It's Halloween and this year I am super excited as my little man understands it a bit more this year. I love the dressing up and eating laods of sweets - obviously. It's a fun time of year that brings everyone together - I think it's great. It's also the start of Christmas, for me.
I know this isn't what I usually post on here but I love to bake and wanted to share this recipe with you all. I made ginger cake with cute little pumpkin moulds last night and they were gorgeous. It's also a really simple recipe that anyone could do.
It's a standard victoria sponge cake mix of 4 oz sugar, 4 oz soft butter, 4 oz self-raising flour and 2 eggs. I swapped the caster sugar for dark muscovado sugar and also added a tablespoon of cocoa and a tablespoon of ground ginger - though this would be to taste, add a little at a time to make sure you get it right. If you put too much ginger in and it becomes too bitter for you, my trick is to add a little icing sugar as it's light enough not to weigh the batter down. Cooked at 180 degrees for 20 minutes, these were perfect. To finish I just added a little icing drizzled on the top for sweetness.
It's favourites time again and I've got it out on time again! I'm pretty pleased with myself. This month has been a busy one but that's usually a good thing for me. If you've read my recently blog posts you'll probably be able to predict what I'm going to say, but here they are anyway.
Favourite Hair Product - John Frieda Heat Activated Styling Spray. If you read this month's Vogue Overview you'll know I recently cut my hair. This means that I now have to style my hair a little more than I used to so I decided to step up the hair defence by using this product. Although I didn't like the rest of the range that I tried, I am loving this product. It makes my hair feel so soft and makes straightening a lot easier. It doesn't have too strong a smell which I like in a product. I have that I am reaching for this product every morning as well as after washing my hair.
Favourite Nail Product - MUA Nail Polish in Pistachio Ice Cream. I have to admit, I struggled with this one. I have tried the MUA nail polishes and Nail Constellations this month and as much as I do love the Constellations, they aren't something I would use all the time. The new colour nail polishes, which I did a post about a few days ago, are great. The wear is incredible. I've had Pistachio Ice Cream on for 4 days now and it's only just starting to chip - and for me that is fabulous. At first I wasn't too sure on the colour; as nice as it is, it's a little bit of a spring colour for me but for some reason I don't want to take it off. I love my bright, ice blue nails. Every time I look down at them, I think how much I love the colour. Who'd have thought!
Favourite Make Up Product - Stila Kitten Smudge Pot. This is a new purchase for me. I was looking for something creamy to put on my lids when I'm just using a eyeliner and after 10,000 (exudation!) swatches all over my hands, I settled on Kitten. And I am now in love. I've never had a Stila product before as they weren't too easy to come by in the UK until one day they suddenly appeared in my local Boots - how did this happen? At £13 it's about the same price as a MAC Paintpot but I actually think it's a lot better quality. Obviously the colour choice is smaller with Stila but the wear is a lot better than the MAC. It stays on all day and doesn't wear or smudge - ironic? A fabulous product. I have been using this with one of the lighter colours in the MUA Heaven and Earth palette. I love it with a little eyeliner and a lot of mascara.
Favourite Tool - Bobby Pins. The simple bobby pin. Available everywhere and with a wide price range, I think everyone has them. I always do but only recently have I been using them a lot. My hair is now long enough to put back in a messy pony or bun so they are great for fly aways underneath. I'm also putting my fringe up and to the side a lot too. And to be honest, I haven't been too adventurous this month and this was the best I could come up with - sorry!
Favourite Accessory - Chained Collar Tips. I am wearing these most days. In fact everyday that I wear a shirt. Whether it be a demin shirt or a lumberjack shirt, plain or studded, these are a great asset. I tend to ditch the necklace and choose these instead. They're thick enough to notice and make a statement but they're strangely subtle. I own numerous pairs of collar tips and these were in fact the cheapest at only £1.50 from Primark - I know, I know.
