My Week

I have had a great week so far, I went out with my best friend Laura for her birthday and we achieved our goal of not getting drunk, just being merry. Our night consisted of cocktails, karaoke, dancing, food and fun. It was the first time we had ever gone out just the two of us and the first time in 6 months either of us had gone for a night out. For the occasion, I picked up a new dress and bought some alcohol so we could start the night off!

I love dooley's and hadn't seen it for about 5 years, as I went to morrisons to pick up Laura's Corkys, I spotted it and just had to buy it. Its like Baileys only its a toffee flavor, best served over ice, but still quite nice to drink on its own. It was always my go to drink on old nights out when i  was sick of alcopops and vodka.

I have wrapped all my Christmas presents and now only have a few left to do, the ones that I have only just bought. I only have 2 people left to sort out presents for and these are my mother in law and father in law. They have always been the hardest. My friend Karly has come up with an idea to make for my mother in law, but still need to find something else to get her as well. thank goodness I still have 4 weeks.

Once day I just could not face cooking so I ordered a chinese, It was a top up between that and an indian, but i decided on the chinese because they have a deal and my husband like the chicken balls, but likes nothing from and indian, the boring sod!

Other than that my week has consisted of keeping my flat tidy which I have failed miserably with, and I now have a cold that is slowly getting worse. roll on 6pm 22nd dec. This is my last shift over christmas and I go back on the 27th.

John Lewis Christmas Haul/Christmas List

When I wen to the John Lewis even I had a few goodies in my bag, All of which were stunning in their own right.

My favorite things where the teddy bear, that has quite a pudgey middle area but is super cute and very soft. I also Love the tin which had a Panettone inside - I'm not a fan of it, but that just my personal taste. The tin however is simply stunning as is the little chocolate lolly!

There were also a range of decoration such as a little fur tree candle, silver and white tree ornaments, a pine cone and my other favorite item, the twig heart that is decorated in siver and white.

Since going I have spent a lot of time looking at the Christmas catalogue, and have found a number of things I have fallen in love with. A Michael Kors Watch that my friend Laura desperately wants, and I can't say that I blame her. A beautiful little Glitter raindeer decoration and a Decoupage cherry blossom and chopstick bauble, as well as a eye turning Mint Velvet lace ruffle dress to a set of Aurora Liqueur glasses. That is just the start of it, there are so many things that I would love to have and I feel that this year John Lewis has captured me and what I want, my tastes are reflected in so many things, I just need the money to make my taste come to life.

Philosophy Face Clenser and Moisturiser

I have been using the purity clenser and hope moisturiser for over a week now and I have to say that they are lovely to use. Once again they are sample from my John Lewis event, where I think I shall have to save up to go to, because I have found far too many good products that I lived without before it!

They each have lovely smells and have made my skin clearer and softer in the time I have used them. Even though the Hope in a Jar is such a small sample I have used it 4 times so far and still have at least another 2 if not 3 uses left. I love it when I find a product that epitomises the saying 'a little goes a long way' as with both of these product I find that to be very true.

As stated before I do not do my routines on a daily basis as my strange-ass skin would just break out, but I haven't had a break out as of yet and feel that these product are very good for me. I do have other samples and moisurisers to use up before I even think of purchasing any more but unless I find a better one in the next few month I have to say that these Items will be re-purchased by myself.

1) Cold Crisp Evenings - I love it when its dry but really cold and you walk outside. You can see your breath, the evening air hits your face and you get that tingle in you cheeks. Its something I love because it reminds me of being a child and going to see firework displays, Santa in his grotto and visiting relatives.
2) Frost - I love the way it sparkles on everything, Okay I despise having to clean frost off my car and I hate falling on the floor, but it makes the world look pretty and fresh, It makes the world glitter and wink and feel like anything is possible.
3) Snow - I mostly love snow first thing in the morning, when no one has walked in it, the world is a white fuzzy cotton ball and it sounds so quiet and calm, the blanketed white of everything is so bright and powerful that it wipes away any dreary colors of greys and blacks and makes everything uniform. I find I am more relaxed in the snow and I enjoy throwing snowballs at my husband!
4) The Dark - The fact that the evening are darker for longer is lovely, it makes you appreciate the daylight. More than that it means that Christmas is on its way.
5) November - I love this month as its the gear up to Christmas in stores, you start to see Christmas decorations and towns/cities turn on their Christmas light and decorations. There is a real spirit in the air in November and I love seeing the lights twinkle in the cold air.

