Useful Things I buy when I am supposed to be picking up a toothbrush in Boots

Too often I find myself making empty promises that I will go into Boots and only pick up what I need, almost every time I leave with 5 or 6 things I didn't know I needed and not what I initially went in for. 

During these splurges I have come across some great products that are not only great products but also budget friendly and I thought I would share these with you.

Essie is definitely up there in my favourite nail polish brand, and when it began stocking in Boots at a discount price myself and thousands of other beauty lovers rejoiced! On the most recent occasion I visited Essie polishes were on 3 for 2 so I picked up three different colours. Mint Candy Apple, Ballet Slippers & A Splash of Grenadine, they are all beautiful shades, which apply smoothly and evenly and the pigmentation is also really good. Individually the polishes are £7.99 each but I got 3 for £15.98 which is such an amazing bargain. Make sure you look out for the 3 for 2 deals because you can really rack up points as well as saving a lot on different beauty products. 

I'm not the sort of girl who often wears fake eye lashes, on my eyes they tend to look really fake and brash so I usually just apply lots of layers of mascara. Recently though I have been reaching for the gorgeous Ardel Demi Wispies lashes for special occasions. They are beautiful and natural looking strip lashes that blend into your natural lashes perfectly and really give you that lift and bit of drama you want for a night out. Ardel do a fantastic line of fake lashes for any occasion and they are my number 1 choice for strip lashes, you can pick up a set in Boots for just £5.49 which is a such a great price.

I also love the Eylure Individual combination set which I use to great a bit definition in my lashes. You can apply as little or as many lashes as you want and they look so beautiful and natural. Application just takes a little bit of practice, but the result is completely worth it. You can also pick these lashes up at Boots for £5.29 and usually you can get 3 or 4 uses from each pack.

I usually paint my nails at least twice a week as my polish constantly chips no matter what top coat I try, so I am also constantly removing polish which can be a complete pain. I have what some might say is irrational but I think is completely ration fear of cotton wool, I hate the feeling of it, so removing polish is a bit of an ordeal for me. Recently while browsing the Bourjois stand I noticed their 1 second nail polish removal pot. I picked it up without hesitation, it only cost £4.99 so I thought I may as well try it out. Let me tell you it is one of the best fivers I have ever spent, and I am sure I'll continue to spend it for some time. It takes your polish off in seconds, it is such a quick and easy solution for me and I couldn't recommend it anymore.

The last thing I picked up was a bit of an impulse purchase as I was waiting in the long lunch time crazy que. It caught my eye as it was reduced from £11.99 to £7.99 and was part of the LOreal Skin Perfection line which I already love. I really love this product, on down days I will use it as a base to even out my skin tone and blur any lines. It's also a great priming moisturiser and has SPF20 within it, its enriched within Vitamins E and B5 which ensures great hydration throughout the day. If you need a little skin pick me up this is definitely a great choice! 

ATM #7

Date: 20/11/2014

Time: 13:00 PM

Location: University Library doing my best to procrastinate.

Fashion Pick: Black heeled chelsea boots from New Look.

Beauty Pick: Anastasia Brow Wiz in Soft Brunette

Music Pick: George Ezra, Taylor Swift & Ed Sheeran's new albums on REPEAT!

TV Show: Can't get enough of Scandal and Geordie Shore just now.

Book: I read the Man Repeller by Leandra Medine. Life Changing. Review to follow.

Food: Greek Yoghurt for Breakfast.

Drink: Twinings double mint tea.

 FaveBlog: http://www.manrepeller.com 

I read the amazing and inspiring Leandra Medine's memoir/self help book/comedy journal and fell in love. I was simultaneously inspired, obsessed and amused by Leandra from the first paragraph on the first page. Her story telling skills are top notch and her unapologetic honesty is what makes the entire book. If you are a twenty something, fashion obsessed, blogging enthusiast or just a female its a must-read!

Fave YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/WhatIHeartToday

I feel like I might have featured the lovely Lily's blog on my ATM before but this month for me it has been all about her youtube channel. The thing about Lily is you actually trust her recommendations, she always tells the truth and doesn't mind upsetting the masses criticising a raved about product. Her weekly blogs are a must see too, and she is just an inspiring and entertaining girl to tune into.

Subscribe today!

