Halloween Inspired Fashion Wishlist

From Left to Right:

- Lipsy (Michelle Keegan) Lace Co-Ord Skirt  │ BANK │ £40.00

- Lipsy (Michelle Keegan) Lace Co-Ord Crop Top │BANK│ £28.00

- Kate PU Lazer Cut Dress │BOOHOO│ £25.00

- Lace Bodycon Tunic │TOPSHOP│ £36.00

- Hannah Geometric Box Clutch │BOOHOO│ £22.00

- Ocina Lace Detail Wrap Playsuit │MISSGUIDED│£24.99 £19.99

- Val Buckle Trim Cleated Ankle Boot │BOOHOO│ £30.00

- Lavish Alice Rose Baroque Co-Ord Skirt │BANK│ £50.00

10 Amazon Beauty Bargains.

Amazon Beauty Bargains:

If saving money on beauty products is in the forefront of your mind, you've come to the right Blog post! You probably never thought of checking the beauty department on Amazon.com.. Neither had I until I was recently looking for the O.P.I Brazil Collection and came across this one on Amazon. This lead me to have a little snoop of the vast amount of beauty products being sold and although the discounted prices aren't massive, when totalled up you can save quite a bit! I found this especially good for the basics that I re-purchase time after time such as the Max Factor Clump Defy Mascara (as its my fav!) but I almost have a little cry every time I go to buy it at Boots and it isn't on offer. I estimated that I could be spending around £80 a year on just mascaras?... seems a bit excessive and that's without treating myself to luxury brands every now and again! However, on Amazon its always on the offer price of £7.91 which is a lot easier on my bank account. 

1. The Body Shop Blue Berry Body Scrub £9.99 RRP: £14.00

2. Macadamia Deep Repair Hair Masque 250ml £12.46 RRP: £26.95

3. Barry M Lip Paints £3.23 RRP: 4.49

4. OPI Brazil Collection 'LIVE.LOVE.CARNAVAL' £6.50 RRP: £11.99

5. Simple 'Kind To Skin' Cleansing Facial Wipes £1.49 RRP: £4.38

6. NIVEA Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover £1.69 RRP: £3.36

7. Max Factor Clump Defy Mascara £7.91 RRP: £10.99

8. Victoria's Secret Pure Seduction Body Mist £8.71 RRP: 13.99

9. Real Techniques Limited Ed. Duo Fiber Collection £17.27 RRP: 23.99

10.Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion  250ml £2.49 RRP: £4.99  -Also available for £2.49 at Boots & Superdrug for limited time only.

I'm definitely going to be putting in an order for some of these products when I run out! My top recommendations would be the Barry M Lip Paints, Dove Gradual Tanner is amazing, as is the Nivea Eye Make-Up Remover. In fact all of these products are amazing.. clearly that's why I chose them. :)

Much love,

TOBI (free shipping to UK + 50% off your first order!)

TOBI is nothing new if you're from America but I know for a fact they're not so well known in the UK. I came across TOBI about a year ago and was very jealous that I couldn't buy such lovely clothes, but recently I went on the website just to have a browse and was pleasantly surprised to find out that they now not only ship to the UK, but it is free! I picked out some of my favourite pieces from the website..

Featured:
x- Navy See You Later Skater Dress £33 £22
x- Dot Angeles Bustier Top £17 £8
x- Single Eye-shadow in Fantasy £6
x- Single Eye-shadow in Charcoal £6
x- Carlita Crop Top £29
x- Anna Darling Kimono £29
x- Mink Pink Floral Frenzy Crop Top £31
x- Black My Go To Top £28
x- White Cut Out Crop Top £34

The best thing is you can comment directly on the website with any questions you may have and every post actually gets a reply from one of their admin. 

I definitely recommend you go and check this website out!

Mothers Day Gift Ideas/ Inspiration.

Mother's Day is just around the corner... and I'm still recovering from splashing the cash for Valentines Day! Although I'm not the biggest fan of these socially manufactured days... I do love a good reason to treat my mother to a very nice gift. Here's a variety of ideas for Mothers Day gifts that aren't just you're ordinary chocolates, flowers or wine! :) 

Spa Day/Weekend 

Treat you're mother to a lovely getaway for the day of even the weekend to you're nearest Spa. This might take a good bit of organisation but will definitely be worth it when you're getting a relaxing and much deserved massage! Go even further and invite your Grandma along as well for a ladies day away! Check out spabreaks.com to find some amazing deals for a spa near you!

Bath+Body Mini Hamper

Put together you're very own Bath and Body Hamper filled with you're mam's favourite products. I recommend Soap & Glory's Sugar Crush Range which is available at the drug store and since its 3 for 2 at Superdrug at the moment you could grab the body wash, scrub and body butter all for under £20. Visit soapandglory.com to view more of their products.