Favourite Accessory II - Cross Earrings. I've mentioned these a lot in OOTD posts. They're my 80p bargain market earrings. They're super light and not too long - I hate drop earrings. They have a stud back which I feel safer in and you really don't notice them when they're in. They're also fabulous because they only cost 80p from a street seller in Sheffield. I mean, come on, 80p!
Favourite Fashion Item - Oversized Jumpers. The oversized jumper, simple yet affected. I wear mine with jeans, pyjamas, shorts, PU leggings, anything! Add a watch and some statement shoes and you're onto a winner. I usually team mine with my JC Litas, studded flats or hidden heel high tops. I love the fact that all I need to do when I get home is change my trouser and put some PJs on, and I'm still comfy and warm. The jumper is one of my favourites. In navy and bright green it's probably the brightest I have - and also the warmest. I have this in a size 10 which is huge on me and I love that too.
Favourite Miscellaneous - Delilah - 'Go.' Yes, I am in love with this song. It spends most of the day playing round and round in my head - and on my iPhone. If you my post from the weekend, you'll know I went to see her due to my best friend being her tour manager. I haven't paid any attention to her before but she was fabulous. Let her voice make your day too. Thank me later.
Aside from my love of fashion and make up, the biggest thing in my life is music. I have worked in the music industry since I was 13 where, in a little town called Doncaster, I was touring with three boys and a dad around the country. I was photographer, merch girl and tour manager to a band called AREA 15. Yes, you probably don't know the name but you may know McFly, Lil Chris, Hadouken and the other artists that over the years, we played with and supported. The highlight of this time for me was definitely playing Camden Crawl where we headlined the Red Bull stage in 2008.
Moving on from then, I started to promote my own gigs - setting them up and running them. I did this in numerous places in the UK including London, South Wales as well as Yorkshire. At one show in Yorkshire, I met a band called DissolvedIN who later became Lost Boys. These boys are something special - video below. The lead singer is fabulous and you may recognise him from the band on X Factor or being in Cheryl Cole's video recently.
I have so many of my best friends from the music industry, bands and techs. I like the respect that there is between the roadie and the lead singer - everyone is appreciated. There are always rumours that someone doesn't get on with someone, or someone stole this from someone's dressing room but, you get over it. I stole beer from Lil' Chris's dressing room in 2009, it doesn't hurt.
Now, with a toddler in tow, I don't go on tour. As much as I used to love travelling around in a van, going from hotel to hotel to venue to shabby backstage dressing rooms, it's something you can grow out of. Even a tour bus isn't that glamorous after a while and let's face it, it's never as glamorous as people think it is. I now DJ - the second best thing. I love DJing, seeing people dance and appreciate what you're doing.
Another MUA post this week - I'm such a junkie for the famous £1 make up range. This time they've brought out new colours to their £1 nail polish range and this time they're named. I chose 3 from the new range and these are my first MUA nail polishes - the old colours never seemed like much to me. The new colours are brought out to match the new Nail Constellations (see two posts down) so you know you can't do much wrong.
Left to right we have All Nude, Pistachio Ice Cream and Plum Noir. All 3 are great colours and applied easily. 2 coats was enough but I used 3 to make sure I have a good coverage but for £1 the extra coat isn't much. I painted my nails two days ago and I am still chip free so I have high hopes for these polishes.
My only critisism is that the All Nude isn't what it looks through the bottle, a long with the name I was expecting it to be more like Essie's Fiji with a little bit of depth but it's actually just a solid white. Do not be deceived by the creamy bottle colour. The blue (Pistachio Ice Cream) was surprisingly vivid even on the first coat and the purple (Plum Noir) is a gorgeously rich colour.
Muy best friend in the world, Tim, is a tour manager. He's currently on tour with Deliliah who, I admit, I haven't paid much attention to her. And as much as she isn't my cup of tea on paper, she was amazing. She has a fabulous voice but she looked so at ease on ease it was hard to see her anywhere else except entertaining a crowded room of people who obviously adored her. You can a lot about an artist by the atmosphere at a gig and the atmosphere at The Plug, Sheffield was electric. I am easily now a fan.