 

This Month I'm Excited For: My Birthday!!! next month :)

Hosting a Dinner Party for the First Time

I am actually a little bit late in putting this post up as I hosted my little Dinner Party nearly a month ago now, but I guess it is better late than never. My parents went on a two week holiday and rather than having a crazy house party like back in the day I decided to host a themed dinner party for my lovely girlfriends. It started small with just food, friends and fun but then I got carried away on Pinterest and decided I had to go all out.

I went into Asda and The Range to pick up a few things and again went totally wild! Fairy lights, mason jars, fake flowers, beautiful bunting and white tables clothes later I was ready and armed with props and decorations. I went for a silver and white garden party theme but indoors obviously because come on I live in Edinburgh, we never have the weather for outdoor dining. I had the table set up in my conservatory, with bunting around the window and fairy lights to light the room up. The table was covered in a big white sheet, and I created a flowery centre piece reef with tea lights in mason jars entwined. I then through together a few make shifts menus and napkins. I also used little butterfly gift tags as place cards and slotted them into the forks, which I did think looked so cute. The whole table looked lovely and had a nice, simple, twinkly look to it, kind of boho wedding inspired. 

Of course the decor is important at a dinner party but what is more important is the food. There was no expense spared and my girls had a fully home cooked three course meal. To start we had chicken and veg kebabs with a selection of cured meats, bread, home made guacamole, salsa and hummus. It was nice to be able to help yourself and have a try of different things, and everyone was a massive fan of the salsa recipe, which was courtesy of a friends mum, it is so simple.

5 large tomatoes diced

1 red onion diced

a handful of coriander chopped up finely

2 table spoons of water

salt and pepper

mix it up

leave in the fridge to infuse for a few hours

serve

We had a gorgeous chicken, chorizo and butternut squash risotto for main course which went down a treat. Did not realise how high maintenance risotto rice is, so next time I will be more prepared with boiled water and a wooden spoon. The recipe comes from my best friends dad and I must say I am yet to achieve his level of perfection with this dish, maybe a future post with Alan revealing the secret to the perfect risotto rice. Then for dessert my gorgeous friends took care of this, they really out did themselves with a fudge and white choc kinder bueno baked cheesecake they made themselves and a gorgeous pavlova with a raspberry compote.

Most of my friends were driving that evening which is pretty unheard of in our group but it meant I had to come up with an amazing non-alcoholic replacement. I decided to stick with good old ice water, but I infused the jugs with cucumber, lemon and lime. The water was so refreshing and perfect to accompany a big meal, we al felt quite posh sipping our infused water. 

The pastry chef herself modelling her baking talents

Top Tips for a Successful & Minimal Stress Dining Experience

• Prep, Prep, Prep. Food, Music, Decor get it all sorted before an hour before your guests arrive. It will mean you have time to get glammed up and you are more relaxed the entire night.
• Ask your guests to bring something whether its drinks, nibbles or a dessert. Let them take some of the stress from you, they will love to feel like they have contributed to the night too.
• Choose a theme and get everyone to dress the part. Even if its just a colour or season it will make the night more fun and pictures will look great too. 
• If you can't cook, order in and pretend you cooked. Who will even know and you can still go to town with the decoration. 
• Be Creative rather than Spendy. Hit up Pinterest, it is a haven of ideas and inspirations. You will save loads of money and highly impress your guests.
• Once the guests have arrived relax and have FUN! At the end of the day if everything goes wrong you can laugh at the disaster you have created and phone dominoes, no harm done.

N Spa Skincare Box Review

My best friend and fellow blogger Rachel and I were wandering around Asda's beauty aisles a few weeks ago looking for some goodies for a well deserved pamper session. We looked through some old favourites and a few of the cheap packet face masks but nothing was really catching our eye. I remembered Caroline Hirons doing a video for Asda on budget skincare, and that she had said very god things about the brand nspa. On the top of the shelf there was a beautiful packaged box with four of their skincare products inside. I cheekily had a little peek inside to check out what was on offer, and was very impressed with the size of the products inside.  

Rach and I decided we would half the price and try out the products together. We headed back to her house and began to pamper ourselves. Within the little box you get a cleansing gel, a hot cloth polish, a serum and a day cream. I think for £10 this pretty great, you also get 50ml of product which is a really good amount for the price. 

