Favourites of 2014

Morning guys! Can you believe that yesterday we waved goodbye to 2014?! How sad. 2014 has been a great year for me in many ways and I kinda just want to cling onto it for a little bit longer.However, that said I'm also very much looking forward to turning over the page and starting a new chapter in my life, ah how exciting!

Today I thought I would share with you some of my favourite things from 2014 whether that be a revolutionary Lipstick discovery or an addictive series. I've had a snoop around my bedroom and had a browse through old blog posts throughout the year and thought I would gather the best of the bunch into one post. Got your notebook ready? Let's go...

First things first lets talk beauty. This year I actually feel like I really discovered myself on the blogging front and what suits me. I really got into blogging and have taken it to a new level. I've been blogging for the past 3 years but never with such dedication. I would usually just post at my leisure and on a whim. I never really thought about the fact that somebody else could possibly read my blog and find it interesting but it turns out you guys actually do. The blog initially started up as a creative outlet for my take on fashion trends and wish lists etc. Turns out it wasn't meant to be on the fashion front and although I still love fashion I definitely think blogging about Beauty & Lifestyle is much more up my street. I just wanted to say a big  thank you to every single person that reads my blog (yes you!) whether you just accidentally clicked on this post or if you read my blog religiously, thank you SO much. I really appreciate your constant support and I will continue to churn out some (hopefully) interesting content for you all in 2015. 

Anyway, moving on let's talk about what you came here for, yep that's right beauty..I've whittled down the list of my 'Holy Grail' material products and the winners are *drum roll*... Benefit Gimme Brow, Estee Lauder Double Wear & The Naked 2 Palette. Benefit Gimme Brow has seriously changed my life and I would never be without it. I think I've bought 4 of these this year since discovering it and just think it's amazing! Double Wear was a game changing product for me, I had always been on the hunt for a Foundation that has high coverage and stays put all day and Double Wear does just that. Again I always have a bottle of this product handy for days when I feel I need a higher coverage or if I have a long day ahead and need a product that won't budge. Now I know for some of you guys the Naked Palettes are probably old news but like I just said it wasn't until this year when I really started discovering beauty products that much. I think the Naked Palettes are awesome, I love any eye shadows that are golden or bronze toned - therefore the Naked 2 is definitely my ideal Palette. The great thing about the Naked Palettes is that you can mix so many combinations and shades to great a different effect every time. Although it's an expensive product I would definitely say it is worth investing in! 

Now then, let's talk food. It's fair to say this year I have discovered some revolutionary food items. As you guys know this year I actually turned vegetarian (read all about it here) so I definitely think this has been a contributing factor to me trying different recipes out and discovering new products. A revolutionary discovery for me was the Avocado - I mean damn where has this fruit been all my life. These days I pretty much incorporate it into as many of my meals as possible. I also found a new found love for Quinoa, Spinach and Peanut Butter. These are some of the foods that have become a daily staple for me. With me having the biggest sweet tooth ever, it wouldn't be a 2014 favourites post without mentioning Pots & Co (preferably the Salted Caramel) and a very recent discovery, well just last night in fact - The Coconut Collaborative Raspberry Snowconut Frozen Yoghurt - this tastes amazing.  Oh and also while we're at it I would urge any chocolate fan looking for a healthier alternative to purchase the Booja Booja Hunky Punky Chocolate Ice Cream - it only has 4 ingredients and tastes delicious!

So let's talk TV, I'll be honest I watch some utter trash on TV but it's good, addictive kinda trash so it's okay ;) Shows that I watched obsessively throughout 2014 included Breaking Bad (the best show you'll ever watch seriously), American Horror Story - utterly terrifying but completely addictive, All varieties of the Kardashians, oldies such as Absolutely Fabulous & Birds of a Feather were a huge source of entertainment for me as well.

Apps that provided me with hours of joys this year included  the usual suspects - Twitter, Facebook (shamefully), Pinterest and of course Instagram which was the app that reigned the throne in my books once again.

