It's Been A While...

Hey lovely people!

Oh how I've missed writing to you all. I'm so sorry I've not posted, but I have been ill... and I have quite literally not been able to lift my head off my pillow, never mind use a computer. But I am back to full health, ready and raring to go with some fresh new blog posts... as well as catching up on my Instagram Photo-A-Day Challenge! 

So to ease me back into it, I have decided to do the Lip Product Addict Tag. I watched Amelia Liana & Essie Button's collab video on youtube and just thought it was the perfect tag for me, seen as I am a self-confessed Lip Product Addict. 

Enough of the jibber jabber and onto the tag:

1. Favourite balm/ treatment?

I'm a girl with simple taste, and you don't get more simple and brilliant than Vaseline. I love the plain old original you get in those enormous tubs and I love the dainty little tins, with rose or aloe vera. They are brilliant little budget products that do a great job for me. 

2. Best eye-catching red?

This is my absolute fave red lipstick. I wore it on my Wedding Day and it cost £1. It was a random purchase when I was in Superdrug one day... and it is still my absolute favourite. It's an MUA lisptick in shade 13. I have gone through several (as you would imagine with a cheaper product) and it never disappoints. Is it cheap? Yes! Does it have good staying power? Well... certainly not as much as a luxury brand. How's the pigment? Amazeballs!!! Need I say more???

3. Best luxury & best drugstore?

Ok so aside from the above lippy I was talking about, my other favourite "Drugstore" product is from Bourjois. It is their new Shine Edition Lipsticks in the shade Beige Demographic. It's a super shimmery lipstick with lip balm qualities so your lips feel really plump and nourished when you're wearing it. I love it. 

As far as luxury goes I don't really know if this would qualify as luxury, although it certainly feels luxurious on my lips. It's Liz Earle's Sheer Lip Gloss in the shade Guava 02. It's really a beautiful product that glides on your lips and doesn't have that horrible tacky sensation. It's pretty and long lasting and feels just lovely when you're wearing it.

4. Best MAC lipstick?

Ok, so I don't actually own any MAC products whatsoever and this is due to the fact that they haven't confirmed that they don't test their products on animals. They are owned by Estée Lauder, who DO test on animals, therefore I do not, and I will not ever buy a MAC product. 

5. The most disappointing?

Mmmm... this is a hard one. I can't say I've been disappointed by many lip products, except maybe some tacky lip glosses I happen to have collected over the last few years. I love the look they give... but I hate the feeling they leave on my lips! :(

6. Liner, yes or no?

Yes! Not only does it make your lips look better when you apply your lipstick... but if you apply your liner all over your lips, it acts as a sort of primer and means your lip colour lasts longer! It's a win win!!! :)

7. Best gloss?

Has to be the Liz Earle one I mentioned above! 

8. Something extra?

I decided to use this last question to mention my most lusted after lip product. It is (of course) the beautiful Classic Cream Lipstick in the shade Red 620 from Dolce & Gabbana. I have been in love with this lipstick since seeing it for the 1st time in Vogue a few months ago. It is everything I would want in a lipstick and more. I can't describe how much I want it! I just hope my hubby keeps that in mind when my birthday comes round next week. :)

So that was fun lovelies. :) I hope you enjoyed reading my ramblings. Again I am super sorry for my disappearing act and I vow to try my hardest to keep up with my blogging.

Take care lovelies. x

A Nail Polish Overload!

Hey lovely people!

Today I thought I would share my recent nail polish purchases with you all. If you're anything like me, then you will understand the serious problem I have, with not being able to walk past a beauty counter without picking up at least 1 new polish. I am also not one for being fussed with named brands and prices etc... if I have tried it before or heard good things then I will be happy to buy it, regardless of whether its £1 or £10, so you should expect this from all the products I purchase. 

Anyway, here are a few snaps from each of the collections I've bought, with a little bit about how I've found them.

