A Glossy Box Valentine

I was having a crappy morning today, I'd just received my next assignment at Uni and wasn't feeling very excited about it. But when I got home to find a Glossy Box parcel I was over the moon! I'm sure you've seen lots of these reviews already, but each box varies slightly so I still wanted to show you what was in mine...

First off, this months box comes in a hot pink colour in spirit of Valentines Day all parcelled up so beautifully, so whether you're loved up or not its a great way of treating yourself to some new beauty goodies.

What's In Mine?....

Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner in Emerald Green

Murad Skin Perfecting Primer

Weleda One Step Cleanser and Toner

First Aid Beauty Gentle Body Wash

Orly Nail Polish in Ruby 

Murad Primer
I'm not actually a fan of primers. Any I have tried in the past have broken me out and made foundation application even worse rather than better. I have quite sensitive skin and I think primers just sit in my pores and cause spots. BUT I'm still going to give this one a go, I've heard good things about Murad and they are a skin company making products for all types of skin so fingers crossed its my new holy grail product because I feel very left out when everyone talks about their favourite primers.

Eyeko Skinny Liner
I was very happy to see a new Eyeko product in this months box. Since their re-launch I've not tried anything out, and although lots of people are unhappy about their price increases I was still intrigued by a few products. I don't own a green eyeliner but I'm excited to give this one a go. I can see me wearing it on nights out with black in the waterline, or just on its own in the Spring for a fresher look. The long silver handle is a bit unnecessary but it makes for nice packaging and the product itself is very soft. Plus is retails at £9.50 and this is a full size product so well worth it!

Weleda Cleanser and Toner
Weleda are a brand introduced to me by Glossy Box but after being a little repulsed by the Pomegranate Body Oil I was unsure about this cleanser and toner. I'll let you know how I get on, at least this one smells nice - it reminds me of ginger biscuits.

First Aid Beauty Body Wash
First Aid Beauty are new to me and I'm a fan of their retro packaging. This is one sample I'll stick in the shower and test out but I can't see it being spectacular, after all its only a body wash and they all do the same thing.

Orly Nail Polish
Last but not least a Orly Nail Polish in Ruby. A lovely deep red shade that's perfect for Valentines Day. I don't own many reds so its nice to add some to my collection. Oh...and a very cute Glossy Sweet!

For me, Glossy Boxes are a way to try out products I wouldn't normally purchase as well as receiving samples of the ones I would. For example the Murad Primer, I normally wouldn't risk it, but by getting a sample size to try out first I might just discover my new favourite product.
You can purchase your Valentine's Glossy Box here, or even buy one for a friend. I think the Glossy Boxes for men make a perfect Valentine's gift for your other half too.

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DIY Studded Phone Case

I've seen these studded phone cases everywhere recently, so here is my attempt! I think it really jazzes up my ageing Nokia e63. I bought my silicone black case from ebay for a few pounds and the studs were pulled off an old belt. Basically, you just shove studs through with your fingers and fold down the back firmly as not to scratch your phone. I don't know how long I'll keep it on, phone cases annoy me but I quite like the chunky and heaviness to this one. Plus its handmade and is sure to catch a few eyes! They are so easy to make and you can whip the case off if you get bored of it or shove it back on for a night out/special occasion.
I'd also like to try this with lots of tiny studs, it would take forever to do but I think it would create a completely different look.
Has anyone else self-studded their phone? Leave me a link in the comments!

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Fashion Now 2

I love treating myself to an expensive glossy fashion magazine every now and again, but something that lasts even longer are fashion books. If you've ever wandered around the book section in Urban Outfitters wishing you owned every single one, then listen up!

Fashion Now 2 is a A-Z of 160 fashion designers, selected by i-D magazine and was given to me as a birthday present from one of my best friends last year. Its a huge thick heavy book and painful to hold up after a while, so not one for reading in the bath!

Its full of inspiration and ideas, and for anyone that's interested in fashion like myself will love to have a read of this. Being a high-street girl at heart I'm not so clued up on my designers so I found this book really useful, its introduced me to designers I've never heard of before as well as giving me a little more background info on the ones I already love. Each page includes a mini interview with the designers themselves, some gorgeous editorial shoots and occasionally some behind the scenes snaps of the models.

