Monthly Archives: November 2015

The Neutral Palette with Beauties Factory

07th November 2015
Once upon a time I had a “more is more” approach to makeup and plastered my face (eyes especially) with the brightest colours I could find. These days I take a much tamer approach, call it getting old but I much prefer a more polished approach- the majority of my eyeshadows these days are of a golden or bronze hue and a swish of coloured liner is as adventurous as it gets.

I was recently sent an eyeshadow palette from Beauties Factory* which promised to deliver every shade of nude I could possibly be missing. I was a little sceptical though, at £12.49 for 28 shades I wasn’t sure how good it would be and whether it’d end up sit gathering dust like so many palettes have done before it.

My fears about this palette were largely un-founded. Inside a matte black case lies 28 shades of nude, 13 with some shimmer and 15 matte. Some of the colours look a little chalky in the palette but applied with a careful hand and a bit of blending the overall effect is comparable with brands that cost a fair amount more. As with any product that offers such a large selection of shades there are a couple in there that I probably won’t touch but I’ve reached for this set pretty much every day since it has arrived and would recommend it as a good value addition to any kit.

You can get yours online here…I’m really intrigued by some of the other products on offer, largely the blusher palette so please do let me know if you’ve tried it as I might have to make a sneaky purchase.

Has your go-to makeup look changed as you’ve got older or is it just me?

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Posted in beauty, review

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I don’t believe in Humans

06th November 2015
Going back about ten years (totally showing my age here) I was obsessed with slogan tees. As I matured and developed my own sense of style these gradually faded out of my wardrobe until recently. Everywhere I go lately there seems to be a t-shirt I want to add to my collection and my most recent addition is going down a storm on my social media and in real life.

Jeans c/o Glamour Outfitters via e-tailPR | Tee: Pull and Bear | Trainers: Converse

Pull and Bear has been a favourite place of mine to shop since I first discovered them on holiday three years ago. They’ve since opened a store in Bristol which is excellent news as it means anything I see when I’m away I can still pick up once I’m home. I saw this tee in Spain last month and really regretted not buying it at the time. Still, I knew Cabot Circus wouldn’t let me down and I managed to finally get my mitts on it three weeks after arriving home although it did cost a few quid more with the euro/pound conversion but still a bargain at £9.99. Right now Pull and Bear have an epic selection of retro and quirky tees so if you’re a fan then head on down to a store of visit the website before I buy them all myself.
Combined with these flared jeans this outfit is pretty much an exact replica of what I wore every day to sixth form. These days I reserve this kind of attire for when I’m working from home on all things blogging or just popping to the shops but I still love the comfort and style of it a lot.

I’ve ditched skinny jeans lately in favour of flared styles, I find them endlessly more comfortable and easier to dress up or down with a variety of tops and footwear choices. This pair is pretty extreme in the flare department and I love them. I hadn’t heard of Glamour Outfitters up until a few weeks ago but it seems that they too are a fan of the flare and offer a great selection in denim and cord (my next purchase) at really excellent prices. The pair I’m wearing here retail at £29.99 and they are a really lovely quality denim and very good fit.

If like me you want to learn more about the brand you can follow them on their social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram and between now and 31st December 2015 you can claim 20% off of your order with the code 20OFF

Has your style changed over the years? The more cringe-worthy the story the better!

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Posted in life stuff, outfits

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Pamper your Puss with Make Them Roar (and giveaway)

05th November 2015
It’s not just humans that deserve to get spoiled at Christmas, our pets deserve some pampering too so over the coming weeks I’ll also be popping up gift inspiration for our furry friends. I’m kicking off with the perfect shop for fashion forward felines- Make Them Roar
Stocking unique pieces from artisan manufacturers from around the world, including exclusive leather collars, brass charms, a range of catnip and valerian, the Incomplete Book of Cat Names and an exciting range of alpaca and felt toys this is the perfect place to pick up a gift for cats and cat lovers alike. I’ve got my eye on the mixed herb set (pictured above), a couple of toys and at least one new collar for Mae and the Incomplete Book of Cat Names looks like a brilliant read.
Make Them Roar are also giving one lucky reader of my blog (well, reader’s cat really) the chance to win a gorgeous collar by LA Based Ike & Stella worth £17.00! To enter just follow the simple steps below and make sure to check out the t&c too. Winner can select from one of the four colours shown above (Mae says yes please to the white coral).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T&C:

