Say Goodbye to Winter Lips!!

When the trees lay bare and you begin to sport a case of 

Rudolph-nose you know winter is here!

Winter brings round snow, the Eggnog Late in Starbucks and crazy over indulgent treats but it also comes with many downsides one of which being, dry... dare I say crusty lips!

This year I've decided enough is enough and have put in place a routine to say goodbey to those sore, dry lips. 

In this post I'll share the routine that has been working wonders so far,

Step 1: Scrub, Scrub, Scrub,

This Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub is great, the organic jojoba oil keeps your lips hydrated and the sugar granules scrub away the dead and dry skin but thats not the best part! It's completely eatable and tastes wonderful. Job done! Scrub, scrub, scrub then lick away!

Step 2: Condition

My Balmi has been a life-saviour, an all round great product, it smells great, it last for a very long on your lips and it's in a cute EOS type packaging. I've always been a bog-standard vaseline girl but this trumps all the lip balms I've tried until now!

It comes in 4 flavours of coconut, strawberry, raspberry and mint. 

I have the raspberry. 

Step 3: Prime

For me this step is essential as I find that lipsticks and lip glosses alike apply horrible onto my lips. I use the MAC Prep+Prime to make sure that lip products glide on easily and don't build up in the ridges. 

Those of you with lovely smooth lips may choose to omit this step!

Step 4: Lipstick

This step is all you! Choose the brand you love and colour you adore! I used MAC's Amplified in Chatterbox. The only tip I have is to use a brush; yes it may take longer however it will give you a great deal more precision and accuracy. Using a brush also gives you more control over the colour you achieve and the pigmentation of the colour on your lips. I use the Real Techniques Detailer Brush.

Step 5: Gloss

Until last week I wasn't sold on gloss, I've tried and failed with all the MAC formulations, it's always too sticky.. too heavy and clumpy looking, however after a haul video one too many I stubbled upon the Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick . I used the shade Fushia-Ristic. I might do a full review later but I can say that it's definitely the way forward it looks great on it's own or over lipstick!

I feel that although a matte look is great in summer, nearing winter it's great to add a bit of depth and brightness to the face with a glossy lip and well with this product I can finally practice as I preach!

So pucker-up and make sure your lips are baby smooth for all that kissing under the mistletoe!

x

Review: Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation

Hey There!

Haven't posted in quite a while, it has been a busy few months. It is always hard to get back into the swing of things so I thought I'll start nice and simple and do a product review. 

This is a product for which I had high hopes for, and who didn't it is after all the love child of the Touche Éclat and a brand which never fails to deliver on quality but I must say I am a little underwhelmed about this foundation. 

Now I'm going to admit I'm very cautious about make-up in general, a high coverage foundation, for example wouldn't brush with me, but I can't even describe this as high coverage... it's just heavy.YSL describe it as 'Weightless Perfection' and that it certainly is not. With a finishing powder it's wearable, without it's dewy at it's max, and I personally prefer my foundation a little on the natural matte side.

Not only does it for me not deliver on the look and feel it also has an awful, pungent, garden smell. Cosmetics should either smell fresh and clean or smell of nothing at all. 

Although this has been a little negative so far I must say the packaging, as always, a hit. Classy and expensive feeling, and well at £28 it should be.

 All in all, if you're a fan of the dewy-look and don't mind a foundation that you can feel all day maybe this is worth a try, however for myself definitely not a re-purchase.

Oh and to add I do think I have a slightly paler shade than I should wear, the counter girl was extremely unhelpful, but what to expect at a suburban Debenhams!

I think I'll just stick with my £10 foundation and my Tocuhe Éclat!

x

It's Autumn!

With Autumn come jumpers!

I was in dire need of some jumpers, with it getting cooler and cooler here in London came m opportunity to buy some jumpers. I must admit I rarely find jumpers that suit me, I know 'baggy jumpers' are all the range and comfort but on me it's more like the 'fat jumper' but H&M has as always come up trumps for me. The great thing about H&M is it's so much more affordable than TOPSHOP or Warehouse, not to say I don't love these brands equally as much. So to the point now! I thought I'd share the jumpers I've bought so far!

 I love the colour of this one, it's more bright than I usually go for but I think I'll dare to wear it!
£14.99

My personal favourite! In the picture it's hard to see but it has little sequence stitched into the knit and it looks absolutely great.
£29.99

The baggy-nerdy one! Going to love this on the days I want to be nice and cosy .
£9.99

Sex Sells:Bobbi Brown Jumps on the 50 Shades of Grey Bandwagon!

Oh dear I don't know wether I love this or really hate this! 

