Huge Haul

Hello Ladies!

Well recently it seems that I have been purchasing rather a few bits here and there so what better way to share it other than a huge haul post? :) I think I may have got a little bit carried away at times but when I'm so addicted to clothes and beauty bits I just sometimes can't seem to help it! I also think over the past couple of weeks I've been feeling a bit down mainly due to work but fingers crossed things will soon get better. All these bits are what I've purchased just over the past couple of weeks so I shall start now..

First of all, probably one of my favourite items of clothing I've purchased.. disco pants! I had been eying these up on the Topshop website for quite a while but never took the plunge mainly because I was unsure about what size to order. I'm always reading the reviews people leave on the Topshop website and people were saying that they needed a smaller size and so on so thought it may be best to go in store. So one lunch break I popped in and tried them on and instantly fell in love! They are the most flattering pair of trousers I own, I honestly think they could be perfect for any occasion whether it's a night out or day shopping. They were only £30 as well which I thought was amazing considering the American Apparel ones are more than double that!

Next I was browsing the remains of the Topshop sale and came across this beauty. The main reason I clicked on this to begin with was the price tag... it was only £7! *gasp* Also recently I've got a thing for turtle neck jumpers (I've also ordered 2 more from H&M which unfortunately haven't arrived yet) but I just think they look the most cosy and comfy jumpers ever! This one is for more warmer weather as it is very thin but I have been wearing a long sleeved top underneath when it's chilly so it is versatile. It also came in a few other colours; navy and olive and to be honest I wish I has bought another colour as I love it. Considering it was £20 full price it had a lot of money off it which was perfect.

Confession: I've had this top for AGES and I actually forgot about it! I found it in my wardrobe a couple of weeks back still with the tags on tucked away at the back which is really not like me. I'm usually one of those people who buys something new and then wears it straight away!Anyway I found this and that night I was heading out with my friends from work so thought this was the perfect tee to team with my new disco pants featured above. This is just a simple black oversized tee and if you know me I'm more of an oversized, floaty top/dress kinda girl as apposed to bodycon clothing. This has rolled sleeves as well which is always a little feature I love on tees. This also came in many different colours so think I will definitely be investing in more! I think this was around £18.

Next I got this shirt from work as my new uniform. I usually try and pick something that I would wear outside of work or again when I no longer need to wear it for work. Sometimes that doesn't always work though, I seem to wear it to death at work! Ha ha. But I really loved this pattern and although I really am not a fan of butterfly's, I loved everything else about this. I thought I would be able to wear a necklace under the collar and either roll the arms up or down so I thought it was really versatile and perfect for work.

Some body purchases I picked up recently were from Soap and Glory and I absolutely love Soap and Glory. All of their scents and products I find amazing. After seeing so many people pick up the new Sugar Crush body wash I had to jump on the bandwagon and do the same. Omg the scent is gorgeous!!!! If you have not smelt or picked this product up yet you definitely have too! I got this from Boots for £6.50 which is probably the most I've ever spent on a body wash but I couldn't leave it. Next I got the Mist You Madly body spray, the body spray that was in my handbag had recently run out so I decided to pick this up again simply because the smell is lovely. I picked up the smaller bottle as I just wanted it for my handbag and this size bottle was £3.50 from Boots also.

Now call me silly but I kept heading into my local Boots and just couldn't find the main Soap and Glory section. I always found the make up and face lotion and potions but never the main section (I finally found it recently hence why I purchased the two Soap and Glory items above he he) Anyway I'd been wanting this product for ages couldn't find it in Boots so I went onto eBay. I picked up this bottle for 99p and £2 postage which was an absolute bargain! I have been using this product a lot as due to work I'm on my feet all day and by the end of a week my poor feet are in agony so this product is a savior. Although on the bottle it says for best results use cotton socks after applying, I don't own any cotton socks (I have just ordered some) so have just been putting it on before bed then tucking my feet up in my duvet and have been loving the results! In Boots I know this product is £5.50.

