Instagram Memories #2

 

Finally got the Oyster & Caviar Palette from Bobbi Brown which I love love love /// My 'first Christmas' bauble now on my tree

 

A token Christmas tree in the Nicholls household /// Hoping we've been good and that he might make a surprise visit before heading abroad

 

Blog planning for the Christmas holidays /// Planning, iPad and home decor porn = perfect evening in

 

Lone trip to the cinema and I was convinced to buy the worlds biggest drink all to myself /// Amazing street food in Bristol, nom nom

 

Wrapping style 2012 /// Pre-holiday pamper treat

2012 Beauty Favourites

I've always been a beauty junkie but 2012 and my delve into the blogosphere has meant that this year I have indulged my passion a little bit more - enough to even write about it.

So I wanted to share with you some of my favourite products that I have discovered this year...

From left to right: Rimmel Lip Butter (Peach Parfait), Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara, Bobbi Brown Oyster and Pearl Palette, Benefit Porefessional, Essie Nail Polish (Miss Fancy Pants), Benefit Coralista

Foundation

OK I'm going to cheat a little bit here (and its only my first item) but whilst I have enjoyed trying a few new products, notably the Garnier BB cream and beauty blogger favourite 'Wake Me Up' Foundation from Rimmel, I am still on the quest for the one. So my favourite foundation product of the year is actually a primer. As I mentioned in a recent Benefit post (LINK) until I found Porefessional I had been using a L'Oréal Primer but this Benefit wonder knocks its socks off. I love that with a small amount it leaves your face feeling totally smooth and makes any drug store foundation look instantly better. I'm so glad that is now in my daily routine and will continue to be a regular purchase in 2013.

Blusher

Another Benefit product I'm afraid, but 2012 saw me fall back in love with this brand and in particular the Coralista blusher. Anything with a hint of coral and I'm your girl, so I was immediately attracted to this product, and needed it in my life as my blushers were certainly on the pinky side. I love the warmth it adds to my face with a hint of sparkle. This might sound weird but I also love how it smells. 

Lips

Having until later in the year been firmly in the 'nude and sparkly' camp it took me a little while to be brave enough to venture into colour. Whilst I'm still not rocking the pillar box red or berry pouts I so covet on other bloggers (I have the worlds thinest lips and just can't pull off brights) I have taken tentative baby steps into something a little more adventurous. I have just one word, Revlon. I have loved their high street take on more high end brands and my first 'lipstick' purchase ever, of a peach parfait lip butter which I love for a more sophisticated but still youthful look, and of course, its still sparkly!

Mascara

Back to a firm favourite of mine and that is Bobbi. As far as I'm concerned when it comes to make up, Bobbi can do no wrong and I have spent many an hour lusting over their counters asking to try product after product. When ordering some re-purchases online I was sent a sample of their Extreme Party mascara and was instantly hooked. Length, volume and not a clump in sight, it is mascara perfection!

Eyeshadow

Can I cheat again? I can't choose one eyeshadow, which are my drug of choice when it comes to make up. I could literally keep buying and buying filling my make up drawers with a kaleidoscope of colour, many of which are destined never to see the light of day. However, when I saw the Caviar  & Oyster palette from Bobbi, released as part of their Christmas range, and now sold out I knew I had to make it mine. I love all of the colours and will do a full review of the product as it so beautiful and therefore deserving of its own post. But the colours are all great, whether you are putting together a muted day look or a more dramatic smokey eye, the choice and quality is brilliant. I have just returned from holiday and this palette was the only eye shadows that I took with me and I managed to create a different look every night. 

Nail polish

On this occasion I'm not actually going to choose a colour but a brand. Pinterest and then blogs introduced me to Essie and it didn't take long for me to find the stand in my local Boots and Superdrug. I am a convert, what more can I say. I love the colours and I love the formula which gives a great slick of translucent colour, great shine and staying power. Whenever I've worn an Essie varnish I've had compliments and I can certainly see me adding to my collection in 2013, in fact I already have my eye on a couple of colours. 

