What's In My Evening Bag?

Tonight I am off out with the girls so I thought it would be the perfect time to show you what’s in my evening bag! My bag of choice is this quilted bag from River Island, I really like it as it’s nice and roomy and stylish and let’s face it it’s probably the closest thing to a Chanel that I am ever going to get. Buy hey a girl can dream!

So the essentials I take are my phone and a purse. When I am using a smaller bag I take a smaller purse and this one is a clasp purse from Cath Kidston. It looks small but it can fit everything in it that I need.

On a night on it is almost a certainty that I will need to do some sort of magic volumising trick as my hair does not like to do as it is told! I use the Enrapture Rollers before I go out and they work well but I take a small can of hairspray and a comb/brush in case I need to do some emergency back combing or juzzing. One hair spray that I really like is this one my Tresemme, the Salon Finish Extra Hold spray.

I like to take a couple of bits of makeup with me as well just to help my makeup looking fresh. I am a fan of a bright lipstick on a night out and will be found rocking a bright pink on most occasions.  Here I have 2 products; the Elizabeth Arden Exceptional Lipstick in ‘Pink Vibrations’ and the Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in ‘Lollipop’.

Being pale as I am, even though I tan before a night out, I do take a blush with me.  This avoids any ghostly photos being taken! This one is the Shimmer Shades ‘Blushalicious’ blush from Collection. I really like this as it is bright and really gives your cheeks a nice pop of colour.

So that’s about it, if I think it is going to be a bit of a late night I will squeeze some flat shoes on my bag but they are for emergencies only!

What’s in your evening bag?

Interview Tips

I used to work for a company where part of my job involved recruitment and interviewing possible new employees. So I thought I would put together a little bit of what I learnt in case it could help some of you guys out there who may be having interviews at the moment whether that be for jobs, universities or anything else for that matter! I am by no means an expert I am just simply sharing some of my observations from being involved in this process.

·         Probably the most important point – Do your research!

I cannot stress this enough. If you go into an interview without researching the role or the company first there is only so far you can blag your way through.  Now I am not saying you need to know when the company was founded, the family tree of the founder, the founder’s favourite chocolate bar, just  stick to the basic and important facts. If the company has competitors who are they? What your role might entail, what the company may have done within the last 12 months, why you think they would be a good company to work for.

 

·         First impressions count!

 

I read somewhere that an interviewer is likely to have made up their mind up as to whether they like you or not within the first 3 seconds of meeting you based on your appearance and general manner. As shallow as this may seem imagine if you were to interview somebody who came in dressed in dirty, un-ironed clothes as opposed to someone dressed smartly. It would take the person in dirty clothes a lot longer to bring the interviewer back round even if they had every qualification under the sun. Obviously this is an extreme situation.  My point is, dress to impress.

 

·         Make-up

 

Some makeup points to note, try to make sure everything is perfect, no lipstick on your teeth, no dodgy foundation lines and definitely no chipped nails! Keep the nail colour neutral, my favourite neutral pink is Essie ‘Neowhimsical’. In line with keeping things neutral think about your choice of perfume. I interviewed somebody in a small room who was wearing very heavy perfume and I found it very difficult to concentrate and quite frankly it gave me a massive headache, this is not the effect you want to have!

 

·         Make notes & prepare yourself

 

Have a look on the internet for questions that are commonly asked during interviews. Write them down along with how you would answer them and some examples. By doing this you are less likely to have awkward silences during your interview and you won’t be searching around in your brain getting nervous trying to hunt down examples! Sure there is a chance you may not be asked the questions you have researched but you can adapt your answers to suit.

 

·         It is better to be early than late!

Allow plenty of time to get to your interview. What’s the worst that can happen? You get there early? This will just give you more time to sit in the car and look over those notes you made earlier. Or if you want to go in to the place of your interview it will show that you are keen and punctual and if you are lucky you may even be offered a tea or coffee!

 

I hope these tips have been helpful. Let me know your interview tips!

I'm All About The Base

Today’s post is all about bases! We are all on the hunt for that perfect foundation, the perfect concealer to make us look utterly flawless and cat walk worthy. Well I cannot promise you that much but here are some of my favourite products that I use to help me feel more confident with my skin.