The two cleanser were lovely, I am not the greatest fan of a gel cleanser because my skin is very dry but it worked well when following it up the with hot cloth polish. Rachel's skin is a little oilier than man and she like the gel based cleanser to remove the majority of her make-up. The hot cloth polish was pretty nice, I have used high end version in the £50 price range and yes they are magnificent and melt your make-up off within seconds. Considering the price range I though nspa's offering was actually very good. I also liked the serum, its sort of hard to test these sorts of products but it sunk in nicely and made my dry skin feel hydrated so that is a plus. As it was the evening the day cream which contains SPF 15 was a bit pointless but I did try it out anyway. It was nice and creamy and sunk into my skin leaving my face clean, soft and nourished which is all I ask for out of a budget skincare product.

Overall I would recommend this little set to anyone that wants a quick, easy and cheap skincare routine with zero fuss. At just £10 you can't really go wrong, and the products are good quality. I think it would make a lovely gift for a younger girl beginning to take care of her skin or somebody who needs a simple cleansing routine. 

Hydraluron Moisture Jelly Review

I religiously use indeedlabs Hydraluron gel as a serum day and night. I have very dry skin and I find it really helps to moisturise and hydrate my skin throughout the day. I haven't found another product like it and it is so effective on my skin I have been reluctant to try out any other serums. 

I was running very low a few weeks ago and decided I would need to make a dash to Boots that afternoon to pick up some more. While I was in Boots I noticed that not only was the Hydraluron on 3 for 2 but there was another product from the Hydraluron range available. I have tried the mask available in the range, which I liked but its not something I could really use every single day. The product that was being featured was the gel in a bigger packaging in what seemed like a thicker gel which would be perfect for the bitter Winter months approaching. I grabbed both and headed to the till before I could be distracted by any more goodies. 

That evening I excitedly tried out the thicker and seemingly more effective gel, and I must admit I was not disappointed. First of all the packaging is amazing, with a push down lid so you get the perfect amount of product in an easy and very clean way. The gel melted into my skin, relieving me of the tightness I constantly experience and my moisturiser melted into it perfectly. The next day my skin felt more hydrated than usual and couldn't wait to smear it on again. I do think this product is particularly suited to a dryer skin and might be too heavy for other skin types, so it is defintately somehting to consider when purchasing.

I have a review of the slightly lighter oringinal Hydrauron gel here, if anybody is interested. I would say if you suffer from constant dry skin this product is a must try.

Monthly Favourites #7 October 2014

This month I just have a few things to talk about because I have found myself going back to trusted old favourites I raved about hundreds of times. My family went to Miami this month too, so a few treats from across the pond are of course also featured.

Bath and Body Works Leaves Three Wick Candle

I have been coveting this candle for years, ever since I first started watching Youtube hauls. My family went to Miami recently and my mum brought me it back kindly. It first of all literally smells like Autumn to me and is the perfect accompaniment to a cosy night in. I have probably burned it around 10 times already and it has barely burned down, which is a massive plus for me. It is only available in the US unfortunately, so make sure you make friends over the pond so you can get your hands on one.

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Soft Brunette

I am a lover of big, bold brows, but I dont like them to look too boxy and fake so I have been looking for something that could help me create a more natural looking brow. This product has of course been raved about across the beauty blogosphere, and I must admit its for good reason because this product is amazing! It comes with a tiny crayon style pencil on one side, which is perfect for drawing in little hairs to create the illusion of a naturally full brow. Then on the other side there is a little brow brush to help get your brows in place and blend in the product. I have never had as many compliments on my brows since using this product and I think it will be a staple for me from now on.

L'Oreal Color Riche Julianne's Pure Red 

I had a bit of a mad moment on the two for one offers in Boots at the start of the month and ended picking up 3 of the 4 new L'Oreal red celeb inspired lipsticks. I love all the shades I picked up and wear them all a lot, but the one I'm loving the most is Julianne's shade. It is a beautiful, bright and vibrant orangy red colour, which is so complimentary to a paler skin. I have recently changed my hair colour from blonde to copper and I love this shade with my new hair. They are also so cheap at jusy £6.99 which is insanely good considering the amazing quality of the lipsticks.