As I was getting ready to go out the show, I had decided to wear my MAC Studio Fix Fluid. As much as I am loving my YLS Le Teint Touche Eclat, the application is great but the wear is a little disappointing. When I'm coming home from work or being out for the day my skin looks dreadful. So I took a huge step for mankind and went back to my MAC. This was a wise choice. After 6 hours, a hot and sweat room and a lot of laughing I got home to perfect make up. Why, oh why do you not make lighter shades, MAC? I'm still wearing my YSL during the days because I am still in love with the shade and the application of it. But it seems I am still on the hunt for the perfect foundation.
I haven't posted an outfit of the day on here for a while either, so here is what I wore that night.
At the moment I am loving wearing a shirt buttoned right to the top with this collar pin in. It gives the look of a necklace but looks really good against a demin or lumberjack shirt. I wore this with PU leggings and my hidden heel high tops. Over the top, my leopard print faux-fur coat and accessoried with gold drop cross earrings and my Michael Kors.
Watch - Michael Kors at The Watch Shop. £229 S/S 2012.
Earrings - Market. 80p. (BARGAIN BUY!)
Shirt - Primark. £9 Current.
Collar Tips - Primark. £1.50 Current.
Coat - T K Maxx. £35 A/W 2011.
Leggings - Topshop. £18.
Trainers - River Island. £40 Current.
It's that time of the year again where it really does start to feel like Christmas. It's not even Halloween yet and places are starting to fill up with gift ideas, lights and of course the Christmas cosmetics. A lot of the make up collections are due out at the beginning of November but Lush are one of the first to bring back their legendary Christmas products.
I love Lush bath products but I've never been the most adventurous. I like Godmother soap and The Comforter bubble bar but as of late I've been pushing myself to try new products. So I was having a scope around when this product really caught my eye, mainly because of how cute is it.
Yes, it's Father Christmas - literally. A bath ballistic which is described on the website, ' Take a cheery bath with Santa. Once you pop this sparkling red Father Christmas in your tub it will turn your bath from bright red to vivid green and fill your bathroom with a sensual and uplifting satsuma fragrance.' And I have to agree with everything it's said. The smell before in the bath is only just there, it has that very faint Lush smell but nothing too special. When it's placed in the bath (and turns bright green!) the smell is almost too overpowering but it settles and is gorgeous. The red glitter on the face of the ball settles and floats on the top of the water and it looks so pretty. There was a very slight glitter residue on the skin but it did wear off just after. The smell of the product didn't hold onto the skin but I like that in a product.
As most of the Lush products, it's a very good size and costs just £3.25. It would make an ideal gift or is great just as a little pick-me-up.
I also bought a small chunk of my Godmother soap and look how cute the Christmas wrapping is, I adore it!
MUA have done it again. They've already done a fabulous version of the Naked Pallette for a tenth of the price and now, they've done it again.
It's official, I'm jumping on the band waggon! I know this post has been done time and time again, but I am in love. Make Up Academy (the high street brand made famous for it's fabulous £1 eye shadows) are the newest brand to bring out the famous Caviar Manicure by Ciaté - their version, Nail Constellations. Ciaté have a fabulous range of Caviar Manicure polishes in numerous colours, but for £18 they are a little pricey. So who wouldn't love to pop into their local Superdrug and get something very similar for only £3. Yes, £3.
Though the range has only 5 colours (I only have 2 as the others are very girly and I just wouldn't wear them, sorry!) there is something for everyone. The only think I would ask for is a white version, like the Ciaté Mother of Pearl collection - they really are beautiful. I bought the Scorpio and the Libra versions. The black because, it's me! And the Scorpio is gorgeous for fall and looked fabulous over my favourite, Essie Sole Mate!
