tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90177550955882074452024-02-22T10:42:21.086-08:00C R E A T E T H E C O V E RBeauty | Lifestyle | FashionCreate The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-38003775373319025172017-01-05T10:07:00.000-08:002017-01-05T10:07:34.580-08:00London Room Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So 1 year down the line and 3 homes later, I can finally show you around my little London space.</div>
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As I mentioned above, this has been an awful long time coming. Finding the 'perfect' place to live in London was an unbelievable chore. 3 different flats and sets of housemates, 6 trips to IKEA and only God knows how many different room arrangements - I'm finally settled!</div>
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I've spent the past 5 months gradually pulling together the final homely touches and bits and pieces to finally have a space I can call my own.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXBsLfPgCEEGFlMjXC5Ugb21v52ipJNT23uQ-HVqsNhIKGw19t9K9CrKZTk3WB8qNZgSB7ohm3fM3DSEVN48XKUkk01Pj5vfQcKqJ5e3yzsp2vDZjY6VHljjodDERXRhstSQiBH_jf5w/s1600/IMG_0568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXBsLfPgCEEGFlMjXC5Ugb21v52ipJNT23uQ-HVqsNhIKGw19t9K9CrKZTk3WB8qNZgSB7ohm3fM3DSEVN48XKUkk01Pj5vfQcKqJ5e3yzsp2vDZjY6VHljjodDERXRhstSQiBH_jf5w/s1600/IMG_0568.JPG" /></a></div>
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One of my favourite features in my bedroom is the wall of pictures and fairy lights I've put up. This is super simple and inexpensive but I think it's a really cute way to showcase those memories that usually don't make their way off your phone or facebook.</div>
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The curtain lights I found on Amazon along with the small pegs used to clip on the images. The lights are attached to the wall with small 'command' adhesive hooks. I had the images printed by '<a href="https://www.lalalab.com/" target="_blank">LaLaLab</a>', a fab little app that lets you order a variety of prints from your smartphone (from your gallery or social media accounts). I also ordered a large collage from them which is hanging in my bathroom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirON4AxTqPkxq-Lejv0LbmMVaNI-uHc47NsMxI6eWeZbt-OKDH370cuW6ZmbBVMptYTCWnYPM_K0I4tPPbj54HoAMwOFUkTo4etTkv50Ne-4aiWqBz229ZuGAQ9ymoiD44Rl9xYmdSbgg/s1600/IMG_0558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirON4AxTqPkxq-Lejv0LbmMVaNI-uHc47NsMxI6eWeZbt-OKDH370cuW6ZmbBVMptYTCWnYPM_K0I4tPPbj54HoAMwOFUkTo4etTkv50Ne-4aiWqBz229ZuGAQ9ymoiD44Rl9xYmdSbgg/s1600/IMG_0558.JPG" /></a>This bedding set I picked up by Accessorize at Dunelm Mill, I just love how bright it is! The cream blanket I grabbed one day whilst food shopping in Tesco, it is honestly so snug, as the weather has been so cold I quite often wrap up in this whilst watching TV on an evening.</div>
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My Macbook skin is by the fabulous Polly at <a href="https://www.sighh.co/" target="_blank">Sighh Designs</a>.</div>
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<span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">I pride myself on being a DIY queen (when it comes to flat pack furniture at least), and this set of drawers is one of my many IKEA conquests. </span></div>
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<span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">I'd actually been eyeing this <a href="http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/storage-furniture/chest-of-drawers/malm-chest-of-6-drawers-oak-veneer-mirror-glass-art-10106505/" target="_blank">MALM</a> unit up a couple of years ago, instead though I settled on the wide 6 draw <a href="http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/storage-furniture/drawer-units-storage-cabinets/alex-drawer-unit-on-castors-white-art-40196241/" target="_blank">ALEX</a> unit (the saving grace series of every beauty addict and their dog), this however is still safe and sound at my parents home back up North. I opted for this one as I needed it for not just cosmetics but also some clothing and other bits and pieces, the mixture of shallow and deep drawers were therefore perfect.</span></div>
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<span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Really I'd like to keep jewellery in the top section, for now though it houses a small fraction of my <a href="http://www.illamasqua.com/" target="_blank">Illamasqua</a> obsession.</span></div>
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Bedside tables, as it turns out, are a tricky thing to organise. I'll start out with maybe 3 or 4 items on them and then honestly it's like rabbits, things just seem to multiply! If I have one resolution in 2017 it's to try and cut down the amount of crap that accumulates on them. </div>
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I've tried to opt for the essentials, candles, photos and a few pretty things ...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeepJXXJazEt8C3PvV8W-7Xh3dD2UCRNpWjU3iHKGViDRsBflPwXMbw9mp-qfEjsBhSyto995tijz5xyMsxVfmuenmp5PFQcBksIuXg_6iGkx8LIGV65sP_YGPNhB9WQ5_2h6QlE9CpI/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeepJXXJazEt8C3PvV8W-7Xh3dD2UCRNpWjU3iHKGViDRsBflPwXMbw9mp-qfEjsBhSyto995tijz5xyMsxVfmuenmp5PFQcBksIuXg_6iGkx8LIGV65sP_YGPNhB9WQ5_2h6QlE9CpI/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG" /></a></div>
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... and of course my pride and joy, the Dolce Gusto <a href="https://www.dolce-gusto.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/496/s/genio-2-delonghi-automatic-piano-black/category/57/" target="_blank">Genio</a>. No morning is complete without a cup of coffee.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlzmBMhIPy-f3iBBL2qIEbFJ2XqQeugfERPIwtWNL3PsiuDweb2Mn0iYmNwolYHPquPP4GN4T8UgEoCNh9tsMBQUmEm59RGlF3KA1xlW3w64Vl92mcaEyU78Pr5m0pbB1zcxH0KZOv-Y/s1600/IMG_0565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlzmBMhIPy-f3iBBL2qIEbFJ2XqQeugfERPIwtWNL3PsiuDweb2Mn0iYmNwolYHPquPP4GN4T8UgEoCNh9tsMBQUmEm59RGlF3KA1xlW3w64Vl92mcaEyU78Pr5m0pbB1zcxH0KZOv-Y/s1600/IMG_0565.JPG" /></a></div>
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Possibly my favourite gift, a fabulous golden pineapple from <a href="https://littlegirllittleblackdress.wordpress.com/author/littlegirllbd/" target="_blank">Caitlin</a>.</div>
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One can never have enough candles.</div>
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Yet more fairy lights, I have a problem. FYI this is the door to my bathroom.</div>
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I'm lucky enough to have two sets of HUGE built in wardrobes in my bedroom, complete with cupboards above. Safe to say I had to purchase a wee step later to use said cupboards.</div>
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This set hold some of my coats (the most regularly used reside on the back of my door), some short dresses, scarves and my massively condensed shoe collection. </div>
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The second set house my <a href="http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/storage-furniture/shelving-units-systems/kallax-shelving-unit-with-doors-white-stained-oak-effect-spr-59197453/" target="_blank">KALLAX</a> units (well one of, the other three I gifted to the living room) which I keep additional clothing in, long dresses, trousers and shirts. It's slightly chaotic in there at the moment. Oh, and some more shoes!</div>
