What's in my bag...

I know this is pretty over done but it's a pretty easy one to do for my first go at a video post. I'm still not sure I'm happy with this but it was about my 4th go at it so I just gave up in the end....

Izzy from Bell of the Blush asked me to do a what's in my bag post so like I said, nice easy one to start me off.

Really sorry about the quality of it, and the fact I talk to fast, and I don't hold things in front of the camera for long enough (or with a steady enough hand) so you can see what it is. And I pull stupid faces. And the music is too loud in the background. And the quality is rubbish but I'm working on that. But enough of that....let me know what you think :)

And just a quick OOTD post (from yesterday!) for work so it's comfy as always. Although I did get a few comments about having my bra out all day (which I didn't!! It's a bandeau top with my my top undone a bit to show it off!)

White top: New Look

Bandeau: Primark

Skirt: Topshop

Tights: Primark

Shoes: Converse at Office

Hope everyone's week has got off to a good start! 

P.S. btw I am a little bit in love with Oliver Locke from Made in Chelsea. So yea...

Don't leave me hanging on the telephone....

Beautiful day in the sunshine today, went to see my best friends cousins band at Music in the Mead in Hinckley and we were graced with beautiful weather. 

Anyway, I used this little beauty to do my hair this morning, my hair was due a wash and it was just a bit limp and rubbish, so it would be about the time I'd reach for the dark brown Batiste dry shampoo to bring it back to life. Instead this morning I tried their XXL Volume new spray...

(sorry these are the same pictures as yesterday, I didn't see any point of taking any more today!)

Anyway all I can say about this is WOW!

My hair this morning needed the straighteners over it before I'd even take a picture of it because I'd put it up wet yesterday! But anyway, this is how it looked to start with....

I admit my hair isn't totally flat but my hair never is. It's got quite a bit of movement to it and is really thick so never looks mega lank or greasy, and also my hair is used to only being washed twice a week. But to me, this is far too flat, I like my hair BIG.

So anyway after straightening I usually just backcomb and choke myself on hairspray until I get the desired effect. Today I didn't pick up a comb or my trusty Tresemme, and just gave Batiste XXL Volume a chance....

This is literally ALL down to the new Batiste spray, and it stayed like this all day. If it did flatten down a bit all I had to do was jjush it up with my hands and it went back to looking like this. Also, really loved the fact that it made me not want to put my extensions in. Think this is the first time I had my hair down extensionless and have been happy with it for over 12 months. 

The only tiny down point of this product is the fact it's a white spray, like the original dry shampoo. Which is fine because I do rub it in really well, but I personally would love to see a version for dark hair like they did with their original formula in a few months. Other than that, AMAZING and it will be a staple in my hair regime from now on.

I gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash...

Ok well this one was only going to be a short outfit of the day posts but then I came home to a couple of lovely packages so I decided to get myself a green tea and the last cupcake left over from my raffle win at the Pamper Party on Wednesday and get down to business....

Bit of a thrown together outfit today, a Topshop tan top and Miss Selfridge black stretchy skirt, with my new Primark tan loafers. 

So anyway I came home to find my goodies I ordered from Chelsea Doll on Wednesday with their 20% discount code for reaching 3000 followers. They have some gorgeous things, I'm personally a fan of their The Skullery range, but there's something to suit everyone on there. I wish I had some birthdays or something to buy presents for but as I don't, I'll just have to treat myself! Check them out here, but you have been warned, purchases will be made!

Apologies that you can see the tiles of my kitchen floor on these, but I'm still experimenting where the best surface is to get good pictures!

And now to THE most exciting part of my day...I received this in the post in one of my packages:

Yes that's right.....the brand new Batiste dry shampoo that is supposed to give big and bouncy XXL volume. And anything that claims this is going to be a potential winner/beauty staple in my life!

I'm going to test this out and review it tomorrow with some before and after pictures. From what I can tell so far it smells lush, fingers crossed I'm going to fall in love with it like I have with all the other Batiste products (currently on the extra dark dry shampoo!)

Pretty little things.....

I've treated myself A LOT just recently I won't lie. First of all I did my first ever Elf order.

I know I'm a bit slow on the uptake for this one but I was always a bit unsure because it's so cheap, however I needed a couple of makeup brushes and I'd seen a lot of people say how good they are. I got a couple but I'll be honest I don't think much to them, and you're all fed up of hearing about them by now I'm sure. I did get two lovely treats in my delivery though.....

