2014 Beauty Favourites - Skincare and Hair

To follow on from yesterday's post I thought I'd show you my standout skincare and haircare products from 2014. You may notice that only two brands have made an appearance, the truth is as I mentioned in yesterdays post I'm very much a creature of habit, although I've tried other brands throughout the year the two brands mentioned in today's posts are ones I always see myself returning too. For skincare my skin benefits from consistency, I've found myself using the same products throughout the year and my skin has really benefited. As for haircare I find most products samsie, they all generally do a similar job so I've tried to include two products that ticked all the boxes and surpassed my expectation - 

Skin Favourites 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - There's no denying this is my most repurchased cleanser ever. The Liz Earle C&P just works for me. It removes makeup, cleanses my skin and always leaves everything looking calm and clear. I never hesitate to repurchase this, and I always feel slightly on edge when I don't have a bottle in my skincare basket. Suffering with eczema/sensitive skin it can be hard to find products that don't irritate my skin but Liz Earle's natural, simple yet effective products seem to keep my skin looking healthy. 

Liz Earle Skin Tonic - I used to think toners were just an additional step that my skin didn't really benefit from, this was until I discovered the Liz Earle Skin Tonic. I'm on my fourth bottle, which says a lot as I never repurchase toners. Although some may try this an think 'is that all' I find the aloe in this toner leaves my skin calm, cool and refreshed. It's a perfect companion for the summer months but I also use this through the winter months, as unlike other toners this never strips my skin or leaves my skin feeling tight/dry.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser - Similar to some of the other Liz Earle products I've mentioned this is another repurchased item for me, I'm currently on my second tub. This cream has an almost buttery texture but I find that this does such a brilliant job in terms of hydration, I only need the tiniest amount. I use this through summer/winter months (although I generally use the oily/combination version for summer.) This moisturiser never leaves my skin super greasy, and although it's pretty basic I find (similar to all Liz Earle products) my skin loves this! 

On a side note….It's not very often I find a brand that works for me in 2013 I was on and off with Liz Earle but in 2014 I've been more consistent and I must say my skin just loves the brand. Spots are kept to a minimum, my skin looks radiant and clear I really don't know where I'd be without Liz Earle. If you suffer with sensitive skin I highly recommend Liz Earle, simple yet effective products which is just what I want from my skincare. 

Hair Favourites 

When it comes to haircare I've always been a drugstore girl, however in 2014 I branched out and tried some more 'high end' products and have to say I haven't looked back. Although both of the products mentioned aren't the most affordable, they're both still pretty full and I've owned both for a year! So if you are thinking of investing in your hair in 2015 I highly recommend introducing some Ojon into your life. 

Ojon Rare Blend Protecting Treatment - The award for best smelling hair product goes too… yes there's no denying this smells incredible with a blend of Ginsing, Lemongrass and Honey this really is a treat for the hair. This multi use treatment acts as a heat protectant spray, detangler, and also helps to prevent damage and breakage. After using this my hair is smoother, shinier and more manageable. When I use this Vs when I don't use this I notice the biggest difference in the texture and finish of my hair. This hydrates and conditions my ends, you can use this on dry or wet hair it's just such a brilliant product and I wouldn't hesitate to repurchase.

Ojon Revitalising Mist -  So, 2014 was officially the year that I waved goodbye to frizz. I've tried so many balms, serums, oils and sprays in varying prices none of which have ever made a noticeable difference to frizz, especially in humid weather, however the Ojon Revitalising Mist does just that. This mist protects my hair in all environments, gone is the dreaded poof that my hair adopts in the warmer months. This feels conditioning in the hair without weighing it down, or making it greasy. It's very rare that I find a product that genuinely fights frizz but Ojon certainly haven't disappointed. And yes, again as with all Ojon products this smells like salon hair in a bottle. 

So there we have it my skincare and haircare favourites from 2014. Keep an eye out for my final roundup post, it will include my favourite drugstore discoveries from 2014 perfect for dreaded January which sees us all working to a slightly tighter budget! 

On another side note...Whether you are staying at home rocking a onesie or partying the night away I wish everyone an amazing New Years Eve I hope everyone has a safe night and rings in the New Year with loved ones. Cheers to 2015, let's hope it's a good one. 

2014 Beauty Favourites - Makeup

With the last few days of 2014 approaching there's no better time to write up a roundup post featuring all of the products I've loved throughout the year. I feel like I've made some great beauty discoveries this year, all the items mentioned in today's post have become absolute staples and are products I literally can't be without. Although I'm a blogger I'm very much a creature of habit when I find something I love I stick to it, so the products mentioned in today's post have pretty much been the products I've reached for almost every day in 2014. I've split my yearly favourites into two posts, today we start with makeup my second post will feature skincare/haircare. I've tried to keep my post condensed, but I've included links to anything I've reviewed in full if you would like more information -

Base Favourites

NARS Sheer Glow (Syracuse) - Definitely my most used, most worn foundation of 2014. I just love Sheer Glow it's my go to foundation on days where I want a long lasting, flawless yet natural looking base. It truly is a beautiful foundation and will without doubt continue to be a favourite of mine for years to come.

NARS Creamy Concealer (Caramel) - Well it made it to my 'Repurchase List' so it's surely no surprise to see the NARS Creamy Concealer in my 2014 faves. As far as concealers go this is the best I've come across, this conceals dark circles, spots and scarring like no other. There are days where I can just apply this and I'm happy.

Clinique Instant Perfector - Invisible Deep- I've been a fan of this stuff for years, I'm unsure as to why it hasn't featured on my blog yet - better late than never though right! If you have oily skin, or skin that looks a little greasy/shiny towards the end of the day you need this. For me this is a better version of Benefit's Porefessional. It doesn't clog my pores, but boy does this blur everything. It's one of those products that you notice a visible difference with straight away, it mops up excess shine and my skin just looks perfect. It's a handbag essential.