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Organising my bathroom has been one of the trickier challenges, I had no idea just how many toiletries I owned!</div>
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Storage proved a bit of nightmare as the layout isn't really conducive to any sort of unit, mainly due the placement of the radiator. Ive managed to squeeze in a corner shelving unit though, my trusty Parisian themed trunk (full of bedding and towels) and a couple of baskets under the sink.</div>
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I really wanted to make sure my bathroom wasn't just a blank canvas, which they often can be. I focussed on brightening the windowsill and plastering yet more photos about the room. </div>
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Honestly, there's still a long way to go with this room but it definitely does the job for now.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3kohRTew-b-e-xXOpgLBgHS1iPBbTva70Tx6hBRQh5U0ihRQIuYmvd5JD3Qpv5tjvnxk6DmwWotcwyYq62Mh1R82cXuoy9Rqnt6IlUY7E0y1Vx2wMYUrPP_29xGaAGXvjgEAq8utZa0/s1600/IMG_0580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3kohRTew-b-e-xXOpgLBgHS1iPBbTva70Tx6hBRQh5U0ihRQIuYmvd5JD3Qpv5tjvnxk6DmwWotcwyYq62Mh1R82cXuoy9Rqnt6IlUY7E0y1Vx2wMYUrPP_29xGaAGXvjgEAq8utZa0/s1600/IMG_0580.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6K4Fs0AoCTd0ttl_Y8AfgGmc7lPawvQ1uhHc_Y48q3bVpCDHLQJis66xQecKmyAGQMcnwjSEk4iGmUH3U7dxttd1U8OTGULGE9NFc28FoXq0nbDJ1bNiYyMp9CvqY5cH_QEGcNsyzeTY/s1600/IMG_0581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6K4Fs0AoCTd0ttl_Y8AfgGmc7lPawvQ1uhHc_Y48q3bVpCDHLQJis66xQecKmyAGQMcnwjSEk4iGmUH3U7dxttd1U8OTGULGE9NFc28FoXq0nbDJ1bNiYyMp9CvqY5cH_QEGcNsyzeTY/s1600/IMG_0581.JPG" /></a></div>
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<i>Don't ask why my <a href="https://www.sophiawebster.com/" target="_blank">Sophia Webster's</a> are in the bathroom, I don't know either.</i></div>
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So that's it! A little insight into my home in the capital. If any of you have any extra storage tips (particularly for the bathroom) I'd love to hear them. </div>
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Any more coffee addicts out there with a machine next to their bed, or do I have a bit of a problem?</div>
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TTFN</div>
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x</div>
Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-1105635512916808002016-05-21T09:00:00.002-07:002016-05-22T10:46:59.221-07:00Absolute filth ..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2C26_cHqxs80Me3TQ9mW09ydVBFtzwvKFCSKQvU53FU_RTPSOi7Vo0at_5LXLLHOe2lxZWIA5h4pJMOn0niGDGBatWjN1fMfZxTCmZ3x9avONmknA80FwffukuKVPA3ktEuHh8jasLJY/s1600/13285734_10153435425737245_1084042056_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2C26_cHqxs80Me3TQ9mW09ydVBFtzwvKFCSKQvU53FU_RTPSOi7Vo0at_5LXLLHOe2lxZWIA5h4pJMOn0niGDGBatWjN1fMfZxTCmZ3x9avONmknA80FwffukuKVPA3ktEuHh8jasLJY/s1600/13285734_10153435425737245_1084042056_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/13281929_10153435425807245_705570077_n.jpg?oh=0a781c664466620c5704fdce5a788d20&oe=574289E9" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>That is the only way to describe the delight that is Tough Mudder. Muddy. Cold. Wet. Long. Filthy. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat!<br />
Maybe I'll train for the next one though, nobody told me it was 12 miles. </div>
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And here we are in all pristine, shiny white glory. It really didn't last long.</div>
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When my friends first asked me if I wanted to join their Tough Mudder team, I jumped at it. Whilst back in the day I was quite a sporty child (competitive swimming pretty much consumed my school days), in recent years my activity levels have certainly dwindled. This seemed like a great chance to get active and have fun (for the most part) in the process.</div>
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When I stopped to think about it, it suddenly dawned on me what I had agreed to. 12 miles up and down steep hills with a mass of obstacles along the way. I was actually paying for the privilege to complete near enough a half marathon, be plunged into ice cold water (complete with ice cubes), get mud in places I didn't even know existed, get electrocuted and many other unspeakable challenges.</div>
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<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/13236251_10153435425682245_1343063446_n.jpg?oh=c37496f9660e7996bc7afbd36bfce652&oe=57438554" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/13236251_10153435425682245_1343063446_n.jpg?oh=c37496f9660e7996bc7afbd36bfce652&oe=57438554" /></a></div>
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Allow me to introduce you to the team;</div>
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Me, in all my monkey bar glory. Pretty certain I dropped into the water 2 seconds after this photo was taken.</div>
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<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/13235946_10153435425707245_2020412571_n.jpg?oh=3c3730ad94470a8d04bd7c88dab2529b&oe=57428146" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/13235946_10153435425707245_2020412571_n.jpg?oh=3c3730ad94470a8d04bd7c88dab2529b&oe=57428146" /></a></div>
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Stef, I swear she is hiding down there somewhere.</div>
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Matt M, being a former Rugby played I don't think he found this challenging enough.</div>
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Alex, never have I seen someone so graceful swinging across the monkey bars. He could actually be a monkey?</div>
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<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/13250335_10153435441937245_979560290_n.jpg?oh=51bd76ca246d1e85f15b3e2c984cb7bc&oe=5742AAEB" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/13250335_10153435441937245_979560290_n.jpg?oh=51bd76ca246d1e85f15b3e2c984cb7bc&oe=5742AAEB" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/13250335_10153435441937245_979560290_n.jpg?oh=51bd76ca246d1e85f15b3e2c984cb7bc&oe=5742AAEB" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/13250335_10153435441937245_979560290_n.jpg?oh=51bd76ca246d1e85f15b3e2c984cb7bc&oe=5742AAEB" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/13250335_10153435441937245_979560290_n.jpg?oh=51bd76ca246d1e85f15b3e2c984cb7bc&oe=5742AAEB" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/13250335_10153435441937245_979560290_n.jpg?oh=51bd76ca246d1e85f15b3e2c984cb7bc&oe=5742AAEB" /></a></div>
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Caitlin, although she seems to be burying her head in the hay stack.</div>
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And finally, the 'seductive' creature that is Matt S.</div>
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Collectively we became 'Streatham Spirit'. </div>
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We prepared how every great team do in anticipation of a sporting endeavor - a pasta party and activity session customising t-shirts. </div>
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For some unknown reason, the team felt I was a responsible enough party to be in charge of ironing on the t-shirt transfers. Thankfully they all came out just fine, they even stayed in one piece throughout the event.</div>