Dr Jart Water Fuse BB Cream

For days when I simply cannot be bothered to wear a full face of makeup but do not feel confident enough to go completely bare, BB cream is my best friend. The best one I have found so far is the Water Fuse BB Cream by Dr Jart. It helps to even my skin tone and to disguise any redness that I may have. It is really easy to use and is really light which makes it perfect for summer. The added SPF 25 means it is also great for helping to protect your skin from the rays.

L’Oreal True Match Foundation

My ultimate favourite drug store foundation. I love this stuff! The colour match is perfect, I am shade Rose Ivory which is great for my pale skin but does help to give me a little bit of colour. This foundation blends really well and does a great job with covering any blemishes. I have purchased this foundation time and time again. If you have not tried it before I cannot recommend it highly enough, it is so affordable you have got nothing to lose!

Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Foundation

I have only got a sample of one at the moment but I am definitely going to be purchasing a full sized bottle when this runs out. The reason being is that it is the perfect shade for when I have used fake tan! I use the Cocoa Brown 1 hour tan and tend to leave this on for the maximum time of 3 hours. The really like the formula of this foundation, it is a bit heavier and provides a bit more coverage than the L’Oreal True Match. I tend to wear this more on a night out when I am wearing heavier makeup so this works great.

Collection Lasting Perfect Concealer

I think every woman, man and child must have this concealer so I will not rabbit on about it too much. I love the formula, the colour and the quality. Absolutely the best drug store concealer I have ever used, hands down!

Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer

If I had to pick one drug store concealer I would go for the Collection Lasting Perfect Concealer but luckily for me I do not have to choose! The Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer is a lovely product to use, you just rub the sponge under your eyes and pat the product in. it does a great job at hiding tired eyes which is perfect for mornings when you have to be up early for work.

 

What are your favourite base products?

High End Beauty Wish List #2

Hi guys so todays post is more things that I am lusting after on the higher end of the beauty scale, let me know your thoughts and if you have tried any of these products!

 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

Benefit ‘They’re Real’ Mascara

Mac ‘Ruby Woo’ Lipstick

Nars Blush ‘Desire’

YSL Rouge Volupte 13 ‘Peach Passion’

Dior Tie Dye Blush ‘Pink Sunrise’

Clinique Chubby Stick Highlight

Nars Creamy Concealer

Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede Cologne

 

What's on your wish list?

 

 



Robins & Son's Gourmet Chocolate Shop*

I love chocolate! When I am feeling down, need a pick me up or just want to treat myself chocolate always seems to do the trick.

Robins & Sons are a family run chocolatiers who specialise in hand made chocolate treats. They only use premium cocoa and ingredients that are free from artificial flavours and colours to give you a truly authentic chocolate experience.

There is something for every one, whether you’re a milk chocolate lover, dark chocolate fanatic, mad on mint or feeling fruity, Robins & Sons stock a wide range of chocolates that not only look like an artistic creation but taste delicious. It seems a shame to eat some of them as they look amazing!

Personally I am a fan of milk chocolate so the chocolate hearts that I received were Orange Crackle , Mint Crackle and Sicilian Crunch. The crackle range was where it all started for Robins & Sons, chocolate sprinkled with candy cane pieces, what’s not to love?!

What I really love about these chocolates is how natural they taste. The Orange Crackle is honestly the best orange flavoured chocolate that I have ever tasted. I think this is due to the fact that Robins & Sons use natural oils such as valencian orange oil extract. You have to taste it to believe it!

The chocolates make perfect gifts if you want to treat somebody as they are packaged beautifully but if you just want to treat yourself go ahead, I won’t judge you! The chocolate heart flavours can also be purchased in bigger bars so there is even more yumminess to enjoy!

Have your tried anything from Robins & Sons? 

*PR Sample

Affordable Prom & Ball Dresses 2015

It is that time of year when all the schools, colleges and universities are going to be having their balls and proms. It is easy to spend a small fortune on the perfect dress but here are some that I have found which you do not need to splurge on but you will still look a million dollars!

