The 30 Day Snap

The lovely Louise at sprinkle of glitter has coordinated the 30 Day Snap challenge, where for everyday of the month of June us lovely bloggers will get snap happy with our cameras and upload a picture everyday.  I haven't yet decided whether I am going to write a little about each picture, or go down the a picture is worth a thousand words route, we shall have to see.
I feel like I am paraphrasing Louise's post, but my life at the moment does revolve around ye olde homestead so the majority of my pics will probably be homey things, but hopefully there will be some little exciting bits and pieces mixed in there along the way. 
Is anyone else taking part, or looking forward to having a nose through other peoples photos?

I Hope You Feel Beautiful Today

Something that is easy to say to someone else but not so easy to feel yourself!

You may be one of those lucky people who is completely confident with the way they look and has no qualms about their figure, but I would say the majority of women (and men) have something they would like to change about themselves,  whether its a washboard stomach or the perfect shapely legs, there is always something, I know I personally do and strive daily towards it but at the same time it's important to embrace who we are, and how beautiful we are today, now and in the present with all our so called flaws!  Beauty isn't just a physical thing, the perfect body that looks gorgeous in every piece of clothing (ok I know I want that body!) but beauty is also on the inside its your personality, it's how you light up a room when you enter just because your happy, I wanted to end this post with my favourite quote:

 'The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair.' Audrey Hepburn 

NOTD: Gelly Hi-Shine in Prickly Pear // Review

I reviewed Barry M's Gelly Polishes yesterday, and painted my toes in Prickly Pear and absolutely loved it so today I whipped off the colour I had on my nails and got my Prickly Pear on!! I really didn't think I would ever be able to curb my expensive nail varnish addiction, but Barry M may just be the answer, cheap, cheerful and really good quality, I think I hear my purse cheering! 

Prickly Pear

Has anyone else got a nail varnish addiction?

Party Time!

Now the dilemma has begun, WHAT TO WEAR, it is my fathers 60th next month and he is having a big party, now that's all fab but my issue is do I buy a new dress or do I recycle!  So earlier this afternoon I went through my cupboard and pulled what I thought could be a possible outfit for said occasion and played a little dress up!

(Sorry for the shoddy picture quality, and my lack of make-up, a swipe of Wild Watermelon Revlon Lip Butter on my lips was as far as I got to tarting myself up!)

I bought the dress last year for my brother's 21st I love it because its swishy, a really pretty royal blue (sadly I couldn't capture the colour in the photo) and a little glitzy.  However as much as I love the dress while I was browsing in Joules I saw this ELLA Dress (£59.95) and kind of fell in love with its pretty pastel blue and chintzy pattern, and to top it off I bought the perfect nude wedges a couple of months ago that would look fab with it. 

Joules ELLA Dress

The question is to buy or not to buy, what do you think? 

Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint By Barry M // Review

I don't actually know how I have never before used a Barry M nail varnish, so to take that virginity I thought I would try out their famed Gelly polishes, so off i pootled to Superdrug and picked up three Barry M Gelly (£3.99), polishes in Prickly Pear a gorgeous pastel purple, it's not too pink and it's not too blue its gorgeous.  Greenberry a gorgeous green/turquoise fabulous for the Summer and Papaya a gorgeous coral/orange colour that would look scrumptious with a tan. 

Papaya

Prickly Pear

Prickly Pear on my toes

Greenberry

The nail varnishes claim to give an 'extra glossy finish' and they aren't lying the polishes became 100% opaque with two coats and leave your nails with a high gloss finish, the drying time is great and you are left with what looks like a Salon manicure without leaving the comfort of your own home.  I have to say I am very impressed and can't wait to try the other two colours.
Has anyone else been enjoying these new colours?   

Nivea Soft Moisturiser // Review

Nivea Soft (£3.25) is my favourite cheapy moisturiser, it's like Phoenix tears in a little pot, OK I may be getting a bit carried away but it is fab! At a tiny snip it makes my horrid dry skin all lovely and smooth.  It's something I have used for as long as I can remember and is one of those beauty/skincare products that I couldn't live without.