Being a photography student its also ideal for researching fashion photographers, as each photographer is listed next to their image, as well as the stylist that was on set.
For anyone interested in fashion, photography or make-up this book is packed full of beautiful pictures to get your creative brain in gear. You can get it on Amazon.co.uk for about £8.99 so its a bargain price for such a huge book.

Let me know if you'd like to see more posts like this one, I have loads of fashion-related reads that I can recommend to anyone wanting to expand their collection!

x

Oatmeal and Raisin Cookies

When I visited New York last year, Oatmeal and Raisin Cookies were a diet staple. Every time we stopped for coffee I'd find a gigantic one of these to snack on. Surprisingly oatmeal is hard to get hold of in the UK (its not the same as porridge oats) but I found a small bag in Morrisons yesterday and knew I had to try and make my own cookies! They are really easy to make and take just 15mins in the oven. When hot they are soft and crumbly, when cool they are slightly chewy and very oaty! Delicious.

You Need:

85g soft butter
115g demerara sugar
1 beaten egg
115g self-raising flour
55g oatmeal
170g raisins

(Makes 18 small cookies)

1. Beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy and pale.
2. Gradually add the beaten egg and mix well.
3. Sift in the flour and fold into the mixture.
4. Add the oatmeal and raisins until well combined.
5. Drop heaped teaspoons of mix onto a baking sheet (3 baking sheets in total)
6. Bake in a pre-heated oven at Gas Mark 6 for 10-15mins.
7. They will be golden brown when done... then eat!

And that's it! Enjoy with a cup of tea.

x

The Real Her

 Denim Shirt - Topshop/Ebay

Freedom Tee - Zara

Leggings - H&M

Converse White Leather

Jewellery - Fashionology

I've been wanting to get a denim shirt for years and years. For some reason I never felt compelled to spend the money when I've seen them, even in places like Primark, I just didn't feel I'd wear it often enough.
But finally I went ahead and bought a Topshop one on ebay, for about £12. It's a size 10 but in an oversized fit so its really baggy and boyish which I like. Its a super soft pale denim which Primark ones aren't so I'd suggest paying a bit more for better quality, and fastens with pearl poppers all the way up the front and around the cuffs. I just wore it with a loose fit tee, leggings and converse for a casual day look.

By layering up the silver jewellery I felt like Caggie Dunlop and now all I need is the accent (and the money.)

I'm looking forward to wearing it with so many other things, I think I'll even get away with doing the whole double-denim thing in the spring, dark jeans only though. If anyone has any ideas or tips I'd love to hear them.

I've been listening to Drake's latest album so much at the moment (hence the post title) which is not usually my type of music but his voice is therapeutic and so different from other artists in the same genre. My fave tracks being Shot For Me and Make Me Proud. (and Headlines) jeez its just too hard to choose!

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My Favourite Lipsticks

 MAC Snob, MAC Angel, MAC Hue

MAC has to be my all time favourite brand for lipsticks. They are smooth, creamy and smell amazing! But because of the price tag I don't buy them very often. These are three of my favourites, and you'll notice a pattern within my favourite lipsticks, I tend to always wear nudes and pinks...

Snob - built up can look a bit full on, but a nice thin layer gives a great pop of lilac-pink for nights out.

Angel - a perfect light pink, classic and great for everyday. Leaves a nice sheen on the lips.

Hue - a pink-nude which suits all skin types. I wear this so often, especially with a smokey dark eye.

 Rimmel 020 Shake Up Pink, Natural Collection Crimson, Revlon 002 Pink Pout

Shake Up Pink by Rimmel - a matte bright pink great for a shock of colour and smells so fruity!

Crimson by Natural Collection - one of the best classic red lipsticks I've ever found and its so cheap too.

Pink Pout - another matte blue-toned pink, very similar to Snob but a little more natural for everyday wear.

 MAC Snob with Revlon Pink Pout and MAC Angel

What are you're favourites? I'm looking for some new MAC lippies to invest in but I'm always looking for the next best drug store lipstick too...

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My Love for OPI

OPI are a brand I've always been interested in and known about through Youtube beauty gurus and beauty blogs but their products are so expensive (especially in the UK) I've never been encouraged to try them out.
My first OPI purchase came in the form of Nail Envy, a treatment polish designed to harden and strengthen your natural nails and stop peeling, breaking or damage. You can see my review on the first 4 weeks of using the product here. Since that review my feelings have changed a little, for the better. And I feel 10x more positive about Nail Envy. I'm so glad I carried on using it.