Avon Glow Bronzing Powder in Medium Riveria 

I have recently been ordering a few things from Avon to try, which has been great as Avon is pretty cheap and really great quality make-up. While flicking through I noticed they did a bronzer with a built in mirror, and not only that but they stocked matte shades. I have been trying to find a budget matte bronzer for my handbag for a while now so I was thrilled and ordered straight away. The bronzer turned out to be so good, and has great pigmentation and is a fab for an all over colour or a light contour. Bottom line if you are looking for lower budget but great quality make-up definitely give Avon a try, 

Una Brennan Pore Purifying Clay Mask Review

So I have been experiencing a bit of a hormonal break-out around my chin over the last few weeks, and have been scrambling to find a quick fix solution. This time I knew even my Effaclar Duo plus wasn't going to cut it alone. So I decided to have a rake through my skin care drawer and see what I could find to get rid of the hellish blemishes, and just like that Una Brennan. 

I have a long fully committed relationship with Una Brennan skincare as it is, because

  1. It smells amazing 2. You can get it at Boots and 3. Its mighty cheap.

Its also very effective too, and I have never had anything but great things to say about her products in the past. So I quickly slathered the clay mask on my face and left it for about 7 or 8 minutes and when I took it off with a splash of warm water my skin felt gorgeously soft. 

I used it twice more that week and the results spoke for themselves. My spots cleared completely by the end of the week and my skin had an amazing clear, glow to it. I now commit myself to this mask at least once a week and more during my time of the month. 

Now here is a few helpful facts about this products. It costs a mere £8.99 in Boots and is pretty much always on 3 for 2. It contains salicylic acid which is proven to help unclog pours, as well as a variety of vitamins, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Which of course we all know is lovely and good for you, I am definitely not qualified to tell you why it is good for you but just take my word for it. So guys if you are looking for a cheap, effective and quick fix to spotty skin look no further. 

Unsticky by Sarra Manning | Monthly Book Pick & Review

Something that I haven't really shared on my blog is my love for books and reading. I find nothing more relaxing than indulging myself with a sweet snack and a good book for a few hours. This in mind, I have decided to start reviewing a book month for you guys. I love all genres so there will be something for everybody, and please feel free to throw book suggestions my way too.

So the first book is an old favourite of mine, I picked it up on the way to my first girly holiday to Zante in 2009. I ended up lending it to a few of the girls and we all raved about it around the book starting our own little book club. I think I might have read this book around 10 or 11 times I love it that much. It follows a freshly dumped, disorganized, disheartened and debt riddled Grace on a journey of love, self discovery and happiness. 

After being dumped in her favorite department store on her Birthday of all days, she has a chance encounter with older, rich businessman Vaughn. Skip forward a few chapters she is "dating" Vaughn as his mistress and receiving enough designer clothes to dress a small country. Grace struggles morally with the arrangement in place as he is providing her with an allowance that is helping to clear her debt, but she can't help but feel slightly taken advantage of. When feelings kick in from both sides, and drama with friends and colleagues the story takes a darker turn. Is Grace falling for the egotistical, kind but complicated Vaughn and can they make things work out. 

I can't quite put my finger on what is was I adored about this book, the character of Grace is moody, selfish and frustrating at times but I think that's what makes her so incredibly relatable. Manning creates a realistic setting to the story with Grace being a struggling fashion junior at a magazine, her boyfriend is horrible to her and she feels constantly in her best friends shadow. Things turn around for her and you are just rooting for Grace the whole way because you know she has had such a terrible time of it. The characters are all far from perfect and I think in their flaws is the charm and draw to read on about them. 

There are a few erotic scenes in the book which I know aren't everyone cup of tea, but they definitely add to the story and slot in appropriately. I really hope there is a sequel to this at some point because the relationships are so interesting and I would love to know more. I am such a fan of Manning's character development and writing skill and have now read a lot her books. I really can't recommend this book any more, a chic-lit with a kick.

A Summer Recap 2014

I had the most wonderful Summer this year, I worked my arse off but also managed to get up to some amazing stuff too! Just thought I would write a little post of my highlights and appreciate all the good times I've enjoyed over the last few months.