I apologise for all of the swatches on this post, I had to do them when I came in earlier in the bathroom with no natural light. This is the duo eye shadow cream in gorgeous brown tones. I'm never a huge fan of cream eyeshadows as I think they crease but this is amazing. Literally! The pale cream on itself is so nice right over the eyelid, and the dark one is quite nice to line the eye if I don't fancy a harsh black.

This is the new Pigment Eyeshadow in black, and it is amazing. I need to put a base on before I apply it (Benefit Lemonaid) but stays on all day, and the applicator is really tiny but great! I'll get some pictures of these on at some point but I've really not had time!

I also went on the hunt the other day for a lip scrub, after my love affair with the Bodyshop scrub died a slow painful death when I think I suddenly became allergic to it (well I think I did, it made my lips all flakey and red). I've heard this mentioned once or twice, and I may have to go and buy it in all three flavours. I went for chocolate and vanilla....

Lush Sweet Lips lip scrub is literally a miracle product, and the pot is so big it is going to last me ages!! 

Now to the fun part, I went to a charity pamper night for my mums friends charity walk in Cambodia, I don't know what the website is for it yet but I'm definitely going to find out what it is and get it on here, everyone needs to take a look because it's such a good cause!! The pamper night was great, I didn't have anything done but I got the number for a lady who does home visits to do coloured gel nail overlays which I am certainly going to get done asap!! Mainly because my nail varnish chips within minutes at the moment! So So annoying!

I did spend a fair bit though (and won some insanely amazing cupcakes which are nearly all gone!) mainly on benefit cosmetics, which were being sold pretty cheap! It was 2 items for £20, or £15 for the gift sets like the brow set and smokey eye pallet. I won't go through most of the things I bought from there because most of it was replenishing old things that were running out and if I decide to start on youtube videos I'll do a post on my makeup essentials that will have them in it. The one thing I did buy is this little beauty...

Again sorry about the swatches. This claims to cover pores and act as a base under foundation. It's actually great as a very pale foundation or concealer, except it's just a little tiny bit to pale for me. It stops my shiny forehead which is always a bonus, and isn't too heavy on my skin. It makes my foundation go on so smoothly but I'd definitely recommend putting a thin layer of moisturiser on and letting it dry before you slap the makeup on. As with all benefit makeup, you get a lovely set of instructions which always make me smile :)

Finally, I spotted a bargain tan while I was there, for only £2. I have to say, except St Tropez, it is the BEST tan of this sort I have ever used. No smell at all, doesn't come off on clothes or sheets, and even though it's colourless (it comes out like hair mouse which was confusing to start with) it doesn't streak at all. It's a very natural colour and does look good over a layer of garnier summer body. 

I don't know where else you can buy this from, if anyone has seen it in shops then PLEASE let me know. Also, I forgot to do a before and after but if anyone wants to see what the colours like then just let me know and I'll do a swatch.

Now for a quick outfit post from today....

The makeup picture is awful sorry. Anyway skirt, shoes, vest, all jewellery and belt are from Primark. Cardigan and blazer are H&M. 

Makeup isn't really worth it becuase the picture is rubbish but... 

Foundation is Mac full coverage

mascara is Collection 2000 false lash effect

Lipstick in Dreamy from 17

Blusher is W7 in bright pink

eyeliner is Mac and my favourite product I've ever used.

Anyway that was a bit or a mess sorry about that. I need to take a bit more care over my pictures and not rush things.....

My blogging journey so far...

I’ve just had a look back through my blog to remind myself what sort of posts I’ve written in the past etc and it occurred to me that I’ve not really been doing this very long but in the short time I have been blogging, I’ve learnt a LOT. I’ve also made some great friends through blogging and found my lunchtime reading-matter every day at work. I only really started my blog up when I was looking to get into the world of PR and realised I’d not written so much as my name since I left university 9 months previous. Since then it’s turned into not only hobby but also a great networking skill.

I’ve gone from doing a blog purely based on fashion to venturing into the beauty world, doing some reviews and talking about what I’ve bought. I’ve considered doing some demo’s and how-to’s as well, as people keep asking me how I get my hair so big, and what tan I use. I’ve also considered you-tube video’s as well but I’m not sure I feel confident enough to do those yet, or that I have anything interesting enough to say for people to listen to me!