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One of the great little features about Tough Mudder is their Shoe Amnesty. After squelching your way through mud mile, the last thing you want to is take your shoes home - I was actually struggling to walk in mine at all after that interesting experience.</div>
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Just leave your muddy footwear behind in the designated pile and they'll be cleaned up and sent off to someone that could really use them. Magic.</div>
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By some miracle, I made it to the end. Look how happy I am! I have to send out big love to all my team for waiting for me at near enough every obstacle. I was struggling with the pace and walked the majority of course. I did feel bad for not training as much as I should .... but then I remembered that I struggled to even run a mile back in my swimmer days so I don't think I'd have been able to do much better. Maybe I would have made it across the monkey bars?</div>
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Or perhaps next year I'll manage to ring the bell.</div>
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Anybody giving Tough Mudder a try this year?</div>
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TTFN</div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-9352104484572705242016-04-09T11:20:00.001-07:002016-05-22T10:48:54.342-07:00Quarter life crisis... let's get healthy - SourcedBox review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">Did someone say I can get tasty treats delivered straight to my door, and I don't have to feel guilty* about eating them? Yes please </span><a href="https://sourcedbox.com/refer/Sian-UHNNKYEJ" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">SourcedBox</a><span style="text-align: start;">!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygjTPH_VzXQbvaQUr23ypHIcACjMR7ZUvTFGkau19FD0RVyx-MxSc0RtVJ-1mChy9htdmMPblh4VugHBmXfiB9LYdMz3RJf8AK_OoYi4bfcSx_zi1KVL2M6QxibvkegtNwqnpEYcf_k4/s1600/IMG_0417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygjTPH_VzXQbvaQUr23ypHIcACjMR7ZUvTFGkau19FD0RVyx-MxSc0RtVJ-1mChy9htdmMPblh4VugHBmXfiB9LYdMz3RJf8AK_OoYi4bfcSx_zi1KVL2M6QxibvkegtNwqnpEYcf_k4/s1600/IMG_0417.jpg" /></a></div>
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*Maybe a little if I give in and eat them all in one go...</div>
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So recently I turned 25, and it hit my like a freight train. Something about officially being classed as mid-twenties has got me thinking that I'm actually supposed to be an adult now. </div>
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<a href="http://cdn.notonthehighstreet.com/fs/35/53/7b33-b622-4a1b-8166-80158aef05e9/original_i-can-t-adult-today-funny-mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.notonthehighstreet.com/fs/35/53/7b33-b622-4a1b-8166-80158aef05e9/original_i-can-t-adult-today-funny-mug.jpg" /></a></div>
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With that in mind I'm trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle, being a lover of all things carby, cheesey and sugary (not necessarily altogether I will add) I need all the help I can get. </div>
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To kick start the motivation I have signed up to take park in <a href="https://toughmudder.co.uk/events/find-an-event?gclid=CjwKEAjw0KK4BRDCiKHD5Ny8pHESJACLE620gGlYzNmpuav_a3VYqfD7ISjp3nu7GS7c7VDtV6dn3hoCxO_w_wcB" target="_blank">Tough Mudder</a> ... quite a risky decision considering the last time I exercised was back in my swimmer days 10 years ago. I'll give you an update on that if I live to tell the tale. </div>
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That's the exercise taken care of, what about nutrition? Enter <a href="https://sourcedbox.com/refer/Sian-UHNNKYEJ" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">SourcedBox</a>.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuxiPM-8goCcSpG4-ncR3U6qMkrEUIy_c9aqTPAmy5FHL5cGJl-dLJq3-z7Ut8fRrymnD8meajr_8ajjtXTHOB3VPwuGY0ZVAdwzWZ7Y3M-wB13qgdMQV3RXfqIgSQ2ylLwIfaIFUZL0/s1600/IMG_0410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuxiPM-8goCcSpG4-ncR3U6qMkrEUIy_c9aqTPAmy5FHL5cGJl-dLJq3-z7Ut8fRrymnD8meajr_8ajjtXTHOB3VPwuGY0ZVAdwzWZ7Y3M-wB13qgdMQV3RXfqIgSQ2ylLwIfaIFUZL0/s1600/IMG_0410.jpg" /></a><br />
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If you're not already familiar with <a href="https://sourcedbox.com/refer/Sian-UHNNKYEJ" target="_blank">SourcedBox</a>, it's a monthly snack box subscription and all the goodies are healthy, a miracle when you consider how often chocolate crops up. Created by YouTubers Niomi Smart and Marcus Butler, it's packed full different munchies and drinks that aren't full of sugar and chemicals.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWue-Bm3ckLwcnEDiRMVvBCirr6B3I9DNMKo6jgrqg3F-F51kR5bK3xaAzXeGM37lzD1lLXdhbMxyhTBQ-hsj_94q1hkVSRNUYkYR5_1AUyx-5YzD4aI21nOkX21HP0br4YAG5de-5dU/s1600/IMG_0415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWue-Bm3ckLwcnEDiRMVvBCirr6B3I9DNMKo6jgrqg3F-F51kR5bK3xaAzXeGM37lzD1lLXdhbMxyhTBQ-hsj_94q1hkVSRNUYkYR5_1AUyx-5YzD4aI21nOkX21HP0br4YAG5de-5dU/s1600/IMG_0415.jpg" /></a></div>
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I was thrilled to arrive home yesterday to see my box had been delivered, and oh so nicely packaged! The box is wrapped in a lovely minty green plastic, perfect for not falling foul to the 'glorious' weather we experience here in England - side note, pigtails have becoming a regular look for me to avoid looking like a drowned rat, there's been so much rain!</div>
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The snacks themselves are wrapped in tissue paper and slotted together like a game of Tetris, you really get your moneys worth here. Tucked in on top is a menu with all the items in this months box and little info about them.</div>
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Enough chit chat, what's in the box!?</div>
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<b><i>'Lightly salted sweet potato crisps - HECTARES</i></b></div>
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<i>Hand-cooked and hand-picked, these crisps use the finest sweet potatoes from farms in North Carolina, USA.'</i></div>
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My eyes lit up as soon as I saw these. As I mentioned, I'm a carb addict and sweet potatoes are one of my favourite things. Sweet potato fries anybody? I tucked into this blue beauty straight away and wasn't disappointed. Sweet, salty and (obviously) crispy it's just a little bag of joy. A great alternative to standard crisps when you're in the mood for something a little naughty. I may just have to go and source some more of these...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoYt45ezK7cKRI4E8Eo0zROyGq97aKDy8xHqQ46abpiaja7A34Q0hDXEKGZOtMv7IIHdRhe1dfsGaOvnLwSQSQC_WPg3eIi63BY9RyiS78mV1FnX321Y5aawUT8Nl1MSNyMR0k1Cx6EI/s1600/IMG_0420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoYt45ezK7cKRI4E8Eo0zROyGq97aKDy8xHqQ46abpiaja7A34Q0hDXEKGZOtMv7IIHdRhe1dfsGaOvnLwSQSQC_WPg3eIi63BY9RyiS78mV1FnX321Y5aawUT8Nl1MSNyMR0k1Cx6EI/s1600/IMG_0420.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i>'Sweet Flakees - ORGANIC FLAKEES</i></b></div>
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<i>Earthy beetroots with juicy and aromatic compote of summer berries, these remind us of sunny summer days.'</i></div>
