Heaven Scent...

Carrying on my summer theme, I thought I'd share with you a recent perfume purchase I made. Like most ladies, I love perfume; I very rarely leave the house without it on. I'm a bit of a perfume snob you may say, as I only tend to wear fairly expensive and quite 'heavy' perfumes. My favourites being Coco Chanel by (of course) Chanel, Opium by Yves Saint Lauren and Crystal Noir by Versace. I'm not a fan of hugely floral delicate scents, I prefer ones that are spicy and that last the whole day through. That's why I tend to buy 'Eau de Parfum' versions, and not 'Eau de Toilette'.

About 4/5 years ago, I 'discovered' this scent and have been wearing it ever since. I tend to only wear it in the summer, because I find it too light for wear during the winter. Said perfume is 'Island Kiss' by German fashion house Escada.

Escada tend to re-bottle and re-brand this fragrance every year, just in time for summer. You may know it under various other names including 'Sunset Heat' and 'Rockin' Rio'. The top notes and base notes differ year to year slightly, but the scent is still essentially the same. It is very sweet, fruity and citrus like, reminding me of holidays on a warm Caribbean beach.

As much as I do like it, I've noticed that the fragrance doesn't last as long as 'Rockin' Rio' or 'Sunset Heat' did. Nor do I think it smells as strong as the others did. Not that it's a problem, as I still do like the scent but for a strong perfume lover, it is a little disappointing. That said, I do like the bottles colour, the blue hues remind me of the sea, and I do think that it ties in well with the name.

£19.99 online from the Perfume Shop

Full details...

Top notes - orange, passion flower and mango

Base notes - woody notes and sensual musk.

If you like tropical, holiday inducing scents, then by all means do try this perfume out.

Until next time lovelies x

Five of the Best...

About two weeks ago the whole of the UK basked in the glow and warmth of something we don't see very often: the sun. The sunshine may have (temporarily) gone back in, but the High Street is awash with pretty summer sandals for you to buy and wear! Yes, shoe departments in department and high street stores have packed away their 'cover everything' boots in favour of something that shows not one toe, but them all!

So, why not put your best foot forward (literally) and accessorise your outfit with some sandals today?

Notes on sandals...

- Before you decide to wear pair of sandals, a pedicure is essential not desirable! Moisturise those feet after a winter of being covered up in order to get rid of any hard skin. Also a pretty coral/pink colour always makes toes stand out from the usual 'frosted' pedicure choices.

- Sandals can be worn with any outfit. They look nice with jeans, shorts, skirts, and not to mention maxi dresses! Experiment, and see what looks yours go with!

- Sandals that have detailing, embellishment or patterns on them can actually finish off an outfit, and be an extra accessory.

- They are also the perfect footwear of choice for a summer holiday, as the light weight design of them means they tend to take up less space and weight in a suitcase than heels do!

Here are my top 5 picks from the High Street...

Nude and Gold Embellished Zip Back Sandals

New Look

£21.99

Green beaded flower flip flops

Faith

Now £26.25

Idyllic bow nude leather Shoes

Office

£38.00

Multi Jewel Cuff Sandals

Next

£30.00

Sandals

H&M

£14.99

Have fun shopping! Until next time lovelies x

Purchase Peek...

The Primark Edition!

Last weekend was a good weekend! 

I had a visitor come to stay, in the shape of Katie, one of my good friends from University. I took the opportunity to take her into Manchester both in the daytime, and at night. Of course we indulged in lots of things over the course of the weekend! Food, alcohol and shopping being the main ones. Whoops! Oh well, you only live once, right?!

Before I show you my shopping purchases, I have to tell you about the place we had lunch! If you live in the Manchester area (or indeed are visiting soon) and you haven't been to 'Home Sweet Home' in the Northern Quarter - you need to go! It is amazing. It's a cosy, vintage chic style type of cafe that serves all manner of comfort food, from burgers to chilli to macaroni. Every time I've been there it hasn't disappointed! 

Comfort food in cosy surroundings is the order of the day at Home Sweet Home

Enough about the food, who wants to see the purchases?

Now, these are all from Primark! Every now and then I do love a good mooch around Primark. It's cheap as chips, and is a great way of updating your looks for a fraction of the price. The only downside is that it's so popular that you do seem to see about 50 other people wearing the same items as you! But, I guess that's the price you have to pay for disposable fashion.