Fragrance

Perfume is always a good gift choice when it comes to females! I recommend Elie Saab Le Parfum L'Eau Couture Eau De Toilette Gift Set 50ml £47.00 from feelunique.com. It's more of a sophisticated scent and bottle design, making it perfect for mothers day! 

Nail Varnish Set

Nails inc. Nude Colour Collection is a great Nail Polish set for mothers! It consists of four nudes, but they're not just your normal skin coloured nudes so may add a bit of colour to your mothers nails when she's not wanting bright nails. This set is available at feelunique.com for £25.00... not the cheapest but a great present for a mother that loves doing her nails!

Beauty Gift Set

For the beauty loving mother.. The Pro Hygiene Collection Try Me Kit £35.00 from feelunique.com looks like a great kit to try out, especially if you're mother likes using hand gels/ sanitizers and uses make up brushes.

Candles

If you're on the look for a nice gift but cant exactly afford to spend £40 on a diptyque or Jo Malone candle I recommend Yankee Candles as the next best thing! For £9.95 you can get a really lovely sized and smelling candle. Check out yankeecandle.co.uk to see the range. From my experience candles are one of the best presents to give for mothers day as they are generally on the cheaper end of ideas and something that my mum absolutely loves, as they make a room feel really cosy and homey! 

Bags & Purses
Another lovely gift idea is a new handbag.. you can never have enough handbags! I particularly like this White Mini Structured Tote Bag from River Island for £30.00. Not a bad price for such a smart bag..

Personalised Picture Frame

Last but definitely not least is the option of picking up a cheap picture frame from somewhere like Poundland or B&M Bargains (they honestly do have some lovely ones) and printing out one of you're favourite pictures of you and you're mum to put in it. This is something that is so simple, yet beautiful to receive and shows a lot of love and thought. Sometimes the best presents don't have to cost a fortune!

Houghton Hall Garden Centre.

Today I thought I would share with you a little visit I made to literally the most magical and beautiful garden centre, that is Houghton Hall. Its right out in the countryside of North West England so if you're not from around here you'll never have heard of it.. until now that is!  The reason I like it is they not only have the gorgeous flowers, they have some lovely home décor and beauty accessories too. What made it even better was the fact that it felt like the first real day of spring when the sun actually shone and I finally got to switch my big parka coat for a little denim jacket.. It felt amazing! These are just are few shots I took just on my iphone... it was a day too good not to share!

Oscars 2014 Fashion: Best Dressed.

So I'm really late at putting this up but I thought better late than never right!? Now I know I'm no fashion expert but some fashion choices were erm... questionable... as always!. The majority of dresses seemed to either consist of too much material causing their dress to be unflattering.. (look up Angelina Jolie or Julia Roberts) however, it was these five stars that caught me eye!

BEST DRESSED:

3                                                               1                                                                   5                                                            4                                                           2
Photographs: Jason Merritt/Getty Images and  Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

1. Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita- wearing prada- looks like a real life Disney princess! I absolutely love this baby blue colour and on her petite figure.. it is truly stunning. By far my favourite look from the Oscars as I had not expected a dress like this after Lupita's striking look at the Golden Globe Awards! 

 2. Jennifer Lawrence

Well what d'ya know... Jennifer Lawrence manages to still look stunning falling over on the red carpet.. again.. I think she's making it her 'thing'. She still managed to be a serious favourite look of mine from the Oscars this year in Dior because of that amazing, bright orange colour and the straight columned shape.

3. Amy Adams

plain, simple, beautiful...  effective and sophisticated. That's what I think when I look at the photographs of Amy Adams. There's nothing crazy going on.. no mad colours/ patterns or shapes. It fits her body perfectly and the navy colour complements her complexion and hair!  What more could you want at an event like the Oscars!?

4. Kate Hudson

I really wasn't sure whether I was impressed by Kate Hudson or not. I don't think I would like this dress at any other event or award show... Its definitely not for any normal Saturday night out to town obviously.. but for the Oscars I think it worked and she channelled old Hollywood glamour perfectly with the colour and I love the love neckline.

5. Calista Flockhart

Now this surprised me! I've never heard of Calista Flockhart however, I do recognise her face. I absolutely love this dress, especially on her! I think the shape and detailing is flawless and she looks so elegant. She might not be pushing any fashion boundaries but to me this is flawless. 

Do you agree with my top picks from the Oscars? I'd love to know what you thought of the Oscars fashion this year! 

Sephora Wishlist: Now shipping to UK!

Good news! Sephora is now shipping the UK!

