Five of the Best...

Like most women/girls I love shoes. Pretty much all shoes, but my particular faves are heels. I always feel good when I've got a nice pair of heels on, and I think they finish off just about any outfit. Whether you are dressed up or dressed down you can always find the perfect pair of heels to go with your outfit. I can't resist online shopping, especially browsing from the comfort of my own bed for what my next purchase of heels are going to be! I've hunted high and low to find you my five best picks from the High Street (no blisters or walking required!).

 Zara - Platform Sandals with Piping 

 £29.99 now £15.99

Electric blue is such a hot colour! Whack a contrasting colour on your toes and get ready to have some fun! Plus the ankle straps mean that you'll still be steady even if you've had one too many! ;) 

  

Next - Glitter Peep Toe Court Shoes 

£32

Get ready for a sparkling version of 'Dorothy' shoes! Cute & classy these heels will go with just about any outfit. A good buy ready for winter, hello Christmas parties!

Office - Kind Bow Court Fushia Nubuck 

£70 now £32

OMG I LOVE THESE! I can't tell you all how much I'm love! The bow detailing is the cutest thing I've seen in a while and the colour is amazing; fushia pink looks great with a tan. Pair down your outfit to show these off to the maximum!

Dorothy Perkins - Coral T-Bar Platforms 

£40

I've blogged about coral before (subject matter being nails) and as I've said it before I'll say it again, coral is the shade of the moment! If you want to invest more in the trend invest in these babies. These shoes will bring any LBD or skinny jeans bang on trend.

River Island - White Point Slingback Shoes 

£50 

Black and white. Monochrome. A sexy colour combination that oozes style. I also love pointy shoes, no matter how much they may mash my poor toes up! These shoes remind me very much of a 'French Riviera' look, think white linen trousers and red lipstick.

Until next time lovelies x   

Hard As Nails...

Over the past weeks/months I seem to have been on a quest to find the perfect coral nail varnish to adorn my summer ready feet. And, I think I've found "the one" - well, at least in nail polish terms. Coral is the shade of the moment and flatters all skin tones. I found this colour by happy accident. For starters I didn't even buy it! Our Avon lady brought the newest catalogue round and my Mum actually chose this shade for herself. Cue me coming back from Uni to raid her beauty box (yes cheeky, but come on girls, we all do it?!) to find this.

Avon Nailwear Pro in 'Coral Reef'

Well, it's less flamingo pink and more of an actual coral colour. I'm sorry if that's not describing it very well but I hate nail polishes that are described as 'coral' when really they should be renamed "flamingo pink" or "salmon pink". It's a bit deceptive and you end up with yet another pinky colour. I don't need any more pink nail varnishes, I have so many!

It went on nice and smooth but it did chip a little too quickly. I don't expect pedicures to chip as quickly as manicures because toes aren't usually exposed the same as fingers (mine certainly weren't, it's been raining all week hahaha), so this did disappoint me a little. That said I am fairly impressed with it and will definitely be wearing it to the raft of birthdays I have coming up in the next couple of weeks. Hurrah to dressing up and having a great night out on the town! :D 


Until next time lovelies x      

Purchase Peek...

I thought I'd give you another insight into what I've recently bought. I've wanted some new flats for ages, something summery that will give my summer wardrobe a boost. My shopping trip started off as a mini nightmare, I went into Primark but sizes 5 were too small and size 6 were too big! I thought that I wasn't destined to find any shoes that fitted. I think that qualifies as having a Cinderella moment??! And I finally found them in H&M. I'm a H&M fan, I find the clothes trendy and affordable - plus their jeans fit me really well too, which is always a bonus! 

Anyway, I saw these flats in an array of different colours, and you can see the full spectrum here. I decided on the light pink in the end because I thought they were fun, feminine and flirty - perfect for summer! It's also going to be a challenge keeping them clean ;) Plus at £7.99 you can't really go wrong.

  

I've worn them a few times; they look great with jeans, leggings and even dresses if you don't fancy wearing heels. Flats are a wardrobe stable, and I don't think a girl can have too many!

The stitch detailing and the bow are so cute!

I'm now off to do my nails, as I'm having a night on the town tonight! Cocktails ahoy! Has anyone got any nice plans for the weekend?

P.S - I've finally got with the times, you can now follow my blog on bloglovin' :D I haven't quite worked out how to add the badge to my blog so any tips would be much appreciated! Until next time lovelies x    

Summer Ready Skin...

Now I'm a huge huge fan of Palmer's body lotion. But, as the weather gets warmer (well, for the UK I guess this is pretty warm!) I'm finding that I don't need such a heavy moisturiser. So, I went in search of a new one, something a little lighter and fresher.

