Time for an update on my Little Black Dress Challenge!
I didn’t want to post loads of progress reports on this, because personally I find them quite boring myself, but its now two weeks into my eight week challenge, so it seems about right to do one now.
Shops have started to put up their decorations, the temperature’s dropping and I’ve seen the Coca Cola Christmas ad, which can only mean the party season is fast approaching and it won’t be long before we all have to slip into those frocks and shine.
Think of this as a pre-emptive strike for all the empty calories you’ll be indulging in over the break.
I won’t be holding back then (I’m a firm believer that you should have whatever you want at Christmas!) so by doing this before the break, I can abandon myself to gluttony for a few days without feeling too terrible.
So, how did it go?
That’s actually a good thing though, because I’ve really had the chance to test everything out and form a proper opinion of it.
Its been a great run of boxes lately with some brilliant stuff in, and although I had a couple of Birchboxes as well, I still think Glossybox are the better value and give me way more to smile about! That little pink box with all its ribbons and tissue paper still cheers me up and I really look forward to it each month.
So what would November bring? Would they manage to top the last few months?
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Hello beauties
Another instalment of Life, Lately. This is a post I’ve started doing fairly recently, and basically I just sort of ramble on about what’s happening in my world.
I always really enjoy reading these sorts of posts on other blogs, and I think it breaks up the stream of product reviews and puts a little personality out there.
It’s the end of November, and I’m totally looking forward to Christmas already. This year has been challenging, tiring, and not an awful lot of fun, so I’m definitely looking forward to ending it on a nice note with lots of celebrations, drinking, dancing and stuffing my face!
Seb and I are like big kids at Christmas and we spend the whole month of December getting into the spirit, so give me a week or so and I’ll be in full on holiday mode!
Here’s what’s been going on in my little corner of the world lately…
Today I’m going to be talking about a really useful hairstyling tool that’s completely rocked my world lately.
I didn’t think anything on this green earth could induce me to ditch the GHD’s, but I have to say that since I purchased this, my straighteners have been lying in the draw, unsued, on a regular basis.
What is it, you cry? Well, the title gave it away. It’s the rather fabulous Diva Big Waves styler. If you long for easy, effortless cool-girl waves and texture to give your locks something different, then read on…
Like most things, I really love, this styler has multiple uses. You can either use the waving plates, or lock the barrel together and use for those very gentle, big, falling-out curls favoured by VS Angels.
Either is a really good look – but for me, the waving plate has the edge, and that’s how I use it more often.
Usually, I don’t do ‘favourites’ posts, only because my favourites don’t tend to change a lot! If I like something, its generally on heavy rotation, and places in my hall of fame are hard won.
With the change of seasons though, there’s a natural shake-up in the types of products and colours I’m favouring at the moment. So I’ve rediscovered a few must-haves that are making the darker evenings a bit more bearable. Here are the six top products rocking my world right now:
This weekend, I was lucky enough to get to go to the Bloggers Secret Santa event being run by the very sweet Hannah from Hannerking and Emma from Dinos Beauty Diary.
I've been to a few meets in Birmingham lately, and although it's been great to have the opportunity to explore a bit (and go to Selfridges!) it was so nice to do something closer to home and get to meet some local bloggers.
I've been to a few meets in Birmingham lately, and although it's been great to have the opportunity to explore a bit (and go to Selfridges!) it was so nice to do something closer to home and get to meet some local bloggers.
I meant to do an outfit post, but on the morning it was torrential rain and really dark all day, so it was too hard to get decent pictures. Boo. Blogger problems!
Isn’t finding the perfect foundation hard?
No matter how close you think you are, it always seems just out of reach. Then as soon as you do find one you adore and your skin needs change –perhaps its summer and you get a little oilier, perhaps you suddenly need more coverage – and you’re back to square one!
I recently found a Holy Grail foundation in Urban Decay Naked Skin, which I still adore (read my glowing review of it here).
But although it works well for me, sometimes I like a different finish, and I’m always on the hunt for a bargain option when payday seems a little too far away- so I’ve just tried the Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation.
I must admit I generally prefer to go high end for my bases, I think foundation really is one of those products where its important to spend a little more and you get what you pay for.
The last time I picked up a drugstore foundation it all went wrong – read about that here. Would Lily Lolo change my mind?
Part two of my little haul post going down!
The other day, I showed you what clothes and accessories I’ve been buying recently, and now I’m going to show the make-up I’ve gotten my paws on recently.
I’ll be brief, because I intend to follow up with full reviews on a couple of these items later on.
But I haven’t bought much in a while so I was just keen to show you what I’d managed to get – there are a couple of brilliant bargains in here too.
Are you guys excited for Christmas yet? I feel like, now Halloween is out of the way, we can finally start looking forward to the happiest time of the year.
Confession - I didn't used to even like Christmas. But that was before Seb - who's a massive kid at this time of the year - converted me. And he converted me by showing me the fun in the holiday and building a series of little rituals that we do in the run up, from going on frosty walks with Christmas coffees to fetching the tree and baking boozy mince pies.
One of the most important of the rituals, of course, is decorating our home and our tree. Each year we have a little competition to try and find the best tree ornaments. We have to outdo each other! And this year, I might have won, thanks to a great online shop called The Christmas Boutique.
I haven’t done a haul posting in quite a while, mainly because I’ve been saving up like a demon, and although I have bought stuff its been few and far between, so I’ve tended to just do separate posts.
However, this payday I’ve had a bit of a shopping session for a couple of items I’ve patiently had my eye on, and there’s a couple I bought last month.
Some of them were real bargains as well – I love my eBay bargains. I’m going to do one post on the make-up purchases and one on clothes and accessories to make for easier reading.
Let’s start with the clothes.
You’ll notice one thing - there’s a lot of black. And a lot of leather. I’m totally having a grunge moment and I make no apologies for that!
Take a peek in my shopping bags…
There are certain natural factors that I know help - cutting down on salt, drinking enough water, getting plenty of rest. But I also need an eye cream that is effective, easy to use and pleasurable.
So I was thrilled when the lovely ladies at Vichy sent me their new Idealia Eyes to try. I already use and love the Idealia Life Serum, and the new eye product has been designed to work in harmony.
I didn't post straight away about this, because I wanted it to be a comprehensive review, and with skincare you have to use it for a while to really see results.
Vichy are a French spa brand who became available in the UK a couple of years ago - and if there's one thing French women are renowned for, its knowing their stuff when it comes to effective skincare that really delivers.
The Idealia range is perfect for the time of life I'm at - in your late 20s, you're not a teenager and the first signs of ageing are creeping in (shudder) but equally, the heavy formulations of anti-aging lines designed for those in their 40s overwhelm and unbalance your skin. The Idealia range is perfect as its not heavy, but it deals effectively with those environmental factors that cause aging.
So, what are they claiming and did the product deliver?
I teased you with a quick shot of the six marvellous goody bags chock full of amazing products that were so kindly gifted to us at the FABB Events blogger meet in Birmingham at the weekend, so it only seemed fair to do a post giving a peek inside.
It really was like Christmas had come early to have so much amazing stuff to unwrap so massive thanks to Tor and Ray for spoiling us and all the brands that gave us their items to try, we are truly grateful!
There’s literally so much to show that this post will be just a quick look at the items, then I may come back and review certain items later – so if there’s anything you want to see more of, let me know.
Without further ado, here’s a look at all the goodies…
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