Scorpio.
Libra.
They are the easiest thing in the world to apply. Though they look messy, it's nothing a folded piece of A4 paper can't handle. They have made the bottle easy to put the excess back, you don't want to waste any of these. They are the easiest thing in the world to apply. You simple paint your nails, and pour them on. There is nothing else to it! If you want a further step-by-step, I am going to post a video one of my favourite beauty bloggers, Fleur De Force did using the Ciaté version.
I am a huge country girl. I love the countryside. I was born in it and I love in it. Many people think this means I was brought up on a farm and went to a tiny village school and I wish that I did, but I didn't. I went to a normal school on the outskirts of a large town but when I left, I moved. Back to a tiny village in semi-rural Yorkshire. My home. I am proud to be a Yorkshire girl.
Many people hate the accent and think that 'Yorkshire born, Yorkshire bred, strong in t'arm, thick in t'head' is more a way of life than a little rhyme. I do know some people from Yorkshire who even I can't understand and I am sad to say I don't have a Yorkshire accent as strong as most people believe I would. I am quite well educated and I think I just sound a little rough-around-the-edge English. I do sometimes forget to pronounce my T's and I do have a little twang but damn it, I wouldn't change it for the world!
My son is signed up to the next village along's school. He will be one of only 7 children in his year. It's acceptable of me to were a Barbour jacket and not look like a cheap city girl just wearing a label. I have a pair of Hunter wellies and a wax jacket and this is day to day attire. It's all about knits, fleece and walking boots. I have two different wardrobes; Village life and city life. Walking the dog and walking in Jimmy Choo. Waterproof walking trouser and PU leggings. I know I'm in the minority on this, but why go abroad on holiday when there is so much of the UK to explore? Give me the highlands, the mountains and the south coast anyday! Oh, and this view of my village.
I am a pale girl. I do not wear fake tan past August. I embrace it and love my MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW15. Until I was putting it on the other day and realised just how dark it was on me. Yes, NW15 and it was too dark. Not by much, but I've found as Autumn has gone on, I'm having to blend more and more down my neck. So, I decided that was it, I need a new foundation.
The usual place for me for higher end make up is Debenhams in the shopping centre not too far away, so I had a wander around, to see what was out. I've already tried Even Better by Clinique and Doublewear by Estee Lauder and they just don't work for my dry, usually flakey skin. And then, I saw it - the new YLS! It was actaully the new perfume 'Manifesto' that caught my eye (which I also purchased as it smells devine!) but while looking I saw the display for Le Teint Touche Éclat foundation. I gave a brief background into my pale skin to the MUA there and she told me their lightest shade, BR10, is usually too light for epople who say they need the lightest. Naturally when she colour matched me, I was the lightest. But not only how pale it was but also the tones are perfect. It's a pinky undertone without making me look like I've put blush all over my face - I have a natural tone to my skin and time warm too pink and cool too yellow. It looked fabulous when she had finished and I was very pleased. And even more so when she told me it was only £26! Yes, £26 for the foundation bearing in mind that Touche Éclat concealer is £24. I bought it there and then and have wore it everyday, I adore it. I am currently in the making of writing a full review on this, but as it stands, I am in love!
Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation
The magic light of Touche Éclat in a foundation.
Introducing the new Le Teint Touche Éclat foundation from YSL. The light of Touche Éclat foundation targets shadowy areas and highlights the contours of the face. With no opaque powders, its perfecting texture evens the complexion and helps conceal your imperfections, while enhancing your skin’s natural beauty.
It's Vogue time again and I cannot believe I have now had this blog for over a month and more importantly - I'm still using it! I haven't been the best at keeping up with these things and I have let it slip a little this last week but I am back with a few posts lined up. Thank God for the schedule ability on Blogger!