I popped into New Look with my mum and sister the other week and clothing wise couldn't actually find anything I particularly liked so headed over to the jewellery section where I found these cute earrings. I'd been looking for some plain cross studs for a while so instantly grabbed them. I really wanted a silver pair but they didn't have any but loved them so much I picked them up anyway in gold. They were only £1.99 so I couldn't really complain. They are so easy to wear and just go with anything!

Yay for Primark! I headed in and found this amazing jumper! It's really hard to explain it's kinda bobbly, hopefully you can tell by the pictures! It's lovely and oversized again which I love, I think you can wear this just with jeans or even tucked into disco pants. It was a bargain at only £10 as well, it also came in a lighter colour as well so thinking I may have to go and pick that colour up too ;)

I love finding sneaky sale purchases at work! I picked up this really pretty notebook that was a bargain price at only £1.80!! I couldn't believe it, it's so pretty and thought it would be great to use as a blogging notebook so I can keep all of my blogging bits together. I usually would just use the notes section on my phone but want to start writing them down. I think it would then be nice at the end of the year or a few months down the line to remember what you've down and all your thoughts etc. inside there are different sections: one main part for writing then on the other side there are little notepads that say 'reminder' and 'notes' etc which I think is really cute.

When I was in Primark when I picked the jumper up I also found this necklace in the reduced section. I had previously seen this is one of Tanya Burr's recent hauls and loved it. I thought it would just easily go with anything rather plain and would instantly jazz it up a bit. It was originally £5 and reduced to £2 but all of them were broken so I asked at the till and she said I could have it for £1 then when I got home I easily fixed it so it was an amazing bargain! I recently wore this with my disco pants and Topshop oversized tee on my works night out and loved the look. I also really love the colour of this and think it will be great in the spring/summer.

I went a bit mad on eBay the other night and put a sneaky bid in on this camera in the last few seconds and 'accidentally' won it! He he. I had been wanting one for quite a while so when I saw this one on eBay and it was PINK, I wanted it even more. I loved the fish eye effect pictures as I think they're so different and look really awesome. Although I've now received the camera I now need to purchase some films for it so that I can start taking cool pictures! I've heard good reviews about these cameras so really can't wait to try it out for myself. I got this on eBay for around £28 and on the website they are £45 I believe. So yes I'm really excited so if any of you have tried these also I'd love to know and see the pictures you have taken!

Finally when I picked up the Topshop jumper I also found these beauties. I absolutely love Topshop shoes as I always find it hard to actually find a pair that fit my feet properly as not many places so half sizes. So I always have to end up getting the bigger size and then putting insoles in them so that they fit. But Topshop shoes fit me perfectly, NO insoles! Which is why I love them so much. I actually have this pair in plain black with the studs on them but have pretty much worn them to death. So when I saw this pair on their website reduced from £28 to £7, I could not leave them. I love leopard print and am partial to a few studs so couldn't go wrong. I find their flats super comfy as well!

Well it feels like this post has taken me absolutely ages to write so I hope you enjoy seeing what I've brought :) If you've uploaded any haul posts lately then I'd love to see them and have a nosey at yours too! xoxo

My blog's 1st birthday & giveaway!

Hello Ladies!

First of all I'd like to say Happy Birthday to my blog, although it was last week and this is a bit belated, I am very sorry. But it was my blog's 1st birthday last week and I couldn't believe I had been blogging for one year?! Where has the time gone? I felt like only a few months. I guess when I started my blog I felt like a little lost sheep but soon after connecting with social networking sites to promote my blog I couldn't believe how quickly it grew from nothing to something. And personally I felt so proud, just by the fact that people actually wanted to read my little blog. I absolutely love the blogging community as everyone is so lovely and especially helpful! I know all you bloggers know what I'm talking about and I'm glad I can now be apart of it. 