• Europe | Prague, Amsterdam & Berlin. Great friends, Culture, Food, Pub Crawls, Wild Nights Out && Appreciating Beautiful Cities. Most worn lipstick by myself and Beth, Lassie Aboot Toon aka Girl About Town.
• T in the Park | Zowie's Hen Party, having our tent and drink session before we even got in, getting our mascot confiscated, John Newman, The 1975, Paulo Nutini & Calvin Harris, Trying to get people up on shoulders, Being in the front row for 1975, as usual the food, dancing on fields, Rain Dancing.
• Photo Shoots and Projects | Finding the light, doing 2 hour wardrobe consultations and doing DIY Polaroids, thinking we are Vogue magazine, finding the best editing apps and being so excited, and generally spending the day with best friends and getting the opportunity to be creative together.
• The Commonwealth Games | Rugby Players, Sneaking into Parking, Clydesiders, Supporting the smaller teams, Queuing for burgers, Trying to take selfies, Working out the rules of Rugby 7s as we go.
• A Summer Wedding | Seeing how everyone scrubs up so well, Acting like the paparazzi, Photo booths, Dancing so hard you break limbs, Photo shoots in the Bridal Suite, seeing families all coming together for such a joyous occasion.
• Edinburgh Fringe Festival | Seeing my talented friends perform like pros and with athletes stamina for a month, Day drinking, Edinburgh's electric atmosphere, Clubs open till 5, And just immersing yourself in the amazing culture. 

It is the little things that really make my day

So today guys I have a lovely little story to share concerning how I came about this amazing, recycled,  homemade wallet that is pictured above. It is so true that even on the worst day the kindness of strangers can turn that all around. 

Last Monday I was having a truly awful day, I was tired, hormonal and over worked from a busy Summer in Edinburgh airport. A customer had been in the previous week and I had complimented her on what I thought was an amazing DIY wallet. The lovely girl explained to me that her boyfriend made them just as a hobby for friends and family. I couldn't believe he wasn't selling them because I thought they were so cute and environmentally friendly. I told the lovely girl that he should get them on Etsy because I would pay good money for one of those and I think that it would be such a lovely customized gift. 

The very next week the same girl came back in and made my day. She told me that she had told her boyfriend what I had said about his wallets and he was so flattered that he had made one especially for me. Que me nearly crying because I was an emotional wreck, coffees on me for the lovely customer and promises of the wallet being brought in the following Monday. 

Sure enough the next week while I was off unfortunately, the lovely customer (I keep referring to her like this because I didn't get her name unfortunately) brought in my little wallet. I love it so much, I love that it is made from a porridge box. I love that it is hand made and cost almost nothing to make and although it might not last forever it was made especially for me and that is so special. 

At the moment I am using it for change in my hand bag and whenever I show anybody or tell anybody my wallets story they are as delighted as I was. I now just need to convince the lovely customer to start selling them and I guess I should really find out her name too. 

Autumn Beauty Staples

When the colder months hit I always find myself shopping my stash and digging out some of my old favorites for Autumn/Winter, so I thought I would gather some of my most used products and share with you all. 

As far as base goes I do tend to use a higher coverage foundation in the colder months, but also I find myself digging out a good quality powder too. I absolutely love the Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre natural finish loose powder, although it is pricey I find it sets my make-up beautifully and doesn't make my skin feel tight or dry. In the winter I like to set my face in order to keep my make-up in place so I don't have to reapply all the time. 

The Maybelline Color Tattoo's are a staple to me in all Seasons but in Autumn I love to use the matte taupe shade in Permanent Taupe. It's great to use as a primer for under eye shadow and to make brighter colours pop against the eye two. Mostly though, I like to use it as a quick all over colour on days where I have little or no time to do make-up. It is a must buy for any beauty loving girl who is constantly in a rush in the Winter months.

Another eye shadow I love to use for more special occasions is Beauty Marked by Mac. It is a gorgeous purple/brown shimmer shade that looks a little different on everyone. Every single time I wear this colour I receive lots of compliments and it is such a great and beautiful statement eye look with a simple little black dress. 

Staying with Mac, day or night during the colder months I will be wearing the lipstick shade Rebel. It is a gorgeous warm purple colour and it is great for a pop of colour especially in the colder months. I wore it non stop last yer and I know I will be just the same this Autumn.

The second lip colour in the Rimmel Apocalips in 304 Eclipse. It is a gorgeous liquid lipstick, stain type product which has amazing colour pay off and lasting power. I love this shade if I am just wearing a touch of mascara and bronzer because it can just amp up a really simple look in seconds. It is so easy to apply and lasts all day no problem. 