 6) Wrapping - It may sound strange but I hate the actual wrapping of presents, but I love the final outcome. I love looking at something wrapped and knowing what is in it but that the intended recipient will have a nice surprise. I love to give,
7) Layering - The cold comes and you start to put on layers, I tend to wear legging and knee length socks under my jeans/trousers. I normally wear a vest top, a long sleeve top and a jumper plus my knee length coat. I also wear a scarf, hat and gloves. this comes back to cold evenings as there is nothing better than piling on the layer and leaving your house and staying warm, but also after being out for hours the reverse it true. Coming in from the cold and feeling the warm air hit you and removing your layers.
8) Decorations - as mentioned in #5 - November, I love the decorations in towns and cities, I also love putting up my own. Buying some new ones every year, adding to the original, spending a good evening deciding the best place for things to go. I also love looking at other peoples decorations, seeing what they like and the effort they have made.
9) Candles - I love to burn candles all year round, but in the winter, during the darker nights, candles take on a life of their own. They are much more warming and homely, they invite you in and make you feel warmer just by looking at them. Maybe its just a left over caveman instinct, but I love to light a candle or 3 in the evening to bring that soft glow to my life.
10) Christmas - Yes, I love Christmas, I have not grown up. My husband and I do a stocking for each other. We wake up (well I say wake up, we normally barely sleep no more than 3 hours on xmas eve) open our stockings. Then while we fully wake up, he puts the kettle on and makes a cup of chocolate. we then open all the other presents. I love it all, cooking dinner, feeling stuffed after overeating, watching tv/dvds, staying in all day and just the whole day.
Our Christmas this year will be a little strange as my husband has to work on Christmas Day, so we are going to do the dinner on boxing day. We will still make the most of it.

What I Pinned!

A small selection of items I have pinned on Pinterest. I only go on to the Pinterest site about two/three a week as I literally loose all sense of time when I am on it and 2 hours feel like 10 minutes, I have actually been banned from it when my husband is home.
Follow me HERE.

Christmas Beauty Tag

I wouldn't say I was tagged in this, more I found it on my friends website and as I love Christmas I felt I had to do it. I invite anyone who reads this to do the tag yourself. Tags are fun and give you a chance to tell others about yourself.

1: What item of clothing do you love to wear in winter but wouldn't be seen wearing in public?
TBH since i moved into my little flat I had to throw away a lot of stuff as there was no space, so pretty much all of my clothes are decent, the only things i love to wear in winter, but would never ever ever wear them outside (not even to take out the rubbish) is my dressing gown which is big, fluffy, white and oh so cosy, and a pair of slippers that are shaped like Eeyore, as I am a huge child in the confines of my home.

2: Most wanted item for autumn/winter?
I have managed to aquire all I need for the winter, but I would love this coat from littlewoods, I have drooled over it since I first saw it. I have only just bought a winter coat similar (and cheaper) to this, but this one is a lot nicer.

3: Favourite boots to wear in the winter?
I dont really own any boot, I used to but as I got bigger my calfs got fatter and now I can only really wear ankle boots. But in general I prefer flat or small heeled boots.

4: Are you a fan of UGG boots?
No, I do not like them at all and do not understand the craze with them, but then again, each to their own!

5: It's snowing/raining outside, what are you favourite wellies to wear?
I only have one pair of wellies, they are black ankle ones that have a red ribbon tied into a bow at the top, I have yet to wear them as last winter was quite mild, however I'm expecting to use them this year with the supposed arctic weather we are due to have.

6: What is your favourite autumn trend?
I love the difference in style, hems go down, boots go up and scarfs become a statement piece. Plus as the party season approaches sparkles become much more fashionable and I love to wear sequined pieces.

7: What is your typical winter day consisting of?
Hiding away from the cold, but loving it at the same time. having hot drinks and planning to wrap up if you do leave the house.