These lovely little pots of gorgeousness were bought from Watt Brothers and they were £0.69 each. Despite this ridiculously low price tag, they produce beautiful colours, with an exceptionally impressive formula, that goes on super smooth and leaves a lovely glossy finish. I have so far tried the grey (middle) and the pastel yellow. Both are just gorgeous, fresh spring colours. They made my nails look so strong and healthy and the W7 range are by far, my favourite polishes at the moment.

These are also available at Watt Brothers, and come in a pack of 3 with a nail art pen at a cost of £2.99 for the pack. They are sooo cute and dainty... just a third the size of the standard bottles above. Obviously with them pot being so small, the brush is also decreased in size which makes applying to the entire nail quite difficult. However, given that this little package comes with a nail pen, the purpose of them is that they are used primarily for that function, and not for painting the entire nail, therefore they do that job quite well indeed.

These little beauties were purchased as part of the recent 6 for £20 Models Own promotion. Due to having always had longish nails and never really wanting to part with the cash at the salon, I was curious if these bad boys would at least produce the lovely shine and durability of the "Gel" nail. They didn't disappoint. I've tried the Red, Nude & Turquoise shade so far and I love them. They last for days and days without even a sign of a crack or chip. However, much like the real "Gel" nail polish at the salon, they are horrendously difficult to get off... even after using an immense amount of O.P.I Polish Remover. I don't suppose that's a bad thing though, and only goes to prove how durable this formula actually is. 

Finally, I was drawn to these colours in my local pharmacy. It cost £2.99 for the entire pack of 6 which in itself is a great little bargain. However, it was actually the range of colours and vibrancy of them that made me pick them up. As expected, you do have to put at least 2... even 3 coats on before you see the same results as those in the pots. However, they are gorgeous, summery colours and just looking at them brings a smile to my face. So far, I have tried the mustard yellow (far left) and the lime green (2nd in from the right). They are both gorgeous on and will be ideal for all the summer BBQ's coming up in the next few months.

So there you have it lovely people. Sorry If I went on a bit about them, but I'm just really loving my nail polishes at the minute. My shelves are filled with all different brands and colours, ranging from the more expensive like O.P.I and Nails Inc. to fantastic little bargains like my W7 polishes. I just wanted to prove that you don't have to spend a fortune to find a great nail polish. The proof is shown above.

Take care lovelies. x

Liebster Award

Hey lovely people!

So yes I know I said that I wouldn't be back until tomorrow, but then I noticed that the truly lovely Vicki from Not The Pretty Girl had nominated me for the following award. 

To say I'm cheesied is an absolute understatement. It has quite literally made my day so much lovelier... so thank you so much lovely lady. 

So here are the technical details: (and the bit to copy onto your own post)

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A Liebster Award is an online award for those bloggers who have less than 200 followers (I used Bloglovin). It's passed on from blogger to blogger to show their appreciation and interest in your blog. 

The rules for the award are:

1. Acknowledge the blogger who nominated you and display the award logo.
2. Answer the 11 questions that the blogger gives you.
3. Give 11 random facts about yourself. 
4. Nominate 5-11 blogs that you think deserve the award and have less than 200 followers. 
5. Let the blogger know you are nominating them.
6. Give them 11 questions to answers.

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So here are the 11 questions that the lovely Vicki asked me:

1. What made you start your blog?

I initially started my blog as a Photography blog, where I could share the technical details and stories surrounding my photographs - but after reading so many other Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle blogs, as well as getting really into Youtube, I decided that I would incorporate my whole life into it, as opposed to just my work... and I love it!!!

2. If you could choose a part of the world to live in, where would it be?

This is an easy one - NEW YORK!!! I've never been, but it has always been a dream of mine.

3. Do you still own any of your childhood toys? If yes, what is it?

I don't still own any of my childhood toys, but I do still have a lot of my childhood books. I just can't seem to let them go, and being a bit OCD with stuff like books, CD's and DVD's I don't really like ever throwing them out. 

4. What would your dream job be?

I'd love to be a majorly successful photographer, like Annie Leibovitz or Patrick Demarchelier - working in the fashion industry, and in major fashion magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair!