And I found one - Superdrug’s own 'Cranberry & Pomegranate' body lotion. There are other flavour combinations available to buy, and you can view some of the collection here. Alternatively, visit your nearest store. That way you can smell all of them and decide which one you want! I always find that the fun part. However, at times I can be so indecisive so it can equally be a nightmare! After using the lotion for about two weeks I decided it was high time to do a review of it.

First Impressions...

I was quite impressed with the packaging, simple and clean looking. It's the kind of packaging/bottle that would look nice perched on a bedroom dressing table. There's no dispensing pump but that works for me as the bottle can be tipped upside down to get the remainder of the lotion out when it starts to come to an end.

A decent sized bottle (300ml) means good value for money

One thing I was slightly disappointed with was the fact that I don't think it smelt like cranberries or pomegranate, nor like the two had been mixed together. I thought it smelt more like summer fruits (think raspberries, strawberries and blackberries) mixed with candy floss. Don't get me wrong, I like the smell but I don't think it reflects what’s written on the packaging.

At £2.99 I can't fault the price. Beauty products don't have to be expensive, and I'm a big fan of 'beauty on a budget'. Plus, it earnt me some 'beauty card' points at the same time, so I left the store a very happy shopper indeed!

The simple and clean packaging looks very effective

After Use...


The lotion went on nice and smoothly, and was thus easy to apply. It was quite a thin consistency, but I found that was a plus. It sunk into my skin quickly and dried quickly. Great if you haven't got a lot of time in the morning! I also found that after application my skin wasn't sticky from the lotion, so it absorbs in very well.

It's also a light pink in colour - very girly!

    

The smell of the lotion is very sweet and it lingers long after you've applied it. I could smell it on me long after the original application, and I'm sure others could too! However, if you aren't a huge fan of sweet smells, especially because the smell will be covering the majority of your body, I'd say go for one of the other less sweet smelling flavour combinations.  

I've got sensitive skin and eczema, and it passed the 'initial' test. I had no reaction or flare up to it so it can be used by all skin types. 

My skin feels moisturised and I haven't had any dry patches even if I don't apply religiously every day. I'd say it’s moisturising enough for an even application every other day. 

Final Verdict...

- Despite the smell issue, overall, I'm very happy with this product. I'd definitely recommend this product if (like me) your after a change for summer! Or even a change in general. When I run out of this one, I've got my eye on the 'Plum & Red Cherry' version! 

- It gives good even coverage and keeps even the driest of skin hydrated so I'm going to give this product a well deserved 8/10.

Until next time lovelies x

Festival Fun...

With the Degree done (scary times!), what better way to celebrate that and the Jubilee Weekend than to go to a music festival?! That's exactly what I did! For my first ever festival I thought I'd start off small and go to a relative unknown one. 'OsFest' in Oswestry is in its 3rd year and offers music and fun in a fairly rural location. Razorlight headlined with other supporting acts including Hard-Fi, One Night Only, Dappy, Stooshe, Delilah, Ed Drewett, plus lots of other talented unsigned bands. Despite the rain I had a wicked time. Here are some pictures in case you're interested...

One Night Only

Razorlight

Benjamin Francis Leftwich



                     

With the festival season well underway I thought I'd give you my guide to festivals. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a festival virgin have a read...

Cosmetics  


There are no showers at festivals so before you go stock up on face wipes, baby wipes, deodorant & dry shampoo! Only bring the minimum amount of makeup products - it saves on packing & less to replace if lost/stolen. A nice hairband/headscarf works wonders too, as they hide greasy hair. It's also best before you go to practice putting hair into a bun, as this helps for the inevitable greasy hair dilemma that will at some point arise. Sunglasses are also a must, whatever the weather. They help hide a multitude of sins, mainly hangovers and tired eyes. 


Clothing


Be sure to wear lots of layers. That way you can cover up or strip off when necessary. Weather at festivals can be unpredictable to say the least. Always pack a good quality waterproof and some wellies so you stay dry and mud free should the heavens open! A good pair of cut off denim shorts are good to take as they can be worn with tights if it's cold or with bare legs if it's warm. Hoodies and t-shirts are good to take as they are layer-able items. Don't forget the obligatory band t-shirt too!

Me keeping the rain at bay

Music


Pick a festival where you like the line up, not just because it's a 'trendy' one to go to. If you prefer to go to a smaller, lesser known one because that suits your musical taste, then go for it! When you like the line up the whole experience is much more enjoyable. Camping in the rain will be much more bearable if you get to see your favourite acts perform live.    