8: Cup of tea, hot chocolate, or coffee?
I like all three, but it is really more dependent on my mood as to which I prefer. A cup of tea is normally what starts me off, Coffee I tend to drink while I'm out or if I need a pick me up, and hot chocolate is what I drink if I need to be hugged! I especially love the options hot chocolate and all their flavors, the hazelnut is the best.

9: Do you like or dislike that it's starting to get dark?
I kind of love it, the days seem longer and you can tell that Christmas is on the way, after Christmas is over I don't like it then.

10: Christmas is coming, do you have any idea of what you want?
I want everything and nothing, I have seen so much make-up I want this year, lots of different perfumes, not to mention id love a new TV or ipad, but as everyone is pretty skint this year including myself, my want list is a lot simple, a few dvds some new slippers. I'm just happy that I can buy people things and I don't care if I only get token gifts, because I love to give.

My Shopping Spree

I am going out on Friday for my best friend Laura's birthday, and I have been looking in my wardrobe for the last week trying to decide what to wear. After checking my bank balance and finding it a bit healthier than i expected (how often does that happen) I decided to go look for a dress. Above is what I ended up buying.

My hair is shiny and new and I'm looking forward to letting my hair down. I don't know if I will wear the shoes by they were half price from F&F. At only £5 I decided to buy them anyway as I thought they are pretty cute. I found the Dress in Peacocks It was originally £22 but it had £5 off so I only ended up paying £17. It is a pretty tight fit but I love the floaty bottom/skirt as it will hide my fat. The detail on the top of the dress is pretty and as it is so close to Christmas this dress will also be good for any other parties or events that happen.

The red top I found in a charity shop before the dress, Its simple and pretty and I figured that if I could not find a dress I could at least wear something new at only £3  its a bargain. I needed a new bra and This one from Asda was £8 (i think) and though its pretty steep for a single bra I love the detail and it fits my large boobs well!

I also found this pink Jewelry/trinket box in the charity shop, its only £2 but I fell in love with it and will be putting all my bits in it tonight. The last pic is of a new christmas bauble I found in asda, I picked up 2, they are £2 each, but just cute and with the stars inside the ball, they are fun but pretty at the same time.

Bank balance back to normal now, so will enjoy my buys as they will prob be the last big spend I am able to give myself for a while :(

The Christmas Tag

Q.   What’s your favorite thing about Christmas?
all of it, From the smells to the anticipation, to the cheesy films and bad music, Its just that time of the year that makes me feel in a good mood no matter what. Childhood memories of opening giant presents and playing for hours. Its all so lovely!

Q.   What’s your favorite makeup look for the festive season?
If I have said it before and you've read it I'm sorry, but glitter, I love glittery lip sticks and lip glosses and glitter on the eyes, I especially love gold eye shadows and making your make up fun and festive.

Q.   Real tree or fake tree?
I love the smell of a real tree, there is nothing like it. However I do not have the money to pay £60+ every year for a tree. Plus with the small space in our flat, real ones are generally far to fat to fit in the small space we have for it. Unfortunately I have to say fake, Just because it cheaper (mine is pre-lit and cost £20) and lasts longer.

Q.   Giving presents or receiving presents?
I love to give more than to receive, don't get me wrong I'm not adversed to receiving, but I love to give as much as I can, I will pile presents to my friends and family and spend way more than any original set limit, just because I love them to open them up and enjoy what they have got.

Q.   Do you open your presents Christmas morning or evening?
Christmas morning! I have always had one present on Christmas eve (something my parents allowed me to do) but the morning is when I always had them. I still get up pretty early to open them, though not 6am like when I was a child, normally around 8.

Q.   Handmade Christmas cards or bought?
I'd love to do handmade cards but I have neither the time nor the artistic talent to do so, so its normally store bought from me, though I do spend quite a while picking out everybody's cards and making sure its individual the them.

Q.   What’s your favorite Christmas film?
I love love love A Nightmare Before Christmas, not 100% a Christmas movie, but it is. Its just fun to sing to and I love it. Otherwise I love all 3 Santa Claus movies and normally watch them on the week leading up to Christmas. I also have a tradition of watching Raymond Briggs Father Christmas at somepoint on Christmas Day, I love how hes such a grumpy old man!