5. What's your worst nightmare?

This is going to sound sick and morbid, but my biggest nightmare is that my husband dies before me. Selfish... probably... but I just know that If I ever lost him, my life wouldn't be worth living and I wouldn't be able to cope... So I hope I never have to. 

6. Favourite animal and why?

Dogs. And specifically my dogs. I have 2 Labrador's, Oscar and Bonnie and they are quite literally my babies. 

7. Favourite musical?

This is also easy... Hello Dolly!!! :) Who doesn't love Barbara Streisand and it's directed by Gene Kelly... I mean what isn't there to love about that movie?!?!

8. Do you believe in love at first sight?

Yes. I am a big believer in love itself... and I genuinely believe that you can know instantly if a person is worthy of your love from the instant you meet them. That's exactly how I met my husband... and 13 years later, I love him even more than I could ever imagine was possible. 

9. Famous person you would love to meet?

This is going to sound really sad to a lot of people... but I would love to meet and pick the brain of Aaron Sorkin. He is the brains behind the TV programme "The West Wing", and "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip". These are my 2 favourite TV shows of alllllllllll time... and I have watched them over and over again to the point where I could quite literally play a part in them. He is a genius and I would love to be able to sit down with him. 

10. Favourite song right now?

I love "Imagine Dragons" new song "Demons" right now. I could listen to it all day. It's one of those songs that makes the hairs on your arm stand tall. 

11. What's your summer must have?

A good pair of sunnies (ray bans aviators are my current choice) along with some pastel and neon (yes I love both) nail colours. 

Here are the 11 random facts about me:

1. I am married to my high-school sweetheart!
2. I love... and collect fashion magazines!
3. I always have to have the volume on the TV or Radio at an even number!
4. I overuse exclamation marks in my texts and blog posts!!!
5. My favourite flower is a carnation!
6. I believe that the only way to listen to music is very LOUDLY!
7. I cannot watch horror movies... Or I will never sleep again for the rest of my life!
8. I am an insomniac. 
9. I cry... maybe... 5 or 6 times every day!
10. I have a very addictive personality - i.e shopping, gambling & internet is all done in excess!!!
11. I chose to be a photographer for the joy of taking photographs... NOT the earning potential!

So here are my Liebster award nominations: (which I have based on Bloglovin followers)

Deanna over at Tesori Belle

Harriet over at Makeup and Meringues

Scarlet over at Anxiously Bold

Clare over at Bee Happy & Healthy

Karen over at A Stitch To Wear

All of these ladies, have the most beautiful and inspirational blogs, with gorgeous photographs and loads of helpful hints and tips about makeup, fashion and life! 

Here are the questions I put to you, the award nominees:

1. What is your favourite part of blogging?
2. Who inspires you? 
3. What is the most exciting thing you have ever experienced?
4. What was the last book you read?
5. Are you an optimist or a pessimist... or somewhere in between?
6. What is the best life lesson you have ever learned/ been taught?
7. What piece of advice would you give to a newbie blogger?
8. Do you have any regrets?
9. Which 5 people would you invite to your celebrity dinner party and why? (Dead or alive)
10. What's your ultimate summer anthem?
11. Name each of your fave Hair, skin, makeup, nails & fashion items?

There you have it then lovely people. Thank you, thank you, thank you lovely Vicki for my nomination... you are a sweetheart and I love this award. :)

Take care lovelies. x

Snap Happy Tuesday - Some Recent Purchases

Hey there lovely people!

So it's Tuesday... and even though Wednesday gets a bad rep for being the worst day of the week (or hump day as they call it) I really really hate Tuesdays. They are rubbish, pointless days that make getting to the weekend even harder. However... this Tuesday is a great one... because I'm getting some new Models Own Nail Polishes delivered!!!

So in the spirit of new purchases, I thought I would share some photos of some of my new makeup, and the area in my bedroom where I keep it all. Not that images themselves are particularly technical, but the contents of them are truly beautiful (at least to me). Haha!

So anyway... here goes:

That was some of my new makeup purchases from Make-up Revolution, a new site I discovered through a fellow blogger. I am yet to give any of them a proper try yet, but will definitely report back with my findings. 