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I've yet to tuck into these - I do need to TRY and make this box last a month until the next one! I read the word 'beetroot' and it concerned me, I'm not a fan usually but if the summer fruits play their part I think this could actually be pretty scrummy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4z4HM52V1xLXxauNqPG7DeiNHnNNKW0JNGrSohMBOnDlPj9soUQFW0GR_RQfVdtWf8KldEmMrr_kkSwWoov-ZOize3Xnw-fugqoRjsuIxrBKhD9yAWX0sjA-vWSWrARg1AzcPXmK66M/s1600/IMG_0421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4z4HM52V1xLXxauNqPG7DeiNHnNNKW0JNGrSohMBOnDlPj9soUQFW0GR_RQfVdtWf8KldEmMrr_kkSwWoov-ZOize3Xnw-fugqoRjsuIxrBKhD9yAWX0sjA-vWSWrARg1AzcPXmK66M/s1600/IMG_0421.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i>'Vanilla chocolate buttons - BRONTIE & CO</i></b></div>
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<i>These chocolate buttons are hand-made in West Sussex with Ecuadorian cacao and raw Madagascan vanilla.'</i></div>
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These are my blogging fuel as I type. I'm a dark chocolate fan anyway so these are right up my street, if you're more of a milk chocolate fan though these probably aren't for you. At first I thought the portion was a little stingy, but eating them a little goes a long way! Dark chocolate being richer and more bitter than it's milky counterpart, the flavour stays with you and it doesn't take much to satisfy that chocolate craving. </div>
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<b><i>'Goji and vanilla chocolate - RAWR CHOCOLATE</i></b></div>
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<i>An exotic mix of raw dark chocolate and one of our favourite superfoods, the goji berry!'</i></div>
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Two of my favourites combined. What's not to love? Taking all my will power not to gobble this down in one go.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKEIK_w8wKXT7yP1eVX2qcgYtWflSZ2aQHKD87aa2k9H_TVnQMyBFEhbRI046azpWNABmHDEgxxBRKT-tBtiRunyVBH2ItE56WJ-cqeZT3264yU4m3vwZtOMDV6crPWN9PIBoZlOIXqs/s1600/IMG_0422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKEIK_w8wKXT7yP1eVX2qcgYtWflSZ2aQHKD87aa2k9H_TVnQMyBFEhbRI046azpWNABmHDEgxxBRKT-tBtiRunyVBH2ItE56WJ-cqeZT3264yU4m3vwZtOMDV6crPWN9PIBoZlOIXqs/s1600/IMG_0422.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i>'Raspberry coconut pecks - INSPIRAL</i></b></div>
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<i>These crunchy raw coconut chips are coated in a raspberry sauce with a hint of vanilla and baobab.'</i></div>
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I never used to be a coconut fan, my sunny trip to Mexico soon changed that though. Really I just think I don't like Bounty chocolate bars! I'm keen to try these as raspberries are one of my favourite fruits and there's even some Baobab thrown in which I've heard so many people rave about! Anybody familiar with The Apprentice (BBC) will remember Charleine's attempts to pronounce that one ...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4xK-IchNzqL0DKgQWTiXqhVTccAqhXv960q6cxhKhJm3plzxLi2s2qZOH3u7sqwJe2v6BVpzcv76lisAiMOovUXxmbGsmNnKcpD5TXY2pKrzefRfSxTQlXtlmtP5c_yE7I5lL-EghTU/s1600/IMG_0423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4xK-IchNzqL0DKgQWTiXqhVTccAqhXv960q6cxhKhJm3plzxLi2s2qZOH3u7sqwJe2v6BVpzcv76lisAiMOovUXxmbGsmNnKcpD5TXY2pKrzefRfSxTQlXtlmtP5c_yE7I5lL-EghTU/s1600/IMG_0423.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i>'Apple / Banana / Lemon dessert bar - RHYTHM 108</i></b></div>
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<i>These dessert bars give a healthy twist to kitchen classics, they've even got baking trays so you can have them hot!'</i></div>
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I'm so intrigued by this one, a mini baking tray!? As you can see I have the banana option, I love banana bread so I think this could be a winner. The apple one sounds pretty good too, I might have to try and recreate them myself.</div>
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<b><i>'The Beetroot - RUDE HEALTH</i></b></div>
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<i>An allotment full of fruit and veg in a fudgy bar with seeds & nuts thrown in for good measure.'</i></div>
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Beetroot. I'm scared. Fudgy? Now I'm intrigued. We'll see.</div>
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<b><i>'Goji goodness flapjack bar - CREATIVE NATURE</i></b></div>
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<i>Experience berry magic as the naturally sweet super bar takes your taste buds on a rollercoaster ride - we love it!'</i></div>
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A flapjack bar with superpowers? Get in my belly! One for the road next week I think when I'm feeling peckish ... all day long. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8R9QsPAbJSm2Rqg93hYGKcx5e3juKILpQw18BhtO4c4ytQdz4biS_emTn5Qun6yvezdv9XdNukdlbW-9Sxg1-cU4BwlEymyAHPhdaQ6HJwZwZ3D0jwEqOVoleU7Y6WOnFqN3LTJkurE/s1600/IMG_0424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8R9QsPAbJSm2Rqg93hYGKcx5e3juKILpQw18BhtO4c4ytQdz4biS_emTn5Qun6yvezdv9XdNukdlbW-9Sxg1-cU4BwlEymyAHPhdaQ6HJwZwZ3D0jwEqOVoleU7Y6WOnFqN3LTJkurE/s1600/IMG_0424.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i>'Maple water - DRINK MAPLE</i></b></div>
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<i>Carefully collected from Vermont maple trees in the spring, this pure and refreshing water is full of nutrients.'</i></div>
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The jury's out on this one. Pleasant enough but not something I'd be rushing out to buy again, although I probably should have stored it in the fridge for a while first! If you're trying to drink more water but finding it, well, boring(!) then this would be a nice alternative and there's some extra minerals and what not thrown in.</div>
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Bonus time! This one isn't on the menu ..</div>
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<b><i>VITL Greens Complete Daily Superfood Powder - VITL</i></b></div>
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<i>'Bursting with goodness, each handy sachet contains a great tasting plant based blend of 16 nutrient dense super foods handpicked to deliver optimal nutrition.'</i></div>
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A little sachet of various buzz word superfoods including; maca, kale, spirulina, flaxseed, wheat grass, goji berries, green tea and Seagreens. Instructions are to add to your juice, smoothie or water and enjoy up to 3 times a day. I'll definitely pop this in my next smoothie, I don't know if it will affect the flavour, but if it does let's hope it's in a positive way! If you're a fan you also get a wee promo code for a 6 sachet free trial.</div>
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<b><i>'Red Miso on the go soup - CLEARSPRING</i></b></div>
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<i>A rich and satisfying Miso soup, the sea vegetable add an earthy texture creating the perfect desk side snack.'</i></div>
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The only item that I'll be gifting to my friend. I'm just not a soup person, sorry! It is great to see though that even a 'cuppa soup' can be healthy.</div>
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That's everything! A really good mix and quantity of treats for the price. If you're unsure there is a one off box option for £21.95. Personally however I'd still just opt for the monthly subscription as you can cancel at any time and it's cheaper at £18.95 a month. If you've decided you're already in it for the long haul and want to save some pennies you can punt for the annual subscription and essentially get 2 months free - £189.95 for 12 months.</div>
