heartfelt gifts (and of course lots of people will be getting chocolate but who doesn't love that?)

Do you have any festive recipes for food or drink you limit solely to the Christmas season to share?
I make a Christmas version of my Rocky Road (but not Nigella's Christmas version) with a shitload of sprinkles which I stand by that as the technical term for it and I make a mean mince pie but my real specialty is hot chocolate or vanilla latte's with cream and every kind of marshmallow and sprinkle imaginable.

Tell me how Christmas goes down in your home
We normally sleep till about 9 as that is a lie in in the world of me and my mama, then we open presents and have croissants and bucks fizz for breakfast. Subsequently we get bored of the bucks fizz and make a pot of tea to keep us going. The Christmas movie channel goes on and my mum starts coking a bit later, my sister pops round for dinner and to open her presents, more Christmas movies, This year we will probably spend a little while with Jon and his family before going back for my special hot chocolates and family time in front of the fire.

Do you have any Christmas traditions?
We always go to my Grandma's house for her annual Boxing Day Family Buffet which she swears is getting smaller every year but the food still never fits on the table and there's always a few board games that go on throughout the Christmas period that I sometimes win and don't cheat at or my sister wins and she definitely does cheat!

Do you have a favourite festive coffee?
I do love a good Creme Brulee latte and I love Chai latte's all year round but they just feel a bit more special around Christmas time.

What's your favourite Christmas song?
The Pogues - Fairytale Of New York, is my ultimate Christmas song, I adore it and I've also been known to crack out my own versions of Silent night and Walking in a Winter Wonderland when I've been on the Baileys.

What do you do on Christmas Eve?
I normally work in the daytime and pop to see my Grandpa in the afternoon to give him is presents and see some of my Chesterfield family before coming home to watch Christmas movies in front of the fire (that is my fave Christmas thing if you can't tell by now.)

What's your Christmas wrapping strategy? Do you have a strategy?
I'm a present wrapping demon in that I go way ott and the presents end up with ribbons and bows and reindeer confetti inside and they are ridiculously difficult to open because I take after my Nan in the sense that I sellotape presents half to death, there's no way that's accidentally coming open. I also tend to colour coordinate and use a different scheme for each person so it does take a whole evening but I actually love it.

What's your dream gift this year?
I'd love a lot of new dance clothes and normal clothes just because I haven't been able to buy myself anything in a while and it would be amazing. My ultimate present would be Royal Ballet or West End tickets but I've already had one West End trip this year so that would be asking a little much.

Describe your Christmas tree. How tall? Real or artificial? How is it decorated?
I have a artificial tree that cost £8 from Argos on Christmas eve last year but it's a 6 footer and it actually looks pretty good, I have a mix of red, gold and green baubles with white lights, I tend to use beads instead of tinsel as It just annoys me a bit but I like tinsel everywhere else. I have cute little personal baubles to that remind me of my childhood and people in my life which are my favourites. My mama's also bought a little tree for the dining room so I have another to decorate!

Do you decorate just the tree or other areas of your house e.g. windows, bannisters?
I normally have a lot of christmassy candles dotted about the house and  I love putting our cards up everywhere, I do have a few bits of tinsel up here and there but not too much and we always have fairy lights in our windows to put on at night time.

What do you wear to Christmas parties and what do you wear on Christmas day?
I tend to wear my pjs in the morning and then I put on a nice outfit (or a new outfit if I'm lucky) for dinner and if I see Jon's parents and then back to pj's in the evening. For nights out/parties I tend to wear something sparkly with heels and red lips, can't go wrong with sequins for a Christmas do.



What are you favourite things to do at Christmas time?

Sunday 17 November 2013

Sunday Series - Happiness is a Sunday


I haven't blogged for a little while because as much as I love this little corner of the Internet, sometimes life gets in the way of being able to sit and write the way I'd like. This past week I've been giving everything I have and every spare bit of time I've found to my college work, to my performances and making sure that I'm improving myself the way I need to be which hasn't left much time for anything else. This next week is going to be a little bit less full on so I'll be able to get a few posts. As being so busy has drained me a little bit I thought it would be the perfect time to do one of these posts to remind myself that the struggle is worth it and to keep this blog going in a positive direction. 

