Dreaming of a Summer Holiday wish list

26th May 2015

Holiday season has arrived, with friends and colleagues starting to jet off to sunnier climes I’ve found myself browsing the holiday and swimwear sections of websites coveting all sorts of things. I don’t even have a holiday booked, madness! Fingers crossed Mum and I will escape at the end of September for a week of sunshine, it’s been on the cards for ages!

Here are just a few of the things that have caught my eye lately.

How cute are those sparkly flat sandals from New Look? A complete bargain at £7.99 I couldn’t help but snap them up the other day. I’m all for a wide fit shoe and these are available in a whole rainbow of gorgeous colours. Who’s placing bets on me owning them all by the time Summer is out?

What are your wish list items for a Summer holiday? And where should I consider whisking Mum away to? Bonus points for cheap, sunny and a short flight!

*post contains affiliate and paid for links*

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Beach Wedding Make-Up Look

30th November 2014

Ok, so this post is going to require a little bit of imagination, on my part and on yours. Firstly let’s pretend it’s not almost winter in England and therefore decidedly grey and cold outside. Secondly let’s look past my big old jumper and imagine what I’m actually wearing is a gorgeous Summer dress, styled to perfection with spot on accessories and perfect make-up. You see, with the help of BlueBay Hotels & Resorts Weddings I wanted to show you what make-up I’d be wearing should I bet jetting off somewhere hot and sunny to attend my best friend’s beach wedding (further imagination required as by no means so I profess to be a beauty blogger, but I do my best!)

Naked face, eek!

Hello eye bags!

First up the products I used: Bourjois Happy Light Primer, Bourjois 123 perfect foundation (love this!), Oriflame eyebrow kit, (not pictured) concealer from Collection, Real Techniques brushes, MAC mineralize eye shadow quad in Golden Hours*, MAC lipstick in Sunny Seoul*, Urban Decay Naked Skin ultra definition pressed powder in light*, Benefit they’re real eyeliner* and Benefit bronze of champions kit*.

I didn’t want too heavy a look as I think keeping things natural and pretty is the best approach especially if you’re going to be somewhere potentially hot and sunny. I started off with a layer of the Bourjois primer which I love as it gives my skin a bit of a glow boost (not that you can tell as central heating has wrecked my chances of a dewy glow!) and a coating of the 123 perfect foundation, with a dab of concealer over any flaws that needed covering.

A golden look was the first thing that came to mind when I was planning how I’d do this look. The eye-shadow quad from MAC was the perfect piece as the colours blended together beautifully to create a softly golden/bronze smokey eye, accentuated with some flicked out liner, courtesy of Benefit. I love this liner as it honestly doesn’t budge, perfect for adding some drama even when things are hotting up! I also added a coat of the “they’re real” mascara from the bronzer kit which added volume and colour to my lashes without making them feel overladen. I can’t stand my eyes feeling heavy when it’s hot and humid at the best of times, let along for a (hypothetical) special occasion!

For my cheeks I followed the guide in the bronzer kit and added a light dusting on Hoola bronzer where I needed it most. I was a bit worried that this would be far too dark on my porcelain skin but actually it seems to be a suit-all shade that means I wouldn’t look so ghostly pale among the wedding crowds! I also added some “watts up” highlighter on my cheekbones, but failed to capture the gorgeous glow it gave on camera!

I fell in love with MAC’s Sunny Seoul lipstick when looking online and knew it had to be a part of the look. I thought a bright and bold red lip would be a bit over the top for a beach wedding but a glowing semi-sheer pink was the perfect replacement. This is hands down my favourite lipstick that I own and should I ever be off to a beach wedding it’ll be the first item in my clutch bag!

Have you ever been to a beach wedding? Or indeed, have you ever got married on a beach? I’d love to know how your perfect make-up would look (and how you thought I did!)

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Top Scenic UK Getaways

28th June 2014

The summertime is upon us and, as far as I’m concerned, this time of year makes the already beautiful locations in the UK look even better and, thanks to a large online win, this summer allows me the opportunity to explore some of the more scenic areas of the UK. The money came from a large four figure victory at my favourite online no deposit bingo site https://www.butlersbingo.com/ as I played the Dark Knight Rises slot game between a few games of bingo and I plan on taking advantage of the money to see some of the sites I would had the extra money to do so all in the one go.
The following list details some of the more scenic locations that I plan on visiting this summer.