Q.   What’s your favorite Christmas food?
Turkey, Stuffing, Christmas Log, I have so many there is just no way that I can choose.

If you read this, then please count yourself as tagged!
taken from makeup pixi3.

The Beauty Bloggers Tag

This tag was started by Sophia of TattooedTeaLady and I picked it up from Laura of What Laura Did.

Why did you start blogging and how long have you been blogging for?
I started my blog only just over a month ago and I started because my friend told me how fun it was and the sense of accomplishment you feel when when you even reach just one other person, and she was right.

Whose blog did you fall in love with first?
I am a novice to most beauty bloggers however my favorite is Rachel Whitehurst for her downright honesty and the fact that she swears with no apologies. I also love my friend What Laura Did (linked above) and have since found a few good ones that I love to check up on Makeup-pixi3 as well as 40 percent fringe and finally VIPXO.

What was the first blogosphere hyped about product you bought and was it worth the hype?
As I haven't really been blogging long I cant say that I have bought anything yet, but I do have my eye on a few things that I have to try, such as the Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette and Revlon Color stay gel liner in another one, especially as I've heard that it exceptionally good at staying on!

What are your favourite five things about blogging and being a beauty blogger?
1. I love the fact that I can loose hours in looking at reviews and reading about others inspirations and beauty tips.
2. I Love being able to put my thoughts down for other to read and whether I have 1 or 100 readers, i love that my words are out there.
3. I love spending time on me either looking at other blogs or writing something for mine.
4. The fantastic sense of community from other bloggers and the welcoming that is sent out, speaks volumes to me.
5. I trust others words of a product than what a company says and to be a part of that no matter how small is beyond amazing.

What have you learnt from being a beauty blogger?
That things are not always what they seem, silly lesson really, but one that is just as good to apply to life. Hyped up things may not be as good as they say and cheap stuff may live up to a product that way beyond excedees expectation. Also the truth is always good, If I say a product did not work for me, it does not mean that the product is crap, it just means that it was not suited to my skin or tastes, everyone is different, and there is no universal product that will suit us all!

Have you changed anything since being a beauty blogger?
YES, I have started to loosen up in my attitude to make up, I was very set in my way and would not change something if I liked it. I now enjoy testing products and hoping to find items that are better and maybe even perfect for me.

What advice would you give to a beauty blogger just starting out?
I do it for fun, not for fame. think of it as a job that you love and you do it because its important to you, If you reach 10 followers or 1,000 followers it does not matter. if you end up making money from what you do then that is a bonus, but it should be done because its what you want to spend time doing and not because you want internet fame!

Name your top five brands!
MAC, MUA, Rimmel, Benefit & Dior.

Recommend your top five favourite beauty products!
1) MUA Mascara - It maybe cheap but it works as well as mascara priced at £6 or over.
2) Benefit High Beam - I love it because even though I have only started to use highlighter and to start contouring on my face, this is a easy product that add luminocity to my face.
3) Maybelleine watershine diamond lipgloss - now I don't really like the new and improved version, I'm talking about when it first came out 10 years ago and I still have some left. I love the consistency and the staying power, the new recipe just does not live up to the old one.
4) Dior Iconic eyeliner - This just glides on and stays on all night, It is a more expensive choice but for me I have found no eyeliner that matches it.
5) MUA Lipgloss - They are in a great range of colors and glide on the lips, they smell great and even though some of them have glitter in them, it not too much, just a light shimmer effect.

Tag other beauty bloggers to do this tag!
I tag anyone who reads this post to do it. If you do it please leave a comment below with your link as I'd love to read your blog and see what you have to say. xoxo

Nail Buffer Reviews

 The First ever Nail buffer I used was the Dead Sea Spa Care one, Please be aware that though i have put a link to the site that I did not buy mine online. I purchased mine in Cardiff one day and it came in a set with cuticle oil and hand cream and cost £25. It last for ages and I personally think that It worked, the picture of the nails are not mine (my nails are in an awful state at the moment due to picking them) the picture is a good depiction of the difference that I noticed in my nails. When I used this buffer it lasted me almost a year, so for the price it was good for the long haul.