Eyebrow Favourite

Anastasia Brow Wiz -There's no denying 2014 was the year of the brow. It's fair to say before this year I never really took much notice of my brows, waxed every once in awhile that was about as far as my brow maintenance went. Oh how the times have changed I don't feel quite me anymore without filled in brows. The real game changer for me was Brow Wiz it completely changed my mind on brow products. The thing is Brow Wiz makes filling in my brows so darn easy, however heavy handed I go I never get that drawn on look, if like me you have darker hair I highly recommend Brow Wiz the shade I use (Ebony) has a slight grey tint to it that looks so natural. I don't find I get that sharpie look that many other 'black' eyebrow products give.

Lip Favourites

Nuxe Reve De Miel - I have to admit for me this balm wasn't love at first use, certainly more of a grower. When I first tried the Nuxe balm I didn't get the hype at all, however as soon as my lips were in bad condition (read cracked/sore) I totally saw the reason this receives so much hype. This hydrates my lips and sticks around far longer than any lip balm I've tried before. This balm makes a beautiful base for lipsticks that are slightly drier, it's just something I'll never be without now.

Lipstick Queen - Endless Summer Collection (Aloha) - Not quite a pink, not quite a red but this lipstick certainly has to be my most worn lipstick of 2014. It's just so…wearable. In the summer time it's the perfect pick me up shade but I've also enjoyed this through the winter months. For me it's just a perfect every day shade. I've linked my original review of this so you can see what the lipstick looks like applied.

Blush Favourite

Bobbi Brown Blush in 'Blushed' 10 - Sadly I think Bobbi Brown have discontinued this shade as I can't seem to find it on their website anymore. Blushed is the perfect everyday shade for darker skin tones, this gives a natural healthy flush to my skin and is just the perfect neutral blush …it looks perfect paired with all lipsticks/ eye looks.

You may have noticed a lack of eye favourites, that's because in all honesty I haven't tried anything that's blown me away. If you have any eyeshadow, or mascara recommendations be sure to leave them in the comments below. I'd also love to hear what your favourite products from 2014 were.

What I Got For Christmas...

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, and feels refreshed and ready for the New Year.
I loved seeing all my family and friends, for me that's the main thing I love about Christmas (food follows.) If there was a year where there was a ban on buying each other gifts it really wouldn't bother me it's not what Christmas is about (for me anyway.) Today I thought I'd show you some of the gifts I  received this Christmas, no matter how small or big a gift is I always appreciate anything I receive (it's the thought that counts.) I worry about writing posts of this nature as it can be seen as bragging, or materialistic but as I mention above spending time with my family far outweighs any gift I could receive -

Liz Earle Orange & Mint Cleanse & Polish (limited edition) - I'm a huge fan of the original C&P I can't wait to try this limited edition offering.

Nature's Origin Shower Gel & Body Lotion (Moroccan Oil and Sweet Orange Blossom) - This isn't a brand I'd heard of before but the products smell absolutely lovely. The Moroccan oil is super hydrating.

Other Body Products I Received - Superdrug Coconut and Lime Body Butter, Boots Extract Body Butter in Brazil Nut (this smells incredible) , I Love … Mango Shower Gel & Coconut Body Butter,  S&G Hand Food,  S&G Clean on Me & Orangeasm Shower Gel.

Tickets for Swan Lake Ballet- My Dad well and truly surprised us with this gift. Me and Mum wanted to see Swan Lake but the tickets sold out so fast, my Dad surprised us with two tickets to the January show. This was one of the first shows/ballets me and my Mum ever saw when I was younger so we are looking forward to seeing this again. The show is so magical and the live orchestra sound amazing.  I'm so excited, me and my Mum don't get to spend much time together so I really can't wait.

Slippers and M&S Dressing Gown - So I've pretty much lived in these slippers since opening them, warm, cosy, pure comfort - you know you're getting old when you appreciate a good pair of slippers.
I'm also loving my new dressing gown, it's just super soft and really good quality. My current one had a massive hole and just wasn't wearable. I feel like such an adult my first 'proper' dressing gown, no teddy bear ears or cartoon prints.

Perfume - My favourite signature fragrance is Chloe (the original) so I was super happy to have a restock as my current one has literally just finished. I also received my second favourite fragrance Elizabeth Arden Untold, I receive so many compliments from random passer bys when I wear this fragrance it's such a distinct unique scent unlike anything in my collection. Super fresh and perfect for Spring/Summer.

A TV - Totally unexpected. Santa bought me a TV!  Mum and Dad truly did spoil me this year. I haven't ever had a TV in my room, I've always watched thing's on my iPad or Laptop. But as my Mac Air doesn't have a DVD drive I have to watch the majority of my Dvd's in our living room. I can't wait to have this set up, it's perfect for when my bf stays over too.

Babyliss Elegance Pro 235 Straighteners - Over the past few months I've abandoned my Ghd's in favour of an old rickety pair of Babyliss straighteners *health and safety alert* they were literally falling apart but sellotape at the ready I continued to use them, I was addicted to the finish I achieved. My hair holds a style for longer, and it just left my hair so shiny. Mum and Dad replaced my old Babyliss this Christmas with a new shiny pair that work just as beautifully on my hair.

I feel like everyone put so much thought into my gifts. I appreciated everything I received and felt truly blessed to have such wonderful family/Friends.

What did you get for Christmas?

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #25 Merry Christmas!

Just a quick post to wish you all a Merry Christmas, I hope you all have a lovely day. This is a pre written post so I'm probably currently wearing an ugly Christmas jumper or a festive themed onesie nursing one hell of food baby. I don't want to get too soppy, but I'd like to send a huge thank you to anyone who reads , enjoys or even follows my blog the support I've received throughout the year has been amazing. I'm super appreciative. I'll be back on Boxing Day where I will hopefully be sharing some more reflective posts, one of which will include my stand out products from 2014 so stay tuned for that but for now I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas and New Year, I wish everyone health and happiness in 2015 (let's hope it's a good one!)

Merry Christmas all xx

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #17 Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream

Moisturiser is a part of my skincare routine that changes a lot throughout the year, mainly due to the fact that I get bored or my skins needs change. During the winter time my skin always looks a little weather beaten, the cooler weather leaves my skin feeling dry and a little lack lustre. Finding the right moisture that offers hydration, without feeling incredibly greasy or heavy on the skin proved a difficult challenge, but over recent months I introduced the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream into my routine and my skin seems to be loving it.