Anyway enough about me... since it's a special week I thought I would host a giveaway. I've been picking these bits up over a few weeks and just wanted to pick up various different items so that it (hopefully) appeals to all of you :)

So, one of you will win:

Impress Nails in a floral print

Lets Go Lashes in Tease

Models Own Make Up Sponges

Elf Nail Polish in Glitter Glam

Elf Lip Glaze in Ruby Kiss

This giveaway will run from the 25th January to the 17th February. P.s. I know I have changed the format and am now using Rafflecopter but I would like to give everyone an equal opportunity. The entries that have been made already will still be included and not forgotten when the winner is announced.

GOOD LUCK and thank you for supporting my blog over the past year, I don't want to go soppy but I really do appreciate it! :)     

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Review

Hello Ladies! After the annoying but pretty snow fall it's back to work like normal again for me. After only working 3 days last week due to being ill and not being able to actually get into work, I felt like a slob and now it's only Monday evening and I already feel shattered! Monday's are always the worst, well it's dragging although I'm currently watching my all time favourite programme.. Miranda!

To begin.. this is my first ever MAC product and I really am impressed. I had been humming and haring about which MAC product to start with first. I asked many of you on twitter, the main answer was a lipstick.. But to be totally honest I'm not a lippie kind of girl. I wish I was but I just feel like it doesn't suit me, but that may just be me because I never wear it! So I opted for the second most popular product that was requested and just in time too as my normal powder was just then running out.

Another thing I don't do very often is wear foundation, when I have work I always just find myself just using concealer and then using a bit of powder on the top, which I know is a bad habit. I just always find it such an effort to find the 'perfect' foundation. Anyway I got this for Christmas and have been using it ever since. I got it in the shade Medium and it is a lovely shade, not too dark. I find it leaves a lovely finish on my skin and (although I always use primer) it stays in place on my face all day throughout work, almost like a foundation. It also leaves my skin looking natural and to me feels weightless which is always great as no one wants a weighed down, make up caked face.

I must say I really love this MAC product and it has made me want to try other products from MAC. Although the price tag is rather expensive, you pay for the quality. Although I also do believe that you can find some similar dupes in your local drug store. My dupe to this product would be Rimmel's Stay Matte pressed powder which has been my holy grail powder for years! I have heard from other bloggers that MAC products do last a lot longer though so in the long run it may be worth the extra spend and it's always slightly better when Debenhams or another store have some money off their beauty products!

One other thing I love is the packaging to the product. It's much better than any drugstore powder product, it's so much easier to throw in a bag on a night out and you know the lid is not going to fall off and it's not going to explode all inside your bag, which is an obvious bonus. 

Overall I love this MAC product and I think if you are willing to spend the extra then you definitely should, although I won't always buy this product when I run out I think it would be my 'treat me' make up product. I love the Rimmel version, I would say the only difference is the finish on the skin and I believe that the MAC one looks much more natural looking which is something I really love about this product. So I'm hoping that it'll last me a long time and maybe I'll try one of their lipsticks next ;)

I'd love to know what your favourite MAC products are and what you'd recommend for me to try next? :) Happy Monday xo

Mickey Mouse

Top - ASOS (mens section)

Jeans - Primark

Necklace - Accessorize

Watch - Michael Kors

If you live in the UK you'll know to a lot of people today, it is a snow day. The snow fell late last night and is due to fall from lunch time for the rest of the day. I was due to start work at 9am this morning but to be honest, there was no way I was going to drive myself 40 minutes in this weather which would increase my journey time and probably leave me stranded when the snow falls. So here I am still in bed writing this post for you! We also had a lot of snow on Tuesday which left the city I work in at a stand still in which I had to abandon my car and get the train home which was pretty hysterical!

Anyway in other news, I've opted for a OOTD post for you on this snowy day. I got this top for Christmas and I am literally in love with it (as are my nieces who love Mickey/Minnie mouse). It's a quirky design and is lovely and loose fitting. The main reason for the loose fitting is probably because I picked it up from the mens section on ASOS. But is one of those t shirts that you can just literally chuck on with anything such as; leggings, jeans, disco pants, high waisted shorts or a skirt. So it really is versatile which is what I love as when I buy something I, like most people I'm guessing, think what I could wear it with that's already sitting in my wardrobe at home.