By entering the competition you agree to these terms and conditions:

The prize consists of: 1 x embroidered collar Ike and Stella from the range displayed in the online shop on makethemroar.com
This competition closes on 19/11/2015
As a condition of entry to this prize draw, you are subscribing to the free Roar newsletter. If you would like to un-subscribe from either, you will have the opportunity to do so when you receive the first newsletter and every newsletter thereafter through the ‘un-subscribe’ option.
Entrants must be 18 years or older.
The winner will be picked at random from all eligible entries. Winners will be notified by email.
If we do not receive a response from the winner within one week after notification, we will draw an alternative winner.
The winner must supply a shipping address. The prize will be shipped directly to the winner, free of charge worldwide.

Good Luck!

Posted in christmas, competition, giveaway

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I Love…Christmas

04th November 2015
I’m not usually one to give, or ask for toiletries as a Christmas gift. I don’t know why that is- force of habit I suppose and assuming that like me, everyone else has overflowing cupboards of products they will never get around to using.

There are some brands I’ll make exception for though because they do gifting exceedingly well. I Love… is one of these brands as I’m yet to have a product from them that I haven’t enjoyed hugely or wouldn’t want to receive as a gift myself. I was recently sent some of the products from this year’s Christmas gifting range and couldn’t wait to share what’s on offer as part of my ongoing quest to provide gift inspiration (it’s a hard life!).

The first product out of the box was the Big Barrel of Love available at Superdrug. This gorgeously girly tin is packed full of treats and the first thing that hits you is the amazing smell! The barrel contains 500ml Cherry Almond Bath, 200ml Cherry Almond Butter, 100ml Cherry Almond Spritzer, 75ml Raspberry & Blackberry Hand Lotion and each item is more delicious than the last. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Cherry Almond scent but it’s really delicious, incredibly hard to explain but it’s not going to turn you in to a walking Bakewell tart which was my immediate concern. This has an RRP of £20 and would make a lovely gift for a special friend.
The next item would make a perfect stocking filler or secret santa gift. The Lots of Bubbles festive edition set features 6 miniature bottles of bubble bath and shower creme in flavours that include chocolate and oranges, iced cookie and sugared cranberries. This would be great to give as is, or if making up stockings for friends and family splitting between them. At £6 this is excellent value and something I will very much enjoy using between now and the big day!
Which of these scents do you think you’d like the most?

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Posted in beauty, brands I love, christmas, gifts

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The Great Outdoors

02nd November 2015
It might be getting pretty cold outside but when the sun is shining and you live near some beautiful places it’s impossible to resist wrapping up and going for a walk. Any weekend where it isn’t pouring with rain (and sometimes when it is) Ben and I head out to the local sea front and surrounding area and take in the beauty of the season. It also happens to make for pretty settings for outfit photos.

Coat c/o Yumi | Dress: Topshop (last season) | Boots c/o Daniel Footwear

I’ve near enough lived in this Yumi coat since they kindly sent it my way in September. The second it got chilly enough outside I switched over from my lightweight jacket and it’s barely left my back since. It has a real classic feel to it and lends itself perfectly to any outfit. It’s also pretty snuggly and warm and perfect for taking on a little stroll and keeping off the sea breeze.

You can’t beat a pair of biker boots to toughen up a look and these ones from Daniel Footwear are probably my favourite pair I’ve ever had. Beautifully soft leather, shiny zip detail and a satisfy stomp as you walk through the leaves, these are another item that has barely left my person since the clocks changed. What I really love is that they come up higher than ankle boots which means you can pop on a pair of socks over tights for extra cosy factor.

When I bought this dress in the Spring I already had Autumn in mind. I gave it one cursory outing back in May then resigned it to my wardrobe until September rolled around. This is the perfect weekend dress in my opinion. It can easily be smartened up for an evening look with a pair of heels and a swipe of lipstick but is equally comfortable for chilling out in.

What are some of your most worn pieces right now? Any tips for staying extra warm as Winter descends?

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Posted in life, life stuff, outfits

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