2014 was the year I fell back in love with Books and ones I loved the most and picked up in any spare second was definitely Gone Girl, The Fault In Our Stars, Before I Go To Sleep and Bridget Jones Diary. I'm hoping this year will be the same in the respect that I will find so much joy in reading and will continue to grab a book in any dull moment rather than scrolling through social media.

Fitness wise - you guys know I finally joined a gym which was a big step for me and my god, I actually went EVEN when on holiday in Milan, do I deserve a pat on the back or what?! Okay so on the fitness front things went well as a whole however I'll admit towards the end of the year I've lacked in motivation and been pretty lazy and ate way too much chocolate but this year I will be stepping up and taking control of the situation by creating a more structured work out and meal plan which will hopefully show in my appearance as the months go on so watch this space!

As you guys know, this year Kyle & I made a conscious effort to visit some more places in the world and to be honest pretty much every place we visited was amazing but of course Milan & Stockholm fill the winning spots in my opinion. This year we're hoping to cram a whole lot more of air miles in!

I hope you enjoyed this post and it has maybe given you a chance to reflect back on the year if you haven't already. For those of you who made it to the end of this lengthy post and was in it for the long haul - thank you!

What were your 2014 Favourites?

The Wednesday Post - A Week In Photos

Morning guys! Yet another week has passed by. I honestly cannot believe how fast this year is flying by. Its crazy to think that on Friday we'll be in August - but anyway, here for you I have, another 'week in photos' and to be honest it's been a pretty good one. At the start of the week I was forecasting a fairly boring schedule but it actually turned out to be really good.Oh and by the way, the girl on the left in the picture above is Christy - my big sister. Not sure if you've met her yet but now you have! I love this photo. On Sunday the weather was gorgeous so me, my 2 big sisters & my boyfriend all totted off to Clumber Park. We (atrociously) attempted to play Badminton and Football. Although we failed miserably, it was all good fun!

On Saturday Kyle & I also had a whirl at playing Badminton and because there was no wind, it was actually super good. I played quite well if I do say so my self. We also had an M & S picnic which is incredible. I love Marks & Spencer's simply because there are so many Vegetarian Options!

Guys - them desserts in the picture above were unreal. I think they were a Blackcurrant & Madagascan Vanilla Cake or something? Anyways, I would 10000% recommend them, they were absolutely delicious!

Quick car selfie on our way out for coffee! My hair looks so yellow in this picture but it is the filter I promise!

We went for a bit of a date night the other day at Frankies & Bennies. We hadn't been there in ages so it was lovely to pop in and have my favourite cocktail, the Strawberry Shortcake. Kyle's cocktail was a Pineapple one but I can't remember the official name of it ooops. It was very nice though. We were originally supposed to be going to the cinema to see The Purge 2 and I asked Kyle to book tickets (he didn't) so when we got there it was fully booked, gutted. However the evening turned out to be lovely anyway so I didn't mind in the end.

After feeling very adventurous the other day - I decided to put my wonderful culinary skills to practice and attempt to make my first ever batch of Spaghetti Bolognese. I was very pleased with the outcome and I reckon Kyle enjoyed it too. I reckon I will post a recipe up for this soon, so keep on the look out for it on the blog.

I actually tried fake tanning for the first time in about 2 years the other day. My poor pale skin and Fake Tan just don't mix. I usually end up covered in the a rash! However, the other day my sister recommended the Garnier Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzing Tan Gel. It's a clear gel (as the name suggests) and you just apply it all over your body as you would moisturiser and then thoroughly wash your hands afterwards. Then you wake up in the morning looking like a bronzed goddess, easy peasy! I was so happy with how it turned out. I was really worried that it would look patchy but it didn't. I had no reaction to the product and it has given me a sunkissed glow. It feels so nice to have a tan again today. I was feeling that happy that I thought I'd share you a bunny dressing gown selfie! I'm not wearing any face Foundation on here - just coloured my brows in and had mascara on. This is a huge rarity with me- I never usually go anywhere without Foundation. 

Anyway guys, that's a quick round up of my week. Hope you enjoyed it!

What did you get up to this week?