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As another cheeky bonus, if you follow my link <a href="https://sourcedbox.com/refer/Sian-UHNNKYEJ" target="_blank">here</a> (or anywhere it says <a href="https://sourcedbox.com/refer/Sian-UHNNKYEJ" target="_blank">SourcedBox</a>) you can get 15% off your first <a href="https://sourcedbox.com/refer/Sian-UHNNKYEJ" target="_blank">SourcedBox</a>!</div>
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Have you tried <a href="https://sourcedbox.com/refer/Sian-UHNNKYEJ" target="_blank">SourcedBox</a> or any other snackbox subscriptions? What were your thoughts?</div>
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I'm now going to eat myself into a food coma.</div>
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TTFN</div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-11882426173539516742016-01-13T12:19:00.000-08:002016-05-22T10:55:41.221-07:00I went on my jollies<br />
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Have you ever been somewhere so incredibly beautiful that you don't really want to come home? That place would be Tulum.</div>
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<i><i>Public Service Announcement - This is choc full of photos!</i></i></div>
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Now, let's get the elephant out of the room. This post is INCREDIBLY late. I actually visited Mexico in October, but many many things have changed and so some things have just taken a back seat. Long story short I've just relocated to London ... but more on that later. To the matter in hand ...</div>
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Having grown up with parents that truly love their caravan, you can't really call me the most travelled of children. Putting this sad fact to rights, myself and Caitlin thought it only right to travel long haul and check out the sunny land of Mexico.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-eiv6cnYMvJcBKrGtb29pSR8kd4uD65q0HZZeFLb-EWKxJyfqAo6bSOHa_h1nXb_NZrTFipNA7kjFKqLwuDawkJTBxPbE6717CbKZXsymr86jz9hzEAib8_Pq5l3lmgV-y0FYbtDQyk/s1600/12511385_10153170629057245_140810017_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-eiv6cnYMvJcBKrGtb29pSR8kd4uD65q0HZZeFLb-EWKxJyfqAo6bSOHa_h1nXb_NZrTFipNA7kjFKqLwuDawkJTBxPbE6717CbKZXsymr86jz9hzEAib8_Pq5l3lmgV-y0FYbtDQyk/s1600/12511385_10153170629057245_140810017_o.jpg" /></a><br />
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<i>Turns out Mexico is a little humid, we only took 1 selfie!</i></div>
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Specifically, we opted for the beautiful beach town of Tulum. Glistening blue waters, soaring temperatures and mouth watering cocktails were waiting upon our arrival. </div>
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Those that know me know that I can be a bit of a fuddy duddy when it comes to food, we needn't have worried however as there were a wealth of options down the main strip. </div>
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If you ever take a trip to Tulum, definitely have a stroll down to <a href="http://www.casabananatulum.com/" target="_blank">Casa Banana</a> at Km 8.5. Set outside (thankfully with shelter when the tropic weather rears it's head) they boast a pretty tasty cocktail list with a food menu to match. </div>
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I was desperate to try the duck, alas it wasn't to be. I believe they cook it later in the evening and as we were staying close to UK time (bed by 9pm and up at 6am to watch the sunrise) it was off the menu on both our visits ... something to do with sitting down to dinner at 5pm. </div>
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The other menu offerings were certainly not to be sniffed at, I had a ludicrously yummy pork dish stuffed with cheese plus some sweet potato wedges. On our subsequent visit I opted for the risotto with a mightily impressive parmesan crown, this time we just about managed to squeeze in some dessert too. </div>
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<i>Cocktails from many angles. Fruity loveliness.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9h_Uh1_GVZjqpVk9USFAF61l20f-MTZJkb1iwZhjNfpMVEeJ1GsvXj3QSKKbyGHrF3qmi2lg2VecXFILwQ8OJA7fFJ3It3Ph4-oCGpqxhyphenhyphenTf7QRm6wWU-zzsX5JoUWYCNtHL-6isCJk/s1600/12562490_10153170632352245_138946343_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9h_Uh1_GVZjqpVk9USFAF61l20f-MTZJkb1iwZhjNfpMVEeJ1GsvXj3QSKKbyGHrF3qmi2lg2VecXFILwQ8OJA7fFJ3It3Ph4-oCGpqxhyphenhyphenTf7QRm6wWU-zzsX5JoUWYCNtHL-6isCJk/s1600/12562490_10153170632352245_138946343_o.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0F_16sacPkmZKGAE6nzbPAPWNL61Ak39q0HtFGJirIGy2i8QunzmpM5GFgq1Nc_f4HxGJo8US3DxdlL2s8Trg-6IohfiVesu7_H0_wdIH9c-vybCw9UB-ck-AeSF9Tsl2xDBrec4hLw8/s1600/12544215_10153170628527245_1642630839_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0F_16sacPkmZKGAE6nzbPAPWNL61Ak39q0HtFGJirIGy2i8QunzmpM5GFgq1Nc_f4HxGJo8US3DxdlL2s8Trg-6IohfiVesu7_H0_wdIH9c-vybCw9UB-ck-AeSF9Tsl2xDBrec4hLw8/s1600/12544215_10153170628527245_1642630839_o.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>All the foods!!</i></div>
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<i>And a cheeky stop at Mateos, Km 5.2. It wouldn't be Mexico without an extensive Tequila list. </i></div>
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For our week of R&R we were booked in at the stunning Hotel Rosa Del Viento. Spectacular surroundings complete with private beach (except for some unexpected baby turtles) and stunning views. Our room was everything we needed and more, furnished with what can only be described and super-duper king size beds (1 each!) along with a spare sofa / bed and not to mention my favourite feature on our private terrace; a hammock. </div>
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As I mentioned earlier, we took advantage of our surroundings and bounded down to the ocean front every morning to take in the sunrise. It's incredibly easy to drag yourself out of bed in a morning knowing you can take a stroll down the beach, watch the sun come up .. and then take part in an impromptu Little Mermaid inspired photo shoot. </div>
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Naturally, this was followed up by breakfast on the beach, a fresh coconut to sip - incredibly fresh, the wee manny hadn't yet harvested them from the tree when we ordered, and sunbathing to try and get a bit of a tan on my poor little Irish skin.</div>
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<i>I'd quite like a hammock for my garden now.</i></div>
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<i>'Give that man a coconut.'</i></div>
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<i>'Excuse me Senoritas, your coconuts will be 10 minutes, I just need to go and harvest them.'</i></div>
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<i>'I want to be, where the people are..'</i></div>
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<i>It's not a holiday with your bestie without the obligatory cheesy photo.</i></div>
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Anyone familiar with Tulum will tell you it is home some incredible Mayan ruins. Visit these when the sun's shining and the sight really is something else, however you will have the heat and humidity to contend with. I really would recommend paying a visit either when there is some rain in the air, early morning or late in the evening. We visited the first set of ruins not long after 9am, but even then the heat was exhausting. </div>