If you follow me on Twitter you'll know how much I have been raving about my new nails and might have seen this twitpic I posted the other day...

I've been using it since the beginning of December, determined to get long strong nails for Christmas without having to wear acrylics which are so bad for your own nails. After the initial 4 week trial, I'm now using Nail Envy about 2 times and week, sometimes just once a week between changing nail polish.
The results have been amazing. My nails are longer than they have ever been and stronger and thicker than I ever thought possible! Let me list the torture I've put my nails under recently...

1. A Boxercise class, wearing boxing gloves and hitting things repeatedly.
2. Three days a week at work, where I smash glasses, hammer at the till and scrub away at the shelves.
3. Daily typing, whether its my computer keyboard, or my phone buttons (I text with my nails, oops)
4. Various sticker peeling
5. Baking, cooking, other household chores.

All the while my nails have not broken, cracked, peeled or chipped. Everytime I whack my nails off a hard surface or catch them on a stiff handle I brace myself to look down expecting to see a broken nail, ruining all my hard work and the look of my entire manicure. But so far so good, I've been pleasantly surprised.
Ok, ok, so I think by now you realise how much I love this product and will continue to buy bottles of the stuff for the rest of my life. Well done OPI, gold star. Just never stop making the stuff!

With the foundations of lovely long, squared off nails - I can get on with painting my own french manicure to replicate the french acrylics I love the look of. What better to use than my miniature Little Romantics set from OPI. I used Alpine Snow for the tips and a thin coat of Sweet Heart over the top.

I know a few of you have been encouraged to go out and get a bottle for yourselves, I'd suggest ebay or Amazon for the best deal, no need to spend the full £18. Let me know how Nail Envy goes for you, I hope its a success with others too, especially after all the praise I've been giving it!

x

p.s. I am in no way affiliated with OPI and this is not a sponsored post, all opinions are genuine, honest and my own.

What I Wear to the Gym

Leggings - H&M 

Nike Tshirt - Sports Direct 

Reebok Dry Fit Tee - Sports Direct 

Trainers - Ebay

Yoga Mat - Pineapple

I bought a few new gym items today so I thought I'd share them with you guys. I've recently started Pilates classes and they are going really well so I needed a few new tops dedicated for fitness classes so I don't keep wearing my regular t-shirts. Sports Direct always have a HUGE sale in January (last year I picked up a running top and swimming costume) so I popped in again today and got a fairly good deal.
I always feel so lost in the Manchester Arndale store and most things are up on the walls 8 feet off the ground and I get lost just looking for the tills.

I prefer to wear stretchy leggings rather than sweat pants or tracksuit bottoms and these ones are from H&M. They were £7.99 and they are fairly thick so no issues about everyone knowing what underwear I'm wearing.

I bought these trainers in the summer after going running with friends in crappy Primark pumps for a few weeks. What an idiot. They were so flat my feet were slapping against the ground really hard and after every run I'd have aching ankles. I knew I needed to invest in some proper running trainers but I didn't want to fork out for brand new ones. I got these on ebay 'only worn once' and when they arrived they looked brand new. I don't go out running in these colder months but I still get use out of my trainers for indoor fitness.
I've also had the bright pink yoga mat for years and years. I bought it when I was about 14 along with a 'at home yoga' book which I think I've used twice. Hah! But its a great quality one and hopefully I'll get a bit more use out of it now.

I'm popping along to a Boxercise class tomorrow, which I've never done before, does anyone have any idea what its like? My Pilates class by the way, is amazing. Its actually a mixture of Thai Chi, Yoga and Pilates and it works every inch of muscle. You don't get all out of breath, but you do sweat. Afterwards I always feel so relaxed, peaceful and ready for a nap! I'd recommend it to anyone.

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Tiny Hearts

Shirt Dress - H&M

Jumper - New Look

Belt - H&M

Lipstick - Mac Snob

This dress is not something I would normally wear - the tea dress style and tiny heart print is different from anything else I own but I really like it. I think with my hair up and the shape of the dress I look ready for a day in beauty school so I threw a jumper over the top for a more casual look. The problem I have with it, being a shirt, the buttons are quite far apart and it tends to gape a little at the chest. I don't even have much of a chest so it seems a bit silly that I should have this issue, and it didn't do it in the fitting rooms so I think it depends on the bra I'm wearing. For any bigger boobed ladies, I'd suggest to try these on before buying! H&M also have these in a deer print, polka dots and a bird print.