I know 50 Shades of Grey has taken the world by storm but is capitalising on it ok? Although it doesn't make a blatant connection to the raunchy novel, it's rare to find a person today who hasn't heard of the book. In todays world there is no doubt about it, sex does sell, and that annoys me more than it should. So do brands like Bobbi Brown and Nars use sexual connotations to sell they're products or do they see it as harmless fun? I've come to the conclusion that it's a bit of both, they use the sexual connotations to play on the fun, naughty side inside all women but do so to sell more products. All that said I think I love the collection enough to put this aside, it's a shame I couldn't find it on the UK store. Maybe soon.. Fingers crossed!

x

Lazy Sundays Recommends: New Talent

So it's been a while since I've felt like I have found something worth recommending to you guys and this evening I have stumbled upon something which is worth a look. I'm not gonna lie I do know this lovely man but that is all the more reason to share this with you guys, his name is Karl Reay and he is a wonderful as he is talented! 

 So I actually couldn't insert the video I wanted to share with you guys (silly blogger!), but here is a cover of Cold Coffee originally by Ed Sheeran, although if you click on his name you can get to the video I'd like you all to see.

Although this isn't the video I wanted to show you guys (just because you don't get to see what a lovely person Karl is!!) it is a great cover and it's definitely on my iPod! 

Hope you guys enjoy Karl's music and do check him out on YouTube! Show him some love and support!

x

Beauty Haul and MAC Dupe!

Watch out for the post on make-up storage as I will certainly need some soon with the amount of beauty products I have been buying. I normally never buy much in one go just pick up a few bits and bobs here and there, but these past two weeks I have gone all out! 

Here's most of the products I purchased ( I probably forgot some, silly me! )

So lets begin on the left with Oilatum, I purchased mine in Boots but I linked to Lloyds Pharmacy because it is cheaper! Now this is £6.10 in Lloyds Pharmacy, and I haven't used this for very long, but I have heard marvellous things about it; I must say so far so good, I'm definitely not disappointed. It hydrates quite well and takes away the raw/tight feeling I get after cleansing and isn't whatsoever greasy, after about 10-20 seconds you can barely feel it on your skin! I first heard about this product two weeks ago when I popped to the Urban Decay counter in Debenhams; the counter girl suggest I'd be better off with a finishing powder than the setting sprays, but I mentioned my dry skin, she was absolutely lovely and suggested a range of products she had tried herself one of which was this cream. I'll let you know how I get on with it in a later post.

They're Real by Benefit, now this is a mascara I desperately want to love, and in some respects I really do but in some I'm just not a fan. I'm a girl who doesn't like to stand out, in terms of my make-up, I keep it plain and natural so I don't think the mascara and I are a match made in heaven whatsoever! It's great if you like a lot of volume and striking lashes, I unfortunately found it a little clumpy and a pain in the bum to remove! So difficult in fact it became frustrating, I'll use it up but probably stick to Max Factor next time. In my opinion definitely not worth the £18.50 price tag, as you will probably only use it on night's out or parties so won't get your moneys worth.
Real Techniques Blush Brush, I absolutely love, love, love it! It's absolutely brilliant, for £9.99 you could not do better; there isn't much more to say! Come pay day I'll be back in Boots buying myself every single one in the range, just a pleasure to use!
Urban Decay's All Nighter Setting Spray, well I can't say I can't live without it, but I do like it. I've been religiously using this for a week and half now and I do like it but no way do I get the quoted 16 hours. It also dims your make up down a lot so if you do use a powder blush be prepared to apply more than usual just because it will take away some of the colour. The reason I don't get the 16 hours may be because I don't use a setting powder so don't take it as a sign of it being a bad product! A lot of people love it and I do agree it has prolonged and slowed down the inevitable disappearing act of my make-up! I would say £19.00 is a little steep but I think you do get a lot for your money as you don't need much of the product.
TRESemme Salon Shine Glossing Spray, well it does what it says on the tin! It's not magic, it doesn't get rid of my frizz all together but it does help. It's light therefore doesn't weigh down my hair and it does contain Argan oil, so all in all a good product for £4.99. One little side note, I really don't like the smell, but that's me just being a little picky!
MUA Shade 17- Matt, You've probably heard all there is to say about the great, affordable eyeshadows. Lets leave it at that, it's lovely and it's only £1, this shade is an absolute essential for any look.
I've always been a bit unadventurous with my blushes, I got my first blush when I was 12 or so and stuck with it, imagine the emotional breakdown craziness that went down when the shade I loved and enjoyed got discontinued. Please don't judge me but I still have the old blush and save it for special occasions as I treasure it more than most of my other belongings and it's only a Maybeline mouse! Anyway so as it's slowly running out I decided to find a back up and I think I have, the Liz Earle Powder Blush in Coral 05. It's not a colour I'm used to as I normally stick to light pinks and rather natural looking colours, and one day I did overdo it, mum even asked if I was sick but what the heck I like it. You do have to be very careful as it is very pigmented but paired with the Real Techniques Blush Brush it's fabulous! I will definitely buy it again when it runs out and maybe add some more colours to my collection.