I bought this Kiehl's cream towards the beginning of November so I've been using this for just over a month now. The cream has a gel like texture, something I've not always been sold on in the past but Kiehl's has really changed my mind. Gel creams in my experience sometimes have a tendency to leave a film on the skin, or don't feel as though they have absorbed into the skin- which sounds odd but the majority I have tried don't really hydrate my skin. With the gel texture this moisturiser is incredibly lightweight, and feels slightly cooling on the skin which I find super refreshing in the morning, oh and it absorbs really well too it's totally changed my mind on gel creams.

The Kiehl's cream claims to offer 24 hour hydration which isn't something I can particular say I've tested as I usually do my skincare routine morning and night. However during the week I walk to and from work a lot with my previous moisturiser I was noticing that my skin looked a little dry/flaky towards the end of the day. Since using the Kiehl's moisturiser I haven't found this to be a problem at all, I generally find that my forehead and cheeks are super dry but my nose is more on the oily side, this cream works well at hydrating the areas of my face that need it without leaving other parts greasy.

I wouldn't say my skin has improved in leaps and bounds since introducing this moisturiser into my skincare routine as I'm a firm believer in diet/exercise when it comes to skincare, plus I never think one sole product can drastically transform the skin however I must say my skins been feeling incredibly soft, plump, hydrated and less dull so for that I'm grateful to Kiehl's.

Are you a fan of the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream?

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #17 The Christmas Tag

I haven't written a tag post in such a long time, I saw 'The Christmas Tag' on a few blogs recently and thought I'd join in on the action, despite not being tagged (what a rebel.) Here are my answers, they really did get me feeling all festive I can't wait for Christmas.

1. What is your favourite Christmas movie?
The Polar Express, I love animation movies and this one certainly gives me that warm fuzzy Christmas feeling. Tom Hank is always great with voice overs, he plays six Characters in this one. The films follows a group of children on a train journey of a lifetime... to meet Santa! Beautiful animation with a really sweet ending that always makes me smile.

2. Have you ever had a white Christmas?
I have had one white Christmas sadly I was too young to actually remember it! I love the idea of a white Christmas though it would be the perfect setting on a Christmas morning.

3. Where do you normally spend Christmas?
At home wearing my Christmas onesie surround by loved ones. We don't have the biggest house so thing's can be a bit crowded but it's nice to have everyone under one roof it really does make me happy as throughout the year everyone is busy doing their own thing but Christmas is the one time in the year where we all come together. I'll be spending Christmas eve with my Dad's side of the family and boxing day at the BF's Nans three Christmas dinners ….I'll be all turkeyed out by the end of Christmas!

4. What's your favourite Christmas song?
Christmas …the snows coming downnnn imma watching it fall. Well it was always going to be Buble who can resist the charm and velvet smooth voice that is the Buble. True story I used to hate Christmas music when I worked in retail, every day the same songs on repeat it sent me cuckoo.

5. Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?
Nope, it's a tradition in our family to open all our presents on Christmas morning.

6. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
Rudolph … ummm did I mention Rudolph? I guess the answer to this question is no, I actually didn't know the other reindeer's had names Rudolph kinda stole the limelight with his red nose an all!

7. Is your Christmas tree real or fake?
My Christmas tree is 100% fake, that's right fake! We've had the same tree for years now. I get to enjoy a real Christmas tree (as we have one up at work) however for convenience we've always had a fake tree at Christmas.

8. What would be your dream place to visit during the festive season?
Norway, probably not the most popular choice but hear me out. Let me set the scene skiing in the morning, followed by hot chocolate and cosy clothing in front of a real fire in the chalet. Imagine the beautiful scenery. Perfect.

9. Are you a pro- present wrapper, or do you fail miserably?
I'm somewhere in between with this one. I start with good intentions and my first few presents usually look beautifully presented, however threes my limit thing's seem to go downhill after that as I lose patience on the harder to wrap gifts. Every year I end up wrapping my Dad's presents, the BF's and my Nan's I do a ridiculous amount of wrapping so it really does start to become a chore!

10. What made you realise the truth about Santa?
From a young age I always used to leave a mince pie and carrot (for Rudolph) I was always that child that asked a ton of questions, I remember asking why Santa's handwriting was the same as Dad's, and how did Santa get into our house without a key - I was a safety first kinda kid! I was always so amazed when I woke up on Christmas morning to find the mince pie and carrot had disappeared, one year curiosity got the better of me I happened to come downstairs at the wrong time to find my Dad munching on the mince pie I'd left. Sad times.

Who's looking forward to Christmas? Are you all feeling ready for the holidays - I sure am!

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #16 My Favourite Blogs!

Christmas is all about sharing the love, so what better time to tell you about the blogs I absolutely love. I keep the blogs I follow super organised over on Bloglovin, and all the blogs I mention in today's post have made it into my 'must read' group - I genuinely don't go a day without reading them!  I've left bloglovin links below so be sure to check out / read / like / comment on the lovely blogs I'm sharing with you today - 

A Little Boat Sailing 

I've happily followed Amy's blog for almost a year now, it's one of my favourite blogs to read. Amy provides a variety of content ranging from lifestyle, beauty and fashion there's always beautiful photography too. You can really tell that Amy spends a lot of time perfecting her imagery/content and this really reflects through her posts, I always find them so engaging to read.
Bloglovin Link

Emmi Hearts
Supporting a fellow Yorkshire blogger, but yes I absolutely love Emily's blog. Emily always has the most amazing photography I could happily scroll through her photography her whole blog is always so visually pleasing. You can tell that Emily is super creative through her writing and photography, I particularly like her lifestyle posts.
Bloglovin Link

Life, Set Sail 
Another fave, I'm a fan of Brittany's beautiful blog design its's so clean, crisp and easy to navigate. I know blogs are not all about pretty photography/design but they really are selling points for me. Brittany offers me a glimpse into beauty overseas, she often features Canadian beauty brands which I enjoy reading. Brittany's face of the day posts are also a favourite. They are always super wearable and easy to recreate using products that you already own which is what I look for with my beauty inspiration.
Bloglovin Link