Since using the first one I have strived to find decent but cheaper ones that do the same job here is my review of 3 different ones I have used since. none of them lasted as long as the Dead Sea Spa one, but for the difference in price, this is no big matter, also if you are a first time tryer of one of these, I would suggest a cheaper one, and at least that way if you are unhappy with the results you haven't wasted a small fortune.

Ms Manicure is a pretty good brand offering lots of different beauty product from make up brushes to nail clippers. Everything that I have currently bought from this brand has been of pretty good quality for the cheap price that you pay. The nail buffer follows this rule and for only £2.55 I have got a good 5 uses out of the buffer before having to throw it away, since you should only buff the nails every 3-4 weeks safely, this lasts between 4-6 months depending on how often you choose to buff your nails. At only £2.55 I think it is a great buy. 9/10

The Boots 4 way buffer is the cheapest on my list at only £2, but not my favorite, it only lasted 2 really good uses and one okay use before it was binned. for the price I suppose that if you did your nails once a month and bought a new one every two months then it works out a £1 per month but I feel that Ms Manicure is better value for money. however the side for filing lasted another 2 rounds, so all in all not to bad. 7/10

The Final one is Superdrug 6 way buffer, £2.49, this one comes with different edges for filing you nails as well, however out of all 3 this is the worst, after one use it was pretty much useless and only good for filing my nails, but after 2 more times it wasn't even good for that anymore. the buffer for making your nails shine, didn't even last the one go! So by far the least impressive of the 3. 5/10

So my star buy is the Ms Manicure, for the money and quality and the fact that all edges last about the same amount of time, all in all a good buy if your looking for a cheap replacement or if you are a first time user.

Christmas Outfit Bloggers Challenge.

FashionVouchers.com are calling on all bloggers to meet their Xmas Party outfit challenge. go to their web page see for yourself and try the challenge, click here to get to the challenge page, all you have to do is choose from a store on their site and make a complete outfit for Christmas.

I started by looking through lots of different stores and settled on New Look, this is because I tend to find that they always do lovely party clothes and are reasonable priced. As it was a Christmas outfit I decided that I need to make sure it had lots of sparkles as to me that invokes the Christmas spirit. I looked to buying things that suit my taste and style, there was a lot of options but this is the outfit I decided on.

The dress is simple and flowing, the gold sequined top is perfect to set the Christmas mood and the flowing white skirt reminds me of snow. As it is a winter outfit I felt the need to add tights, but due to the glittery nature of the rest of the outfit I wanted to keep them simple and normal. With the cold weather a Shrug is a good option to keep the chills away, this black one looks nice and warm and has some lovely gold fastening detail.

I instantly fell in love with the shoes, they are decadent and look expensive and this is what you want at christmas. The purse is black with glitter inset into it and the gold detail of the stripe means it ties in perfectly with the shoes and the shrug. To finish off my outfit I found a pair of simple gold hoops but with the black diamontes set into them, they go well with every thing else and the necklace though not needed would sit well on over the dress and bring out the black heart.

I think this would be a lovely little outfit for any occasion around the Christmas period and with all the sparkles it should put anyone into the Christmas spirit, I know it works for me.

Just in case you missed it, HERE is the link to enter.

Dress Collection Wish List

LK Bennett - Jazz Sequin Evening dress in Gold £325
LK Bennett - Louise Lace Sleeves dress in Black £245
Reiss - Tali Sparkle dress in Sage Green £189
River Island - Dusty Pink & Grey Fish Tale dress £120
River Island - Cream Belted dress in White £60










I have looked at these dresses with some lust and while the last one is quite a reasonable price the rest are beyond my means, but this does not mean that I can not dream of them. Ive never been a huge dress person, but in later years my tastes have started to change.

The first one is from LK Bennett and is also available in black, but whereas I would normally prefer the black on this occasion the gold one is the winner for me, I can just see it perfectly at a cocktail function or party especally around the Christmas period, not too revealing but form fitting and a beautiful addition to my imaginary wardrobe!

My next choice is also a LK Bennett dress, this one is more for black tie events or even *god forbid* funerals, its simple and classic but the neck line and lace sleeves give this a bit more of a fresh fell to  a little black dress number.

