BearaBeara

Dress c/o Spoiled Brat
Tights: New Look
Boots: Sarenza
Last week to my utter delight I found out I had won a blog giveaway and the prize was this gorgeous BearaBeara bag. I’d seen the brand pop up on many blogs and all over twitter recently and had fallen in love with their designs, which are all handmade in Bolivia- a third world country. This means as well as getting a gorgeous, unique bag you are helping improve the quality of life for the many people who live there. 
With my back being so bad still it’s really important I don’t carry much so the timing and size of this bags arrival couldn’t have been better. Forced to carry only the essentials I found myself not in quite so much pain whilst out and about and it meant I could find everything I needed easily. I won’t say I’m a small bag convert, I do like to carry my whole life with me, but I do need to make changes to make sure my back doesn’t go again and one of them will be thinking about what bag I use when I really don’t need everything but the kitchen sink with me.
There are so many gorgeous bags on the BearaBeara website I can see myself purchasing at least one more in the future. I’m thinking a backpack might be useful to spread weight evenly. I’m quite in love with this tartan number and I think Ben would massively benefit from one of  their bags for men!
I’m delighted to have discovered this brand and it’s one I will support wholeheartedly. I can’t wait to see more from them. I wasn’t asked or obligated to write this post but I really did want to spread the word. I love a brand with excellent ethics.
Which design would you pick? 
xxx

Ralabu

Dress c/o Spoiled Brat
Shoes: Matalan
A few weeks ago the lovely Susan at Spoiled Brat got in touch to tell me about new brand to the site Ralabu. As it happens I’d been browsing the site only that morning and had noticed the beautiful embellished pieces was deeply coveting the Ramona Dress. I was ever so generously offered a dress of my choice to review and it was a no brainer for me in terms of which one to go for. When it arrived a few days later it was instant love. The heavy embellishment reminds me somewhat of dresses my Mum wore in the 1990s when she went out for an everning and it’s a damn shame I have my Christmas party outfit already sorted as this would have been perfect (I have told Ben he needs to take me out for dinner so I can wear it). I was a bit worried the dress would be too short on my tall figure but actually it’s perfect and fit’s like a dream- I did size up though.
It’s  the second day of my festive annual leave and Mum and I might brave Cabot Circus for a bit although my movement is still quite restricted so it will be a brief trip. With our Christmas party this coming Friday I need to find me a clutch bag and some flat shoes (goodbye dreams of heels) as well as the perfect shade of eyeshadow to go with my outfit….that and pick up the two remaining gifts I have left to buy.

(we can scrub round that previous paragraph, serves me right for scheduling a post…I’ve been signed off sick for another three weeks so no festive shopping and no Christmas Party, aye aye aye).

What do you think of this dress? If you were given your pick of the Ralabu brand which would you choose? I loved the look of the Riverside dress but decided I just wouldn’t feel comfortable in it.
xxx

P.S. to anyone with a problem with me doing outfit post- just don’t read the blog ok? I might be off sick but I’m not bed bound. Whatever I do hurts so does it really matter if I decide that I’ll just carry on blogging in my normal fashion now I’m able to stand and hold myself better? I think not. It’s the same as me leaving the house, I need to walk daily to help heal things. I’m not skiving, I’m not trying to pull a fast one, I’m just not giving in to a problem that could otherwise pull me down.

Boomf

I’m a bit of a social media addict- facebook, twitter, pintrest and instagram…you name it and I’m there.
Last week I was contacted about something so crazy awesome that I couldn’t turn down an offer to try it out…you see, Boomf can turn your instagram pictures in to edible, sweet and squashy treats…yep…MARSHMALLOWS!

For purpose of review (and my constant indecision) I let the brains behind Boomf choose which photos to convert. To be fair, it didn’t really matter which images they chose, put anything on a Marshmallow and I’m gonna be happy! As it happens they chose some of my favourite pictures- the ones of Mae and the black and white one of Ben and I! I wouldn’t usually have my selfies printed in edible form, there’s something quite wrong about eating your own face, but then I probably wouldn’t be ordering a photo of myself to eat myself!
With Christmas just around the corner these would make an amazing gift for the sweet toothed social media junkie in your life. Get them printed with pets, special moments or just random pictures and watch the bafflement on the recipients face!
The process of ordering couldn’t be simpler- log in to instagram, choose your nine images and go!
They cost £12 (inc free delivery) for 9 marshmallows- steep for sugar but great for a gift! I seriously love this idea…and I bet a few of you bloggy folk will too! It’s such an off the wall idea I seriously went “whaaaaat?” when the e-mail landed in my inbox, followed swiftly by “AWESOME!”
Thanks for these Boomf, now which to melt in a hot chocolate first?
xxx