So there it is...some of my beauty favourites for 2012, if you have done a similar post, please link it as I would love to have a look at some of the things that you have found. Maybe they will make it onto my favourites of 2013!

NYE Glamour

Nothing says GLAMOUR to me more than New Years Eve! The one night of the year where opulence and overindulgence are a must, because the next day we start our resolutions of dieting, exercise and restraint.

This year I am going to be channeling some 1920s fabulousness because no other decade has done pearls sequins, beading and feathers so beautifully. Think of the Charleston, Gatsby, flappers and prohibition and your half way there.

I've put together a little collage of inspiration including accessories and some make up that will allow you to pay homage to this fashionable era this New Year's Eve whether your partying the night away or wrapping up warm to see the fireworks.

Posted with Blogsy

Instagram Memories #1

I have always loved seeing peoples Instagram and photo diaries on their blogs so thought I would share some of the recent things that I've been snapping, over my birthday and this festive period so far.

 

 Some Christmas Decoration Inspiration from John Lewis /// Making the work phone a little more interesting

 

Some amazing Christmas decorations in the John Lewis Christmas shop 

 

Festive evening at Bath Christmas Market /// The parents came to stay so I got in the provisions

 

New Birthday onsie and Christmas slipper socks getting snuggly /// First frost

 

The cheese monster from Pizza Provencale in Clifton - DELICIOUS!!! /// Enjoying some mulled wine at the Christmas market with the bestie

Christmas Tag!

Hello!

I have found this Christmas Tag going around, and the first one I read was from Beauty Becky and it seems it originated from Georgina at Makeup-Pixi3 (credit to her for the picture), who I have also now subscribed to!

It is one of the first tags I've got involved in so I am excited to share it with you.

As a kid I loved Christmas (obviously) and every year I try to re-create a small amount of that magic, and this year I am getting crafty. Can't wait to show you a couple of things that I have been making to get my home looking festive. I've also been pinning like crazy on my Christmas pinterest board.

So let me tell you a little bit about why Christmas is still one of my favourite times of the year.

What is your favourite thing about Christmas?

Hot chocolate, mulled wine, hats and gloves, Christmas lights and champagne...lots of champagne.

What is your favourite make up look for the festive season?

All that glitters. I'm a firm believer that over the festive season the more glitter the better.

Real tree or fake tree?

100% real tree! Although we won't be getting one this year as we are going away for a week between Christmas and New Year and I don't want to come back to a dead tree so it will be the fake one for us this year.

Giving presents or receiving presents?

As a child it was always receiving presents of course and I still love the joy of a beautifully wrapped gift with my name on it, particularly if whats in it is from the approved birthday list! Although when we were younger we were all given a small sum of money, I think it was £10 to spend £5 on each of our siblings. I would spend a long time thinking about what to get them with my small fortune and opening them on Christmas eve, when we were all so EXCITED before the big man himself would show up.

As an adult I still get such great joy in searching for, wrapping and giving the perfect gift, something I think you can only appreciate when you are grown up. But I like to think that this came from my early appreciation of buying presents for my brother and sister.

Do you open your Christmas presents morning or evening?

Of course as Santa comes down the chimney very early Christmas morning, and leaves presents in your stocking these have to be opened as early as possible Christmas morning. 

But our tradition is that other presents from friends and family would be opened in the afternoon after lunch (well actually after the Queen's speech). I do really really like this, as it spreads out the excitement of Christmas day for that little bit longer. Testing when you are  7 years old that's for sure!

Handmade Christmas cards or bought?

If only there was time to hand make cards! Maybe one day, but for now it's shop brought Christmas cards. Often from the sales the year before ready for the next.

What is your favourite Christmas film?

Home Alone. Yesterday, today and tomorrow.

What is your favourite Christmas food?