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Walking back to the hotel Km after Km in the midday sun wasn't the most comfortable experience (there were plenty of taxis on hand .. but for some inexplicable reason we thought the walk was a good idea), my fingers swelled to the size of sausages! Definitely visit in the cooler weather if you can. </div>
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The second set of ruins we went to see involved yet more physical activity. Thankfully it was raining in the morning, this meant the epic climb we were about to attempt went much more smoothly than it could have! I would suggest you plan your climbing attire a little better than I did, not thinking about it I wore a maxi skirt and converse. Definitely not ideal for climbing a slippery pyramid. </div>
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The ascent is definitely worth the effort, it's a view you really won't forget.</div>
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<i>This man is in his 70's and has played at Wimbledon. He's my new hero. Bounded up those stairs like a 10 year old!</i></div>
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<i>Have you ever seen more inappropriate footwear? But we made it!</i></div>
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As a final (if not rather belated) birthday treat, I handed over some pennies so we could go swimming in one of the many Cenotes scattered around, specifically we ventured to Cenotes Des Ojos. I have never in my life seen such clear water - except out of a tap, I only wish I had a waterproof camera to capture some of the moments, there's even some bats flying about in there.</div>
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If you're not a fan of confined spaces them this one probably isn't for you. Due to extra rainfall the waters were quite high and therefore there's only a few inches in places between your head and the stalactite covered ceiling. I'd also suggest donning a slightly thicker swimming costume, the water gets a wee bit chilly!</div>
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A week really wasn't long enough in this incredible place and hopefully I can visit again in the not too distant future, perhaps this time just a little up the way to the Riviera Maya.</div>
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Have you been on any holidays recently or have one on the horizon? I'm itching to get my next one booked!</div>
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TTFN</div>
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xXx</div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-14619168026203196032015-08-10T14:57:00.000-07:002016-05-22T10:57:45.455-07:00A Gin filled weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sometimes you book something so far in advance that it creeps up on you without notice. That is exactly what happened after myself and one of my best friends Faye decided to attend the Gin festival in Leeds.</div>
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Almost a year ago, I received a message from a very excitable Faye regarding the Gin Festival. Now we are in no way gin experts, but it was hard to pass up an opportunity to try something a little different for a Saturday afternoon. With the festival touring all over the country, we had wanted to venture over to a new city and make a weekend of it - turns out we both lead rather busy lives and were therefore only available for the Leeds weekend. Typical. City break in our home town it had to be. We even booked an apartment-hotel for the weekend. We don't do things by halves!</div>
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Sometimes I do love to play mother hen, so after checking in and confirming that Faye was en route, I set about making our room a home and got a shuffle on with dinner. I think it turned out rather well if I do say so myself.</div>
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<i>In case you're wondering, we have mango and lime chicken with a hint of chilli, parma ham wrapped asparagus and cous cous with toasted almonds and mint. Delish.</i></div>
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Armed with full bellies, we set off into Leeds for a civilised cocktail or two and a long over due catch up. Delightful as it was to be back in each others giddy company, we had to call it a night and prepare our long awaited Gin excursion the following day. </div>
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The Gin Festival was held at the Leeds town hall, and it really was a beautiful setting. I think the photos speak for themselves here!</div>
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Upon arrival we were gifted with our own Gin glass (pretty sure it could hold an entire bottle), this does of course now take pride of place in my kitchen and makes regular appearances. The glass is purposfully designed to keep your Gin and Tonic at an optimal frosty temperature, but I get through my G &T's at such a rate, it's just nice to have a fancy glass to drink it from. Along side this was our Gin Bible detailing every single gin available on the day. The Gins were separated into 4 different bars, with the 4th bar containing flavoured gins. </div>
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My first Gin of choice was 'Pinkster'. </div>
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<i>'Deliciously dry, with raspberries adding a gentle fruity flavour, juniper follow-through and a smooth finish. Launched in July 2013 and inspired by the creator's wheat allergy. Only uses 5 botanicals and raspberries. Garnish with fresh mint and raspberry. ABV 37.5%'</i></div>
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Many of my friends will tell you that I'm a sucker for a gimmick, in this case it was a garnish. Raspberries are a firm favourite of fine and so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try this subtle pink offering.</div>
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Faye opted for one of the flavoured varieties; 'Rhubarb Warner Edwards'.</div>
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<i>'This gin is smooth and earthy with an exquisite fruity balance of sweet and sour. The rhubarb combines natural acidity with the fruity sweetness to create a real palate cleanser that's very quaffable. The rhubarb used in this gin was originally grown in Queen Victoria's garden. Garnish with lemon. ABV 44%.'</i></div>
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The rhubarb was more of a subtle after taste but it really was a delightful change from your usual gin and tonic. </div>
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After a quick pit stop for some food, we had a little nosey at some of the gin bottles and gifts available to purchase. I had to showcase some incredible self control not to walk away with the lot, especially considered you could order at the festival and have your goodies sent to your door ...</div>
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Time for drink number 2. Ever the fruit and garnish lover I decided to punt for a bit of apple with my gin; 'Hunters'.</div>
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<i>'Hunters Gin is a wonderful premium gin developed in Cheshire. It's made in traditional copper pot and rectifying stills (some of which are more than a century old!) a London Dry Gin, with heaps of citrus aroma and taste. Hunters is a 300 year old recipe given a contemporary twist with the introduction of Cheshire apple peel in the botanicals. Garnish with apple juice and a slice of apple. ABV 43.3%'</i></div>