Brunch in The Garden, Just Desserts & A Walk With The Pooch

Morning guys! First of all I would like to apologize - it's been a whole week since I posted! I suppose my driving lessons and freelance work have just been taking priority the past week or so.

Today I wanted to share with you all another sort of 'week in photos' blog post. (I promise I've got some super good beauty and fashion posts on the way for you, so don't worry just yet).

With all the hustle and bustle this past month, this week was somewhat a tad quieter. I mean it's been busy don't get me wrong but its not been manic if you know what I mean, which I kinda like. Sometimes it's nice just to chill.

On Sunday morning it was such a beautiful day so I decided to make Kyle and I some brunch. Days like this are my favorite. Them ones where you get to sit in the garden and eat. I opted for my super lovely Banana Pancakes with some chopped up fruit. Naughtily I added a drizzle of Chocolate Sauce but hey ho it's Sunday so I don't care! I made Kyle a mini English Breakfast - Bacon, Beans, Toast and Egg and we both had an Iced Coffee to Drink. As you can see in the picture I pride my self on my ability to create a super cute set up by using unnecessary crockery...but then again who wouldn't want a heart shaped toaster holder? You see my point?!

We proceeded to spend the rest of our Sunday binge watching Netflix. Shamefully we watched the entire first season of American Horror Stories in a one'er. It was totally addictive but I wouldn't recommend watching it if you're a wuss like me. I spent the entire afternoon following Kyle around like a lost sheep, asking him to come to the toilet with me and having the lights on everywhere I went.


During the week my dad and I also went for our weekly walk. We pranced off to a hidden gem just outside of Clumber Park, which might I add has fast become my favorite place to go for a walk!

This was the first time in a long while that my feet actually ached after a walk but it was such a fun adventure!

Biscuit had a lot of fun playing and is such a clever little dog, he took this stick with him all the way round the walk bless him.

What did you get up to this week? 

Review - MAC Alluring Aquatic Bronzing Powder

So today lovely people I have decided to give you the low down on the MAC Alluring Aquatic Bronzing Powder. I was intrigued by this MAC collection so I just decided to go ahead and purchase it. I was on the look out for a bronzer anyway and this one just really happened to catch my eye.

I'll be honest - the pretty packaging was a huge pull factor for me. It just looks so pretty and well, as it says on the tin 'aquatic'. I've given this product a shot for a few weeks or so and thought it was about time I let you know whether its a winner or not.

*Disclaimer* Huge apologies for the photo quality, with this packaging being reflective it was so difficult to get images without any reflections on it and I only have my Iphone to take pictures on for the time being.

Now my first thought on this Bronzing Powder is - it's bloody brilliant! It was everything I was looking for in a Bronzer. It has quickly become a staple item in my make up bag. A few weeks in and I'm already wondering how I ever dealt with out. I decided to purchase the bronzer to 1. give me a sun kissed glow and a bit of colour and 2. to have a go at Contouring.  I know you can contour with either Foundation or Powder but I thought I would give the Powder a go first of all and d'ya what?! I'm really getting in the swing of things.  I love Contouring! ...But we will save that for another post.

I purchased this Bronzing Powder in the shade 'Refined Golden' and I think there are a few more shades available. The great thing is about this product is you really do not need much actual product at all. In fact, just a tiny dab of the brush in the pan will most definitely do the job. I am really impressed with the minimal amount of product you actually need as I know this means the bronzer will last me for ages - fantastic value for money, I feel as though I can justify the price already.

Like I said previously - I've been wearing this Bronzer pretty much every day since I've purchased it and d'ya know what I've actually had a load of compliments. Who would have thought a bit of Bronzer would make you look so much more presentable. I feel as though the Bronzer just really adds that bit of glow to your face and makes it look a lot more chiseled and defined.

If the water droplet, teal coloured packaging isn't enough to persuade you or if you're looking for a Bronzer that you want to be able to Contour with, add a bit of glam to your look or just to give you a bit of colour, This really is a winner and I would 100% recommend it.