Here's a little swatch, and this is a very pigmented swatch just to show you the colour. Don't be scared you definitely don't have to apply it this heavy to your cheeks! I certainly don't. 

Last but not least I will do the lip products together because when taking pictures of swatches I realised they're basically the same. Great, got two lip products exactly the same shade.The Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous is what one may call a dupe for MAC Cremesheen Ravishing in colour anyway.

Now there is a slight difference, the Balm Stain is slightly more sheer and has a shimmer to it, whereas the MAC lipstick is more matte, more of a pink tone to it and has a slightly better colour pay-off. However, what does one expect, one is only a Balm Stain and the other a lipstick. I initially bought the lipstick because I thought I needed something a little brighter to cut through the doom and gloom of London, and well the Balm Stain was just an impulse buy after I read the review by Louise from Sprinkle of Glitter, she did say she does get a lot of wear and does not have to re-apply and I don't know if it's just me or others have had the same problem but I wore it for the first time today and within an hour it was gone! I will give it a go with my lip primer but I thought this might have been the end to 101 and lip products in my little bag!
Just to prove when first applied they do look almost identical here's a picture of my lips.

When first applied I actually prefer the Balm Stain but as I say it barely lasted me the train ride into work. As I say lip products in general don't last well for me and do crease, so do check out Louise's blog as I do agree with her opinion most the time and she is very honest!

Just before I finish I must warn you of the slight peppermint/eucalyptus type smell that the Balm Stain has, it's not really to my licking but some of you may like it. I didn't notice it on the testers so it probably fades with time!

Woah.. All done! Long post I know but I thought I wouldn't do this half heartedly as I've actually tried some of the products so just giving my opinion!

x

Project Kate Upton

Let me take you back.. back to 2006 in fact; the year we lost Pluto, the year the Wii allowed us to look silly and work out in our living rooms (very appropriate for this blog, makes me think it was all meant to be) and the year Google bought YouTube. However none of these events made as big an impact on me as the release of 'Step Up' and before you rush to judge and heckle me I have two words: Channing Tatum. The man is a beast and recently, being the good little fan *cough*stalker*cough* I am, I got to see him when he was promoting his new movie at an Apple Store in London along side Matthew McConaughey! Talk about a sexy duo! 

So yes the picture is a little crappy, unfortunately we were a wee bit away. Nonetheless  they're both still sexy blurry!

And this probably where I get to the point, when I saw Tatum and McConaughey I realised that I will never have the chance with someone as sexy as these two, unless I myself become a sexy little devil! So here comes project Kate Upton. Despite what a little naughty blogger has said about Kate Upton recently I think she's a sexy little minx who is only 20! Crazy ha?? So I have set myself a challenge to get a Kate Upton body by the time I'm 19-20. Yes I understand I'm probably way out of my depth, but I'm a similar height to her so why not, and she's not crazy skinny just sexy so who knows, maybe I can get her spiffing figure! Without disclosing how old I am, I still have a fair amount of time so today I decided to take a rest and bake some cookies!

Don't mind the mess, it's all part of the process! And no I could in no way do this alone, however my chum was a little camera shy!

Hopefully next summer I'll have beach pictures to be proud of! So wish me luck guys!

x

Ribbons Galore

So I thought it was time I mixed it up a little and went in search of something new and fun to write about, not just clothing! Don't get me wrong I love clothes and sharing the cool things I find but sometimes I feel like it can get repetitive. Finding something new is never easy and trust me I was struggling, so I turned to a friend for some inspiration and him being a man he had nothing: well what appeared to be nothing, however turned out to be something totally brilliant. His man-thinking lead him to answer with one word 'ribbons' at first I thought he was just trying to dismiss me without much consideration, but then I thought maybe it's a great idea to take something so ordinary and see how out-the-ordinary something so simple could become. Lo and behold I discovered the art of 'Ribbon Sculptures'. 

Before this I had no idea that a ribbon could turn into a turtle, a flower or even a little 'Angry Bird'. How wonderful is that??