Food & Drink


Both food and drink are very expensive once inside the festival arena. The campsites usually allow food and drink to be brought in, but if you're careful you can usually sneak some alcohol in! My friend got very good at sneaking her hip-flask in filled with vodka ;) We decided to buy food beforehand and then buy something hot once a day from the food stalls. Things like crisps, cereal bars, rice cakes & oatcakes are good to buy because they stay fresh. Also, do check with the festival organisers whether they allow glass bottles in at all. To be on the safe side buy cans or decant spirits into plastic bottles beforehand to prevent security confiscating you're paid for goods!
    
      
Whatever festival you're going to this summer, enjoy & have a blast! x
      

Purchase Peek...

After another busy few weeks I'm finally back on the blogging trail! Apologies again for my absence but the move back from Uni and starting the ball rolling for jobs have been taking up the majority of my time! In between all this I managed to squeeze in a trip to my first ever music festival (I will be blogging about that, so stay tuned if you are a first timer and need some advice!) and go shopping. But, of course!


A quick trip to Matalan a couple of weeks ago for some underwear turned into a mini spree... Why does that always happen??! Underwear aside, I spotted the most amazing blouse, in the sale, reduced to £9 - Bargain! I've been after an aztec print blouse for a while now so when I saw it I had to have it. Apologies if it isn't there anymore, but the High Street sells lots of just as good alternatives. I loved the colours in it, bold and very stand out. I also liked the 80's vibe to it. A print like this will see you through to autumn because as the weather turns colder, it will still be bang on trend.

    


In just a couple of weeks, this blouse has firmly become a wardrobe fave. It looks just as good dressed up or down. I've worn it to interviews tucked into my suit and to meet friends with black leggings for a more relaxed look. It looks great with gold jewellery and also red lipstick (red is set to be a big colour for a/w 2012), as that brings out the green in the blouse.

Until next time lovelies x

When Revision Takes Over...

Oh my days, it feels like I haven't blogged in ages! It's true, I've literally been so busy with revising and getting my final essays and presentations in, I haven't had much time to think of anything else! Oh the joys of being a final year Uni student. To all you who have exams/deadlines coming up, good luck and stay positive!!

First of all, a HUGE hello to all my new followers and a MASSIVE thank you for all the lovely comments you've been writing. I'm only a little blogger so the comments mean the world to me <3

So, in between revision and deadlines, what have I been doing..? Pampering myself of course! Let’s face it, revision is boring and tedious, but it has to be done in order for exam success. It's important to treat yourself during times like this. I'm talking food too! A nice bar of chocolate by your side makes learning easier, it does motivate you! Also a half hour off during a day of revision to relax can do you the world of good, because you come back to things much more refreshed than before. I've managed to make time for myself, try a few new products and here are the results...

Face

Last week I tried another 'Montagne Jeunesse' face mask, this time the dark chocolate smelling one (I noticed it can also be purchased in white chocolate too - I may do a 'chocolate series' and review this one too). It was divine but then again, I am a chocoholic! A super steal at just £1 too. It literally smelt like I was slapping Terry’s chocolate orange on my face, and I had to resist the urge to eat it! Most of all it cleansed & moisturised my face and even my exam worries melted away... (I'm sorry, that was a terrible pun!)

Verdict 

Can't afford a trip to Cadbury world? Try this 'dairy mask' instead! (Oh dear, these puns are getting worse!) 

Nails 

I've gone a bit mad with pastel & coral colours this week. Any coral or pastel can bring any outfit bang on trend, and these types of colours make outfits look much more summery (even if the weather isn't playing ball) and suit just about any skin tone. On darker skins they look bright and zingy yet on paler tones they stand out and give a nice contrast. To achieve the colour strength on the pictures I did have to add at least two coats.

Toes

This 'Barry M' shade in 'Mint Green' was kindly lent to me by my good friend Ruth. Trust me, she is the person to go to if you need to try a new nail varnish, with a box full of enough colours and shades to rival a Dulux colour chart. First impressions made me think of leprechauns due to it being so green, but as I got used to the colour I really do like it. It's a nice shade of green too; you don't look like you've got some gross type of advanced fungal nail infection.

Fingers

This Collection 2000 shade in 'Fruit Salad' I think is meant to look like the candy bars it's named after, well... Not quite. There's just not enough orange hue. But it is a bright corally pink, as opposed to being a more flamingo style pink. The wide brush means easy application and the 'fast dry' means it's a manicure in minutes! Two of my flatmates have borrowed this colour off me, and I quite fancied having it on too.

Until next time lovelies x