I have to admit, I loved this edition. Firstly because of the beauty on the cover. I am a huge Hunger Games fans - book and film, so it was really nice to see and read about the real her. Jennifer Lawrence looks a lot different here. She is so glam and I am in love with her hair - truely! As for contents, again I loved!
The first point I noticed on the front cover was 'Chop and Change - how to cut your own hair' point. Now, I used to cut my own hair mainly becasue then I couldn't get mad at anyone other than myself. But after reading and seeing the article, I went for a pair of scissors. Yes, I did it. I cut my own hair! Okay, that's a slight exaduration, I had my hair cut a few weeks ago but I did cut in a full fringe and I love it! I made it quite lnog and choppy and just made it a touch shorter every ten minutes or so just incase I hated it but no, it looks fabulous and it now sits on the brow and personally I think it suits my square jaw and pale complexion. So go for it girls, the holy grail of Vogue says do it, cut your own hair! (Page 227)
As an avid bargain hunter, I loved the article on car boot sales and the gems they uncover. I adore going to a boot sale and luckily I live in the country so they are easy to come by. I have found some great pieces from boot sales, including a vintage real fur coat for only £45 and a pair of Dr Marten boots for £6. I recently have picked up the habit of checking eBay religiously for the staple items, just to see and I did find a bargain last week - I found a pair of Dr Marten shoes (so good for the time of year and so chic to wear with a fur coat and some ankle grazer jeans!) for only £8. RRP being around £80. They said wore and used but I picked them up this morning and was very surprised to find a brand new pair of shoes in the box. Yay for a bargain! I also love a boot sale as you find stuff you wjust wouldn't buy in the shops, I have alot of cool 80's/early 90's clothes from boot sales. So tell me where you found your original 'Back to the Future' jumper! Go and explore! (Page 154)
And is there anyone who doesn't want the Snoop Dog mug on page 254, item 14? No, I thought not!
I always deep condition my hair once a week. Always! And due to doing absolutely nothing last week, I didn't go out and buy a new one as I was all out. So while doing a little grocery shopping in ASDA on Saturday, I noticed they had one use sachets of the TRESemme Intense Smoothing Masque which I thought I would try as hey, it was 99p!
And 99p it was. I think my usual conditioner does a better job. If you read my John Frieda review you'd know I'm currently using the Herbal Essences Hello Hydration and I am actually really liking it. It's not the best but for the price and the results my hair is having (now much shinier, stronger and softer) is great! I washed my hair with the Hello Hydration shampoo and then put on the masque. I left it for just over 5 minutes, as advised and rinsed. It felt horrible after, like I hadn't even used a conditioner at all! And when it had dried, I had to cover it in John Frieda Styling Spray before I dare even try and straighten it. It was truly awful. Though my hair does now feel soft, thanks to the spray, my ends still feel dry and my hair doesn't have the Aussie softness. And for the record, I love Aussie but the smell makes my stomach turn so I can't use it! Insert sad face here. So, I'm still on the look out for a decent deep conditioner. Sigh.
I am quite proud of myself for making sure I get another one of these cranked out this week. I know I've sucked posting this last week but there you go! I have a review and a haul post planned for this week and I will be going shopping tomorrow - which will be Monday as I'm going to put this on to schedule.
I wasn't too sure what to write about this week as I haven't really done too much this last with the crappy weather and being a little cold-y. I've literally spend the week at a neighbour's house, drinking tea and as fun as this is, it's only took a sentence to write so that wouldn't class a blog post! But this week I have totally re-fell in love with my Kindle. I've had my Kindle a few months and I am a big reader but I seem to have stopped using it. I am getting to run down as soon as I get done the things I need to, I'm half asleep so the last thing I want to do is settle down with my K.