1. I've spent a lot of time auditioning and performing this week and even though there's been quite a bit of dissapointment It's been good to see what I need to do to improve and just how much I need to be pushing myself. Just got to keep going and keep working hard.
2. I've been able to relax this weekend and finally get round to sitting with a cuppa and reading my stack of magazines that have been sitting on my bedside table for too long.
3. Finally got myself a travel mug so no more burning my throat in a morning trying to drink my coffee before I leave.
4. Even though I've been so busy I've still been able to spend time with the people I care about and have a good laugh, there's a few people in my life that I am so grateful to have there and really know how to cheer me up.
5. The Hunger Games Catching Fire will be out soon and I can't wait to go and see it. Jennifer Lawrence has grown on me in the past year, at first I just didn't get the casting but now I adore her.
6. As I haven't had much money this month I've been going back to my old makeup when I fancied something new and I've managed to find some gems that I'd completely forgotten about, I may do a post soon so keep an eye out.
7. I've finally managed to get a bubble bath in and nothing beats a good pamper after a long week.
8. I've been filling up Jon's sky + with all of my rubbish programs to watch when I finally get a day of and I'm looking forward to sitting a watching Beverly Hills Bride, KUWTK, Cake Boss and NY Ink all day. (I am that person who watches all the programmes you think no one will ever watch such as extreme couponing, Those people know how to find a Bargain!)
9. My mum bough us tickets to the Clothes Show Live and I actually can't wait, I'm also looking forward to the East Mids Bloggers meet up at the end of this month and finally getting to meet fellow beauty blogging obsessives.
10. Christmas is coming and I'm so excited. I adore Christmas and I know that my mum and Jon are not looking forward to having the Christmas Movie Channel on at all times but they're just going to have to deal with it.

What's been making you smile this week?

Wednesday 6 November 2013

Loreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil - The Review


I think we all know of my love for hair oils by now, mainly Morroccanoil which is my number one, however as good as it is, it has the price tag to show it so when my last bottle ran out, I needed something a little more inexpensive and that's where the Loreal extraordinary oil came into things. There are three versions of this, an oil for all hair types, a dry oil mist for fine hair and the version that I have which is an oil for coloured hair so it's probably best to go for the one that suits your hair the best as I have a feeling that they are pretty similar.

I like to use this when my hair is roughly towel dried (still a little bit wet) and before blow drying for the best results, it does also work when I leave my hair to dry naturally but I don't do that very often as my natural hair has a mind of it's own and can get a little crazy no matter what I put on it. I find that three pumps of this is enough for my hair as it isn't that long but it is quite thick, I tend to put this all over my hair, concentrating mainly on the ends and working up to the roots but if you have hair that can get oily very quickly then you should probably stick to the ends as is the usual with all conditioners and treatment products, I just have very dry hair. 

It is quite a thin oil which is clear in colour, it doesn't quite feel as luxurious as Morroccanoil but it doesn't leave your hands anywhere near as oily which is a positive note. I do find that at first it has quite a masculine smell which i'm not a fan of but luckily it doesn't linger and my hair ends up smelling of lovely shampoo rather than a man. It leaves my hair feeling soft and smooth, I do have a bit of frizz for a while after blow drying but I tend to wash my hair at night and by morning all the frizziness is gone and I'm left with smooth shiny hair that's easy to manage which is no mean feat for saying that A.) my hair has been bleached a heck of a lot and B.) I'm constantly taking my hair up and down all day which means my hair is quite weak in certain places.

This product retails for £9.99 but is currently on offer in boots for £6.66 so it's worth popping in (especially with their 3 for 2 offer on all makeup, may as well take a look whilst your there) and if your looking for a cheaper alternative to the expensive hair oils that are out there then this one is definitely worth giving a try as it does make your hair soft and shiny without breaking the bank and it lasts a very long time as you use so little and really what more can you want?

Have you tried any of the Loreal Oil's? What are your thoughts so far?

Monday 4 November 2013

Essie Autumn Collection - The Lace is on





I was supposed to be on a nail polish buying ban however I'm a sucker for a pretty metallic so as soon as I spotted this on the Essie stand I snapped it up. It's a metallic pink/purple which changes shade depending on the lighting, In daylight as you can see above it has a very pink tone however when it's darker or I'm in artificial lighting it has a distinct purple tone, It was very difficult to get a picture that does it any justice, the last photo is taken with flash and is the closest to the effect you get in the sunlight. The only likeness I can think of is a Quality street wrapper, somewhere in between the big purple one and the pink shiny one. (I'm hoping that my British readers at least get where I'm coming from, everyone else I do apologise but you might have to google that one.) Whatever the actual colour is, it's safe to say that I don't have another colour like it in my collecion, this little one is unique.