I handed my assignment in today and turned in my essay online last night so that's a huge weight off my mind! Just a final presentation to go (next Tue) and then I can completely turn my attention on to the next project.

I do actually enjoy Uni work and education in general but these past 3 months I seem to have been dragging these three projects around with me and I'm excited to start something new.

I have so many ideas for blog posts at the moment but it's hard finding time to get them done. By the time I get home from Uni  (or wake up) its usually too dark outside to take decent photographs. But, coming soon is..

2011 Wardrobe Favourites - all the best pieces I bought in 2011, my most worn and most loved.

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Not Another Shirt and Jumper Combo

Jumper - H&M

Shirt - Primark

Jeans - Vera Moda, ASOS

Wedges - New Look

Chain Necklace - New Look

Black Stone Ring - H&M

Feather and Cross Ring - Fashionology

Nails - Upotia by Models Own

This jumper is a new favourite and I've got quite a few wears out of it in the past couple of weeks. It's a medium grey chunky knit with lots of metallic silver threads running through it and a short zip at the back near the neck. H&M had a few other colours before Christmas and if they have any left I'd consider getting the whole range. We did have a near-disaster the other day when it came out of the wash with a huge pull across the front. Fortunately my mum is a clothes wizard and got out a huge knitting needle and fixed it! I was ready to say goodbye to it, so thanks mum!
I'm looking for more heavy statement collar necklaces like this one, they're great to wear with plain dresses but also with high neck jumpers or shirts. Or both.
I wore this outfit for 'Bon Voyage' drinks at our local last night as a friend is moving to Australia so we were saying our goodbyes!

I've got three hand-in dates at Uni next week so I'm working hard to get everything done. In fact I should be working right now, so I'm going to get this posted and start making some final decisions about which images to put forward. Weekends are for slobbing about so I won't be getting out of my joggers or Harvard tee today. Enjoy your Saturdays!

x

My Personalised Amazon Kindle

Amazon Kindle - Latest Edition - £89.00

Custom Gelaskin - £15.00

I'd been admiring the Kindle for a while - both my parents and sister have one of the originals (with the keyboard) and although I loved the idea of having hundreds of books stored in one place, I wasn't too keen on the dark grey colour with unnecessary full keyboard. And yes, the Kindle is not just about aesthetic qualities (after all its not a Apple creation) but I decided I didn't want to spend over £100 on an e-reader I didn't like the look of.

So I was over joyed when the latest Kindle design launched in November - a light silvery grey sleek e-reader with minimal buttons - smaller - lighter but with the same screen size. Perfect.

I actually bought mine in the US over Amazon.com for $79 which came to around £50 instead of the UK price of £89. Saving me nearly £40! If you're lucky enough to have a relation or friend who can bring one over for you from the States its worth it, you'll save a fortune. My sister who lives in Washington was coming home for Christmas so she kindly packed my Kindle in her suitcase and delivered it safely as an early Christmas present.

With the money I saved I bought this amazing stick-on-skin from Gelaskins, finding an image I liked from Pinintrest I made my own custom skin and although it took agesss to arrive, it was well worth the wait. 

I think it adds a personal touch and I'll be proud to pull this out and show it off on the train.

Kindle Review

So what do I actually think of the Kindle? Well, its lighter and thinner than I imagined, its easy to hold and the page turner buttons are well placed, 2 on each side for flipping forwards and backwards. 

My eyes don't feel tired when reading from it like they do after reading through lots of blog posts online. This is due to its specially designed E-Ink display. Read more here.

I found I got through a book much quicker using the Kindle (but that could be down to a great book.) I've recently finished 'Never Let Me Go' by Kazuo Ishiguro which is brilliant by the way I fully recommend it.

I'm currently reading 'When God Was a Rabbit' by Sarah Winman and having a new toy to read with encourages me to read more often. 

The only problem is that many of the Kindle Books from the Kindle Store are quite expensive. I tend not to spend over £4 on a e-book especially if you're getting through them quite quickly and needing to buy another. There are free e-books available from the Kindle store although not many, and they tend to be classics such as Pride and Prejudice rather than new releases or best sellers.

Amazon's Kindle Store does have daily offers and sales, which is where I picked up 'When God Was a Rabbit' for just £2.99.