Festive Beauty: Fabulous Frocks, Glamorous Locks and Luscious Lips (a guest post)

Christmas is perfect for getting glammed up; choose a statement dress, a fabulous hairstyle and lip enhancement gloss to make an impact this year.Let’s face it ladies, we all want to look our very best for the festive season; what with all the parties to attend over Christmas and New Year, plus all the loved ones we have to visit, it’s the perfect time to glam up and take to the spot light!

The outfit – simple yet sassy

So first things first, you have to choose the perfect outfit: you need a hot look for the work’s night out, a cute little number for Christmas Day and something sparkly for the New Year celebrations.

Choose a simple bodycon dress for your work’s night out: a block red or black colour always looks great for the festive season. Team this with thick shimmery black tights, black patent heels and a glitzy clutch for full effect.

Now, for Christmas Day, you want something comfortable (ideally with a forgiving waistband for all that food), but something that still looks great in those family pics. Grab yourself a pair of well-fitted black leggings and wear these with some gorgeous knee high boots and a cute Christmas knit – you’ll look adorable!

And finally, to complete the party season, you need a killer look to welcome in the New Year; select a super sexy midi dress fit with sequins or sparkle. Offset your dress with sky-scraper heels and a simple clutch.

The hair – effortlessly chic

Your outfits are sorted, but now you need to decide on some knockout hairstyles. For the work’s Christmas party, you want something that makes you look totally different to how you do at the office, so why not backcomb the roots of your hair for super volume and add gorgeous, bold curls that can cascade over your shoulders? You’re guaranteed to turn the heads of your colleagues with this look!

For Christmas Day, you want something that’s quick and easy to create; style your locks into a bang-
on-trend fishtail braid to keep your hair out of your face while you open all those gifts whilst still looking incredible.

Turn up the glamour for your New Year’s hairstyle; choose a beautiful bouffant which oozes volume and accessorise it with a delicate hair ornament.

The makeup – flawless beauty

The finishing touch to your festive looks is of course the make-up; you want to look flawlessly beautiful without plastering on the paint.

For the office party, select a statement lipstick and keep the rest of your makeup minimal. A juicy, glossy red would look fabulous with your bodycon dress; top this with a clear plumping gloss for ultimate lip enhancement and an irresistible, kissable look.

On Christmas Day, you don’t want to fuss too much with your cosmetics so keep it simple with a touch of black liquid liner, a sweep of mascara and some clear gloss.

Turn up the glitter for your New Year’s celebrations with a lovely gold or bronze shimmery shadow and a pale shade of lippy.

So, ladies, those are our picks for some super hot looks this festive season, but how will you be getting your glam on this year?


Author’s bio: Do you long for luscious lips? Call 0333 577 9293 for a free lip consultation or go and see Dr Rob himself, the expert in lip enhancement. Perfect Lips, based in Pencoed, South Wales, provides pain-free lip injections and some of the best lip fillers UK wide.

November’s Insta-moments

How is it December already? Seriously? I won’t lie, I’m really loving the run up to Christmas this year and now it’s officially December I feel it’s ok to wear sparkly makeup for day and festive knits whenever possible but still,
this year is just flying.
And with that…here’s the latest generic Instagram round up! To be honest it is even less exciting than usual but it wouldn’t feel right not to do one now!
Looks cute, behaves vicious.

A lovely get well card from a friend.

Loved up.

Before my hair got the chop.

I love the colours at this time of year.

Christmas treats from Marks and Spencer

Apparently anything Christmas related causes great offence to Mae

But all is forgiven in an instant.

Second favourite popcorn brand…and this flavour is sublime.

Most evil looking gift from Ben ever. At least it isn’t a real furby, just a happy meal toy stolen from his four year old sister.

Primark hat with ears- that’s my head warmer sorted for the season.

Christmas tree crumpets! c/o Asda

Pleading innocent after eating books.

My very mature lunch box.

Percy Pig porridge. Yes, it turns pink and taste of sweets. Amazing.

A little cheer up gift from the cafe cat

White eyes.

Cuddles.

Return of red hair.

How not to spend a Friday night!
Looking forward to seeing what everyone else has been up to, link me to your posts.
xxx