It's what I like to call a 'one coat wonder' as in it's opaque on the first coat and if you were in a rush for a night out you could get away with one quick coat of this especially as it dries very quickly. I prefer to do two coats however I do find that it loses it's glossiness quite quickly but this tends to happen with metallic polishes so a good topcoat is a must. My only issue with this polish is that without a top coat it does chip very quickly so if you are a normal person who likes to just paint and go this might not be the polish for you however if you are a bit obsessive with your nails and like to faff about with topcaots/base coats/strengtheners etc. the way that I do then this will most likely work for you.

If your looking for a darker shade that's a little bit different to take you into Autumn but aren't quite ready to let go of summer or for the sombre dark Burgundy's and Navy's that come with this season then this could be the polish for you.

This polish retails for £8.99 and can be purchased from Boots and other retailers.

Have you found any new perfect autumn/winter nail polishes so far this year ?

Saturday 2 November 2013

Marylin lied, Loungewear is a girls best friend.


Leggings Jack Wills | Slippers New Look | Hoodie Jack Wills | Top Topshop | Vest Skin | Playsuit Eberjay | Slippers Next | Robe Skin | Shorts New Look | Slippers Next

I would love to be able to say that I wear nice outfits all the time and present myself well everyday but it would be one hell of a lie since I spend seven days a week in uniform (either my black dance uniform or my work uniform) and save for the occasional evening out the rest of my life is spent in my pj's or joggers because after dancing/working all day the thought of real clothes is just too much. Since I don't have a choice with my uniforms what better things to spend my money on than lovely pj's and lounge wear that isn't my usual sports direct chic, seriously as ugly as they are you can't beat a pair of mens joggers when your aching so much you can't move and you just want to relax in front of a cosy fire with a cuppa and watch Strictly Come Dancing. So I thought I would put together a list of all the pretty but cosy items I'm wanting this month.

Leggings are a staple for me when I want to be relaxed and Jack Wills have a great selection of printed ones that are perfect for lounging round the house. Most of them are on sale at the moment and I'm thinking I might have to pop this fairisle pair on my Christmas list and maybe a few others as a girl can never have too many pairs of leggings. Or slippers for that matter, My favourite kinds are the slip on pairs like this light brown pair from New Look or these adorable Panda ones from next, They are so comfy and keep your feet warm. I'm also slightly obsessed with Boot Slippers like this grey pair from Next, I don't really know why but I actually love them for mooching about the house and they are ridiculously toasty warm in winter.

You also can't go wrong with a good hoodie, I normally steal borrow Jon's but I'd quite like a cosy one all of my own and this one from Jack Wills looks so cosy, definitely appropriate for curling up in front of the fire in. I also love these baggy long sleeved tops that are so comfortable and easy to wear but are also okay to wear outside of the house. Topshop bring out a slightly different version every year and I've lost count of how many of them I've had over the years, they really are so versatile, Primark also do a nice version this year which you can see in this post, which are a lot cheaper but I do have a soft spot for the Topshop versions. Vest tops are a staple too as they can be layered under everything for exra warmth and I love this grey version by skin from Net a Porter.

There's also some pretty items on my list which are the kinds of things that I wish I wore to lounge around in but being the coldest person ever I just can't do it. These little new look shorts are adorable and I might actually get them to wear in summer so at least I can pretend to be glamorous at some point in my life. I also love this silk playsuit/teddy from Eberjay/Net a Porter which is stunning, you'd definitely feel like a VS angel in something like this (because clearly not having the outfit is the only thing stopping me from being one...) but I think there's no way you wouldn't feel glamorous in this. I've also become obsessed with dressing gowns at the moment, I already have two (one at my house and one at my mums) but of course I need one at Jon's too so I never have to go without one, This grey version would be perfect but I'm thinking it will more likely be a Primark wonder for me (I do have my eye on a big fluffy polka dot number that is not man repelling in the slightest...might have to find something else aha.)

How do you feel about Loungewear? If your a little obsessed like me then let me know what your favourite brands/shops are, I always love a good recommendation when it comes to being cosy.

Tuesday 29 October 2013

My favourite Autumn Nude Lip Combination


I've started experimenting with different lip product combo's over the past few weeks and I wanted to share one ofmy favourites with you lot. I normally tend to go for either light peachy shades or bold bright colours so it's strange for me that the one I've been loving at the moment is more of a brown nude, it's a little bit nineties which is having a fashion moment this year and I was a child of the nineties so that might have a lot to do with it, It's also all drugstore products which makes a nice change from my usual MAC addiction.