Andystyle 
Oh Andrea, how can one girl be so incredibly pretty what a babe. Andrea's fashion is so on point, even through her recent pregnancy she's still managed to always look incredibly stylish and so put together. Major fashion inspiration, whenever I'm feeling a little meh about my fashion I always turn to Andrea's blog for inspiration.
Bloglovin Link

Charlotte Christmas 
Charlotte's blog is a new discovery but one I'm really enjoying. Her photography again is beautiful, and her content is always so thorough and honest I really do rely on Charlotte for honest reviews on beauty products. It can be hard to find bloggers with a similar skin tone to myself so it's handy following Charlotte as I know we are a similar shade (base products.)
Bloglovin Link

Joli House
For fitness and healthy eating inspo I regularly read Lilly's blog. Now there's no denying she's my absolute girl crush Lilly has a cracking body all gained through diet and exercise - you can tell this girl works hard! Lilly's posts are always so positive and super refreshing an absolute pleasure to read through.
Bloglovin Link 

The Sunday Girl 

I admire Adrienne on average you get 2-3 new posts daily on The Sunday Girl - this girl must be super organised. With so many posts you'd worry about consistency with the quality but Adrienne manages to maintain beautiful photography and great writing throughout every post. I love Adrienne's skincare reviews as we have a similar skin type I always know I can rely on her reviews.Bloglovin Link

Stephanie Eva 
I love Stephanie's post they are some of my faves to read. I actually discovered Stephanie's blog through a lovely comment she posted on my blog and I've followed ever since. It's really hard to let your personality shine through posts but Stephanie always manages to do this. I recently discovered that she also has a YouTube channel, she posted the most amazing DIY Starbucks Iced Gingerbread latte (it tastes amazing!)
Bloglovin Link 

Who are your favourite bloggers?

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #15 My Three Favourite Christmas Films

Oh how I love this time of year, there's nothing better than wearing your warmest pyjamas, making a hot chocolate and sticking on a Christmas movie. I'll be the first to admit Christmas films are a whole lot of cheese but if you can't have a bit of cheese at Christmas when can you? So today I thought I'd share my three favourite Christmas movie, you probably guess already from the pictures that I'm all about the animation at Christmas time, I can't help myself I'm a big kid at heart.

Elf - I love watching Elf it just gets me feeling all festive, plus it's  super funny. It's ironic as my Mum absolutely hates this film yet we always manage to convince her to watch it almost every year. I think Elf has to be one of the most quotable Christmas movies.

The Snowman -We're walking in the aaaair. Well it had to be mentioned, my guilty pleasure at Christmas is tuning in to the BBC 1 airing of the Snowman it's just something I love it's on TV once a year and it just reminds me of being a child, it's quite cute how when you're younger Christmas eve feels so special it's like anything could happen. I remember always staying awake in case I missed Santa or something magical haha (ah to be a child again!)

The Polar Express - Perhaps my favourite of the bunch, but I love The Polar Express. There's something really magical about the story it reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas which sounds incredibly cheesy but I really do enjoy this film. My favourite part is the ending … only those that truly believe can hear Santa's sleigh bell ring which I find really sweet.

I'd love to know what your favourite Christmas movies are?

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #14 Christmas Nail Art Designs …

…That make me wish I was better at nail art!

Oh how I wish I had more patience with nail art, I really do try but in all honesty I always end up with stripes or dots (well you can't go wrong with stripes and dots ey.) Today I thought I'd show you some festive designs that have made me want to crack out my brushes and give nail art another try. Unfortunately I can't seem to find the original source for three of these images (which is a shame as I'd love to see tutorials!)

Most designs are red or green but I love that this person has chosen mint green, something that we generally only see in Spring. This design still has a festive feeling, the snowman looks like it may have been a press on, but if this is drawn on look at that neatness #nailartgoals.

The second design is from the lovely Stephanie Eva (here is the post.) Stephanie's blog is one of my absolute favourites to read she has a great mix of beauty/lifestyle posts and her personality really reflects through her posts - a quality I love in a blog! I was super happy to hear she was taking part in Blogmas, and even more excited when I saw a post full of pretty Christmas nail art designs. I love the 3D texture effect with this design, it just looks perfect and again oh so neat. If you're reading this, please come and paint my nails for Christmas they're looking rather unfestive at the moment.

For the longest time I've loved polar bears, I don't think we see them enough in designs at Christmas. I absolutely love this design it's just so pretty and so so cute. The blue marbled effect nail polish is such a pretty shade too.

Is it just me or has this year been the year of the Christmas Pud? I've seen the Christmas pudding design everywhere, even more so than in previous years. Personally though I'm not complaining despite absolutely hating Christmas Puddings I love the design it looks super cute.

What nail art will you be sporting for Christmas?

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #13 Seeing Red

Some of you may be wondering what happened to my face in today's outfit post, well I'll tell you what I was pulling the most unflattering of faces in almost all the pictures that were taken, to save you all the horror I used the crop tool (thank gosh for that crop tool.) Other than reshooting it was the only option I'm afraid. 

Channelling my inner tomato in this H&M jumper, but isn't the colour just lovely I feel like it really flatters my darker skin tone. Most of my winter jumpers are black/grey so it's really nice to have this bright jumper to throw on days where I just want some colour. It's worthwhile mentioning that I seem to have bought a lot of knitwear from H&M this year, I'm finding their jumpers wash really well and seem to be really good quality. The material with this jumper is super thick and snugly it does a great job of keeping me warm. Although the shape isn't the most flattering I'm prepared to sacrifice for the warmth and bright pop of colour that this jumper provides me with.

The jeans I'm wearing are from New Look. I think I've mentioned before on my blog (if not I'm having deja vu) but I absolutely love New Look for jeans. They cater to all shapes and sizes with a variety of styles, in terms of fit for me they are the best high street store. Having a deceiving waist but twig like legs I struggle to find jeans that fit well but New Look always fit me really well, the dye never runs and I just find they last me a really long time. I love the dip dye (think it's called that) effect with these jeans, I think they look really nice paired with bright jumpers like my H&M one.