David's nan makes the most amazing biscuit cake and every year she makes special Christmas versions which form the centre piece of David's parents Christmas table. She now makes us one, and I feel such pride when I use it as the centre piece for mine. As I said above, David and I are starting to make our own traditions and this feels like one. It is also AMAZING and we eat so much of it over the festive period!!!


I love this tag! It has gotten me even more excited for Christmas now! I tag all of you to do this and please link it below so I can read it.

Christmas 'Stocking' Treats

This weekend a couple of lovely ladies came down to visit for my birthday, in order to thank them for their long drive and as a little pre-Christmas treat (I will be away over the festive period and won't see them) I wanted to put together a selection of beauty products for them, many of which I have seen on the blogs that I read with good reviews. 

From left to right

Lindt Balls  - these are AMAZING and any Christmas stocking is incomplete without a little sugary goodness.

Superdrug Calming Mud Mask

Balmi Lipbalms - in coconut and strawberry

Lush Sunnyside Bubble Bath Bars - these smell so good and foam up to create a luxurious bubbly glitter bath. Girl heaven!

Accessorize Bag Hooks

Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets

Natural Collection Polish - cosmic crush and red robin

Cath Kidston Notebooks - stationery of course

The girls were so excited to receive their little gift bags and loved all of the products. We had such a fun girly night doing our face masks and nails!  

 What would you put in a Christmas stocking for your friends this year? 

 

Birthday & Christmas Wish List

December is fast approaching and is not only a firm festive favourite but is also my birthday month, in fact my birthday is a mere 6 days away.

So here is my birthday wish list, and anything left over goes straight onto the Christmas list (lol)!

1. Hunter Wellies

So I moved to Bristol, and let me tell you a little secret - it rains! A lot! I'm fed up of getting wet feet which makes me miserable for the whole day. These are glossy and adjustable, what more could you want from something so practical.

2. Evernote moleskine notebook

If your not already using Evernote to help you organise your life, then you need to be. I have since 2011 and it literally has my whole life on it. This notebook is designed to make photographing the notes even easier and so will really help when I'm planning some of my work projects. Also who would ever hate receiving stationery!

3. Hunter welly socks

I don't just want dry feet, but I want warm feet to, and these will be just perfect.

4. Lily flame candle in Blush

I was given one of these as a present maybe 3 years ago for Christmas and I was hoooked. The whole range smells AMAZING but this one in particular is my favourtie. It is a strong floral, girly smell and I love, love, love it. It has a regular spot on any gift list I am creating! The whole range is available at John Lewis, and I suggest you go down and have a sniff.

5. Calvin Klein Euphoria

Check out my post on 'My Favourite....Fragrance' - nuff said.

6. Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight face mask

I have read so many great reviews on this, but I have such sensitive skin. So I went to Origins and got a tester and I love it. It makes my skin feel amazing and it also smells delicious too, and so the full size product has earned its way onto the wish list - fingers crossed.

7. Per Una Slippers

These also make a regular appearance as they are my favourite. They look snuggly and the fleece lining means they are. They also have memory foam soles, so they shape to your feet. My shoulders relax just thinking about slipping these on!

8. Duo Boots

Duo boots, is a shop (both online and in the real world) that specialises in making boots in a variety of calf and foot widths. So those of you with the skinnest and the curviest of legs can still get your hands on very fashionable shoes. I brought my first pair a couple of years ago, and until their recent demise wore them almost religiously from around October to April. It is time to invest in another pair and these have caught my eye. I have noted to the parentals, that I appreciate they are rather expensive so we could compromise and for one time only I would consider a joint birthday and Christmas present (one of the horrible things about having a birthday in December).

9. A Personal Planner

I saw these on blogs from those who attended the Leeds #bblogger meet up and I'm hooked. Anything that says; stationery, personal, and organised has me hooked. The site allows you design your own diary or planner and upload your own cover and name. What could be more perfect for a budding blogger.