MAC Maleficent Lipstick Review

Hey guys so this is a post I've been absolutely dying to do for ages! As you all should know by now, tomorrow the amazing film Maleficent will be coming  out in the cinema in the UK. As a huge Disney fan and even bigger fan of the Disney villain Maleficent I'm sure you can only imagine my excitement when I found out there was a film coming out just about the big old meany herself!

A huge hype seems to have floated all over the world about Maleficent - possibly down to the fact that the stunning Angelina Jolie is the one taking on the role as the evil madam. Another theory is that Malifecent seems to have become a style icon and I'm talking world wide. I mean did that fierce red lip statement and smokey eyes Arabian nights make up look derive from the queen of evil herself? Anyway further to my statement just then- unless you've been hibernating for somewhat an eternity then you will of course be aware of the amazing collaboration with MAC Cosmetics and Disney Maleficent. Pure genius if you ask me! As soon as I found out about this collab I obsessively checked my emails for weeks hoping to see my email from MAC notifying me of the uk launch and well once the glorious moment did happen I just knew I had to purchase something.

I  decided to go for the lipstick in the 'True Loves Kiss ' and  wow what a great purchase it was. I'm a sucker for red lipsticks as it is so I knew I would be lured into getting a lipstick.

So when my MAC delivery arrived my first impressions were well - impressed! The packaging was lovely and just how I hoped it would be. It was in a standard black package but had the Malifecent logo and hologram along with the MAC & Disney logo. It wasn't too in your face but was just a lovely touch to the product.

Upon opening the product I'll be honest I didn't hang around! I wiped off my lipgloss and decided to apply some. Now this lipstick creates a real colour pop and is a big statement so if you don't like standing out this colour ain't for you honey! The finish to the lipstick is glossy and shimmery unlike a lot of my other lipsticks which was a nice change. So overall thoughts -  9/10 for me. I just wish I purchased more of the collection! The staying power of this lipstick too is brilliant. I wore it out on a night out recently and stupidly forgot to put it in my clutch to top up. Luckily though after far too many drinks and shots the lipstick still stayed put.

I'll end this by letting you know that indeed I will be being a massive cliche and wearing my Maleficent lipstick tomorrow when I go and watch it at the the cinema!

Have you tried any of the MAC Maleficent range? What do you think to it?

Soap & Glory Haul

As with the majority of beauty fanatics in the UK - I am soooo obsessed with Soap & Glory and have been for years, every Christmas without fail my lovely nanny seems to buy me a huge hamper of Soap & Glory products that tend to keep me going a while and then it's up to me to keep topping up on my fave items!

Some of the products I have well and truly fallen for are:
Sugar Crush Body Wash £6.50
Sugar Crush Body Scrub £8
Orangegasm Body Wash £6.50
Hand Food £5
The Righteous Butter £10.50
Peaches & Clean 3 in 1 Face Wash £8
Butter Yourself Moisture Lotion £10

I use all of the products every day without fail - perhaps with the exception of the Sugar Crush Body Scrub as you don't need to exfoliate every single day. Also, I tend to mix and swap about with the Sugar Crush and Orangegasm Body Wash depending on my  mood. One thing is certain about all the S&G range is the fact they all smell beyond amazing and really do make you feel scrubbed up and squeaky clean. I believe their products do the world of good for my body and I couldn't be without them now.

I think another reason I am drawn towards Soap & Glory is 1 - because the packaging is so pretty and girly and maybe a little bit gimicky and 2 - because they're against testing on animals!

Now I know everyone has a different idea of how much they're willing to pay for something and at first Soap & Glory might scream 'little bit expensive' but they're sooo worth that little bit extra, they last ages and they smell out of this world. Also, they may seem expensive but remember your getting probably 3x times as much product as you would do with standard body washes etc in Wilkos and Boots. PLUS they're normally all on offer on 3 for 2 and you get your Boots Advantage Points as well so everyone is a winner!