My shoes are from Marks and Spencers. I absolutely love loafers but they certainly do take awhile to break in, fortunately these ones are at that comfy stage now. I love that these look kind of smart whilst the rest of the outfit is quite casual, I think they add a little interest to the outfit. I find them great to chuck on when I fancy a change from Converse, I practically live in Converse it's terrible…I'm trying to branch out slowly although Converse are always with me (I'm such an addict I keep a pair in my boot just in case!)

My bag is from Kurt Geiger. I lusted after this for months, after leaving my old job I was kindly given some leaving money which I used to purchase this bag. I'm so glad I did as it's just the perfect bag, big enough for all my junk but not too big that it will cause shoulder damage. It's great quality too and I just love it.

What's your favourite shop for knitwear? Are you a fan of bright knitwear?

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #12 Christmas DIY Inspiration

So, how are we almost at the half way point with Blogmas? Crazy times, the fact that there's 13 sleeps until Christmas fills me with a sense of panic … I'm so unorganised. I'm not going to lie I struggled so much with today's topic, after racking my brain for the past two weeks I still had bloggers block. DIY, is definitely not my forte. I'm rubbish at making thing's, heck I'm even rubbish with flat packed furniture - it once took me almost four hours to build an office chair (true story.) It's surprising really as my mum is absolutely fantastic at drawing, sewing and knitting sadly those skills don't seem to have been passed on to me. Instead of sharing something I wasn't 100% happy with I thought I'd use today's post to promote three Christmas DIY posts that caught my eye over the past few weeks -

DIY Mint Sugar Scrub 

This would make the perfect gift for beauty lovers, for some reason I absolutely love the look of this mint sugar scrub. Something about this looks super festive, and I can imagine the mint smells incredibly refreshing.

DIY Hot Chocolate Kit 

Who doesn't love hot chocolate? This DIY hot chocolate kit has everything you'd need for the perfect hot chocolate. I've seen similar items in store, but this would make a lovely gift this Christmas. Even better you could put together your own DIY winter warmer kit, inside you could include this hot chocolate kit, a mini hot water bottle and some Christmassy PJs. 

DIY Macaroon Coin Purse

A sweet treat without any added calories. Stuck for Christmas stocking ideas? Why not make these hand made macaroon coin purses, they are super cute and would a lovely gift this Christmas time.

Sorry guys that this post was a little on the short side, I feel like I may have lacked a little creativity on today's content but as I mentioned above I really did struggle to think of ideas. I hope you are enjoying my Blogmas posts so far, thanks to anyone who has read, shared, liked or commented on my posts it means the world to me and really does brighten up my day. 

Are you a fan of DIY at Christmas? 

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #11 Winter Essentials

As soon as we hit Autumn/Winter I have my annual battle to keep both my skin and body hydrated. Cooler weather seems to zap what little moisture I have left resulting in dry flaky patches and dull skin. Over the years I've discovered some lovely products that do a wonderful job of keeping everything hydrated, some may call them my 'winter essentials' so for today's post I thought I'd share them with you. Worth noting not every product mentioned is included in the picture purely for framing …I didn't want it to look too cluttered.

Let's start with skincare

Scrubs 
Winter time is perhaps the only time of the year where I can get away with a manual exfoliator. Exfoliators seem to receive a lot of hate in the blogosphere, but the days of the St Ives Apricot Scrub are over guys there are so many gentle alternatives available. Although I am a fan of chemical exfoliators I don't always notice results, whereas with manual exfoliators I can see an instant result which is what my skin needs during winter.
My picks - Clinique 7 Day Scrub, Lush Buche De Noel, Pai Kukui and Jojoba Bead Scrub

A Hydrating Night Cream
With my skin feeling super dry during the winter months I find myself reaching for richer night creams. I love applying hydrating night creams as I feel like my skin literally drinks them up, the creams I use would be too rich for daytime use, but I find by applying them at night my skin feels incredibly soft and super hydrated in the morning.
My picks- Clinique Turnaround Night Cream, Kiehl's Ultra Cream, Antipodes Nourishing Pear Night Cream, The Body Shop Vitamin E Cream

Hydrating Masks 
For those days where my skin just needs that added boost of moisture I love to apply hydrating masks. I'm a big fan of clay masks, I love Catastrophe Cosmetic by Lush. It has the texture of a clay mask, applies and dries like a clay mask but when rinsed away my skin doesn't feel tight, stripped or dehydrated - hard qualities to find in a clay mask. I'm also a fan of the clear, cooling face masks as they leave my skin feeling refreshed, radiant and super soft.
My picks - Antipodes Manuka Honey face mask, Origins Overnight Drink up, Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic

Body & Lips

Scrubs 
Similar to my skin my body craves a good scrub during the cooler months. Although I'm a big fan of dry brushing my skin feels a little more sensitive in winter so I find manual scrubs do the job without irritating my skin.
My picks - S&G Breakfast Scrub, Lush Ocean Salt, Lush Rub Rub Rub, S&G Flake Away

Body Butters 
I love a good rich body butter after a relaxing bath in the evening (which is something I generally do more during winter.) Body Butters leave my skin feeling incredibly soft, I find the smell super uplifting especially citrus scents during the winter time.
My picks - The Body Shop Body Butter, Boots Extracts Mango Body Butter, S&G The Righteous Body Butter

The Lazy Option (for instant hydration) 
If you're anything like me you may find it even harder to leave that warm bed during the winter time, let's face it when it's cold and dark outside it's hard to find the motivation to get up. During the winter time I find myself running late a lot more, for days when I'm super late and have no time for body butters I love to go for an in shower body moisturiser. So far I've only found one that actually hydrates the skin it's is the Lush Body Conditioner in African Paradise. Expect a full review of this real soon, but basically you apply this in the shower after shower gel and rinse away. This is the only product (of this nature) that I've found genuinely leaves a layer of moisturiser

Lips 
I can't be without lip balm during the cooler months, my lips get so dry, cracked and just plain sore. For some reason I've struggled more this year than previous years I'm not sure why but they are just so sore.
My picks- Nuxe Rev De Miel, Elizabeth 8 Hour Cream, Nivea Vanilla and Macadamia Balm

I'd love to know what your winter essentials are?