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Toddling back to the flavoured gin section, Faye was taken in by one of the featured choices; 'Ginfused strawberry & mint'.</div>
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<i>'*An exclusive to Gin Festival* A quality London gin infused with mint and strawberries. Also tastes amazing with fizz! Garnish with fresh mint. ABV 30%'</i></div>
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After enjoying some live singing featuring tunes from the 40s, it was unfortunately time to call it a day. A wise move considering it was barely 4pm and we had made our way through many varying gin samples along side our fish bowl measure G & Ts.</div>
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The delights didn't stop there. </div>
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Dinner time.</div>
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Not quite on par with my previous nights creation, but tasty nonetheless. Instead, I opted for one of my new simple cocktails of choice, Spiceberry.</div>
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<i>J</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">ägermeister Spice topped with Prosecco, garnished with blackberries, strawberries and mint (or it would have been if ASDA hadn't sold out).</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Again, aiming to make the most of our home based city break, we put on our glad rags and headed off into the centre. I had recently purchased my absolute dream shoes and I couldn't wait to slip them on and show them a good time!</span></span></div>
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<i>The fruity creations in question. <a href="https://www.net-a-porter.com/product/511552/Sophia_Webster/jessica-watermelon-patent-leather-and-pvc-pumps" target="_blank">Sophia Webster, Jessica Watermelon pumps</a>. </i></div>
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First on the agenda was a trip my cocktail bar of choice, The Alchemist. I think it's already pretty obvious that I frequent this bar on perhaps more occasions than I should, but this point was cemented when one of my favourite bar tenders commented 'I've not seen you for a while, I started to worry. Where've you've been!?' Yes. I'm there too much. Perhaps celebrating my return, I was treated to a classic cocktail, the Martinez. A cocktail that packs a punch, it is a mix of gin (of course), sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur and Angostura bitters. I couldn't say no after it was stated 'and I'll make it better than probably anybody else here.' Challenge accepted. </div>
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I liked it. Thumbs up Elliot!</div>
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If you've never been to the alchemist, I suggest you take a wonder over if you are ever in Leeds (there are also 2 in Manchester and 1 in London). Situated on the 2nd floor of the trinity shopping centre, it has a gorgeous balcony overlooking the city, perfect for this time of year. Even in the colder months, there are heaters and some unbelievably snug fur blankets to snuggle up in to keep away the chilly air. </div>
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Of course a balcony selfie was called for.</div>
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Following on from the cocktails, we took a wonder down Call Lane. A firm favourite with the locals, call lane has a wide mix of small bars, perfect if you want to settle in for the long haul or decide to bar hop from one to the next. </div>
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Always on hand to cater to my odd requests, Bar Fibre were more than happy to supply me with my late night mix of choice, Patron XO with milk.</div>
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Yes you read that right! Coffee tequila topped up with milk and plenty of ice. The first time I ordered this, the bartender slid it over stating 'and here's you're bed time drink'. I have to say, served warm it could be quite the nightcap!</div>
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When it was finally time to call it a night, myself and Faye somehow reverted to our 10 year old selves. Cosying up on the sofa with pizza, popcorn, chocolate and sweets, we popped on the Disney classic 'Aladdin' and sang away to our hearts content. If you happened to be in the room below us ... I hope you enjoyed our rendition of 'A Whole New World', if not then I can only apologise. Late night karaoke just seemed like a good idea.</div>
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And so our long awaited weekend came to an end. The Gin festival certainly lived up to expectations and I'd love to hop along next year. </div>
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If you want to see when and where the next festival is happening, you can find more information <a href="http://www.ginfestival.co.uk/events" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Have any of you been to the gin festival or something similar? What were your thoughts?</div>
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TTFN</div>
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xXx</div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-48888268158694665462015-06-04T09:10:00.001-07:002016-05-22T10:58:48.084-07:00Belated birthday bundle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This post has been a long time coming, but sometimes life really does just get in the way! </div>
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I love birthdays. When you have friends that are a little more on the creative side, they really can produce some amazing gifts. One of my best friends, <a href="http://littlegirllittleblackdress.com/author/littlegirllbd/" target="_blank">Caitlin</a>, did just that.</div>
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Some of you will know that for my final year of Uni I lived on a delightful little street entitled 'Lime Avenue'. The bag is making a little more sense now isn't it? Seriously, I would have been delighted with just the bag, but there were more cheeky wonders inside!</div>
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As a cocktail lover, I've been treated to a number of variations to try courtesy of some very generous Leeds bartenders. One that has become a firm favourite of mine is the 'Aviation'. A mix of Tanqueray gin, Maraschino, lemon juice and an optional dash of creme de violette, it has become a staple drink of mine at any available opportunity. Cheers Lee Morris (<a href="https://www.morganshotelgroup.com/mondrian/mondrian-london/eat-drink/Dandelyan" target="_blank">Dandelyan</a>) for introducing me to that one.</div>
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As my parents always taught me to share, I allowed Caitlin to try a wee sample and she too has been hooked ever since.</div>
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Queue my Aviation themed Birthday box.</div>
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<i>Turns out it's not so easy to find Tanqueray in miniature.</i></div>
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<i>No cocktail is complete without a cherry. My obsession is so strong, one bar tended has been known to serve a shot glass full of cherries (not forgetting the Kirsch) along side my cocktail. I know, they treat me well.</i></div>