It has a light floral scent which i personally love but may not be to everyone's taste, the moisturiser itself is suitable for your face, body and hands, it is thick but not heavy, so it sinks into your skin and leaves it hydrated all day.  Although I have never used it on my face I'm sure it would be a nice moisturiser.

What Nivea says this moisturiser does:
 Nivea® Soft is a highly effective moisturising cream for everyday use on face hands and body.
The improved formula with Jajoba Oil now contains even more moisturising care and has a refreshing effect on your skin, while Vitamin E helps protect its natural structure.
Does anyone else have a beauty product they couldn't live without?

Pretty Pictures of the Week #1

What a lovely week it has been, we have even seen a bit of sun which is very rare!

• A little sweet treat, McVitie's Mini Gingerbread Man with my Essie 'In the Cab-Ana' nail varnish,
• Making daisy chains in the sunshine,
• Pretty pink and white Tulips, Spring in a vase,
• Maybelline Color Show Polka Dots in 'Shooting Stars' I love this nail varnish,
• Heyland and Whittle Green Tea and Grapefruit candle in a tin, so so so yummy.

Hope everyone had a lovely week. x 

Simple Make-up Wipes, Cleansing and Exfoliating // Review

I have used Simple products for years and love their face wipes, I don't use them everyday as we all know how important it is to have a good skin regime, and I love my Bioderma Sensibio H20 - Micelle Solution (£9.99) cleansing water and Avene Hydrance Optimale Light moisturiser (£13.50) but there are those lazy days when your just far to tired for the whole facial routine and they are perfect for this very moment in time, they are also fab for taking on holiday and to the beach to refresh your face.   

I have always used the Cleansing Wipes (£2.99) and they have always loved my skin, they are 100% perfume and colour free with no unnecessary additives.  They gently cleanse and tone your skin without leaving a sticky residue (I hate that) so many wipes I have tried have left my skin feeling so yucky!  They have no problem removing my make-up and mascara however I am not sure whether they would remove waterproof mascara as I have never tried, but normal mascara comes off pretty easily.

As I love the Cleansing Wipes I thought I would give the Revitalising Exfoliating Wipes (£3.99) a try.  The wipes are double sided, one side has little exfoliating bumps, the other a smooth cleansing wipe, the wipes contain no colour, no perfume and are Dermatologically tested and approved.  They contain Aloe Vera which soothes and conditions your skin Vitamin E that moisturises and are 100% Alcohol and oil free which leaves your skin soft.

Close up of exfoliating wipe

The exfoliating side of the wipes lifts all the dead skin cells and leaves your skin silky smooth then the cleansing side is just like the normal Simple cleansing wipes so the best of both worlds in one wipe.  I was really impressed with them and will definitely be repurchasing, the only thing you have to remember is to stay away from your eye area.  I give the exfoliating wipes an 8 out of 10.  
Does anyone else have make-up wipes handy for those times they need to  just whip there make-up off?  

NOTD: Maybelline Color Show Polka Dots in Shooting Stars // Review

I have said before that I am not a great fan of flashy polishes and am quite straight forward when it comes to my nails, none of that nail art or jazzy stuff, as far as I go is some china glaze fairy dust as everyone needs a little sparkle in their life, however while I was in Boots today I spotted this Maybelline Color Show Polka Dots in Shooting Stars (£2.99) and couldn't resist its jeweled beautifulness.  I have to say Maybelline have outdone themselves it trounces the other hundreds of textured polishes out there.   

It is a wonderful dark turquoise blue colour full of little confetti pieces of glitter in different sizes all suspended in a gelly based varnish.  It is the kind of polish that makes you stare at your nails continually as they shimmer.

It would look fabulous painted over a blue polish but sadly I had nothing similar, oh gosh I need a blue nail varnish, like I really need an excuse to by more nail varnish!  However I still love it by itself its gorgeous and has made me a glitter convert.