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #10 Men's Gift Guide

I don't half struggle with the boys come Christmas time. I always feel like my gifts for girls are a lot more exciting, I mean boys must get sick of pants, socks and body wash surely? Although Christmas isn't about the presents (at all) I can't help but feel sorry for all the boys on Christmas morning, today I thought I'd share some gift ideas for men. This year I'm saying no to pants, socks and deodorant and saying yes to creative gift ideas that the boys in your life will love - 

New trainers - Because there's nothing quite like opening a box fresh pair of trainers on Christmas morning. 

Headphones- If your fella/dad/brother likes listening to music why not treat him to a new pair of headphones. Dre Beats are top of the bunch for sound quality but Sony, Skullcandy and Panasonic are equally good. 

New Clothes- Why not treat the men in your life to those new jeans/jacket/shirt he's been eyeing up. Every guy needs a good quality shirt, jeans etc in their wardrobes. 

A New Watch - Is he always late? Why not treat him to a new timepiece. I'm always surprised at the range of prices with watches there some lovely ones at £50 and over you can actually find most brands cheaper on Amazon or Ebay too. 

And a few more … 

Shaver /  Aftershave / Belt / Wallet / Camera / A Game (if he's anything like my BF he will appreciate this!) / PS4/Xbox / Sportswear 

Sorry that this post is a little shorter than the norm I did have a mind blank moment when thinking of gift ideas for guys, so if you have any ideas be sure to leave them in the comments below!

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #9 Easy Mince Pie Recipe

Mince pies, you either love them or hate them, personally I love them they're the perfect festive treat. I can't help but feel homemade mince pies taste better, so today I thought I'd share an easy simple recipe. There's probably thousands on the web but I find this one is great for those who don't fancy anything too fiddly or technical -

What you'll need 

Golden Caster Sugar 

Butter 

1 Small Egg 

Plain Flour 

Mincemeat

Icing Sugar (for covering burnt bits decoration)

1. Let's start with the pastry. You'll be happy to know that this is a 'no roll' recipe, it's great for people who are a little worried about making pastry. Rub 225g/7oz into 350g/12oz plain flour (rub as though you are making shortbread pastry.) Now this is the bit you'll spend lots of time on, be careful not to overdo this step as it can make your pastry a little too flaky/difficult to work with. Once combined add 100g/3oz of golden caster sugar and a pinch of salt (optional) and mix away. Now, begin to knead the dough (no water required.)  At this point you should have something that resembles the picture below. I personally prefer to make two balls (haha) one for the pie, one for the lids but we'll get onto this later. 

2. Preheat your oven to 200C/gas 6/fan 180C. Take a tiny amount of butter and grease your tin. A tin similar to the one here will work perfectly fine. Whatever you do don't use a muffin tin, things won't work out for the best, with this pastry it's just not thick enough in texture for deep filled mince pies. 

3. Press a walnut size of pastry into each hole. Spoon 1 teaspoon of mincemeat onto the pastry, make sure to smooth over. The key at this stage is not to overfill, trust me I've done this before …it wasn't pretty (mincemeat burnt/exploded in the pastry.)

4. Take slightly smaller balls of pastry than before and pat them out between your hands to make round lids, big enough to cover the pies. Top the pies with their lids, pressing the edges gently together to seal. 

5. Beat 1 small egg and brush the tops of the pies. Bake for 20 minutes until golden. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then remove. To serve, lightly dust with icing sugar. Now, if you didn't listen to step 3 here is your chance to rectify (icing sugar solves all!) Your mince pies will keep for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #8 9 Things I Loved Lately #6

If you follow me over on Instagram you may have already seen the pictures above, however I know there are probably (maybe) some of you who read my blog that don't follow me on Instagram. So for today's post I thought I'd show you a round up of '9 Thing's I loved lately' -

New Look Boots - Oh how I love these boots, I'm a big fan of chunky (workmen) style boots. I feel like this New Look pair instantly toughen up any outfit, plus they're an absolute dream to wear…oh so comfy.

American Horror Story- So who's watching Freakshow? I'm absolutely loving the new AHS, I'm enjoying watching the story unfold, plus I feel like it has been slightly less predictable than the previous series. Worthwhile mentioning season 1, 2 and 3 are all available on Netflix, I may have to re watch the seasons after Freakshow...I need my AHS fix!

Ed's Easy Diner - You know you visit a restaurant far too much when you're on first name basis with the staff, and have tried almost everything on the menu. I just can't help myself though I absolutely love Ed's this American style diner has a variety of burgers, hot dogs, shakes and desserts, certainly worth a visit! *If you are a fan of sweet potato you have to buy the sweet potato fries they taste amazing!*

Kurt Geiger Bag- Over the past two months this has been the only bag I've used purely for the convenience, this is just the perfect size looks are deceiving as I find it roomy enough for all my crap but not so big it causes shoulder damage. I love the croc affect textured leather and the gold detailing. Such a well made quality bag, I love it!

Gameboy Colour - Nostalgic moment or what. The past few weeks I've literally been glued to this bad boy, I'm not sure if I'm having some sort of attempt at reliving my youth but I tell you what I'm addicted! The games I'm loving are Tetris, Donkey Kong and Mario Brothers. I am such a big kid!

Muji Makeup Storage - I really didn't want to be 'that' blogger but after putting it off for so long I made my first Muji purchase, and I have to say so far I love! The acrylic storage doesn't get as dirty as I originally envisioned. I'm really happy with my makeup storage at the moment.

Buns/Baking - I usually reserve baking for Saturdays/Sundays but I can't seem to get enough of these muffins at the moment they don't look all that special but I put white and chocolate chunks throughout them and when they are still warm they taste so good (if I do say so myself!)

Midi Rings - Absolutely loving this midi ring by SIX. I really love the jewellery store SIX. There always seems to be one when I'm away on holiday but we don't seem to have one in the UK…yet. Their stores are great for unusual quirky jewellery I could look in that store for ages.