Yep as of now, us English have access the wonderful cosmetic store that is Sephora! Originally beginning in Paris, France Sephora has spread its business over to the USA since 1998 and yet has never graced us with its presence in the UK... and who knows if it ever will? The fact that they now ship to the UK is a great opportunity for those that lust after Sephora's products- however for those who simply want to 'try out' a product it isn't looking exactly cost effective... I fit into this category... because of the high postage and tax costs. So I guess I'll just have to settle for a wishlist of my 6 most wanted products from the website and hopefully one day I'll be able to visit a Sephora store in person.

1.  SEPHORA COLLECTION Color Hit Nail Polish 75 Blackjack - Sparkling Black $5.00

     I absolutely love this colour by Sephora. I can imagine it looking very sophisticated on a night out with a plain dress. Its something a little different than you basic one dimensional colours which can a lot! --- *It is important to realise that Sephora are not able to ship nail products as they can become hazardous when shaken or when exposed to temperature or pressure changes.* 

2.  AMIKA 4P Interchangeable Barrel Curler Set $175.00

     I've seen a lot of good reviews of this Interchangeable curler set. The fact that you get four different sized barrels for one tool means that you can create whatever kind of curl that you desire, without having to own 4 different curlers/curling wands. 

3.  DIOR Airflash CC Primer - Radiance Booster Color Correcting Primer $49.00

   The thought of owning anything DIOR makes me tingle. As I've gotten older, and my interest of beauty stronger, the ability to restrain myself from luxurious brands like this is deteriorating. Its what we work for right?! I really like the idea of a spray on primer.. speedy application and I'm hoping it would spray evenly onto the face.

4.  LAURA MERCIER Perfection Lip Trio $38.00 

     Three easy products to throw in your make-up bag to create the perfect bold red lip? Yes please!

5.  JOSIE MARAN Bohemian Waves Argan Hair Mist Texture Volume & Moisture $22.00

     Josie Maran has received quite a bit of attention lately and a product that I am very interested in trying is her Argan Hair Mist. It's advertised to add texture, volume and moisture to your hair.. What more do you want? If this were to actually work it would quickly become a must have to my hair care routine. I am feeling the need to look for it elsewhere in the UK immediately after writing this blog post!

6.  SEPHORA COLLECTION Purifying Brush Shampoo $7.00 

     Brush Cleansers are normally quite pricey.. I currently use MAC's brush cleanser but I think a shampoo formula would get right into the centre of the brushes and clean them more thoroughly. And $7.00 is not a bad price to pay for having clean brushes!

Let me know what you think about Sephora now shipping to the UK? 

Will you be ordering anything? 

Moroccan Oil Treatment.

Having long blonde hair is a challenge, especially when it’s not natural so I'm always conscious of getting regular trims, using heat protector when styling and searching for the perfect hair mask! I was recommended Moroccan Oil by my hairdresser after expressing my need for something to bring life back into my blonde locks and yes she hit the nail on the head! This product has become an essential in my haircare routine.

I have been using this about twice a week when I wash my hair. After washing I gently towel dry my hair, then all you need is a small 5p sized pump to work through the hair. I tend to focus the product on the ends of my hair, to target split ends but afterwards I give myself a mini head massage to stimulate hair growth. (I'm in a never-ending fight to get my hair to grow past its current length!) You can then blowdry your hair or leave it to dry naturally.. either way Moroccan Oil leaves my hair feeling so healthy, soft and manageable! The oil claims to 'speed up drying time' which I can not state to be true, as I have thin and fast drying hair anyway. However, everything else they claim this treatment will do I agree with. I have seen a noticeable change in the strength of my hair and it looks so much more healthy and hydrated. I like that once my hair is dry, there is no oily residue left so thank you to Moroccan Oil!

As you only need a small amount of the oil, this size bottle is going to last quite a long time, which makes it worthy of being on the pricey end of haircare. I will definitely repurchase this as it’s become such an essential! The brand has a range of different hair treatments/ products so if you're interested in checking them out I suggest feelunique.com as its an easy way to view all products and they have some good offers on.

Let me know if you find Moroccan Oil useful? I know some people say they have had better results using Primarks Argon Oil?

Best of the January Sales 2014.

As January is coming to end I thought it would be nice to share with you what I purchased in the ever so popular, 'January sales'. There was nothing in particular that I was searching for this January but I enjoy seeing what bargains I can find and what's leftover from the Christmas stock. This year I came home with quite a few cheeky buys!...

Dress: Lipsy £60.00 £34.99 -Bought for a wedding.

Geometric Print top: Topshop (illustrated people concession) £35.00 £18.00

O.P.I Top and Base Coat Duo: John Lewis £11.50 (special offer)

Image from John Lewis Website.

Junior Nike blazers: JD Sports £47.00 £34.99

I'd love to know if you got any good bargains this January?!

Topshop Wishlist.