1 from leilei1202
2 and 3 from soCuties
4 from Jenbenitodesigns

So everyone can agree these are cute but most of you are probably thinking, "What use will I have for these?". Well why not make these into a little clip or a broach for yourself if you feel like a little bit of fun needs to be injected into your outfit. Why not share the fun and colour and make  a cute little clip for your daughter, niece or a younger sister? Another great way you could use some of these ribbon-marvels is to brighten-up your home or even cute decorations for a party, or even the party favours themselves! Oh the possibilities are endless. Now I say pop to YouTube if you have time on your hands and see how to make some of these yourself, but if you're in search for some cute decorations or some present ideas definitely give some of these a go! 

If this hasn't been a post that's interested you much I do apologise but every time I look at that little blue bird my heart melts! Had to share this with you guys!

x

Although it's not New Year it's Definitely Time for a Resolution

When I was little I hoped to grow into a woman who loved to listen to french music, wore vintage clothing and was able to seduce a man with a flutter of an eyelash. Today I hit Brick Lane in hopes to find some wonderful vintage clothing, you know the sort of gems one hears others find but never does so herself: the urban myth! Once again I was disappointed in what I found and not only that I came to realise that although the vintage clothes look very unique on some people they just don't suit me; the prints are too crazy, the shapes are far from flattering and not to sound snobby it sorta smells funny!

On my walk through Brick Lane I saw the women I once hoped of becoming and was envious of how wonderful they look, I decided enough was enough and I should ditch the french vintage and red wine dream forever and be the silly girl I am! I am in no way demeaning or giving up on myself, I'm doing quite the opposite, I shall be who I am. Stop listening to songs I don't really understand, no matter how hard my French teachers tried and no longer be ashamed to admit I do have 'Call Me Maybe' on my iPod despite the constant abuse I get about my music taste from a certain someone! Admit that Forever21 is not too main-stream for me and wear the clothes that fit me rather than not buy anything because the "vintage" clothes come in one size and it's never mine!

And if you may now excuse me I shall go wash off the smell of aged leather and death that has been lingering on me all day, and practice my eyelash-fluttering skills!

x

The Jewellery Hunt

In search of the new and exciting in the world of the web, I stumbled upon a whole craft I had no idea existed: the craft of shaping antique spoons into wonderful rings. At first I thought it was just a great idea this one person I stumbled upon had but on my midnight trawl through Etsy I found many more! 

1 and 2 from Silverware Jewellery Etc.
3 and 4 from Milomade

I think these rings look absolutely marvellous, and what a great way to reuse and recycle! Yes these spoons looked great in your grandmother's china cabinet, only to be used if the Queen herself popped in for a visit, but if you're being honest you'd have not much use for them now! Well now you definitely do! And yes this will mean that Antiques Roadshow will see a shortage of silverware, but sacrifices have to be made! 

Etsy is a world filled with the weird and wonderful so I thought I'd have a quick look and see what I could find, and believe you me I found things I cannot wait to buy and things I regret ever seeing....

Here are some of the little gems that lurked in the world of Etsy,

1 from SunAndMoonCraftKits
2 from Kica Bijoux
3 from BlackberryDesigns

The great thing about Etsy is that it's a marketplace for individual, creative and interesting people who create very fabulous and unique things, and in a world where on your way to work you probably pass at least one woman wearing the same top or skirt as you there is no better place to shop!

*Oh I did find some things that no one should ever see so bare in mind that you might be entering unchartered waters and find things no self respecting retailer on the high-street would stock! But that's partially what adds to the charm and appeal of the place.*

So why not give the unknown a go and see how you can jazz up your look wether it's a fork hanging from one ear or just a statement piece of jewellery!

x

Outfit of The Day

Dress from H&M
Belt and Bracelets from TOPSHOP
Shoes from Office
Bag from Monki
Necklace from BAUBLEBAR
Umbrella from Brollies Galore

So the summer doesn't seem to be arriving any time soon so I think it's time us women took back control and stopped waiting for the sun to grace our city with colour and summery-feel. The beautiful women of London should cover the streets in colour and fun, forget the rain just bring a bright brolly and make everyone smile!

Unfortunately I could not find the UK site for Monki but there are stores dotted in and around London, there is definitely one on Carnaby Street so you could pop in if you don't like staying in all day waiting for your delivery. Also the necklace is from BAUBLEBAR which is a US site so do double check if you decide to order; what the charges would be and if there are any customs duties to be paid. 