Liz Earle Super Skin Moisturiser Normal/Combination - I reviewed this over here a while back now,  I must say I'm still absolutely loving it this winter. It's perfect for when my skin is a little on the dry side it seems to keep my skin super hydrated.

What have you been loving lately?

P.S Don't forget to follow me over on Instagram here.

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #7 My Christmas Wishlist

I'm not usually the type to ask friends or family for gifts at Christmas or birthdays for that matter. I'm a big believer in it's the thought that counts, and well if I'm totally happy I'm all about the food at Christmas…Oh man Christmas dinner *drools.* But today I thought I'd put together a ridiculously unrealistic Christmas wish list, I'd never expect any of these items from friends/family (if you are reading this please save your pennies!) These items are more thing's I'll probably save for myself in the new year. 

1. Zoeva Rose Gold Brush Set
My makeup brushes are looking a little worse for wear and despite promising myself I'd invest in a new set this year it kind of didn't happen. 

2. MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo 
I suddenly have a desire to own this lipstick, it's looks like such a flattering tomato red shade. 

3. Soap and Glory Gift Set 
Self explanatory really, but I'm the biggest Soap and Glory fan, I'm always lucky enough to receive a gift set at Christmas tthe products normally see me through the majority of the year too.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Eyeshadow Pallet & Retoucher 
Having seen both products used in a Patricia Bright tutorial I've lusted after them ever since. CT products seem to have received such rave reviews I can't wait to hopefully try a few products in 2015.

4. Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner 
I recently tried the Lush African Paradise body conditioner (review coming soon) I'm in love with it, but I'm not the biggest fan of the scent hence the reason I'd love to try this one.

5. The Body Shop Glazed Apple Body Butter 
I recently had a sniff of this in store and fell in love with scent I'd love to try the body butter in this range.

6. Sarah Chapman Discovery Collection 
After hearing tons of my favourite Youtubers raving about the Sarah Chapman skincare range I'd love to try something myself. The prices are  a little eye watering but I think these discovery collection kits are a great way to try a range of products.

7. Dressing Gown
Practical but needed, my current one is shedding and has a massive hole!

8. Nutella Cookbook 
I've wanted this for the longest time been the biggest fan of Nutella I'd just love to own this book, I hear that this book is full of easy simple recipes which is just what I need.

9. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze 
Umm so I may go in store just to swatch this whenever I can, I swear they are getting sick of seeing me at the counter but it's just so beautiful. £30 is just so pricey though especially for such a small amount of product.

10. Asos Cat Ear Makeup Bag 
I could do with a new makeup bag for my handbag, I like to keep all my essentials in a mini bag. I'm currently using one I picked up from a £1 shop which is nice, but a little tatty now as I've owned it for years!

11. Aesop Parsley Seed Mask
I've had this on my 'to buy' list for almost a year, I do fear it will be one of those products that's not worth the price tag but having read such glowing reviews over the past year I really do want to give this a try.

12. Nike Trainers
Any Nike trainers. Haha not picky, I just fancy owning some black Nike trainers they'd be perfect for walking home in something I seem to be doing a lot more recently!

13. Lush Let The Good Times Roll 
I read a review of this over on 'Eat Read Glam' Rosie's really sold it to me, this sounds like it would smell amazing.

14. Slippers
Aren't these slippers super cute! I could really do with some new slippers, I generally buy Primark ones every year but I seem to have forgotten this year.

What would you like receive this Christmas?

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #6 Winter Pamper Routine (Hair, Skin and Body)

During the winter months I absolutely love a good pamper, so today I thought I'd show you some of the products that are currently in my routine - 

Now, no pamper routine is complete without a Lush bath bomb. I generally save Lush bath bombs for pamper nights, or when I'm in need of a treat. One of my favourite bath bombs is Butterball as it not only smells incredible but also hydrates the skin. When I saw they had released a Butter Bear bath bomb in their Christmas limited edition range I had to have it, I mean just look how cute he is. Butter Bear has the same incredible vanilla, coconut scent and still has the same hydrating properties as Butterball. This kind of coats the water with a layer of cocoa butter leaving dry skin super hydrated. I'm struggling to see the Christmas relevance but please add this to your permanent line Lush, it's too cute to be limited edition. 

I'm a huge fan of dry brushing, but during winter my skin seems to be a little more sensitive so I've been reaching for some of my favourite scrubs. S&G scrubs, and Lush Rub Rub Rub will always have a permanent spot in my bathroom cabinet. More recently though I've loved the Boots Extract Mango Sugar Scrub. This buffs away skin, and smells amazing. Although this fruity scent would probably be most suited to summer I'm absolutely loving how invigorating this makes me feel, the scent really wakes me up and my skin always feels silky smooth after using this, which does surprise me as I'm not usually the biggest fan of sugar scrubs.

Post bath I'm using a matching body butter, the Boots Extract Mango Body Butter. The scent is pretty similar to The Body Shop mango body butter, however I actually prefer the texture of this one. This rich creamy body butter melts into the skin instantly and leaves me feeling super soft and hydrated. Although this has a thick texture it never leaves me feeling greasy which is brill as most body butters normally do!

For my hair I've been using the Cynthia Sylvia Stout shampoo by Lush. This cleans my hair really well without leaving it feeling stripped, this also doesn't irritate my scalp. Although this does contain beer don't let that put you off as it actually has a fruity citrus scent that leaves the hair super refreshed. I love that this shampoo manages to leave my hair super soft and incredibly shiny (I'll be writing up a post in the new year with a few reviews on Lush haircare so look out for that.) After shampoo I like to stick on a hair mask, I usually like to apply this before my bath as I find the heat from the bath helps the mask to work harder. I'm usually cheap and cheerful in this category, I've been loving the John Frieda Miraculous Recovery Mask. This mask really hydrates my dry ends, this leaves my hair super smooth and I do find this makes my hair a lot less tangly, it's certainly a hair mask that I notice a difference with.