I start with Rimmel Lip pencil in Tiramisu which is a mid toned brown/pink, I'm not a huge fan of Rimmel but I do think that their lip products stand out above the rest of their range, this liner stays put and does it's job, it is slightly drying so I wouldn't wear it on it's own. I then use Loreal's Colour Riche in Eva's Nude which is a gorgeous suits all pink, I originally intended to pick up Cheryl Cole's version (Jennifer Lopez for those of you in the US) but it was sold out at the time however I've been back and I ended up not buying it as I actually prefer this colour. The final product is one that got a lot of hype when it first came out but had to compete with the Rimmel Apocolips range so didn't get a lot of love, which is the No7 BB lips in the shade Ballerina (the name itself is enough for me to want it) it's basically a tinted lipbalm but it has a really lovely texture and is not sticky at all, I also bought this with a £5 No7 voucher that are always being given out with your purchases so it's a good buy if you have one of those and are wondering what to get. I find that the lipstick and the balm cancel out how drying the liner is and the layering means that it wears away evenly and lasts for a good few hours, even through my usual starbucks run.

What's your favourite Autumn Lip Combination?

Sunday 27 October 2013

My Hearts in Covent Garden.









Last week Jon and I stayed in London for a night to go and see Charlie and The Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal, West End shows are always amazing and this was no exception, If your looking for a great show to see, especially of you want to take the little ones then this is definitely worth booking, The special effects are great and you can really see how much care and attention has gone into every little detail. We stayed at the the Strand Palace Hotel which is two minute walk from Covent Garden and many of the theatre's so it was really handy for when my feet were hurting and we wanted to pop back and drop the shopping off. Me being me I forgot my memory card for my camera so I had to take all of my photo's on my phone but I didn't really end up taking that many as we were too busy running around.

We spent most of our day there in Covent Garden, mainly for convenience but also because there's so much to do we didn't really feel like going anywhere else and where all the theatre's are is where I like to be. I didn't get to explore the shops as much as I would have liked but I would have needed a few days there for that as I get a little carried away with shopping, Of course I got in a little trip to Mac though as I couldn't resist. We did also pop to Bond Street just for Victoria's secret and to the Rainforest Cafe for the strongest Pina Colada I've ever had because apparently I had a deprived childhood because I hadn't visited there, not going to lie I did enjoy it and nearly came away with a million and one stuffed animals but those teeny tiny penguins were too ridiculously expensive to justify.

On Tuesday we took a wander down to the River Thames and went across the Jubilee Bridge which was all fine and dandy until Jon pointed out that it's the one that swayed all over the place in reality and got blown up in Harry Potter so I got my pictures and got off there sharpish, Bridges aren't my thing at the best of times. We also went to Notes in Covent Garden for a coffee which was one of the best latte's I've ever had so I'm thinking I'll be going back to that one.

What are your favourite places to visit in Covent Garden, or even just in London?



Friday 25 October 2013

My Current Makeup Loves


As I'm a creature of habit when it comes to my makeup I thought I would share with you the makeup items I've been reaching for almost everyday lately.

I'm back to using my Bourjois Healthy Mix which I've fallen back in love with again after trying their new offering, the happy light foundation, all I can say is that I'd rather use healthy mix that is a shade too dark for me than use the Happy Light again and I seeing as I hate too dark foundation with a passion, that says a lot for me. As it's quite a dewy foundation, I've been setting it with my Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Plus as it gives a lovely finish that's matte but still a little but radiant, I will say that this is quite shimmery and doesn't really work that well with flash so I wouldn't wear it to take any photo's but for day to day wear it's great. I'm also reaching for my Bourjois Blush in the shade 'Healthy Mix' quite often these days as the healthy flush it gives my cheeks is definitely necessary in this gloomy weather.

For my lips, I've really enjoyed using my Mac lipstick in Peach Blossom, which is another product that I thought would just be a Spring/Summer product but I love the pink/peach tone that it gives to my lips and as it's a cremesheen formula it's very moisturising which is always a positive. I've been reaching for my Carmex as usual but lately I've been preferring it in the tube as opposed to the pot I normally buy just because it's easier to use and less messy when I'm on the go,

I'm also back to using an old favourite on my eye's which is the Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara, which I actually first started using when it first came out and I was still at school which makes me feel a bit old and I've fallen back in love with it after a brief period of hating all mascara's with a plastic brush. My Mac quad has also been getting a lot of use lately. The four colours I'm currently keeping in here are: All that Glitters, Concrete, Patina and Black tied. I tend to use concrete as a brow colour as it's quite an ashy brown which works well with blonde hair and all that glitters all over my lid. The other two are there for if I decide I want to do an easy smoky eye but I also like to use black tied as an eyeline on my upper lashline.