I paired it with jeans, these are my trusty pair of skinny jeans which are from Primark.. I wear them all the time! They are incredibly comfortable and admittedly very old! I have found that since going back to Primark to find a pair similar that the sizing has changed and they just don't seem as comfortable. But I'm guessing they may just need to be worn in as all skinny jeans but I have never yet taken the plunge into a new pair as I love this pair too much!

I then added an Accessorize collar necklace which I fell in love with when it arrived in store! It's a lovely teal/blue/green colour (hard to describe ha ha) but I think it can instantly just set an outfit off and can be paired with a rather loud patterned top or with something very plain as the key piece. Which again is something I love about it. It was rather pricey (thank god for staff discount) but I definitely would think it's worth it as it can be worn with many different outfits and styles.

So now I'm tucked up in bed I'm going to put a new DVD on and wait for more snow fall to come. If you also have a snow day today I hope you enjoy yourselves but if you're having to go outside then please take care :-) xoxo

Soap and Glory: Love At First Blush Review

Hello Ladies! This is the first review of the mountains of make up I got for Christmas, if you've seen my 'What I got for Christmas' post then you'll know what's to come. How long ago does Christmas seem now by the way? Feels months ago which is rather sad! Anyway I actually haven't seen many other reviews on this product.. That may just be because it's not new out. My friend got me this for Christmas along with some other Soap and Glory products including mascara and eye shadow palette, which I am also in love with.

I've had my eye on this product for SO long and my friend knew it! The packaging, the colours.. the everything! It's such a pretty blusher, I'm running out of describing words for this product because it's so amazing! (There was another one, he he) Firstly... the packaging, EVERY Soap and Glory product has such cute and pretty packaging that it always seems so hard to resist buying at least something. When opened there are so many different colours included it's gorgeous, shimmery and lovely! There's also a little mirror so it's such an easy product to pop into your handbag and re apply on the go, which again makes it even more appealing.

This shade is in pink, pop and pearl and I believe it may also come in other shades too. As you can see I've tried to take a picture of the colours included for you but the picture doesn't do it justice, if you haven't seen it, head into your local Boots and check out the colours. They are all gorgeous shades of pink, dark and light. Then there's also a pretty pearly white. When I apply this I literally use my blush brush and sweep it around and over all the colours and then apply. Once it's on the skin it's beautiful. It makes my cheeks stand out more and glisten! And like the box says, it does give you a rosy glow. It really is a more of a glittery and shimmery blush but I'm really enjoying using it.

I believe this retails for £11 which is more than what I would usually spend on a blusher but I love it at the moment and may even have to re purchase now I've used it once! Always the trick of the trade is this. But if you don't know already, then I am one of those girls who loves to try different products and brands once an old one runs out, bit of an experimentalist I'd like to say, hehe. 

If you love a shimmery blush more than a matte blush then this is definitely the blush for you! I would recommend this an awful lot :) Have you tried this blush? Let me know what you think :-) xo

January wish list

1. Plain grey sweat dress - Topshop

2. Leather pocket t shirt - Miss Guided

3. Burlesque CD- Amazon

4. Green suede shopper - River Island

5. Stripe t shirt - H&M

6. Wooden wedges - Topshop

7. Soap and Glory heel genius - Boots

8. Soap and Glory archery brow tint - Boots

9. Lee Stafford hair growth shampoo (and the conditioner) - Boots

10. Dog tooth dress - Miss Guided

11. VO5 hot oil - Boots

It's that time after Christmas when I find a few more things I want to add to my beauty collection and wardrobe. It's made worse as it's January when I've spent all my money on Christmas presents. Although I do get a sneaky pay packet on the 11th of this month so I may be able to indulge in a few of these products and treat myself ;-) Although I got many beauty products, clothes and a new bag for Christmas I just can't help myself. And when I get searching all the websites on the net I get carried away and favourite everything. Then end up with way too many and have to sort them out, hehe. I've had a nice relaxing day off work today and go back tomorrow so am thinking I may sneak off into Boots on my lunch break and see which items off this wish list I can get my hands on! (bit cheeky before payday!)