Apart from that I hope this has inspired you to brighten up the dark and dreary city that is London and the UK in general right now! Dress up a little but don't forget your brolly or your raincoat! 

x

Outfit of The Day

Jumper, Shorts, Shoes, Bag and Ankle Socks all from TOPSHOP
Jewellery all from ALL SAINTS

June Beauty Favourites!

This month I have changed up my skin and make up routine big time! Some things, however, have remained the same and have been my favourites for a long time now. True to blogger style I have decided to put together my favourites for the month!

1.Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish; I probably don't really have to say much about this product, everyone has been raving about it and rightly so: it's amazing! My skin has never been this clear and unlike most cleansers it really hasn't dried my skin out! This has been a real blessing as most cleansers leave my skin dry and sore to the touch!

2.Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation; once again product that has probably been spoken about more times than it has been purchased! I first started using this foundation around January/February time and have not looked back, I think it's marvellous. However I will say that the lasting time of the foundation isn't the best so if you require a lot of coverage for the whole day do use a setting spray or powder. One more thing to add is that if you have very dry skin this might not be the best foundation for you, but I have heard that the Healthy Mix Serum is a great alternative and much more moisturising.

3. Johnsons Daily Essentials Refreshing Cleansing Wipes for Normal Skin; wow what a long name! These have become an absolute essential, due to the slightly oily liquid these wipes are soaked in they are great for taking off make up and even a mascara as stubborn as Benefit's They're Real! I usually remove my make up first with these then follow up with my Cleanse & Polish! They're a must have if you prefer to remove your make up with wipes rather than a bottle of cleanser.

4. MUA Heaven and Earth Palette; MAC quality for £4! That is all you really need to know! This palette of eyeshadows is a great dupe for the Urban Decay Naked Palette at a fraction of the price. These shadows last really well, obviously I still use a base such as the NARS Smudge Proof or a MAC paint pot, but they do last absolutely ages. Highly pigmented and reasonably easy to blend.

5. Freederm Oil Free Perfecting Moisturiser; it has been absolutely years, if I had to make a list of things I could not live without this would definitely be on it! This moisturiser has never caused me any problems with spots and acts as a great base for foundation, as I have quite dry skin. It is absolutely marvellous and a pleasure to use. It is not heavy so if you're used to a thick creamy moisturiser this might take time to get used to but you will certainly not look back! For those with sensitive or spot-prone or oily skin definitely give this a go, right now would be a great time as Boots are running  a promotion of 2 for £7, and if you don't like it you can just give it to me!

6. Lolita Lempicka Eau du Parfum; I have saved the best till last! I discovered this perfume quite recently and totally accidentally! I came across it whilst trying to find Miss Dior Cherie in Debenhams. The pretty little bottle caught my eye and I'm glad it did! This beautiful smell is perfect for those girls looking for something a little bit more mature but yet still wanting to keep the sweet sugary smells. I absolutely love it. Only downfall of this perfume is that it is not as fresh as I would like for summer but then again I do like really light and fruity smells in the heat! I think this a great all year round perfume as it's not too light but yet not too mature and heavy!

x

Back to the 90s!

I remember when so called fashionistas spoke of the 90s with disgust and resentment; a decade to be remember for awful hair and fashion. Although that may be true in some cases, there is more to the 90s than too large a perm and outfits consisting of one piece of denim too many. 

I recently was forced to leave work in double denim: due to a wardrobe malfunction! And guess what it didn't look half bad; this made me think, maybe the 90s are not just for the UO hipsters, maybe all of us can pull this look off!

Top H&M
Jacket River Island
Shorts, Earrings and Bracelet TOPSHOP
Bag TOPMAN
Creepers Amazon

So here is my attempt at the 90s, and I must say hipsters watch out! This little outfit is not overly outrageous or grunge, it is not too much of anything! It's a great example of middle ground: middle ground which allows anyone to look cool yet be comfortable. I myself don't really like to stick out too much so this is great. This modern take on the 90s is a look for anyone, if your a little leg shy try a pair of skinny jeans or even a baggy pair just make sure you're careful with the double denim! 

If your careful you can look cool and care-free, if not you might just look like your slightly chubby aunt on holiday!

x

River Island Outfit of The Day

All from River Island

Latest Obsession!

All from TOPSHOP

TOPSHOP has blown me away with it's selection of great 'not-so-girly' wear! With the latest craze for pastels and all things bright I have begun to struggle to find things I love to wear. Yes it is important to follow trends and keep up to date, but it is much more important to be comfortable, and wear things that suit you. A feeling of relief rushed over me when I discovered these; I knew TOPSHOP's Facebook page will come to some use one day! I can genuinely say that I will be off at the shops tomorrow searching and trying all these great pieces on.