I am obsessed with hand food and have it at my desk so I can moisturize my hands throughout the day at work as it is something I struggle with. I use the Peaches & Clean face wash daily and then moisturize with either the Butter Yourself Lotion or Righteous Butter depending on how much TLC my skin needs. The Righteous Butter is a lot thicker than Butter Yourself - I tend to use that if my body is in need of deep moisturizing but if my skin is fine I just use Butter Yourself to maintain that lovely softness - you're supposed to use it when you've just got out of the bath or shower when your skin is still a little damp and oh my it works treat.

My face off with Nadine Mendess

Hello lovelies!

If any of you have been following 'The Face' on Sky Living over the past couple of months then you will no doubt already have heard of the amazingly beautiful - Nadine Mendes! After a heated final face off last night Nadine came out in 4th place after making it to the final. Throughout the competition she walked til the death in catwalks and posed elegantly in photo shoots, proving her to be one of the strongest girls in the competition that is The Face. Teamed alongside her mentor Caroline Winberg, Nadine did an amazing job in the comp and will no doubt have an outstanding modelling career ahead of her. Luckily, I managed to grab her for a quick 5 minute interview with the girl herself and found out a little more about her experience on The Face.

Are you glad you're in team Caroline? 
Initially, I wanted to be in team Naomi, but I'm so thankful to be in team Caroline. I get along with all the girls and that makes the experience more enjoyable.

2. Had you done any modelling before The Face? I've been modelling part-time for 4 years, whenever I get time off from education really.

3. What is your dream campaign? (Beauty, high fashion, Marc Jacobs, vogue etc??) 
My dream campaigns would be Burberry and Victoria Secrets, both brands portray a luxurious style of living; and it would be a dream come true to live it, even just for a day.

4. What's Caroline like as a person? 
Caroline is such a lovely person, she's humble and very easy to talk to. The majority of the time it feels like she is one of the girls :)

5. What was it like to be in the presence of 3 hugely successful models? 
It's was such an honour, but at the same time scary! Their presence was so strong, and they were great at whatever modelling skills we had to learn. There was quite a lot of pressure on us as upcoming models!

6. If you could do The Face again what team would you like to be in? 
CAROLINE!!! I really loved being a part of Caroline's team and the girls were very easy to work with. I managed to learn so much with my mentor, and I was always encouraged to do better in a positive and constructive way.

7. How's life since The Face? I'm currently living abroad, as part of my university course so I been experiencing something new, travelling and having fun. I do miss the crew from The Face!

8. What top tips would you give to other aspiring models? 
Don't give up, practise a lot and don't ever forget you’re fabulous. 

9. Who was your best friend on the show? 
I got along with almost every girl in the competition but I would say Eleanor and Elaine.

10. Have you met any Celebs since appearing on the show? Yes, I met a few people from the A list :)

11. You have such flawless skin, what is your secret? 
All I do is wash, cleanse and moisturise. When I'm not modelling I don't wear a lot of make-up and I think that leaves your skin looking fresh.

12. How do you keep in shape? I always attempt to go gym or do some sort of exercise but never stick to it. I would say I'm naturally skinny.

13. Name 3 items you couldn't live without. Lip-gloss, my phone, and body lotion!

14. What was the atmosphere like in the house? We didn't spend much time at the house; it was early mornings and late nights. However the atmosphere was quite relaxed and chilled apart from elimination days when the losing teams were moody... and when most of the arguments happened.

Desserts Delivered Newcastle

So last year my boyfriend moved up to Newcastle and introduced me to this wonderful company that delivers freshly prepared desserts and treats straight to your door. Yes you heard right - they deliver cake to your door!!

Based in Newcastle, Desserts Delivered are probably my favourite takeaway choice because I've got an awful sweet tooth and therefore they are ideal. They offer a vast choice to appeal to everyone. Their desserts vary from cheesecakes, waffles, gateaus, cupcakes and blondies to pop tarts, wonka nerds and american sodas. So Desserts Delivered pretty much cover everything. If you need your sugar fix this is definitely the place to go.

The sad thing for me is that I don't actually live in Newcastle so when I go up to see my boyfriend we always have it as a treat and he's even occasionally brought a bag full of delicious treat back for us both to sift our way through.