Happy Monday ladies xo

Haul post #5

Hello Ladies! I hope you're all well and enjoying the new year so far.. Well recently I seem to have been purchasing a few bits and bobs here and there. Some of these have been from before Christmas and some after but I thought I'd save them up and put them all in a haul post for you. First thing, I had a blooper! I actually put the first shirt in this haul post in my 'What I got for Christmas 2012' post by total accident!! And for that I apologise, so if you've already read that post and have seen my first item, I did not get it for Christmas and actually brought it just before. The pictures were all jumbled and big woops!! But I'll continue none the less.

So first of all is a shirt I picked up in Primark, my friend picked it up first then when I saw it in her hands I had to go and pick one up for myself! It's a chiffon blouse and has the most beautiful collar which is the main reason why I love it. It's quite a large collar and has a sort of vintage look to it with embroidery, flowers and scallop edging. It really is adorable, although they didn't have my normal size I had to get a size smaller but it still fits well. The other good part, this was only £8, which is such a bargain. I also think this could be worn under a jumper with the collar peeping out :-)

Next I got this cardigan from H&M. It was in the sale and an absolute bargain at £10! It's black, but also came in cream, and it is really chunky and thick which has been perfect for the chilly weather we've been having. I got this in a size large just because I really wanted it to be oversized and warm and it definitely is that! The material is so nice so considering the price it was a steal and I'm so chuffed I found it. I'd been wanting a black chunky cardigan for so long!

It was Boxing day and I instantly hit the sales on the internet. I'm not one for going to the sales on Boxing day as I really don't understand who would, for me it's like a second Christmas day with the other half of my family. Anyway I clicked onto River Island to try and find this item and a coat I'd been eying up. I came across the coat first of all, I featured it in my November wish list, but unfortunately it was only left in a big size so was gutted. But on a brighter note I found this blazer I'd wanted before Christmas and was reduced from £35 to £20 and was in my size so straight away it went into my basket and ordered! It also arrived so quickly which I was really impressed about. It's a really lovely floral pattern with a vintage hint to it due to the colours I think. It's perfect to brighten up any outfit day or night so I'm really excited to wear this!

This next one is bargain of the year! I picked this back combing brush up in Primark, and you guessed it.. It was £1! AND it's pink! I couldn't believe it, I had actually been eying up one of these brushes on eBay and it was still only around £3 but I'm glad I waited. It might have only been very cheap but it works amazingly well and with a bit of hairspray after use it holds my hair really well. It's just as good as any other back combing brush I'm sure, so if you haven't seen one of these, then you should definitely go and find one in your local Primark.

For Christmas I got a gift voucher from my Aunt and Uncle for New Look so I headed into a local one with my mum the other day and found these babies in the sale. I've needed a new pair of jeans for a while as recently I've just been living in this one pair from Primark. I was searching the messy sale and I came across this pair of jeans in my size, shocking. They're a normal skinny jean but the label says something about shaping your bum and thighs? So even better, ha ha. They were reduced from £25 to £10 which is an absolute bargain and they fitted like a glove which I love because I'm always so fussy about jeans so I'm really glad I found this pair. Also I still have some money left on my voucher which is a bonus.

This DVD was a spur of the moment buy, was just in Tesco with my mother again and I always seem to head down the DVD and CD isle to see if I can find a bargain. I'm obsessed with DVD's and own so many of them and Tesco seem to always have the odd few for £3, which this one was. It's called 'Life As We Know It' I haven't heard of this one before but it has Katherine Heigl in it who I love. So my DVD collection is still ever growing and I can't wait to watch it.

Next is a little work purchase and these are so sweet. They're a pack of 3 little ladybird earrings in red, white and yellow. They are the cutest earrings ever! And obviously a lovely bargain with my staff discount ;-) he he. I think they are normally £4 from Accessorize. I just thought they were a bit quirky and different. I'm not normally an earrings person but have been loving these.