Short and sweet but thought these were defiantly worth a shout out. 

*Just a side note! Studs can be styled in numerous ways and can make even a feminine, pastel outfit edgy!*

x

The Glowing Miracle

*A little review #2*

Benefit's Watt's Up! soft focus highlighter.

Recently I realised my make-up, although doing a great job at making me remotely attractive, was not cutting it! I needed something to brighten up my face and maybe, by some miracle give me a 'summery glow'. After some research I decided I was in dire need of the high beam highlighter so I ventured into my nearest Debenhams. Here I stood inches away from the high beam and this little miracle caught my eye! I decided to conquer my fear of make-up counter shopping and my fear of other people applying my make-up at once and asked if I could see what this highlighter looks like; it turned out to be love at first sight!

This is a very concentrated swatch of the product, it may be even a little darker in person.

Now this is the perfect bronzing, feature-enhancing little miracle! For those that are a little shy, or feel they cannot pull-off bronzer but would like to add a little colour to their face, this is what you need. The picture above shows you what it's like on my skin, however you would never put so much on your face. It blends very nicely into the rest of my make up, however I have not been using the round sponge applicator to apply it; I preferred to either use my fingers our blend out with a stippling brush.

As the benefit counter-girl was applying the highlighter she let a great tip slip! What I like to do with the product is applying it straight to my cheeks by drawing a straight line up my cheekbone and then using my stippling brush and my blusher blend it out! When using a blusher over the product it leaves you with a flawless summery glow whilst still remaining natural-looking. 

So if you'd like to warm up your face and accentuate some areas, this is a great little one-stop product that will do the job. Although a little pricy at £24.50 I do think it is worth it and should last you absolutely ages!

x

Another Sale *H&M SALE*

Summer Sales are starting to fill our high-streets and H&M is no exception! H&M has never been known to be pricy but with this sale you can pick up some true bargains. Here is some I have found.

Now who wouldn't want a pair of shoes for￡14.99 or a cute little top for just under￡5. Totally worth a look even if H&M isn't normally your go to for clothing!

Apologies for the short post, all I wanted to do is inform you of this great sale! Nothing more nothing less!

x

Best Foot Forward *OFFICE SALE*

Hurry! Run now! The Sale at Office is just days away and you can start planning out what to buy now on the Office online store! If you're still here to read this and haven't clicked straight over to find a great bargain then here is a few things I found, and shall be getting them as soon as I can!

Surprisingly there is a great selection of Vans which I will be more than intrigued to check out, however, unfortunately Toms seem to be a no show in the sale which is a shame but I guess thats all down to the fact they sell well and for a worthy cause. 

As I scoured their website I found a wide selection of shoes both of the spring/summer season and the winter passed, so why not have a look at a great pair of reduced boots for the winter to come. Lets face it a good pair of boots is a timeless staple essential! 

x

Top, shorts and bag Topshop.
Shoes Toms.

So this little number has been totally and utterly inspired by a good friend and fellow aspiring blogger Dipdye Doll she's been totally and utterly in love with the dip-dye trend this season, from her gorgeous blonde hair right down to the things she wears! 

So here is my take on the dip-dye trend as I think its not only the light splash of colour on the tips of your hair, but can be transferred into the clothes you wear. You can create a look to fit this trend in two ways: 

1. Wear a piece of clothing such as the shorts above that is clearly dip-dye.

2. Create an over-all appearance by wearing bright colours at one end and fading to light pastels on the other!

This outfit is an eclectic mix of the both and I must say I'm positively in love with this cute little rug-sack. It has an air of artsy-chique! Perfect to add a splash of colour to even the most dull of outfits!

x

Lazy Sundays Recommends

This is really a quick shout out to something that has change a mediocre train ride of people spotting, to an amazing adventure that tugs at both my heart strings and my imagination. I have never been a big reader and the sight of one of these books would have frightened me a month ago and to be fair rightly so, the first book alone is around 800 pages and it's one of the smallest in the series! However in my quest to educate myself and find something to do on those tedious train rides home from work: I discovered this!

A friend dropped these books into a conversation and left me intrigued so I thought I'd check them out, and yes I do agree this might not be a read for everyone but I think anyone who appreciates a good story will love these books!

I'm not gonna lie I haven't been through all of them yet but I do intend to finish them all and how can I not! Each chapter, no matter how short leaves you with a taste to discover more and the fact that each chapter is in the perspective of a different person who is probably in a different location of the realm leaves you hanging in suspense waiting to return to the events your missing. 