Which makeup items have you been reaching for lately?

Monday 14 October 2013

Review -Soap and Glory - Scrub Actually





I will admit that as much as I love beauty products and faffing about with makeup and all that jazz, the area that I fail spectacularly at is exfoliating, In the sense that I just don't do it, ever. I own quite a few scrubs and I'm always so excited when I first get them but every single time I get out of the shower and remember that I still didn't use it and vow to do it next time, it's a viscous circle. So I decided to make an effort to start using a scrub more often, in stepped Soap and Glory's Scrub actually to help me with this endeavor.

As you can see from the above photo is quite a thick scrub compared to others that I have tried which I personally like as I feel that if a scrub is too runny then it doesn't really do anything and is therefore a waste of money. I also like the fact that as it is a sugar scrub the grains are quite big which means that it feels quite rough at first but they dissolve away slightly as you exfoliate and it begins to feel very soothing especially if you are in a warm bath. I also love that this doesn't leave a mess in my bath/shower as that's one of my pet hates when it comes to products, I dislike being all relaxed and then realising that I have to spend an age cleaning my bath out.

Another thing that I really enjoy about this scrub is how moisturising it is, most scrubs tend to remove all of my dry skin but leave it feeling tight and a little sore however this does neither. I feel like this could be because of the Mango Butter, Apricot Kernel Oil and Kukui Oil which are listed as a main ingredients as after washing this off I do sometimes feel like there is a slight oily residue left on my skin which I quite like as it means I don't have to moisturise (I know, I know I should but I'm worse with that than exfoliating.) It also meant that it was very difficult to keep that blob on my hand when I was trying to take a picture for you guys as it kept sliding about everywhere. 

I've found that although this is a great all over body scrub, my favourite way to use this is after I have shaved my legs as it makes my skin feel silky smooth and less irritated than any other scrub I've tried as my skin can be so sensitive after shaving and the easiest way for me to prevent a rash is to use this straight away and it also means I don't have to faff about with a harsh scrub and moisturiser after which makes me happy, so now really wish I'd found this this product a lot sooner, The tube says it's sensational and it really is (I'll stop being cheesy now.) As this is me and I clearly have an obsession with things smelling nice I do have to mention that It smells amazing, It doesn't have a specific scent but it really is lovely, so I really recommend you try it out especially as Boots has 3 for 2 on a lot of things including Body Skincare products a the moment so it would be a very good deal.

Have you tried this scrub or do you have another favourite to share?


Sunday 6 October 2013

Happiness is a Sunday #6


1. Life has been hectic for the past few weeks, I'm either at college or work all day 7 days a week but I think I'm starting to figure out how to juggle everything, It's been very difficult and there has been tear and stressing out more than I would like but I think I'll get the hang of it and I know that it'll all be worth it in the end.
2. I went downtown for the first time since May this weekend for one of my friends birthdays, I had such a lovely night with great people but I'm still not sure if the hangover at work was worth it, put it this way if someone offers to buy you a watering can of woo woo, just say no!
3. I had my first Pumpkin Spice Latte this week, they haven't had them at my usual Starbucks until this year and it lived up to it's hype.
4. Jon and I went to Chiquito's for Dinner last week and Oh dear lord the fajitas were good,
5. It's been over 5 weeks since my last day off but I only have 14 days until I have one, Just so happens to be a certain Mr's birthday too so it will be extra special.
6. I finally have internet during the week so I can keep up with my posts and it's going to be a lovely evening when I get to catch up on so many posts,. It's also going to make doing my research for college so much easier.
7. I've been finding my classes challenging but in a good way and I love that I'm being pushed to step out of my comfort zone everyday and that I get to learn everything properly. I'm just going to keep working hard and take on every correction I'm given until I improve.
8. I've been eating pretty badly this week (McDonalds at 3am anyone?) but I'm hoping to get back on track this week.
9. Lush Bubble bars have been a godsend for my aching body and I'm so excited for their christmas collection.
10. My college house is starting to feel more like a home and I feel really lucky that I've found such great housemates. 

Don't forget you can follow me on twitter and instagram - @rosaliejayne
Hope you've all had a great week, Let me know what's been making you happy this week.