One night I was shopping eBay and came across this shop that sold millions of different bracelets, the thing that caught my eye was the price. They were all 99p, bargain, so I didn't think I could go too wrong. I picked up this spike one as we all know spikes are all the rage at the moment and I loved it. Thought it was just a simple chuck on bracelet that I would pretty much be able to wear with everything! The one downside was that it was coming from China which meant a LONG delivery time, but for 99p I really can't complain. I did also buy a skull bracelet too but don't have a picture uploaded yet, sorry!

I went shopping with my mum only the other day and came across this really pretty vintage shop in a local town and I literally could have gone made in there buying so many different bits and bobs! I stood my ground and only got a couple and again what bargains they were. The first thing I picked up was this really cute plate, it was only £2 so I just couldn't leave it there. It looks like a Cath Kidston print as well but for a fraction of the price. Next I purchased this sweet little heart decoration with a baby blue ribbon with spots on. I had no idea where I was going to place this in my bedroom but I needed to have it nonetheless. And it was only £1.49! The candle I picked up from Godfrey's simply because it smells amazing!!! It's vanilla cupcake which is gorgeous and again was only £1.49.

Finally me and mum popped into Tesco and I'd seen these candles around quite a bit but had no idea where to get them from but finally found them! I picked this Jelly Bean candle up in Bubblegum scent and it smells amazing. I really wasn't a fan of any of the other scents and I also have the matching air freshener for my car which is yummy!

Sorry if I've rambled on for a long time but I hope you enjoyed this haul post and go find yourself some bargains :-) I'd love to see some of your recent haul posts too! xo

HD Foxy brow kit review

Hello Ladies! I hope you all had a lovely new year and welcomed the new year in with a bang! I've never really been someone who does an awful lot on new years eve, this year I just went to one of my boyfriend's friends house for a party, it was mellow but seeing as I had to be up at 7:30am the next day I really was not feeling it! New years day at work was a total DRAG, surviving off only a couple of hours sleep it has now caught up with me and right now I am absolutely shattered and after writing this I'm off to bed with my new book I got for Christmas.

Onto the review, I received this product when I was subscribed to Glossybox (after a few rubbish months I was not going to continue paying for my box unfortunately) when I received it I wasn't one for filling in my eyebrows so it was one of those products that just got put to one side for a couple of months. Then one day when I was clearing out my make up draw and came across this and thought I should at least try it out!

The first time I tried this product I really hated it, but I know why I hated it. I'm pretty sure I started using the wrong colour, it was way too dark and when I applied it I took it straight off again. I then went and purchased a Rimmel eyebrow pencil and started using that. I then went back to this product again and using a different colour I absolutely fell in love with it (I use the colour 'Dark Brown' which is the bottom right colour). Literally I find this product the easiest to apply, it really only takes a minute and done! The kit comes with a brush, one end is rounded and the other angled which again makes the application even easier. I mainly use the rounded end just because my eyebrows are more rounded than square. Simple.

I now fill in my eyebrows everyday as I think I'd definitely feel bare without them. You can see from the left hand side picture that when they're not filled in, they're not very full or thick. Before this never would have even crossed my mind, let alone bother me but now, like I said, it's part of my everyday make up routine. After using this product I don't think I'll use any other product on my eyebrows, this really is amazing. Although I'm always prone to trying out new products to see what they're like I think I might just stick to this one. It makes my eyebrows appear more fuller, thicker and literally just stand out slightly more. I would never want to wear something on my eyebrows that would make me look like a clown or like I had a scouse brow, NO NO NO! This product is subtle yet does the job perfectly. If you're looking for a product to fill in your eyebrows I would 110% recommend this product to you. The four different colours are: top left - Nude, top right - Carbon, bottom left - Warm Brown, bottom right - Dark Brown. It also comes in a lovely compact with a mirror so can easily be chucked into your handbag, although when I apply it in the morning, I have never needed to reapply throughout the day so it has great lasting power!

Have you tried this product? What do you use to fill in your eyebrows?

xo