The rest of the images are just a few random shots of my make-up station. It's certainly nothing special but it is my own little piece of heaven, where I sit everyday to do my skincare routine, apply my makeup and style my hair. Sometimes, I sit there and don't do any of those things... I just admire all of its loveliness. :)

It really is quite a beautiful thing... A sad, and often expensive thing... but beautiful none the less. Hope you all enjoyed this version of Snap Happy Tuesday! :)

Take care lovelies. x

April Photo Challenge - Day 7 - "...Metallic..."

Hey my lovelies!

I just wanted to share my April Photo Challenge submission for today. The theme, as shown above, is Metallic. This was a hard one for me, as I generally don't own a lot of metal jewellery or metallic products in general, so I had to rake through all of my makeup & jewellery collection and came up with the following image...

Ok so from right to left you can see my eyelash curler, tweezers, a Sally Hansen HD Metallic nail polish, my little metal compact mirror, my MUA Lipstick & my Benefit Concealer, Blending & Angle brushes, as well as a little metallic & crystal bracelet draped over my LOVE bookend.

Hope you all like it! :D I'll be back tomorrow with another "Snap Happy" post, as well as tomorrows photo challenge post which concerns all things "Spots & Dots"!!!

Take care lovelies. x

Style Inspiration - Spring Parties & Events

Hey lovely people!

So instead of doing my usual Monday wishlist post I decided to talk a bit about how to get ready for events & nights out during Spring. This is something that I've recently been giving a lot of thought to as I have a relatively big family and with that comes family events. So, I've been doing my research and trying to figure out what I'm going to wear, how I'm going to style my hair, and what kind of look I want to go for with my makeup. On that note, I thought I would share a few of my style options with you.

So I loved the idea of having an earthy, nude base to the whole look, topping it off with a gorgeous pastel mint pop of colour. I love the slight hint of colour in the eyeshadow and the nude lips are perfect for this type of look. It just screams fresh spring style to me and is definitely the kind of look that would be perfect for a afternoon event.

I think this kind of look is perfect for transitioning from day to night. The bright pops of fuchsia & baby pink provide a great, fun daytime look along with the accompaniment of black in the rest of the dress and in the shoes & bag, it means it's a look that can easily transform from laid-back casual garden party to disco dancing the night away. Forgive me for including the Chanel bag... I couldn't resist it's beauty and it literally had a magnetic pull! :) Obviously I would have to settle for a dupe... or sweet talk my hubby... Lol! But you get my point. 

So that's my 2 easy breezy looks covering day to night of Spring parties and events! Super pretty... really easy... and totally Spring inspired! :)

Take care lovelies. x

Spring Make-Up Tag

Hey there lovely people, 

So I didn't post yesterday as it ended up being a super busy day spent with my niece and nephew, so today I bring to you another Tag and this time it's all about Spring Make-Up... my new favourite topic. So without further ado, here is the tag.

1. Do you change up your makeup when Spring arrives? If so, please explain how?
As I've explained in previous posts, until recently I was very much in the dark about most make-up trends. However, I was always very conscious about keeping my makeup quite light and fresh in the warmer months, and experimented a bit more with deeper, darker colours in the colder, winter months and this continues to be the case.

2. What’s your fave Spring fragrance?
This is an absolute no brainer, it's my favourite fragrance for every season of the year - Just Pink from Next. 

3. What’s going to be your fave accessory this Spring?
I'm super into necklaces & chains again - exploring old costume jewellery I had locked away and forgotten about. So I think a few more purchases might be in order as like earrings, it really does add a little something more to your outfit. As well as that I'm thinking about finally investing in a pair of Ray-Bans. 

4. What’s going to be your most worn item of clothing this Spring?
Mmmm... Probably anything Coral! I'm absolutely loving that colour right now so yeah, probably that. 

5. What are your Top 3 fave Spring nail polishes?
Ok, so I have a Coral shade (did I mention that I like coral) from Sinful Colors which I adore, but I'm also loving the shade Hip Hop from Rimmel and Brompton Place from Nails Inc. They are all super bright and cheerful colours.