Dipped hem skirt - £10

Dipped hem dresses are still popular, and coral is still a good colour for the summer season. Dipped hem are great for those times when you want to show a bit of leg, but don't fancy wearing a mini skirt. 

Clutch bag - £6 & Bangles £2.50

Clutch bags accompany me on nights out. I have a mixture of cheap ones and expensive ones, depending on the occasion. This bag is huge, and fits everything a girl would need! Plus it ticks both the nude and studded trends. A very versatile bag.

Accessories are always a winner in my book. I love wearing lots of bangles on a night out, and I do like the colour very much! (A perfect addition to a nice black dress and a tan!)


Who else has been shopping so far this week? Any special purchases? x

Face 2 Face...

I spent all of last weekend in bed with a horrific cold. Typical isn't it, I avoid serious illness over winter but yet get struck down with a cold/flu just when the weather starts to get warmer!

I always find that when I've been ill my skin goes to pot (probably because of the fact you are run down and your skin isn't at its fighting best) so, of course a face mask to help my skin along back to its usual normality was much needed. I literally have a cupboard full of facemasks. I do love trying new ones, and trying new brands to see which ones give the best results for my skin. But, I do think I must be slightly addicted. I can go to Boots/ASDA for something as simple as toothpaste, and come out with a facemask as well! I try to use at least one mask a week. I guess it's my thinking that if I have a strong face care routine, then it will keep the wrinkles away for longer! Haha ;-)

I decided to use Boot's 'Natural Collection' Wild Strawberry mask. Unlike the premium 'Sanctuary' range, 'Natural Collection' is Boot's colourful cheap n' cheerful range. The emphasis is very much on smells, with all the products in the range smelling distinctly like you could eat them. But, however good they smell, please don't mistake them for desert! Coming in at just £1 for the sachet, it is also very purse friendly!

When I first opened it, I was hit with a wonderful smell of strawberries. Kind of like a strawberry yogurt smell. When I applied, it went on well but started to sting quite a bit. Not a massive 'oh my god get this product off my face' kind of sting, but a slightly unpleasant feeling to say the least. It was quite easy to remove after the allotted time had passed, but my face felt very dry and 'cracked'. I don't expect my face to feel that dry after a facemask so it definitely looses marks for that.

Final verdict?

6/10 - I won't be rushing out to buy this again, because I don't honestly think it suits my skin type at all. However, at just £1 you can't fault the price, and after a week of not being able to smell anything due to a blocked nose, the sweet scent strawberry was lush! 

Final final verdict?

Bargain basement beauty at its best!

Until next time lovelies x

Spring Has Sprung...

Dare I even use that title? I think spring has finally decided to rear its dewy fresh head once more. For the past few days it has been pleasant weather, I've been wearing sunglasses when driving, there hasn't been anymore snow, and I've seen a few daffodils on my travels up to the country lane near my house. 

The clocks have also gone back. So, yes, I think we can maybe (finally?) bid goodbye to the bleak winter!

Just like January is associated with 'New Year Resolutions', spring is the home of the 'Spring Clean'. Yes, that time when we blow the cobwebs of winter away and de-clutter our lives. For most of us I think this notion is easier said than done. I for one have so much stuff! But, if you are planning to spruce your living space up a little, here are a few tips:

Notes on a Spring Clean...

- Clear out your wardrobes. Take clothes you no longer wear/want/ that no longer fit to charity shops. That way at least someone else will get wear out of them. Hang things like dresses and trousers up on the rails, and neatly fold t-shirts and jumpers and place on the shelves. If you want to make things easier, separate clothes into categories, e.g. work wear, evening wear, weekend wear. Or, if you want, colour code items. 

- A spring clean doesn't have to mean completely re-decorating your house. Doing that is costly. Money that most of us don't possess! Instead, simply change those items that fall under the category of 'soft furnishings'. Buying new bedding, cushions, paintings, curtains etc can easily update your house and breathe new life into rooms that have begun to look a bit 'boring'. Places like Next, Matalan and Asda do pretty and modern soft furnishings at a price that won't break the bank. 

- Dust those hard to reach places, things like lightshades, bookshelves and DVD shelves. Take all the items out and give them a really good clean. 

- Make windowsills whiter than white again by giving them a single coat of gloss paint.