Ice Blossom Lace Bodice Maxi Dress- £45.00

F&F Signature Embellished Lace Top Dress - £50.00

F&F Floral Print Dress - £25.00

Jane Norman Pleated Bust Maxi Dress - £33.00

Jane Norman Embellished Trim Maxi Dress - £42.00

Jane Norman Lace Maxi Dress - £65.00

Apricot Teal Rose Print Skater Dress - £34.00

Apricot Pink Daisy Structured Dress - £32.00

Apricot Navy Sweet Heart Neck Midi Dress- £32.00

Which dress is your favourite?

Mini Boots Haul

Recently Boots ran a promotion where if you spent over £50 you got triple Boots points. There were a couple of bits and pieces that I wanted to buy anyway so this seemed a good a time as any!

The first thing I picked up was a face scrub. This one is the Clean & Clear Morning Energy Facial Scrub. I have not used this yet but it smells really lovely and refreshing. Perfect for when I am feeling not so awake in the mornings!

Next is a Venus razor. So usually I am super organised especially when I pack for a night away. For some reason I have been really scatty lately and seem to be forgetting things, I think it is a sign that I need a holiday! Anyway, back to the point. I left my razor at a hotel we stayed at over the bank holiday so I needed to pick up a replacement. I have used Venus razors for years and the style with the moisture bars really help my legs as I suffer with eczema and dryness.

Now on to an absolute bargain. You may have read my recent post on the Origins Ginzing eye cream and moisturiser as I received some minis in a gift set over Christmas. I had to buy the full sizes as I love them so much! So I had 2 choices with the moisturiser, I could buy 50ml for £23 or get the special edition 75ml for £25, I had to get the 75ml! It seemed crazy not to spend an extra £2 to get 25ml more product!

With the Origins products I also got a sample of their new Original Skin Renewal Serum. I really like using serums so will definitely be giving this a go.

What beauty products have you picked up recently?

Bobbi Brown Luxe Eye Palette

This is the first product that I have ever owned from Bobbi Brown, you think I’m crazy right? But it is even crazier as to how I came about owning this palette. It was gifted to me by somebody who didn’t use it so didn’t want it, madness!

The Bobbi Brown Luxe Eye Palette comes with 6 eye shadows shades: Cream, Pink Opal, Oyster Grey, Pink Pearl, Pink Lilac and Espresso. They are all fairly neutral as this was released as part of Bobbi Brown’s Bridal Collection.

Unfortunately I am not due to be a bride anytime soon *sighs* but it does not mean I cannot enjoy wearing this palette. The shades are all very light and easy to wear. It is hard to see in the pictures but they are all fairly bright and illuminating, especially the shimmer shades. I can see why this is in the Bridal Collection, any bride would look glowing wearing these colours.

For my own personal preference I have found that I need to build the colour quite a lot in order to get a good pay off but if you want something very natural and barely there then a sweep of one of these shades does work really well.

I really like all of the shades in this palette and I think that it would be a great palette to take away with you on a summer holiday perhaps for something light to wear in the evenings. The one colour that I think I would change would be ‘Espresso’ which is the dark brown. It is almost black and I do not think it goes overly well with the other shades, I would have preferred more of a taupe shade of brown.

What would you recommend trying from Bobbi Brown?

Twitter Giveaway Win From Halo Wipes

Picture the scene, a typical Monday back at work after the weekend, it is lovely and dreary outside and all in all a bit rubbish. However luck must have been on my side this week as I won a Twitter giveaway from Halo Wipes. I was not sure what exactly I had won all I knew was that is was a Halo goodie bag.

I was literally amazed when the very next day my goodie bag arrived in the post. So inside the package was a little drawstring bag, these are always handy! Then onto the main goodies….a packet of each of the wipes from the Halo range!

I am so excited to try these, there are wipes for everything you might need and they are in handy packets making them perfect to stick in your handbag or for travel.

The range includes: hand wipes, facial wipes, deodorant wipes, eye makeup remover pads, moistened toilet tissue and anti-bacterial multi-surface wipes.

Expect reviews on them soon!

Thank you Halo!

Pandora Bracelet & Wish List

My Pandora charm bracelet was given to me by my other half and he has bought all of the charms as well, I am a lucky girl!