6. Do you prefer pumps or sandals in Spring?
Pumps definitely - Scotland is not really warm enough in the Spring to wear sandals. 

7. What's your fave lipstick colour for Spring?
Well red is always my fave and I think it's quite an easy colour to wear in all seasons... but I am loving peachy shades right now too.

8.  Are you a fake tanner or do you prefer the natural sunkissed look?
I am completely hopeless at applying fake tan... not to mention I have quite pigmented skin, so it doesn't go on well anyway... So the natural sunkissed look is the one for me!

9. What is your favourite drugstore and high end Spring inspired piece of makeup?
Fave drugstore make-up at the minute is the MUA lipsticks... they are like £1 and there are loads of beautiful fresh spring colours to choose from, including the Peachy Keen Matte Lipstick I was referring to before. My fave high end piece would have to be my Bare Minerals Powder - It's feels super nice and light on the skin and gives me a fresh and healthy complexion. I love it!

10. What's your fave Spring colour this season & do you have your eye on any specific clothing pieces?
So as I said earlier and several times in previous posts, I love coral this spring! It's just such a beautiful and vibrant colour without being too in your face. I love how even somebody like me, with very pale skin, suits it. Whether it's on my nails or a piece of clothing... It is the ultimate spring colour for me! 

Ok so there's my Spring Make-Up Tag for all you lovely people... why don't you get involved and do your own.

Take care lovelies. x

Monday Wish List - True Blue Inspiration - Part 2

Hey lovely people!

Well I just couldn't resist adding another few items to my Wish List and I thought that because there were still blue pieces included, that I would just share them with you and include them as part of today's post.

So this is another Yours Clothing selection, again for Spring... but with a little edginess. 

Black Biker Boot With Double Buckle And Zip - £38

Black Biker Jacket With Zip Details - £50

Black Ponte PU Panel Stretch Full Length Legging - £18

Blue Dobby Military Style Blouse With Dipped Hem - £23

Black Leather Look Studded Shopper Bag - £16

Black Sunglasses With Silver Rhinestone Detail - £4

I absolutely love this edgy look this season - with that bright pop of colour from the blue shirt.It's just such a fashionable look, especially with all the buckles and studs - it just adds a little extra something to the look. I also think that £50 for a Biker Jacket is super reasonable considering some other stores are often asking for double that amount, despite not offering even half of the sizes available at Yours Clothing. 

The following selection can be found at SimplyBe.

Elizabeth Arden Rectangular Sunglasses - £94

Black Jet Set Earrings - £12

Juno Duffle Bag - £65

Biker Jacket - £60

Daniel Sofy Boot - £104

Denim Babydoll Dress - £30

Ok, so I know that a lot of these items are super expensive (i.e. the sunglasses and the boots) but I just couldn't keep them to myself! I love them. The sunglasses reminded me of the original Ray ban Wayfarers, but are slightly more rectangular and have that funky detail on the side. And those boots... I mean really!!! Distressed leather is something I'm super into and I just adored the strap and buckle detail! Again though, I've found a biker jacket that's a great price and looks fab and adding this to the adorable denim dress is just a match made in heaven! 

So I'm done for the day with my Wish List clothing pieces... I think! I hope you liked them and will give these 2 great sites a visit. They really do offer fantastic clothing at really affordable prices and you can really bag yourself a fantastic outfit for a bargain price... that is if you stay away from the designer boots and sunglasses! :-)

Anyway, have a lovely day whatever it is that you might be doing.

Take care lovelies. x

Monday Wish List - True Blue Inspiration

Hey there lovely people!

Well it's time for my Monday wish list and this week I'm showcasing choices from both Yours Clothing and Simply Be - 2 of my favourite places to visit for plus-sized clothing.

The colour I'm feeling this week is blue... and all the different shades of blue for that matter. This has been inspired by the amazing sight of the bright blue skies we've had this week, what with it being the start of Spring and all. However, I've not went overboard with the skimpy clothing - it is after all still freezing most days, so I've included a few Spring jacket options, perfect for those days where the sun is shining but there's still a nip in the air. So anyway, let's just get on with it.