I often spend a good part of my weekend getting distracted from doing my college essays by browsing the vast variety of online clothing websites. Most of all, I always find myself checking the 'New In This Week' page on topshop.com, as its one of my favourite highstreet stores and its fair to say there's quite a few things I would love to buy! I thought I'd share my current wishlist with you.. unfortunately it is very unlikely I will ever splash out on a  £200 pair of Kurt Geiger shoes...

× PORK PIE HAT £25.00

× THE FASHION BOOK £39.95 £18.00

× QUILTED LEATHER LOOK BIKER JACKET £58.00 £45.00

× GEN PLATFORM SANDALS BY KURT GEIGER £210.00  £135.00

× LIPS IN THE DAMNED £8.00

× LIPS IN PETAL £8.00

× NAILS IN JUMP £5.00

Hollister Body Mist.

I've read a lot of good things about Hollister so wasn't surprised when I walked into the shop and became one of those girls... wishing I was secretly Cameron Diaz...Beautiful Blonde California Beachbum! We're allowed to dream right? I understand that the shops aren't exactly peaceful but I think, especially in England, Hollister's shop was a really enjoyable experience. I originally went in to buy just the Crescent Bay Body Mist but after smelling the Seasonal Edition I just could not resist buying both! 

SEASONAL EDITION

VIOLET LEAF - PEACH - SANDALWOOD

This body mist is lush for the winter and its true what it says on the website- It manages to condition and cool, while giving your skin a subtle sweet, pretty scent. I like how it isn't too overpowering for winter and makes me feel fresh and ready for the day.

CRESCENT BAY

WATERMELON - POPPY - SUGARY WOODS

Crescent Bay for me is the perfect scent for summer! I cant wait for summer 2014 to come around so I can switch from the Seasonal Ed. to this bad boy! Its very sweet and the watermelon is quite prominent so if you don't like a watermelon scent then perfect this isn't for you. 

These sprays last for hours and really make you feel fresh! To be completely honest for the price I would expect them to stick around all day like a good high end perfume would, but half a day will have to do. Because of this I like to carry one in my handbag to re-apply throughout the day. 

I bought two of the Crescent bay Scents because it is by far my favourite out of all of the Hollister scents. These sprays are quite pricey retailing at £12 each for 250ml. I purchased these three on the offer 3 for £24 so its basically 3 for the price of 2, which justified buying all three in my head at least.. and the bag of course is pretty nice on the eyes! As far as I'm aware this offer is a permanent one in-store so there's no rush to splash the cash. I definitely recommend these body mists if you're wanting to treat yourself or they are absolutely perfect for a gift! :) 

I definitely recommend popping into your nearest Hollister store to have a quick sniff of these body mists. These scents are also in perfume form however I definitely prefer them as mists.. mainly because of the packaging, which is more handbag friendly!

Aims for 2014.

So I'm a bit late in posting about the New Year but now I've had a few days to settle down from the hectic weeks of December/ January I've decided to set myself some beauty aims (or goals) for 2014. Growing up I always used to write a secret list of New Year resolutions, but as I was quite a 'dreamer' and not one single wish or resolution has ever came true.. including my resolution to fly which I made EVERY year and obviously failed, or else you would have seen me on the news or something! So here they are.. my list of very reachable and sensible beauty aims for this year:

× FOCUS ON GROWING MY HAIR..  I already have quite long hair already but for the past year or two it feels like it hasn't grown at all. This year I really want to put even more effort into taking care off it so that it will grow longer and still be in good condition. Also once it grows I can hopefully style it a bit differently as I'm quite bored of having a side fringe/bangs. 

× PAMPER MORE, STRESS LESS..  Friday night is pamper night from now on! There's no better night than Friday for me as its the end of the college week, yet I have work early the next morning so its the perfect time to run a nice bath and chill out. Hopefully this will stop me from stressing so much over silly things.

× USE UP PRODUCTS BEFORE BUYING MORE..  This pretty much explains itself. I'm such a beauty junkie and always wanting to try new things which means I rarely finish a product before I buy a different kind, from a different brand. So this year I need to bring some old products back into my make up bag or put them into my shower so I remember to use them. This will also help me save up a bit extra money this month.. and who doesn't like that?!

× BE CONFIDENT WITHOUT MAKE UP..  This is a tricky one although I am making progress. I know in my mind that putting on a bunch of make up on just to go to the shop or workout is pointless but I've always struggled with confidence and feeling like my skin is just never perfect, but it shouldn't have to be 'perfect' for me to not wear make up and I think we should all enjoy make up more than we rely on it because that takes out all the fun!

× ORGANISE BEAUTY STORAGE..  I'm hoping to get some more storage for my growing collection of products because clutter in my bedroom makes me feel seriously un-organised in life. 

Let me know if you have any similar aims to mine! :)