 

What I really like about Pandora bracelets is that they are personal to you. Each of the charms on my bracelet was chosen for a reason and there is a meaning behind each one. That’s why I think these bracelets are so special.

There are so many charms, clips and spacers to choose from to make each piece truly unique.  With so many styles to chose from as well I think it is fair to say that you are bound to find a style to suit almost every one.

I have got my eye on a few other charms which I would love to add to my collection, so if the other half sees this…hint hint!

Pink Fluttering Butterflies Charm £45.00

Teapot Charm £40.00

Sparkling Star Fish Charm £40.00

 

Fluttering Butterflies Charm £55.00

 

Do you have a Pandora bracelet? Which charms are your favourite?

Quick & Easy: 1 Minute Microwave Cookie Pot

So the other night I had a night in on my own so I was having a bit of a pamper night and I really fancied come cookie dough ice cream. It was a craving I couldn’t shift but I just couldn’t face going to the shops.

So I scoured the internet to find something that I could make at home. I found loads of recipes for microwave cookie pots so adapted them to suit what I had at my disposal. It was so easy to make and so so yummy, I will definitely make it again!

You will need

·         A mug or ramekin – This one I kept after I had a Gu Pudding!

 

·         1 tablespoon butter

 

·         1 tablespoon white sugar

 

·         1 tablespoon soft brown sugar

 

·         Half teaspoon vanilla extract

 

·         Pinch of salt

 

·         Egg yolk

 

·         3 tablespoons flour

 

·         Milk chocolate chips – I did not measure these out, go with what you fancy!

 

How to make this delicious treat

·         Pop the butter in your pot/mug and microwave until it has melted. I have an 800w microwave and this only took 15-20 secs. You do not want your butter to burn!

 

·         Mix the sugars, vanilla and salt into the melted butter.

 

·         Once combined add the egg yolk. Mix.

 

·         When the egg yolk is all stirred in add the flour and mix to create yummy cookie dough.

 

·         Chuck in your chocolate chips and fold.

 

·         Microwave for around 50 seconds. This really doesn’t take long at all so I would microwave for 40 seconds first and if you want a little but more just pop back in for another 10 seconds. Do not let your cookie burn now people!!

 

All that’s left to do now is add any toppings if you wish, and eat!  Yum yum in my tum.

 

Let me know if you give this a go!

Pamper Evening Essentials

There are some days when all you want is to get home, relax and have a bit of ‘Me Time’.  With the stresses of work, uni, school or whatever life throws at you it can be easy to get wrapped up in it all and we often forget that we need time just to chill out and unwind. 

 For the ultimate relaxing evening there are several things that I need. First things first to relax both my body and my mind I like to take a lovely, hot bath. Whilst my bath is running I like to do a bit of prep. The hair goes up, the sexy headband goes on and I slap on a good old face mask. Recently I have been using the Origins Clear Improvement Mask.

I really like this one as you can feel it working. The mask works to draw out any yucky stuff from your pores and I can definitely see an improvement after using it.

So with the bath running I need to add a little something to add with the relaxation. And for that I use the Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil.

 

. This stuff is amazing! It contains camomile and sandalwood to really help you relax and get a good nights sleep. The scent lingers on your skin so when you get into bed you drift off in no time. It is a tad expensive but you honestly only need to use the tiniest amount in each bath so it does last a long time. I also really like the Twilight bath bomb from Lush, this one have lavender in so it really does make you sleepy and helps to clear your mind of stresses .

Whilst I am in the bath I love listening to music. Something calm and lovely. Recently I have really been loving Sam Smith’s album, he has got such a gorgeous bath time voice!

Now on to something a little bit naughty…..chocolate! I will either have some chocolate whilst I am in the bath or save it until I am out and nice and snug in my pyjamas. The one I have shown here is from the Dairy Milk Marvellous Creations range. It has jelly beans and popping candy in and at first I though ‘Oh no’, but it is actually amazingly delicious!

So to finish my pamper evening I will get out of the bath, cover myself in body butter, put on my snuggliest pyjamas and some soft cosy socks.  It is making me sleepy just thinking about it!

What are your Pamper Evening Essentials?