I normally complete my pamper routine with skincare. I love to take of any makeup using the Clinique Take The day Off Balm, this removes all traces of makeup without leaving my skin stripped it's a really simple effective product. I then like to apply a clay mask, I like the Origins Clear Improvement mask at the moment, I seem to be lacking on the clay mask front (read I own one) but I know I can always rely on this one when my skin is super congested. Once I remove my clay mask I apply the much loved Origins Drink up mask, this smells like peaches and does a fantastic job of hydrating dry skin. My skin always looks healthy and glows the morning after applying this, it will always have a permanent place in my skincare basket.

What are your favourite pamper products?

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #5 My Reading List

I must firstly apologise for the lack of Christmas spirit in today's post. Topic 5 of Blogmas saw us writing about our current reads and unfortunately there doesn't appear to be anything Christmassy themed on my list. In fact this topic actually got me thinking, I don't I've ever read a Christmassy themed book (as an adult) so if anyone does have any recommendations please do let me know (I don't mind a bit of cheese with it being a Christmas read an all!)

If you saw my 'Summer Bucket List' post, you'll know that I set myself a goal to read more over the summer, unfortunately I failed miserably. My reading list seems to keep on growing (especially as I'm a slow reader) so today I thought I'd share with you the books that are currently on my reading list. I absolutely love crime, thrillers or horror books so the majority fall under that category. A lot of these books are gritty and do contain some violence (I'm familiar with most of the authors) so I don't think any of these books will be for the weak hearted!

Mandasue Heller - Respect

Stuart Macbride - Broken Skin & Close To The Bone
I've read my fair share of Macbride books now, I can't wait to get stuck into these two. I find Stuart's books chilling, page turning and incredibly gripping. The chapters are usually pretty long but I still find myself having to read on. There's a certain familiarity with his books they all have the same set of characters, something I love with books.

Suzanne Collins - Mockingjay
Having seen (and hated) the film I'm hoping the book won't be equally disappointing. I usually like to read books before seeing the movies but seen as I discovered the Hunger Games series pretty late on I've ended up doing the latter. Fingers crossed for this one.

Tess Gerritsen - Last To Die & The Killing Place

Laymon - Beware Dark Mountain 

Karren Rose No One Left To Tell 

Peter Robinson - Children of The Revolution 

Mo Hayder - Poppet 

What's your favourite genre to read? What's on your reading list?

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #4 Christmas Decoration Wish List…

Decorating my home has to be one of my favourite aspects about Christmas. A fond memory from my childhood is my father picking me up to place the angel at the top of the Christmas tree, we usually make putting the decorations up a family affair with us all taking part and as a child I always felt like I had the most important job in the world by placing the angel at the top of the tree. For topic 4 of the Blogmas project we are supposed to be sharing a decorations wish list, which is a topic I wasn't really sure about as I don't really lust after decorations over the festive period. Although the pictures above are lovely, and I've always admired houses like this from afar (lets face it they are dream worthy) I've always taken huge comfort in the old, tacky decorations that we own. Although some people love this look, I always find the colour co-ordinated decorations that look all sparkly and new lack character.

Every year we send my Dad up to the attic (there's spiders in there) we have a massive box of decorations that have survived generations. We have items my mother made as a child, items I made as a child, decorations that have been in our family for almost 30 years. They don't match, or look sparkly and new, quite frankly some of them are plain ugly but the majority come with a story. Although it sounds cheesy I take such comfort in our decorations and although some may see them as tacky or old I love them I don't feel like Christmas would be quite the same without them. They add a touch of character to our house and always provide a conversation starter when we have visitors. There's something about seeing these decorations up that makes me feel all warm/fuzzy inside the kind of fuzzy that no new, sparkly, colour co-ordinated decorations could ever bring me. So for that reason I've never really wished for anything different hence my lack of  a wish list in this post.

How do you make your home look festive? Are you a little OTD on the decorations like my family or more minimal?

#BigBlogmasproject2014 #3 A Festive Lip For £1

Makeup Revolution seems to have taken the beauty world (and blogosphere for that matter) by storm with their low prices and various dupes of higher end products they're certainly the most talked about brand of 2014. Now, if I'm honesty I was a little sceptical of this brand to begin with, I mean how can a brand really have such low prices? But after carrying out a little research the ingredients in MR products are pretty much identical to most drugstore products, reassured I decided to pick up a few products from the brand including this lovely lipstick in the shade 'Reckless' that I'm going to share with you today -

Without sounding like a snob I didn't expect much from a £1 lipstick, but I'm actually pretty impressed with this formula so much so that I actually think it's comparable if not better than most £7 lipsticks you can buy in the aisles of Boots. This lipstick is incredibly moisturising on the lips, if you prefer a matte bold lip it may be worth bearing in mind that this formula does leave a plumped glossy look to the lips which I can imagine won't be everyone's cup of tea. Unlike some moisturising lipsticks I have tried in the past this doesn't stick to my teeth, slip/slide or look messy on the lips, it's surprisingly easy to get a near perfect finish applying this straight from the bullet. This formula doesn't cling to or emphasise dry patches on the lips which is brilliant for this time of year when my lips lose all moisture! 

In terms of longevity it's fair to say that no lipstick £1-£40 is going to last all day on the lips. That's just a fact. However, I was pleasantly surprised that this lasted 3-4 hours on the lips within this time my lips looked exactly the same as when I'd first applied the lipstick, after the four hours this dried to a stain. So perhaps not the most long wearing lipstick in my collection but for £1 and for how easy this re-applied I'm happy to report that my views still remained rather positive.

'Reckless' is the perfect shade for the ladies out there that want to rock a red lip that's still incredibly wearable for both day and night. This shade is the perfect balance of berry hues and red making it my most worn lipstick of the season. Makeup Revolution is a fantastic brand for people who might just be starting to build up their makeup collection or for people like me who enjoy experimenting with makeup but don't want to fork out a fortune. Let's face it we've all been there £20 lipstick that stays unworn in a drawer somewhere. 

So, there's your festive lip sorted for £1 bargain! I'd love to know what your favourite red lipsticks are? What are your favourite products from Makeup Revolution?