Loch Ness, Scotland

Not only famous for the reports of a pre-historic monster known as the Loch Ness monster (which, in reality, is the reason that I am travelling to this section of Scotland!) this freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands, 23 miles southwest of Inverness, is surrounded by rolling hills and mountains. Of course the main draw is Nessie, but the scenery, the countryside walks, other outdoor activities and the numerous museums make Loch Ness a must visit place of anyone visiting Scotland.

Portmeirion, Wales

Having grown up watching re-runs of the famous 1960’s TV show The Prisoner with my father that was shot in the North Wales village of Portmeirion this is a place that I have already wanted to visit. The village was conceived of by Clough Williams-Ellis who wanted to showcase how a naturally beautiful site could be developed without spoiling it’s beauty. As far as I’m concerned, he succeeded perfectly. Portmeirion is one of Wales’ top attractions with the village, gardens and surrounding 70 acres of woodlands bringing in more than a quarter of a million guests each year.

The Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland

The legend of the Giant’s Causeway in Antrim is that it was created by Irish giant Finn MacCool in order to travel across the Irish Sea to fight the Scottish giant Benandonner. The causeway was actually formed between 50 and 60 million years ago as molten volcanic rock flowed out through the chalk beds and cooled to leave the columns of rock as pictured above. I have never been to Northern Ireland and ever since I was a child I have been mesmerised by the Giant’s Causeway and the stories of the giants that created it, now the opportunity to visit this geological marvel promises to be one of the most memorable sections of this trip for me.

Kew Gardens, London

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is one of London’s top tourist attractions and is one of the most culturally significant landscapes in the world. Kew is the largest collection of living plants in the world, having more than 30,000 different types of plant, while it’s herbarium has more than seven million preserved plant species. The site is more than 250 years old and has expanded to include more than 121 hectares of gardens and glasshouses as well as 40 buildings that are at least Grade II listed buildings by the British Historical Society. It is one of the most beautiful and scenic areas in the entire United Kingdom, let alone London, and is a must visit for anyone who has even a passing interest in botany and is taking a trip to the English capital at any stage of their lives.

These four locations are my favourite of the numerous places I plan on visiting this summer around the UK, but there are plenty more places I will be travelling to with the White Cliffs of Dover, Stonehenge as well as both the Lake and Peak Districts on my list. There is so much beauty and scenery in the UK that there is something for everyone. What are you going to see this summer?

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Healthcare essentials to take on holiday

28th June 2014

When you’re packing for your summer holiday this year, there are certain items that should make it into your case. For example, it’s a good idea to pack some healthcare essentials.
If you’re yet to make your vacation checklist, consider adding the following products:

First aid kit
Hopefully you won’t need to make use of it, but it’s always handy to have a first aid kit in your suitcase. These kits should contain a minimum of plasters, dressings and cleansing wipes.

Online firms such as Steroplast Healthcare offer a variety of specialist first aid kits that can prove useful in a range of emergency scenarios. Bear in mind that it’s not always easy to find the relevant first aid supplies abroad, so it’s best not to chance your luck.

Pain relief
Headaches, nerve pains and other similar complaints can put a real downer on holidays, so make sure you take some pain relief with you when you jet off on vacation. If you’re travelling with children, it’s important to have suitable all-round pain relief products.

Sun cream
Even if you want to get a tan when you’re abroad, it’s important to take plenty of sun cream or spray with you. Exposing your skin to too much sun can result in nasty burns. As well as resulting in short-term pain, this can cause lasting damage to your skin. It’s recommended that you use a minimum protection factor of 15 and make sure you apply it on a regular basis.

Also, take some after sun with you just in case. This can provide much needed relief in the event that you do get burnt.

Travel sickness pills

If you think you might suffer from travel sickness, take some suitable medication and make sure you have it with you in your hand luggage. Most of these products are fast acting and can be taken during travel.

For flights, it’s also a good idea to take sweets for take-off and landing. This will help you to cope with the changes in pressure.

Rehydrating solutions
In a hot climate, it’s crucial that you drink plenty of hydrating fluids. It’s also helpful to have some rehydrating solutions in your suitcase. These products tend to come in sachets and they contain a blend of salts and sugars.

Insect repellent
Depending on where you’re going, it might also be important to take some insect repellent with you. The last thing you want when you’re trying to relax on holiday is to be eaten alive by flying pests.

You might also benefit from taking mosquito sleeping nets and antihistamine tablets to ease the itching that bites can cause.

Do your research
So that you know exactly what medical supplies to take with you on vacation, it helps to do some research on your chosen destination. You might also find that you need certain vaccinations before you set off. These can usually be arranged at your local GP surgery, but it’s important that you give yourself plenty of time before your departure date.

By making sure you’re fully prepared for your trip away from home, you can enjoy greater peace of mind.