Finally I have my number one cold month beauty must have, hand cream! The cream I have been using recently is a Body Shop offering in a stunning shea butter scent. I just love how this cream feels on my hands, it sinks in quickly and quickly relieves my often very dry skin. I love the small, clean and compact packaging too its so easy to throw in your handbag.

Let me know what beauty products you shop your stash for in the colder months, and if you find yourself doing a make-up bag revamp for the new Seasons.

Monthly Favourites #6 August 2014

The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Fragrance Mist

If you have read my earlier post you would know that I received this free while on a spree in The Body Shop recently. Literally since the day and hour and received it I have been spraying it non-stop. Its a gorgeous fresh and fruity smell and because I got it for free I don't mind giving it a really good spritz on myself. I have recently picked up a few more and to my delight they only cost me £7.50 each. If you are looking for an inexpensive but gorgeous scent to throw in your hand bag, this is the one!

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray Long-Lasting

I have been humming and hawing over this product for a little while, but for professional make-up work I knew it was a must-have. I picked the full size bottle up from Debenhams at the beginning of the month and have been absolutely loving it. I usually spritz it over my face daily just at the end of my make-up application, but I have also found that using it in layers is a fool proof way of keeping your face in place throughout the day. Totally worth the money and perfect for that big event where you want to look perfect all day.

Botanics Soothing Eye Make-up Remover

Recently I have been getting a lot of use out my Maybelline The Falsies Waterproof Mascara, so obviously I have been needing a good make-up remover to tackle it in the evenings. This is such a bargain buy but also does the job amazingly. My eye makeup literally melts off under a few seconds of the oil over your eyes. Great product, couldn't recommend more.

The Body Shop Chocomania Deluxe Edition Body Butter

As usual I have been suffering from dry skin, especially on my body. The best products to tackles this have to be body butters, and the body shop are experts at them. I have opting for the gorgeous, rich smell chocomania scent which has been leaving my skin smelling amazing and velvety smooth. It melts into the skin easily and actually doesn't take all that long to soak in. Great indulgent product to make the skin on your body lovely and soft.

No7 Precision Lips Pencil

Is it just me who has been coveting Kylie Jenner's make up look recently, especially her lined, full lips. I have had this liner kicking about my drawers for a while ever since the wonderful Lisa Eldridge mentioned it in a video. It is the perfect my lips but better shade for making my non existent cupids bow look more defined and given me a fuller looking lip. It only costs £6.99 and it really is a brilliant product, much like any No 7 product really.

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Damsel

This liner came along with my beloved In the Lights palette, and I am embarrassed to admit at first I pretty much ignored it. It wasn't until I was searching for a black eyeliner alternative that I gave this beauty a try, and I am so glad I did. This liner has not been out my make up bag since I first tried it. The product is beautifully pigmented, creamy and extremely long lasting. It glides on flawlessly and gives are gorgeous smoky effect instantly. If you are in the market for a waterproof liner look no further than Stila. 

Photo Project & Editing

I was looking through the files on my computer recently and came across lots of unused photos from different shoots that myself and Chelsea had done over the last year are so. I decided to put together a few of my favorites and edit them, some of the photos are so gorgeous and I didn't want them to be over looked. Our initial inspirations for these photos was the song Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey which we were obsessed with at the time of the shoots. I'm not a professional photographer or editor by any stretch so this is just our interpretation for fun and I hope you enjoy!

Styling & Hair - Lyndsey Whitelaw & Chelsea Youngson

Makeup - Lyndsey Whitelaw

Thanks again to my gorgeous model Chelsea, these photos are stunning!

The Body Shop Love Your Body Card - A Beauty Obsessive Must Have

Recently I have been loving The Body Shop, I used to have a complete obsession with their body butters and lip balms back in my teens and it seems that is all coming back to me now. I recently popped into check out their new Argan oil range as I thought it would be nice to get as a gift for my mum, and I used my shiny new loyalty card which I had paid £5 for on my last visit. The lovely sales assistant then let me know that if you were to spend over £21 that day you received a fab free gift. I of course jumped on this offer and received the absolutely fantastic bundle of gifts.

In the lovely wrapped bag I received a gorgeous bronze coloured highlighter with all the little balls you can swirl your brush in. I have tried this and it so shimmery and beautiful on the tops of the cheekbones, in fact it is a product I have looked at a few times while I was in store so I was naturally thrilled to get it for free.