My third dress is from Reiss and for some random reason I love it, I normally hate green and also I normally hate abstract lines, but for some reason on this dress it just adds to it. The angular lines and cuts on the hem makes this a dress that I could imagine wearing to a friends party or even to events such as christening and wedding as it is unconventional and yet simple and stunning.

I love this fish tale dusky pink number from River Island, it reminds me of 1920s style and almost reminiscent of a flapper dress without the irritating fringe and tassles. I think it would cover a multitude of sins on the legs and look great at pretty much any occasion. I could see it teamed with a white shrug and some cream mary jane shoes, and for me I like the fact that I can picture a whole outfit.

Finally another River Island choice and this is a White dress with a diamante belt, that helps to break up the dress and draw the eye. I would love to own a white dress, however as I am an accident prone boob (sorry there is no other description for me) it would be dirty or ruined in a matter of minutes. I always look for a simple white dress that could rival the little black dress and I think this one is classy and simple, and the long arms make it elegant and yet not too plain.

If I had the money (and the body) I feel that I would have a stylish wardrobe, alas for now, I shall put away my dreams for more important things, such as food.

My home and Decoration

I live with my husband in a Flat, we rent from a housing association and so we are really not allowed to do much to it. because its a brand new build we are not allowed to put up any wallpaper until after the 1 year inspection. This date has now come and gone and still have not had an inspection.

We could have painted the walls but I have gone more for decorating with lots of pictures and leaving the walls their original color and adding color and texture by furniture and items. all through our house our walls are painted 'corsette' its a crown paint that is unavailable in local stores. (when we leave we have to fill any holes/cracks and repaint, I will find a close and cheap match to the crown paint as I refuse to pay £20-£30 a tin because they choose and unusual color) the bathroom is a matt white. so going through the pictures, the top big one is of my dollsized living room, as i said lots of pictures. Ive added color by keeping most of my furniture dark browns and adding splashed of purple into the decor, such as the rug (which was £50 from the range) and purple cushion covers (£3 a pair from B&M Bargains) I also bout the purple petal lights and a vase to put them in (lights were £6 and the Vase was £5, both from B&M).

To break up the monotony of the halls I bought a set of 5 round mirrors of different sizes (Asda £6, they are more expensive now), and a stunning wall sticker of twigs and birds that I love and it my favorite item so far (B&M £4). I buy a lot of flowers to go around the place, Tulips are my usual favorite but i also like the colored carnations from morrisons as they add a great splash of color to my life! My spare bedroom is just a guest room/wardrobe so to try and cover the wardrobe up as the doors have broken I bought a cheap netting and put it over to form a cover (the picture doesn't really do the look justice). I can promise it is actually really nice and works with the dark net i put in the window and the blue of the bedding and curtains. (the curtains were given to me so I cant tell you prices but the netting was cheap about £5 per pair from B&M).

When It came to my bedroom I decided that I wanted it a little more feminine so I have a little scented floral patterned teddy bear that was a bargain and its so cute (from the works £2) a dream catcher in the corner and a butterfly heart that is one of the most expensive buys, but i fell in love with it (£8 from sainsburys, Ive had the dreamcatcher for years and can not remember where I got it from). The figurine is not normally my style but something about it spoke to me and I feel that it adds some romance to the room (£4 B&M) and finally another wall sticker that states 'Always kiss me goodnight' Which I feel that is perfect for me and my husband as he can be so loving! (£7 the range)

My bathroom was bare and blank and it almost felt clinical when you walked into it, I hated it, so over time I have added a few things, I changed the original shower curtain that was blank white into a spotty/glittery clear one. I added the wall sticker behind to bring some color to the room and due to the white it had to be something quite bright. However it does work, it is the brightest thing in the little bathroom and it draws the eyes from the rest of the plainness (£4 B&M). A candle set that spells LOVE, was picked up after valentines day for a steal and its sweet and girly and adds a touch of fun to the room (£2 TESCO). And finally one of my personal treasures is my little set of multi-colored ducks that sit on the edge of the bath. I fell in love with them as they were different and have never looked back, also good to have if any of my friends or family's children spend the night, bath playtime (£6 morrisons).

I have done lots to my home but these are my all time best little bargains and personal preference, Just to show that expensive is not always better!