So if you have a lazy Sunday to fill do have a look at these books! This is the core 5 plus there are two more books written after the author, unfortunately passed on, from extensive notes; don't fret I've heard they're just as great and I will be sure to give them a read!

I know this sort of fiction is not to everyones taste so I thought it's best to give my opinion rather than tell the story! Apologies to those who this post was useless to, but for those that have read or are excited to get stuck in fell free to leave a comment on your thoughts about the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series.

x

Soak and Float Away Your Dry Scalp!!

*A little review #1*

Lush 'Soak and Float' Shampoo Bar

For over 3 years I have struggled with a very itchy scalp due to my dry skin. After a lot of research the one treatment that was spoken about most was Zinc, I decided it was probably best to try find some Zinc shampoo and give it a go! The only high-street Zinc shampoo I could find was Head&Shoulders and that turned into a 2 year battle of love and hate; some days the shampoo would be great but on some it would just dry my scalp even more and leave me fighting the urge to itch my scalp. Another issue I had with Head&Shoulders was the fact it left my hair feeling flat and rather tangled looking, I thought enough was enough and began my search for a better alternative!

Finally I came across the Lush Shampoo Bars, and the one which has benefitted me the most has been the 'Soak and Float'.

And I'm not saying this has been the complete solution, but it was a relief! My scalp is much much more hydrated and I rarely feel the need to itch, and no this shampoo does not contain Zinc but it has got an alternative: cade oil. Cade oil is an antiseptic and has anti-dandruff properties, however no matter how beneficial it is for your scalp it is also the one fault with this product; it has a terrible smell! Well I may be exaggerating with 'terrible', but it's very smokey and reminds me of smoked meat, which is not what you want your hair to be smelling off. The smell does stick to your hair while it's wet but luckily as it dries it does seem to fade away, another way to mask the smell is to use a lovely smelling conditioner, that seems to help greatly!

The shampoo bar is quite textured and does contain marigold and rose petals so it's not one I'd recommend to just wet and rub into your hair, it's probably best to damp the shampoo bar a little and lather in your hands, you need very little on your hands as it lathers up quite nicely; I'd recommend to start with little and then build up if you need more. 

All in all I really do think this a product worth a try if you do suffer from a dry scalp. As I said no high-street shampoo has really ever helped apart from Head&Shoulders and even then it was very hit and miss. So far this shampoo has been nothing but great in terms of helping the skin on my scalp. The smell however is a little off-putting so I was recommended by the Lush experts that Squeaky Green would do a similar job but it won't be quite as effective, however I do think it is a good compromise as it does smell of peppermint so a great improvement over the smoke!

If you can stomach the smell I would really recommend this, however I do suggest to get a good conditioner as it does wonders to the scalp but the hair does look a little dryer and frizzier than I'd like. 

*Just as a little side note my grandmother is a woman who takes herbal medicines and all that jazz very seriously and her main go to for clearing internal and external infections is marigold, you can make a tea and drink it or soak the petals in warm water, using a cotton pad to apply the affected area. This shampoo bar does contain marigold, which means it will act as an additional antiseptic to the cade oil relieving itchiness caused by infection or cleaning out any scabs you may have due to dryness. This just shows grandmas do know best!*
Hope this has been helpful, and please do feel free to leave a comment if you have found any other great remedies for a dry scalp as I'd love to give them a go!

x

Lazy Sundays Recommends

Tracks for those Lazy Sundays

There is nothing better than a lazy Sunday spent in bed with some good music, so here are my top three tracks for this Sunday!

Cold Specks-Blank Maps
I highly recommend checking out this track on iTunes as it is currently the song of the week so totally free!As no surprise to those who know me my next two tracks come from YouTube. I first discovered 'FuzzyGrenade' or Cory about a year or so ago, and ever since then have not been disappointed and surprisingly his good looks have nothing to do with it! He has a wonderful voice and is even more skilled with his instruments so do check him out!

Cory Goble- A Face to Call Home (John Mayer Cover)

Noah is a little different, I came across his talent just a few days ago, but my god has this man got a voice to die for! Out of all the songs of his that I sampled The Coldplay Medley was my favourite, the transitions are so well done that only those who know the songs of by heart will tell that the song has change. Noah is definitely worth a look, his soulful, deep voice is perfect for a lazy lie-in!

Noah-Coldplay Medley

The Diamond Jubilee

No matter how controversial the issue of the Monarchy has become, there is no reason to celebrate the long reign of the Queen, and the long long weekend we get to enjoy!

The extra long bank holiday weekend is going to be pretty busy, from the street parties to the spectacular line up of the Diamond Jubilee Concert and well any celebration is an excuse to dress up!