- If you have a garden, begin to tidy it up. Sweeps away leaves, cut the lawn, and start to think about what bedding plants/hanging baskets you may want when summer finally comes around. 

Good luck with your spring cleans!

Until next time lovelies x

Hard As Nails...

Or, the lazy girls guide to nail art!

I did blog a while back about the trend for nail art. Well, since that blog, I think that nail art has taken off in a bigger way than anyone really imagined it would. I've seen intricate Christmas scenes, Easter bunnies, spots, stripes, and all manner of wonderful art forms adorning nails across the country. Nice. But, what if you are like me, and can't do nail art to save your life? Or simply don't have the time to do these sorts of manicures?

Thank god for Barry M, and their crackle nail effect polish. Simply paint your nails with a desired under colour, and leave to dry. Then paint over them with the 'crackle' effect, and exactly like it says on the bottle, watch as the paint magically cracks to reveal a funky take on an otherwise normal manicure. It took me a while to discover this product. I'd heard of it, seen friends wearing it, but didn't actually buy it till not long ago. Why you ask? Well, in all honesty, I'm not quite sure! I think I was a little sceptical at first as to how well it would work. However, after finally trying and buying, I do wish I'd invested in a pot sooner.

Seeing the success of the black crackle effect, Barry M have since diversified their 'nail effect' line, and have brought out a white version of the crackle, a magnetic effect polish, and a denim style effect, to name just a few. In times of recession, having nice nails is an in-expensive way of bringing your looks bang up to date. The crackle effect polish, priced at around £3.99 really is budget beauty. 

The only thing I would advise, is a clear top coat over the top really makes the colour 'pop', and the manicure last much longer than it would do normally. 

Over the past few weeks, I've been charting my love affair with this polish. I've used it on top of a variety of colours so you can see what it looks like. Below are some of the results of my experiments:

So, if you haven’t already invested, why not add some ‘snap, crackle and pop’ into your next manicure? ;-)

Until next time lovelies x

Cuba Libre...

Happy Easter everyone! I hope everyone has had a nice long weekend, and eaten lots of chocolate! I think it comes a sign that I'm fast growing up, I was more excited by the four day weekend than the chocolate ;-)

I thought I would share with you some pictures of my recent holiday to Cuba. This holiday was a slightly special one, the first one I'd been on with my parents since I was about, oh 17! It was also a long time coming. We pretty much booked it a year in advance!

For those not in the know about Cuba, it is unlike any other place you will go to. A trade embargo operating on the country means that a lot of things you and I take for granted (toothpaste, tampons etc) aren't available. Cubans are masters at the phrase "make to and mend" - you name it, they have found a substitute for it. Politics aside, it is unlike any place you will go to because of the sheer fact it literally has everything, sea, beaches, mountains, countryside, and of course that wonderful Caribbean climate!

We stayed in the South of the island at the "Paradisus Rio de Oro" Resort and Spa Hotel in Guardelavaca, Holguin Province. (A must stay place; it really is a wonderful hotel.) Sadly, we were too far to visit Havana, but we still saw the two biggest cities after Havana. 

They say a picture tells a thousand words, so here are some of my highlights of possibly the best holiday I've been on so far in my travelling life:

Our Hotel

Santiago De Cuba

Fidel Castro's birthplace

Mountains

On our last day! :-(

A traditional Cuban cigar factory

An old sugar cane plantation

Holguin

Holguin

Santiago De Cuba

Santiago De Cuba

Old American cars are everywhere in the cities!

Five of the Best...

I think secretly, deep down everyone has a rock chick side just waiting to jump out (air guitar is totally optional). I'm not a huge lover of being massively girly with my style so I do tend to stay away from things that are too twee, and the whole avenue of 'Granny chic' style. Indie/Rock inspired style is never really off the trend radar, so don't be afraid to experiment.

The best way to achieve an instant rock chick look is lots of eyeliner, paired with a band t-shirt. I love band t-shirts. I currently own 3 (and counting). If anyone is particularly interested, they are The Rolling Stones, Guns N' Roses and Goldfrapp. The only rule I have for band t-shirts is that I only buy t-shirts of bands I actually do like. Otherwise you just run the risk of looking like a desperate fashsionista. I can recall a conversation I had with a random girl on a night out who couldn't name a single Stones track, yet she had those famous lips splashed across her chest. I just found it a bit weird.