I do, like most people, have some favourite blogs that I look forward to reading, for a variety of reasons. Here’s just a few, and why I love them….

For fashion and beautiful photography, I love reading Kerry's blog. 

For a girl after my own heart when it comes to highstreet, I love Blair's blog, always love how the same clothes can be mixed and matched to create totally different outfits.

As I said, I’m considering venturing into youtube video’s to do demo’s and hopefully make product reviews easier, and these two blogs from Yu and Katey have really inspired me to do this, I especially love the makeup collection video’s and the monthly favourites.

A few more I love for various reasons are:

Leanne

Leni

Kelly

so go along and take a look if you haven’t met them already J

Also, I’ve been tempted to start up a little book of inspirations thanks to a few people I’ve seen on here with them. I’d love to tag them in this post but I really can’t remember where I’ve seen them or who’s done them! I’ve literally got a pile of magazines on my desk in my room that threatens to cascade onto the floor if I risk another one on top, and I only really keep them to flick through if I’m bored or remind myself of styles I’d seen. To save time and space I went along to Paperchase (I could live and die in that shop, I literally love it!) and purchased myself a lovely notepad which I’m going to use as a sort of style bible, so if I see any great looks or makeup styles, or anything else that I love I can just rip it out and stick it in! This might also help with my “what the HELL am I going to wear” drama’s before a night out, as I can just flick through and see what inspiration I get!

(only a very very small selection of my magazine stash)

Last couple of things, I did my first e.l.f makeup order last night. I’d heard about it before but kind of dismissed it, but after hearing loads of you talking about it and singing it’s praises, I decided to go ahead and get a few bits. Mainly brushes and a few eyeshadows, but I’ll show you what I got when my order comes in.

Oh and lastly (I promise, sorry I’ve rambled a bit tonight) I took a quick snap before I left for work thismorning. Really loved this outfit even though it was so randomly thrown together. It’s just an ancient red and black checked shirt from Primark (I think I got it in my first year at university!!) with ruffles down the front, tucked into my Zara drop crotch grey trousers that I got in the sale for about £10 after Christmas. Worn with my patent black brogues from Office, I felt quite masculine, in a good way! Photo is horrible by the way, sorry about that but I was in a rush this morning. 

I’m going to a pamper night tomorrow with Mum and a few of her friends, it’s all in the aid of charity but who am I to turn down anything like this. Might get a few snaps if nobody mind’s me getting the camera out!

READ THE BLOODY LABELS....

Just a quick one, I went into Boots before work today and made a few purchases. I am in serious need of new eyelashes so I thought I'd go wild and try some different ones that I've read quite a lot about on people's blogs recently...

I'm usually all about Eyelure. I've tried every single pairs of their lashes from natural daywear ones to double thickness dramatic ones. But I'd heard a lot about Ardell lashes so I went for number 105 which look similar to my favourite Eyelure ones. I'm not convinced I'll like the glue in these as I have never found one I like as much as Eyelure, but saying that I've got about 9 bottles in my makeup bag!

On the subject of eyelashes, HOW excited am I about the new Superdrug handmade eyelashes. For under £5 for a set of single thickness lashes, I REALLY can't wait to work my way through the collection. I've got July 6th written in my diary as a date to remember!!

I also took the plunge and went for an Illuminating pen for under my eyes. I don't really notice it much usually but in pictures my dark circles under my eyes are disgusting. I really want a top range one but went for Collection 2000 for my first one to see how I get on with it. I've heard great reviews on this for a cheaper end of the range product, although I think all of the shades looked REALLY pale for my skin so I might just use the tiniest amount and blend blend blend!

I also bought a new Mascara because I feel like I need to get out of my mascara rut. I always use Bourjoir clubbing in blackest black (normal in the day, waterproof at night) and wanted to see what the fuss was all about for these 'false lash effect' mascara. 

Only problem is I didn't read the blood label and I picked up a brown/black colour which I CANNOT use so I'm going to have to give it to mum and go and buy a new one. Really annoyed because I wanted to use it straight away and test it out but nope, I'm an idiot and didn't buy the right one. So that's me off to boots on my lunch break tomorrow...