Skater Style

I love dresses and I also love my good old comfy shoes, so I am a fan of skater dresses as they go with just about everything! I love that they can be worn casually during the day or dressed up at night. I have put together a couple of outfits with the skater style in mind. Let me know what you think!

River Island Floral Skater Dress - £65.00

Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac - £130.71

Glitter Converse - £50.00

Miss Selfridge Nude Bardot Skater Dress - £15.00

New Look Bag - £34.99

White Lace Toms - £42.00

River Island White Lace Tank Top - £28.00

Top Shop Black Skort - £35.00

Michael Kors Jet Set Cross Body Bag - £130.00

Gold Converse - £47.00

 

Which of these outfits is your favourite?

5 Simple Ways To Save On Your Monthly Bills

Last week I wrote a post all about saving money for something special whether that be for a house, a holiday or whatever else tickles your fancy. You can read that post here. For myself personally my special purchase was my first home and now that I am in my home I am still trying to save money where I can. So here are 5 tips that I have learnt to help cut back on monthly bills:

1.       Meal Plan! – I cannot stress this one enough! I sit and plan what we are going to have each night and make a list of things that I know we are going to need. This list is gospel and I try and stick to it every week, if it’s not on the list it aint going in the trolley! I do pick up treats here and there but keeping to this list helps me to keep within our budget and I can keep on track of what I spend.

 

2.       Consider a water meter – We live in a 3 bed house and as such the council automatically put us on a water tariff which takes this in to account. Since there are only 2 of us in the house we had a water meter fitted and it has literally saved us hundreds of pounds a year. On this note here is one quick and easy tip which I remember being told in my first ever secondary school assembly: When you are brushing your teeth turn off the tap! It’s a golden rule which has stuck in my mind!

 

3.       When you leave a room, switch off those lights! – I try and make a habit of this. There is no point leaving a light on for the invisible man or the monster under your bed. I also switch the telly off when no one is watching it, the other half used to leave it on when we were eating dinner in another room and it would drive me mad, even leaving the TV on for half an hour a day extra soon adds up!

 

4.       Try the next brand down – I saw this tip on the Martin Lewis Show. If you normally buy Mcvities try the next brand down of Tesco’s own or even be brave and try the value range. Swapping a couple of things in your weekly shop can soon see you making big savings. And who knows you might even find something that you prefer. Personally I do most of my shopping at Aldi and I have found some great products which give the big brands a run for their money!

 

5.       If you want something cheaper just ask! – Ok so this one is simple in theory but I know some people do not like doing it but I have made some great savings with things such as insurances. We had breakdown cover with one company and found that another company were offering the same in terms of service but they were considerably cheaper, almost by £100! We told our breakdown company and they lowered the price to match. It is always worth asking, the worst they can say is no!

What are your tips for saving on your monthly bills?

Champagne Kisses*

I always like to keep a selection of lip balms. I keep one each of my bags, one my night stand and at least one on my vanity table. I like to always have one in easy reach!

Working in an office for my own a lot of the time means that most of time in the mornings I like to keep my makeup nice and simple. This is where a good lip balm comes in to play.

Recently I have been using this Pink Champagne lip balm* from Presents For Men ,who offer a range of unusual gifts for men and women, and have been loving it!

This is a 98% natural lip balm containing shea butter, cocoa butter balm, coconut oil, sweet almond oil and vitamin E. Sounds good right?! It is so moisturising and hydrating and it really does help to keep your lips looking and feeling kissably soft leaving a lovely sheen.

I’m a girl who does like a glass of champagne and pink champagne is even better but I would describe this as having more of a bubble gum or tutti fruity scent, it is still lovely and it has intrigued me as to what the Gin and Tonic lip balm in the range smells like! I wonder if it comes with the added lemon slice!

What I also love about this lip balm is that the packaging is so cute! It would make a perfect gift added to a pamper hamper. If I opened this I would be more than pleased as it looks like the perfect pink princess lip balm, us girls need to be treated like VIP’s!

Presents For Men sell so many quirky gifts for both men and women so if you want something a bit different or are struggling to find a present for that person who has everything you are bound to find something from their broad catalogue! I have to say I am particularly fond of the pug doorstop!

What are your favourite pieces from Presents for Men?

*PR Sample