Once again, I've done the shopping so you don't have to ;-) So, here are my 5 favourite tee's straight from the internet:

Run DMC Tee - truffleshufffle.com - £24.99

Run DMC, the legendary hip hop outfit of the 80's. Consisting of Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell. The logo is the bands original, so wear with some high top trainers to pay homage to the original pioneers of hip hop, ghetto style.

Pink Floyd Tee - Amplified clothing - £24.99

'The Dark Side of the Moon' is Pink Floyd's 8th studio album, and the iconic image you see on the tee is the albums artwork. Wear with a flowery headband and a long floaty skirt, reminiscent of 60's and 70's hippy trippy style.  

Rolling Stones Tee - truffleshuffle.com - £29.99

This 1978 US tour Stones tee is slightly different to the standard 'lips' ones. This one details dates of their 1978 tour, a definite fan favourite. Wear with red lipstick, and a cheeky smile. 

Blondie Tee - truffleshuffle.com - £34.99

‘Call Me’ is obviously one of Blondie's most popular songs. The fact that this is a pink shirt and not the usual black backgrounds we see on most band tee's means it's a little more girly. Perfect for those who aren't ready to be too edgy. Wear with a bouncy blow dry to emulate Debbie Harry herself.

Guns N' Roses Tee - truffleshuffle.com - £19.99

The classic Guns N' Roses logo has been given a summery twist with this strappy tee. Perfect for summer rock gigs/festivals/Saturday afternoon in the pub. Just don't wear with massively curly hair, or you may look more like Slash than you think ;-)

Until next time lovelies x

Sanctuary Review...

Just before Christmas you may have seen my entry about my 'Secret Santa' present - a Boots Sanctuary set. Well, after using the products for a good few weeks now, I thought it an appropriate time to start reviewing my loot...

And that's exactly what I did. First up, the 'Body Lotion'.

First of all, for those who don’t know, ‘Sanctuary’ is Boots’ slightly more upmarket bath and body line. Included in this line you will find everything for the body, body and skin care. With prices starting from £9.50 for a 300ml tub of the body butter it isn’t exactly for those on a budget. The idea of the line is so that people everywhere can create that ‘spa luxury feeling’ at home. (Just to let you know, I’m reviewing the travel sized bottle - £2.50 for 75ml)

The packaging is clean looking, with the distinctive orange and cream colours that fans will associate with the Sanctuary brand. The bottle is a cylinder shape with a screw top, and not a dispensing pump. The screw top means that it is easy to tip it upside down when the bottle starts to come to an end. After all, you do want your money’s worth. I like this about the bottle's design; it is practical as well as stylish.

The smell is the typical orangey, citrus like Sanctuary smell. It reminds me of sun tan lotion, and holidays abroad. But, as it sinks into your skin, the smell becomes spicier, like the type of aroma you typically get after lighting a scented cinnamon candle. I like the fact it smells like scents I associate with both summer and winter. The only thing I would say is that the application and consistency of the lotion isn't as smooth as others that I've tried.

Once on it does sink in quite quickly, but I did notice that my skin looked as if it had a greasy film to it. I wasn't by any means 'over applying' so I couldn't quite understand why. My skin did feel moisturised, but not as much as it has done, compared to other body lotions I use on a regular basis. I'm going to put this down to the extreme cold weather we've been having! (My dry prone skin needs a lot of moisturising this time of year) If you suffer from the same problem as me, I'd suggest using this lotion when the weather is slightly warmer, well, when there isn't the threat of snow every two minutes!

Final Verdict?

I'm going to give this lotion a very well deserved 7/10. Whilst it isn't as moisturising, or as smooth as I'd like, I do love the smell, and the lotion's scent was something I could still smell a good couple of hours after application. 

I don't think I would rush out and buy more of this, but it is nice for those times when I fancy a change from my usual. I may also save the application of this for the warmer months of the year, when my skin doesn't need such a massive injection of body lotion! Plus, the sleek and stylish little bottle looks very cute sat on my dressing table. 

Until next time lovelies x

Flower Power...