I also got a gorgeous satsuma scented body polish, I haven't had a chance to use this yet but as Autumn is round the corner I am sure I will be getting it out pre fake tan session. The scent alone is enough  to convince you to buy the entire satsuma range, I love citrus scents.

Finally I received a full sized bottle of one of the body sprays, the scent is Japanese Cherry Blossom and is so great for throwing in your handbag to freshen up during the day. The scent is lovely and fresh and I have actually used a lot of it already and it has convinced me to pick up a few more of these for work and each of my hand bags.

If you are a beauty addict like myself I think The Body Shop Love Your Body card is a great thing to try out. It only costs £5.00 and it comes with a variety of perks such as exclusive sales, 10% of purchases for the year and vouchers for use in store after a certain amount of purchases. This is my favorite and most used beauty card at the moment and I  couldn't recommend it more. 

Her is a link to The Body Shop website which has all the information you would need to get involved with one of these loyalty cards.

Essie Summer 2014 Collection

Who doesn't love a bright pop of colour on their nails during the Summer months, and as usual Essie has out done themselves with their gorgeous Summer 2014 collection of mini polishes. I think this is the perfect little set for travelling, you have three gorgeous colours that are totally interchangeable for a Summer holiday wardrobe. They are also under 100ml so you could take them on the plane and paint your nails to pass the time during the flight, I know that's what I will be doing.

All three polishes look great on the nails and have fantastic colour pay off, the shades just scream Summer and remind me of ice lollys and print dresses. You just need two quick coats, they last well even with wear and tear by the pool and in the sea. I had the gorgeous hot pink shade in haute in the heat on my toes and it lasted without a chip for over a week while I was on holiday. If you are after some great Summer colours for your nails this collection is definitely a must have. 

Stila in the lights pallette

        believe in the beauty of the future 

                                                                   - sara lucera

I recently made a cheeky trip into my local Boots and was highly distracted by the newly installed Stila counter. I am basically a Stila virgin apart from one slap dash lipgloss purchase a few years ago in London and I actully think I then lost said lipgloss on the same trip. This time I decided to try a few of Stila's most hyped products as I guessed this would be a pretty fail safe way of buying some great new products. Today I am goin to embarassingly rave in devotion about the in the lights palette which I am having a full blown love affair with at the minute.

The gorgeous thing comes with 10 beautiful neutral shades with a mix of matte, slightly shimmery and full on glitters thrown in. Personally I love glitter so this palette was a win for me from the beginning. I firstly want to breifly mention my love/hate feelings on the packaging. I love the colour of the rose gold casing but it is made out of a a pretty flimsy material which is a bit stained, scratched and dented already. That is genuinely my only complaint about this palette though, which is pretty fantastic really.

First of all the colours are just stunning, they are shimmery, elegant, effervescent goodness that are so complimentary to any eye colour. The pigmentation and colour pay off is just ridiculously good, one swipe and you get the most rich beautiful colour across the lid. I must agree with the blogging community when they rave about the gorgeous champagne shade kitten, it is just gorgeous. If you don't want to splurge on the palette I would strongly suggest at least picking up the single shade. I also have to give a special mention to the golden shimmer bubbly and the warm, toasted bronze shade in sunset. Both of these colours have already been dipped into several times this month.

As a little bonus the palette comes with an amazing brown liner, which is the perfect compliment to all of these shadows. I have been using it on the daily, with or without the shadows. The formula is creamy and long lasting and I can't get enough of it, I have actually ordered a back up and two other shades of this product. I am sure I will refuse these sometimes this month.

All in all if I had to choose my favourite neutral palette in the light would 100% be up there. It is also such a reasonable price at £25 in Boots, but after some googling I have noticed you can get it cheaper on www.beautybay.com and www.feelunique.com. 

Neutral Nails | Wedding Guest Inspiration

I am attending a Wedding of some close friends on Saturday and have been hunting my stash for the perfect nail colour for the occasion and decided to share my finds with you all. I decided I wanted a really pretty pastel or neutral shade to go with my cream dress, and these are the four that I liked the best.

Firstly I have the Loreal Color Riche polish in Peach Negligee, I kind of think that it is a strange name for the colour because I wouldn't describe it as a peach colour. Regardless it is just the most beautiful nude colour and is actually fairly opaque for the lightness of the colour. It is the perfect alternative to white which is really on trend at the minute. Personally I don't like the white nails on myself because I think you need a deep tan or it can look a bit like you have painted your nails with tippex. Another bonus is that it is the kind of colour that will go with any outfit, and you could go crazy with rings and bracelets if you are wearing something simple and it wouldn't be too much. 