The first selection comes straight from Yours Clothing.

1. Blue marl sleeveless jersey top - £9
2. Mid Blue Basic Crop Jeans - £18
3. Navy Blue Lightweight Cotton Parka Jacket With Hood - £39
4. Navy Blue Canvas Trainers With Laces - £16
5. Black Sunglasses With Silver Snake Trim - £6

I love these items because they are very appropriate for a Scottish Springtime. The cropped jeans give enough coverage and are thick enough that if it's cold they provide enough heat, but if it's warm you have the turn-ups that give your legs a bit of a breather. The blue tones in each of the items are quite muted and therefore would be appropriate for all kinds of weather, whereas my selection below, from Simply Be, is much more bright and vibrant and just kinda screams SUNSHINE!!!

This selection comes straight to you from SimplyBe.

1. Boyfriend T-Shirts (2 pack) - £24
2. Cara Boyfriend Jeans - £40
3. Parka Jacket - £40
4. Sole Diva Lace Up Pump - £22
5. Fiorelli Classic Cat's Eye Sunglasses - £61

Similarly, Simply Be offer a great spring line, all be it at a slightly higher cost than Yours Clothing. I particularly love the pop of colour from this blue parka, which can I just add would be a perfect addition to any festival goers suitcase this year!

Anyway lovely people, be sure to give these great sites a visit. There's an abundance of choice at amazing prices and I promise you will get lost in amongst the offerings.

I'll be back with another Wish List post next Monday and I hope you enjoyed this one.

Take care lovelies. x

Home Design Inspiration

Hey my lovelies!

Happy hump day to you all. Hope it's not too much of a hard week for you so far.

Today I am talking about my ridiculously outrageous need to re-decorate my home all the time! With that being said - I am more often than not an all talk & no action type of person, as my decorative desires are often outweighed by the lack of funding I have to fulfil them. This however fails to stop me in my endeavours and I still spend hours researching designs and creating decor mood boards.

So... on that note, I thought I would share one of my recent creations and inspirations for my livingroom which I currently plan (a term I use loosely) on redecorating:

Ok so first let me explain the colour inspiration. 

I'm a bit of a nut for New York - despite never having had the opportunity to visit the place. I think it stemmed from my love of the tv show Friends (despite later learning that the show was in fact filmed in LA). I instantly loved everything about it. The culture, the people, the yellow cabs, the buildings as tall as the eye can see. I loved everything about it. I love the idea that the city never sleeps - that you can get Chinese take-out food at 4am. That you can walk past grates shooting steam 6ft into the air. I loved everything. So it should be no surprise to you that I have hung pictures and artistic portrayals of NYC on my livingroom walls for years. However, I recently discovered a tremendous little website called I Love Wallpaper that is dedicated to providing its customers with the most artistic and diverse array of wallpapers you can imagine.

I scrolled through pages and pages of wonderfully different wallpaper & initially had my heart set on a brick wall effect, but instead I found a black & white collage of NYC with only the colour of the yellow cabs being showcased, and I fell in love! So I had found my colour palette... Shades of grey & yellow. 

Then I began looking at flooring. I knew I wanted Laminate not only because I wanted a change from always having had a carpet in my livingroom, but because I have 2 very mucky dogs who love nothing more than dragging dirt all through the house. Therefore it was an aesthetic and practical choice. 

My initial thoughts on flooring was a dark wood - something quite brown that would go with the yellow pops of colour, but I came across an oak coloured laminate that was quite worn and dishevelled looking that I thought would be perfect. This again was found on a fab website called Floors Direct which offers an abundance of flooring options for those looking for wooden options. 

So I have my wallpaper & I have my floor - so there's nothing left to do but accessorize with home furnishings and textiles! Which for me is the most fun part of it all, exploring online stores like Ikea, The Range, Achica and World Stores.

So that's my livingroom design inspiration.I hope my rambling wasn't too boring and perhaps you were inspired to create your own mood boards for future decorating plans. 

Take care my lovelies. x