Over the summer I read all the Lindsey Kelk books (which are fabulous and I seriously recommend!) but they are really summer reads. You know, those books that seem to flitter past and don't take too much to get into. Now it's getting colder I like to be able to spend hours in a book, a really great novel. And since you cannot depend on the Kindle bestseller's at the moment as it's still full of 50 Shades of Grey fakes, I've started to re-read all the Harry Potters - my all time favourite books. I love the series, the films, everything. I know these are classed as Children's books, but I'm 20 so I grew up with Harry Potter. I got all the books the day they came out and went to see all the films, over and over. The DVDs are still my go-to if I can't decide what to watch. I'm on the second book on my Kindle after starting the other day as I do read pretty quick but oh, how I love them.
I have to admit, I'm in the team of 'I don't think J. K. Rowling should write any other book, ever.' But I am tempted to read her newest adult novel (insert name here, oops!) as it's had pretty good reviews. After I have finished all the HP, I think I might start all the Discworld novels. My second favourite series!
I live in the UK, so I have classed drug store as anything NOT high end - Boots, Superdrug etc. I found it really hard to pick 5 items and I did end up choosing 6, but even that was hard. These aren't the products I'd use from a drug store if I had no high end, these are my everyday make up items.
Left to right we have;
Prestige Skin Loving Minerals Sun Baked Bronzer in 03 Pure Shimmer. This is my all time favourite highlighter. Its perfect for my light skin but isn't too shimmery or glittery. I can wear this on it's own with some bronzer or with a blush and it always looks good. I also use this on my eyes and nose as well as my cheek bones. I cannot give it enough credit. It also lasts a super long time, I've had this one two years and it hardly seems to have gone down! Love, love, love.
Gosh Natural Touch Cream Blusher in 001 Peachy Rush. The only thing I hate about this product is that call it a blusher and not a blush - pet hate! Aside from that the colour, texture, wear and staying power of this blush is amazing. It's super bright but you can blend it really light so it's super versatile. For some reason I just haven't found a nice orangey coral blush anywhere so this is the one. I don't really use this as a base for blush but I can't see why it wouldn't work! For the price it's as good at the MAC Creme Colour Bases, for sure!
No7 Lipstick in Brigette (Limited Edition, Spring 2010). This is my all time favourite light pink lipstick. MAC's Hue is in the category of pinky nude. It's a really sheer colour but really buildable and makes your teeth look whiter! I don't know if this available now but I'm nearly out so will have to go and find out soon! It's quite a glossy lipstick too so you can just throw it on and you don't have to worry about a gloss. Great for spring on top of an SPF lip conditioner.
Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Ultimate Concealer in Medium 3. I have this in the colour that matches my foundation the best as I use this for blemishes. It is the best concealer you will ever find in a drug store. It's amazing for blemishes and under the eyes. IT doesn't cake, it stays all day and it really does cover everything!
Collection 2000 Glam CrystalsDazzling Gel Eyeliner in 07 Rock Chick. I love this eyeliner for my top lash line. I tend to wear it over a black just to make sure it's dark enough but it has great staying power and a great look for under £3! I only wear the black one though I own most of them. They are the prefect item to transition from day to night.
Make Up Academy Mascara in Shade 1. This is the clear gel I use for my brows - the bottom one to prove it! I use this every day without fail. It holds my brows and colour all day and is so quick and easy to apply. It costs £1, yes £1 from Superdrug. You need to check out the MUA range if you haven't before as it is AMZING. Some of the eyeshadows are up there with MAC and the colour range reminds me a lot of Illamasqua.
So I've been wanting to add something a little more personal to my blog as I don't really say anything on here on any of the other posts so I came up with 'About Me Monday!' The fact it's weekly means I will keep up writing it and I think it will be a little fun post about me, my week or something happening in my life.
This weeks post is pretty easy to decide the topic of as my little man hit a milestone this week. At 17 months and 5 days old, Isaac decided he can now walk! I am so happy as was seriously starting to doubt if he would ever get there! He was born a month early but has never really had any problems, he just did not have any interest in walking until now. He's been tottering on the odd step and is now walking really well on his harness. I am very proud Momma right now!