Next I have a darker colour which is Essie's Chincilly, this is probably the colour I have reached for the most in the last few months. It is a gorgeous warm grey colour with a purple, warm undertone, it is so so gorgeous all year round. This colour is so pretty and would look fantastic with a pretty two peice or suit and if you were to wear an outfit with a graphic pattern then it would be a great simple nail look that doesnt clash with your outifit. Essie polish is of course fantastic quality too, so it is going to last really well with a good top coat.

Then I have the gorgeous gold metallic shade from Kate Spade with Nails Inc in Uptown Glamour. I think this colour would be fab with an LBD if it was the reception you were attending. If built up in colour it can be such a statement or alternatively one or two coats can be a sheer shimmer for the nails. I have put a gold shimmer over this colour before at Christmas time and it looked gorgeous! 

Finally the Maybelline Forever Strong Super Stay 7 Days Gel Nail Colour in Pink in the Park. I think this pale pink would be a great bridesmaid colour or if you were to wear a classic floral print dress. Its neutral but pretty and is just so pretty and appropriate for a wedding. It has fantastic staying power and is also lovely and glossy on the nails as well. 

Relaxation and Tired Feet Relief | Body Shop Review

I work long hours on my feet, sometimes 12 or 13 hours with out a break. I don't mind this at all it is just the nature of my job but it can leave my feet aching at the end of a shift. I know this is a common complaint to a for  a lot of people so I thought I would write a post highlighting the products I use to target and relieve the pain. 

I recently came across The Body Shop's Peppermint foot range and I have fallen in love with the Cooling Foot Spray and the Reviving Foot Soak. I use the the foot spray constantly and it is actually nearly finished after only having purchased it a few weeks ago. Just after a few spritz over my sore feet, the spray cools, refreshes and soothes my tired feet. It is such a great quick fix after a long and tiring day.

If I have a little more time or my feet are particularly sore I will get a basin of warm water and pour in a handful of the little crystals. The water foams up and creates a soothing and cool bath for your tired feet. To me this little foot soak feels like a 5 star spa and I can't get enough. On Sundays I will put fake tan on and apply a face mask with this foot soak. It is amazing! 

If you work in retail or catering or any profession when you are constantly on your feet get down to The Body Shop pronto!

ATM #6

Date: 06/08/2014

Time: 20:39 PM

Location: My bedroom :)

Fashion Pick: My bargain checked £17 Primark Blazer. 

Beauty Pick: Stila Convertible Colour in Iilium.

Music Pick: Chandalier - Sia.

TV Show: Excited my beloved Dance Moms is back on the air.

Book: Finally got round to reading JK Rowlings A Casual Vacancy and although it was totally different from Harry Potter I really enjoyed it.

Food: Brown rice stir fry!

Drink: Bulmers Red Berry Cider. 

 FaveBlog: http://laurenconrad.com/ 

I absolutely love Lauren Conrad and have done since Laguna Beach and The Hills. I have been reading her amazing blog for a very long time now and I love everything about it. Lauren and her team are fabulous and write about an amazing variety of things such as lifestyle, fashion, beauty etc. I love her hair tutorials and general advice, plus the layout of the website is so cute. 

Fave YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/NikkieTutorials

I was introduced to the lovely Nikkie when I saw a number of comments on an instagram picture telling me I had to check out her page as I looked like her. I did check her out and did come to realise that with blonde hair I do some what resemble her. Aside from that Nikkie is one of the most talent make-up artists on YouTube and her videos are unbelievable quality and so informative and creative. She is YouTube's Golden Girl in my opinion and any self respecting make-up addict should 100% be subscribed.

Subscribe today!

This Month I'm Excited For: Edinburgh Fringe Festival and my lovely friends Zowie and Gary's August Wedding. 

Quick Update 

I dyed my hair COPPER! It was such an exciting thing for me to do because I have absolutely never changed my hair colour from blonde before. I am in love with it and couldn't be happier that I took the plunge. I am also going to be starting University in September to study PR & Media and I am just so excited. I can't wait to start this new chapter of my life with new hair and hopefully lots of exciting posts for you lot.