Has anyone else fallen in LOVE with this nail varnish?

Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express // Review

Maybelline MEGA PLUSH volum' Express is my new favourite mascara, I have been a Max Factor False Lash Effect (£10.99) gal for ages, but I thought I would give the famed Maybelline mascara a try, I opted for the Mega Plush in Black (£7.99).

The mascara is lovely, it is advertised as a gel mousse mascara with 40% less hard wax's, it says all the right things on the packet but does it deliver!

I say a massive YES, I love the brush, I'm a big fan of what I call a proper brush rather than the rubber ones, the tapered end means you can get to those pesky corner lashes.  The only gripe i do have with it is the flex brush, I don't quite get it's point, and it is slightly freaky the first time you use it, it feels like it's going to ping back at you but I won't hold it against it!

It delivered everything that I normally look for in a mascara lengthening, a little volume and no clumping which I hate, but the absolute gem for me was that it doesn't leave your lashes feeling hard and crunchy.  Overall although I have wand issues this mascara is a gem and will definitely be my go to mascara, a 9 out of 10 for the 'Mega Plush' thank you Maybelline.

Has anyone else been enjoying this mascara?

Memory Box

Anyone who knows me knows I love keeping mementos of occasions, and am awful when it comes to getting rid of lovely cards from my nearest and dearest so it will be no shock to anyone that one of my favourite things is my memory box  At the moment it is an awful plastic tub, but its whats on the inside that counts!

I thought I would give you a little peek into my collection of memories.  The rather ghastly box is filled with photo books from friends, cards, odd photos, conformation bits and pieces and my birthday book from my 21st to name but a few of my little treasures.

I pulled out some of my favourite things to show you, the big book covered in flowers and watering cans was passed around at my 21st, it is full of messages from friends and family and is a lovely reminder of what a special day it was.  The photograph is a picture of a mini me in the caves of Nerja, we used to visit there a lot when I was little.  The red and blue badge was my head of house badge when I was at school, I was one of those people who loved school, but I went to a pretty amazing one, and living with your friends can only be fun.  The strange square card with a ceramic tile in the middle was a birthday card from a school friend, it's a test tile for ceramics, we had to make them as part of our A-level art and she made a card out of a spare one. 

The necklace was part of my 21st Birthday present from my Grandma its a Swarovski crystal ring on a sterling silver chain, I don't wear it but it means a lot to me.  The Christmas cards are my two favourite from last year, the green one was from my mother and the other was a lino cut done by my Auntie, she is super talented.  There is also a little ceramic pendant that a friend made me one weekend at school.  A thank you card that my cousin gave me when I was her bridesmaid, I think i was about 14.  Then last but by no means least is letters and cards, I love receiving post, it was the highlight of the school day when i was little and now its just rare to receive post as the age of the email has taken over, so those special letters from friends and family I like to keep.  Does anyone else have a memory box?

Sunday Morning Power Walk

Cathedral Close

Everyone got up early this morning and went off to do various activities, my mother and I went power walking and dragged my little brother along on his bike, shouting encouragement as we completed our route, even herding us like sheep at some point along the way, you have to love children!

The route we walk is gorgeous through the Cathedral Close and pass the river and on a sunny morning it deserved a picture. 

 Has anyone else been exercising in the sun today?

River outside the house

NOTD: B. Complete Long Lasting Nail Varnish in Peony //Review

My nail varnish obsession just can't be curbed, as proved by yesterday's trip to Superdrug, the loving and dutiful daughter I am I thought I would buy my mummy a prezzie a Revlon Lip Butter in 'Sorbet' as she has been after mine since I got it, but while I was there my beady eyes spotted these two polishes Peony by B. Complete (£4.99 Superdrug) and Maybelline Color Show Nails Polka Dot in Rain Forest Canopy (£2.99).

Peonies are my absolute favourite flower so when I saw this polish I had to have it.  B. Complete is said to be the Superdrug equivalent to Boots No7, I have never actually tried any of their products before but was drawn to the nail varnish so thought I would give it a go. None of  B. Completes products are tested on animals which is a nice touch especially for those who are Vegan.