It's funny how inspiration for blogging comes at the most random of times. Inspiration for this blog post came when I was on a work night out a couple of weeks ago, sat in a Japanese restaurant in the middle of Manchester (of all places). Said restaurant was actually 'Sapporo Teppanyaki' off Deansgate. If you haven't been, and live in the Manchester area, I suggest you go. It's amazing! The food is wonderful, and the way they cook it is even better. Potato catching anyone? ;-)  Anyways, I had a great night with some good company; so once again thanks for letting me tag along guys!

So, whilst eating we were 'discussing' one of our colleagues love for flowered shirts. Or should I say he was being ripped for wearing one, until I piped up saying that I did actually like his shirt. 

As a rule, on guys or girls, I do like flowery shirts. Not the OTT type like what Noel Edmunds regularly wears on 'Deal or No Deal', or those Hawaiian style ones that should have been left in Benidorm circa 1970, but more subtle flowered designs can look very nice and very fashionable on both sexes. I know some people may look at this and think "no way", but you aren't going to look like a 60's hippie if you follow these easy tips. And remember, it's about how you wear it, and how confident you feel in your outfit!

No, no, and no!

  

Girls...

- Wear with denim, leggings, skirts or tailored trousers to suit your mood. Wear with flats or add heels to take it from office wear to night wear. 

- Keep make up natural and not too heavy if you like a more 'girly' type of look. However, if you want to rock it up, a sweep of eyeliner, some red lipstick and some rock chick inspired jewellery is all you need to help the shirt do the talking. 

- Un-doing buttons is good if you don't like the 'buttoned up to the top' trend. But don't undo too many, or people may get more than they bargained for! ;-)

Oasis 'Midnight Garden Print Shirt' - £45

ASOS 'Vero Moda Floral Blouse With Hi Lo Hem' - £25

Guys...

- Wear with jeans for a casual look or with smart trousers for smarter occasions.

- Leave the cowboy boots and Stetson though, you don't want to end up looking like an extra from Dallas.

- Keep accessories to a minimum in order to keep the shirt the main focus of the outfit. 

ASOS 'Ditsy Floral Shirt' - Was £25, now £13.50

River Island 'BLUE FLORAL STRIPED DOUBLE COLLAR SHIRT' - £30

Until next time lovelies x

Trends for 2013...

I read an interesting article the other day. And it got me thinking (dangerous, huh?). In a nutshell, the article talked about a change in the fashion industry throughout 2013. Said change being the fact that 2013 will be remembered as 'the year of no trends'. Yes, that's right, no trends.

With the rise of cheap and disposable fashion (I think we can single handedly thank Primark for that) and designers bombarding wannabe fashionista's with trend after trend after trend, it appears we have exhausted all available trend outlets. The fashion industry nowadays has a faster turnaround of clothes, with 'trendy' items only being viewed this way for a couple of seasons maximum. Walk down any UK High Street and there are so many trends to choose from. You could have a totally different look everyday of the week! The trend cycle seems to go round much quicker nowadays compared to times gone by. Trends nowadays can be out in just one season (who can remember that god awful neon trend? In my opinion, day-glo is only suitable for a rave themed night out), where as a decade or so ago, they could last several seasons.

It appears that the fashion industry has now started to turn their backs in dictating trends via the catwalk and is now embracing the concept of ''personal style''. Like previous years, there doesn't seem to be a 'stand out' trend. During this year you can be androgynous, lady like, disco diva or boho. Take your pick.

Or, for the cynical out there, could it be that the fashion industry is running out of ideas?! Shock horror! ;-)

I'll be honest, I like seeing what's on the catwalk at those key times - S/S & A/W, but I don't slavishly follow trends. Let’s face it, not everyone looks good in every single trend. And not everyone likes every single trend. And fashion should be fun, and not about point scoring as to who looks better in that peplum dress on the dance floor, or which girl is rocking the faux fur coat and top knot better on the bus!

Perhaps a more relaxed approach to trendsetting is what we need. A world where girls throw away the rule book and say "so what - if I like it, I’ll wear it!" Where people buy things simply because they like them, not because they think they should be wearing it, because this month’s Vogue told them they should. 

We all come in different shapes and sizes, and fashion should reflect that. We all deserve to feel good and confident in what we wear. Fashion shouldn't alienate a certain shape or size, and one good thing about a considerable amount of trends means that there's something for everyone. I think a cheeky peek down any UK High Street shows that. It's all about putting outfits together and making them work for you, and only you.

After all, variety is the spice of life. And we should embrace this variety.

Until next time lovelies x