So I've put together two outfits for the two events I'm looking forward to the most!

Up and down the streets of Britain, we will come together and partake in something as traditionally British as the Queen herself: street parties!

Us Britons used to be renowned for our ability to come together as neighbours and celebrate our community spirit, come Sunday hopefully we'll show the world that the neighbourly spirit is still in us.

This outfit will be perfect! You can find all these great pieces in Topshop. I especially love the bag, nothing better represents the Queen than her beloved corgis! 

Top H&M
Cropped Trousers and Parka From Topshop
Necklace Forever21
Bag and Pumps from River Island
*If the white cropped trousers aren't your thing do check out the Topshop Summer Trouser Offer  as there are many great summery trousers reduced to very affordable prices, now there's even more of an excuse to dress up!!*

Yes I know not many of us will get the chance to board one of the 1,000 boats set to sail the Thames this Sunday, but who said that we can't dress up and go down to the banks to see the wonderful pageant. 

And yes this is some what of a very nautical look, maybe a little too overboard but I must say I do love it! Nothing makes you feel more ready to set sail than stripes and anchors, with a lovely pair of cropped trousers, this look is classy yet suited to the nautical festivities. 

With all this fun and excitement we must not forget that we do still live in England and that the weather can be unpredictable to say the least, so why not pick up this great little parka; it conveniently folds up into a little bag, meaning you can bring it with you in your purse and pop it on if the heavens open!

So whatever your views on the Monarchy are I don't think there is any reason not to join in the celebration, I myself love any excuse for a party!

To find out about all the festivities do check out the BBC website, it has some great information on whats going on in terms of the big celebrations and the more local. 

The Magic of Stripes

The Classy Short-Shorts!

For a long time I had the impression that short-shorts were a tights only combination, but today I was proven wrong and very gladly so!

I discovered the perfect pair of leg-lengthening, tummy-tucking shorts!

These Topshop beauties are a must-have for both the brave long-legged lasses and the slightly more self-conscious gals. The crazy stripes might be a put off for some, but vertical stripping is notorious for slimming and lengthening. Unlike most short-shorts these do not cut off your thigh in an uncomfortable position, demonstrating all your slightly less than faltering bits, these are just perfect! Also the fact that they are 98% cotton and only 2% elastane means they keep that tummy securely tucked: great to pair with a cropped tee. 

The Genius Dress!

For a little while now I have been in awe with this miraculous piece of design. A dress that suits all figures, is that really possible?

Well I was not willing to believe so but with the dress making an appearance here and there I realised it is truly possible. As I said it is a combination of wonderful design and clever choice of prints, and stripes that makes this dress so flattering to both the slimmer and the more curvaceous girls!

The horizontal stripes on the chest accentuate the breast area and the slanted horizontal stripes that perfectly flow down your hips, either adding the extra your missing or slimming and creating a sexy hourglass silhouette. Yes the dress is a little short but if your leg proud and feeling a little brave, this is a great little gem waiting to be had!

Also remember that H&M is full of dresses this shape, of all different prints and colours; maybe it's worth a trip to your nearest store!

*I highly recommend going to the store that stocks their DIVIDED range because, you a more likely to find the cool prints and colours. Rather than shopping online because the range is limited!*

Finally the sun has arrived! So todays outfit of the day is perfect for the summery heat!

The top is from H&M.

The skirt, shoes and bag are from Topshop.

The aztec earrings are from Forever 21.

I must say my favourite is this gorgeous top and at less than a tenner a great find!

All this Talk of Baggy Beach Jumpers!

I first discovered Wildfox when the blogging and vlogging worlds came alive with talk about the ultra comfy and flattering baggy beach jumpers. To be quite honest I personally think they are a little overpriced (not that I wouldn't love one!) but I just think you could get a lot more for your money elsewhere. 

Wildfox in general as a brand is quite expensive but I recently stumbled upon shopbop.com and guess what they're having a Spring/Summer sale! Even without the sale Wildfox is considerably cheaper there than it is on ASOS, take this jumper for example;

Totally a crazy amount of money but if your going to get it might as well be the cheaper option! Save your money for something else!

Now that there is a sale at shopbop.com you can pick up some real 'bargains' (well not really bargains but bargains in Wildfox world!)

There aren't that many Wildfox products on sale I must admit, but I just love the 'casual cool' look of the brand so I will be checking up on this site to see if any more great deals pop up!

So why not check out the shopbop sale and see what other little gems are out there!

*I must warn you that they only do free delivery on orders over $100 so thats about £64 so why not see if any of your other friends want something, and get it together! Will save you the extra delivery costs!*

x