Last week I entered a #DessertsDelivered Instagram competition - all you had to do was upload a fan pic of your food and hashtag #DessertsDelivered, being the lucky soul I am, I was absolutely thrilled when they announced I was the winner. My prize? A free 20 pounds delivery on the chosen day of my choice. Wooohooo.

See my winning picture below:

My standard choice of desserts when we order is usually a mixture of the following:

• Reeses Peanut Butter Cheesecake
• Bailey's Cheesecake
• Strawberry Cheesecake
• Toffee & Daim Crunch Pie (my fave)
• Chocolate Sinsation
• Mint Slice
• Welches Grape Soda

Unfortunately Desserts Delivered are only based up North at present and currently deliver to the following postcodes -  NE1, NE2, NE3, NE4, NE5, NE6, NE7, NE8, NE12 & NE28.However we're hoping it wont be long before they have a bakery/confectionery supplier planted all over for the UK. 

For the time being follow them on Twitter: @DessertsDeliver

Check them out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DessertsDeliveredNcl

Have a browse around their website: http://www.dessertsdeliveredncl.co.uk/

Winter Wardrobe Haul

The last couple of months I have been saving for upcoming events in October and November so haven't really been able to spend any money but last week was the last straw. I just felt really fed up and felt like my wardrobe needed sprucing up a bit. Since I'd been saving for the last couple of months, I thought that I deserved to treat my self to a few new bits and bobs. So guess what?! I went and did exactly that!

Above I have displayed some of the items I purchased in various cities. The other weekend I went up to Newcastle to help my boyfriend move into his new house and since we were already in the city we thought - why not go browse the shops! The Clementine shade Ralph Lauren Shirt-Dress was purchased from the newly opened Best Newcastle. I was really happy with this dress because I think its just so versatile. I can use it as office wear for work as it looks smart - whether it be as a dress with leggings or underneath a woolly jumper. I just know I'll get a lot of wear out of it. This dress was also my first ralphy purchase ever (shocking I know!). 

 With the 12th September being the release launch date of the Rihanna for River Island collection, I was determined from the day the collection was revealed that I needed to get something from her A/W set. Everything in the collection is just so me, it's tomboyish, fierce and has an urban gangster feel to it. I pre-ordered the G4 life bralet and then bought the baseball top from the Leeds RI store on Saturday (as seen on Cara Delevingne!!). In Leeds I also picked up this vintage oversized Levis denim jacket. All the denim jackets I ever wear are normally stolen from my boyfriend and I thought it was about time I invested in my own. At a not so hefty £30 from Best Leeds, I was more than happy with the jacket. It will be a wardrobe staple for sure! I also grabbed this oversized flannel tartan shirt which will also get tonnes of wear this winter - especially with Tartan being a hit A/W trend this season.

Purchase these items for yourself!:

BEST Leeds

Rihanna for River Island

Wha

OPI brings you their new A/W 13 Collection: San Francisco

 OPI have just launched their new collection for this A/W. It is set to be the IT nail lacquer of the season. The collection entitled 'San Francisco' brings a street style come urban coast flair to the nails and toes. With a beautiful palette ranging from moody greys and blues to gorgeous jewel ruby tones, the collection is inspired by the cities most iconic elements.

San Francisco by Lena White (The UK Distributor of OPI) has a mixture of shiny finish polishes and urban textured matte finishes called the Liquid Sand Collection.

Lena White has changed the face of the nail industry over the past 30 years by bringing her expertise and knowledge of what women want to the table. Lena knows that women want:  Instant gratification and  the effortless style that beautifully manicured hands. Lena started as a rookie nail tech back in 1976 but has since used her motto to transform the nail industry and so the finished product of this hard work is the San Francisco A/W 13 collection. Click Here to buy San Francisco shades for yourself!

A few of my favourites from the collection are shown above(from left to right):

• Muir Muir On The Wall
• Embaraca Dare Ya
• Peace & Love & OPI
• Haven't The Foggiest
• First Date At Golden Gate
• It's All San Andreas Fault

Which of these shades are you going to be flaunting this season and why?!