But if you're the type of go out and buy a brand new best seller from Waterstones anyway, you'll save yourself a fortune by buying the Kindle edition instead. Every book you buy stays stored on your Amazon account meaning if you loose or break your Kindle, you still have all your books.

You can access the Kindle store straight from your Kindle, mine is WiFi enabled meaning as long as there is an internet connection I can connect to, I'm good to go. Its not great for exploring web pages or blogs (I just found mine for fun!) but its not a computer tablet like the iPad, its an e-reader. 

GelaSkins Review

There are a few online companies out there who produce customised skins for laptops, phones or kindles but Gelaskins really appealled to me. The site is designed beautifully and its very easy to navigate around and use. 

There are loads of designs to choose from, including artwork from various well known artists or you can create your own using a photo, illustration or pattern. I uploaded this birds in the sky image after finding it online and I love the way it looks on my Kindle. I paid $19.95 plus shipping and it all came to about £15.

I'm really impressed with the quality - its basically a big sticker that you place on your Kindle but it can be peeled off again to leave no residue or damage to your Kindle. I received mine in the post this morning and found it really easy to apply and I could peel it off again in places to re-position no problem. No air bubbles either.
But as its being shipped from the US it takes ages to arrive. Mine went past the estimated 20 days (maybe due to Xmas post) but when I contacted the people at Gelaskins they were really helpful and offered to send out another straight away with a faster shipping option. 

Final Thoughts

If you're still on the fence about getting one because your not a 'big reader' then I'd probably encourage you not to buy one. If you don't enjoy reading in the first place the Amazon Kindle will not magically turn you into a bookworm. But if like me you love reading and wish you read more often then the Kindle is for you. Its 10x easier to actually buy books, read reviews, even try out the first chapter for free (which you can't exactly do in a bookshop!) and you can pop it into your bag wherever you go. Delayed train? Get out the Kindle. Doctor's waiting room? Get out the Kindle. Time to yourself in a coffee shop? Kindle. You get the idea.

I'll be carting mine around with me to Uni everyday for those moments where there is nothing else to do but wait around, you may as well be reading a good book!

x

(I am in no way affiliated with Amazon Kindle or Gelaskins and this post was not sponsored. All opinions are my own.)

Cupcake Skulls with Brains

Skull Shapes Silicone Cupcake Moulds Set of 4

For Christmas my big brother gave me these cute skull shaped cupcake cases! As it was his birthday today I thought I'd make use of them and made chocolate brownie cupcakes with white chocolate chunks and pink cream piped on for brains! Mmmm brains...

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Tweed Boyfriend Coat

Tweed Blazer Coat - New Look

Cream Aran Jumper - Primark

Paperbag Waist Shorts - ASOS

I've finally got around to taking some photos of this coat. I first spotted it back in November and searched every New Look across the land for it but had no luck. I tried on a very similar one in Topshop and I was even considering the £80 price tag which is quite a lot for an impulse buy.
With huge effort, I put the Topshop one down and mooched off to New Look for one last look. It must have been fate when I found it.... for half the price!! They didn't have any size 10s left, so I went for the 12 to make room for thick jumpers or layers. And managed to knock a further 10% off for a small 'fault' (loose threads) at the back. So in total I paid under £18.00

I've hardly taken it off and although I've bought a few coats this Autumn/Winter, this one has to be my favourite. I love the looser 'boyfriend' fit and the whole androgynous look really appeals to me, especially in the colder months. I'll be wearing this with skinny jeans, boots, shirts and collars. It also looks great slung over a pretty dress and its surprisingly thick and warm. I wore this today to take photographs at the airport (long story) and it makes my everyday clothes feel a little smarter.

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The Wardrobe of 2011

Happy 2012 Everyone! I thought I'd make my first post of this year a look-back at last years outfit photos. Last year around Spring time I started thinking a little more seriously about my blog and I wanted to include outfit posts regularly. In fact one of my New Year's resolutions is to blog outfit posts more often, setting myself the goal of posting at least 1 a week!
I'm also going to have a little re-jig of the blog. I'm not going to change too much but I'm a bit bored with the design at the moment.
I've been taking a bit of a break from blogging over Christmas but I'll soon be back on track! Of course I'm always on Twitter, you can stay up to date with any changes or new blog posts by following me on there.
I'd love to read your 2012 posts or 'looking back on 2011' posts so leave any links in the comments!

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