Peony polish with the Peonies 

Now to the nail varnish itself with two coats you get a lovely glossy finish, its a gorgeous pink/purple (lilac) colour, it is pretty chip resistant and a gorgeous colour and has the best name!  I give this pretty polish an 8 out of 10.  Does anyone else ever get influenced by nail varnish names?  

Cheekmate Lip and Cheek Stain Review

I love lip and cheek stains I have been a massive fan of Benefits benetint since i started wearing makeup, so when Soap and Glory bought out Cheekmate (£8.00 available at Boot's) I was eager to try it.  Cheekmate is a refreshing gel stain with BLUSHBOOT technology which enhances the circulation in the capillaries of the skin.  The stain also has raspberry seed, kiwi extract and vitamin C to moisturize and condition.   

Soap and Glory Cheekmate

This would probably work as a cheek stain if used sparingly as it is really pigmented, but i bought it to use on my lips and for that purpose it has been great, its not sticky which was my main worry and gives a lasting rosey tint to your lips that isn't going anywhere fast!  I like using this by itself but also under my pink lipsticks so when they start to wear off i'm not left with that awkward half lip of lipstick look.  I may actually be tempted to say I prefer it to the benetint as the benetint is very runny and doesn't have great lasting power on the lips, however I do love using it on my cheeks.

Stained lips - Soap and Glory Cheekmate

This is defiantly a 9/10 product and something I will be repurchasing in the future.  Who else likes cheek and lip stains?

Maybelline Color Tattoo On and On Bronze // Review

Hey Lovelies,

I'm rather late jumping on this bandwagon I know but I go through massive eye shadow phases, but last week I picked up this Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR in On and On Bronze.  I really love bronze shadows and had heard so much about 'On and On Bronze' so i was really happy when i nabbed the last one on the shelf in Superdrug, I also picked up 'Permanent Taupe' for my mother, leaving on the shelf just a rather gaudy 'Turquoise Forever'  that I defiantly couldn't pull off!  Since then I have been meaning to review it but just haven't got around to it.

I actually really like the packaging of this product, I like the glass pot and the fact that you can see the product and what colour it is, it's so useful when your searching in the depths of your makeup bag.

 

Maybelline's 24HR Color Tatto is a cream gel shadow with a really gorgeous consistency, it claims to last 24 hours but I can't say I have tried it for that long, however what I do know is that it lasts all day without creasing and that satisfies me, I can see myself using this on a really regular basis. .

 As I have already said  I really like bronze eye shadows, I am much more of a natural girl when it comes to eye makeup, the On and On Bronze (£4.99) has a gorgeous shimmer to it, and is easy to apply with just the simple sweep of a finger.  There are twelve different colours and they are all available in both Boots and Superdrug stores, I couldn't recommend them more.  S.x 

NOTD: Gotta add some sparkle!

Essie Madison Ave-Hue

After painting my nails yesterday morning in Essie's Madison Ave-Hue I did my daily blog search and was having a read around and came upon Carrie:Brighton's blog where she had used glitter polish to do a signature nail, it reminded me of the china glaze Fairy Dust (£6.95) I had bought a couple of months ago, I had used it on top of different colours before but never as just a signature nail, and to be honest I haven't really been rocking the signature nail trend but I thought they would be a perfect match and so this morning I put four coats of fairy dust and then a top coat of Essie's 'good to go' on.  I'm actually really pleased with the way it has turned out.  What have you got on your nails at the moment?  S.x

china glaze Fairy Dust

NOTD: Essie Madison Ave-Hue

The perfect way to start a day a yummy homemade peach, banana and strawberry smoothie and newly manicured nails.

Madison Ave-Hue and a Smoothie

I love this colour it's a really vibrant baby pink with a slight shimmer, it's really girly and lovely for the summer, I know I have already reviewed this nail varnish in a previous post, but it is fast becoming a firm fave of my collection. S.x

Nails all painted