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Now not many friends would brave the London tube, followed by a 2 hour cross country train with a birthday cake in tow, but Caitlin would!</div>
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Being the domesticated goddess that she is, she came up with a super yummy Aviation inspired cake. Filled with lemon curd and covered in Parma Violet icing, it really didn't last very long. It was decorated with Violet flowers (not at all stolen from the public gardens that morning) but alas, they didn't survive the journey. Real Parma Violets it is then.</div>
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'Of course we have a friendship song!'</div>
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I have no idea how our mutual love for this started, but the song that ties myself and Caitlin together is the R Kelly classic, 'Remix to ignition'. If either of us hear this song then straight away we'll pick up the phone. If the other doesn't answer, a 3 minute voicemail it is!</div>
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We created - and I use this term loosely - a dance routine to this pop marvel back in our first year, so if you see 2 girls in Leeds or London pulling some questionable moves to 'hot and fresh out the kitchen' ... I think you've found us!</div>
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<i>Well who doesn't love sweets?</i></div>
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Time for the crowing glory.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9deuS3hCU7mahPJUBmdAuDtAIhMvJkbZwqBj-JAMFfNKnew0gIsUriil9Nq4n-OSrXJUPyyVJf2IhLhyphenhyphenp2lymah5gNQTy2N4yezqgLtSEL_EhdIjn1IPcJ3bCJCgA7_434YUSARCVbAE/s1600/P3300016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9deuS3hCU7mahPJUBmdAuDtAIhMvJkbZwqBj-JAMFfNKnew0gIsUriil9Nq4n-OSrXJUPyyVJf2IhLhyphenhyphenp2lymah5gNQTy2N4yezqgLtSEL_EhdIjn1IPcJ3bCJCgA7_434YUSARCVbAE/s1600/P3300016.JPG" /></a></div>
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If you haven't heard of <a href="http://www.daisyjewellery.com/" target="_blank">Daisy Jewellery</a> before, then please head over and take a gander. Featured here are their Throat Chakra Drop Earrings in Rose Gold. This Chakra specifically is for Communication, Resonance and Creativity but there are many more on offer. </div>
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I haven't taken these off since I got them! It's worth checking their Instagram too as they currently have a competition running to win one of their new Good Karma necklaces (I already own a few too many of the bracelets).</div>
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Basically, Caitlin knows me far too well gave me a collection of treats that I couldn't have put together better myself! Do you have friends that come up with the most thoughtful gifts?</div>
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TTFN</div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-61315490035620580962015-03-15T07:20:00.004-07:002015-03-15T07:20:57.084-07:00My Mummy's better than your Mummy.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With some time all to myself on Mother's day weekend, it's the perfect opportunity to throw some love out to the number one lady in my life; Momma Freeman. </div>
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Where do I start with this woman? She's bloody incredible with the patience of a Saint (you'd have to putting up with my Dad for over 30 years ...).</div>
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For 23 (almost 24) years you have been my absolute rock. Believing in me no matter what, even when I didn't believe in myself. Holding my hand when I'm being the biggest baby on the planet, which believe me happens a lot. Not a day goes by when I'm not thankful for everything you do, how you find the time and energy I will never know. You're not just my Mum, you're also a Sister, Wife, Grandmother, Daughter and best friend, and I know no one could ask for better. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">Everything Mom</b><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">How did you find the energy, Mom</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">To do all the things you did,</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">To be teacher, nurse and counselor</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">To me, when I was a kid.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">How did you do it all, Mom,</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">Be a chauffeur, cook and friend,</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">Yet find time to be a playmate,</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">I just can’t comprehend.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">I see now it was love, Mom</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">That made you come whenever I'd call,</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">Your inexhaustible love, Mom</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">And I thank you for it all.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;" /><em style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8999996185303px;">By Joanna Fuchs</em></span></div>
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The parents decided to venture away this weekend, and with it being Mother's day on their return, I figured I'd try and rustle up some special treats. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrgBaiJ6peo7r99N4-Sd1wTNqHesPzDP0KDOndW6LJvFt5JHkmbQo4PR_XHwWJDTQl3JuF9ofyJUNgi5DKEO6MX6PhFccL9lgCp-kc4_p9BvkQ82i6qMHtRMXAsZK5Mo0kGiVTmIW6qM/s1600/IMG_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrgBaiJ6peo7r99N4-Sd1wTNqHesPzDP0KDOndW6LJvFt5JHkmbQo4PR_XHwWJDTQl3JuF9ofyJUNgi5DKEO6MX6PhFccL9lgCp-kc4_p9BvkQ82i6qMHtRMXAsZK5Mo0kGiVTmIW6qM/s1600/IMG_0301.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLx2V7CZKiSL6aDVOcULEVL7n4ieagT2Fgs6r6wnnmhIkntaqoehK1TMh2xnVQMEEYIz-7lXxUWbU85kO4X44YLqB1TyiGnJO_exnQ6SL7nURC4xvalxC8Lv2SZAgrOOU3PPXPqGGhQeI/s1600/IMG_0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLx2V7CZKiSL6aDVOcULEVL7n4ieagT2Fgs6r6wnnmhIkntaqoehK1TMh2xnVQMEEYIz-7lXxUWbU85kO4X44YLqB1TyiGnJO_exnQ6SL7nURC4xvalxC8Lv2SZAgrOOU3PPXPqGGhQeI/s1600/IMG_0302.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Most of you will have heard me ramble on about my friend Caitlin many a time, and for Christmas she treated me to the most wonderful gifts from Laduree. </div>
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Amongst them was an incredible Macaron recipe book, far too beautiful to keep in the kitchen! Flicking through I spotted an Alice in Wonderland recipe for Apple Macarons. </div>
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Perfect!</div>
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Past baking attempts haven't proved too positive on the Macron front, but I had a bash anyway. </div>
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Voila.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3zdnNDsOIsBYtHAbWBM69ane1i0y8hh-xIDNxg-IfU1qAApW_aY93MdbVrGIJIo-lyroKpGof4tf-ek6XX9zUbnzXtc2qWP_sKiLpJFtlJUKf9yJVNOnHGSI7wvAbJGMkjRNmTHapSY/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3zdnNDsOIsBYtHAbWBM69ane1i0y8hh-xIDNxg-IfU1qAApW_aY93MdbVrGIJIo-lyroKpGof4tf-ek6XX9zUbnzXtc2qWP_sKiLpJFtlJUKf9yJVNOnHGSI7wvAbJGMkjRNmTHapSY/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" height="378" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVgvMu4e4MB7gIzcHXnkraj1ix1MU2ZebNe7gQFp3Efgh6hejaz8-XbbM5HJSUFrrmVKK9Fv0BQkO2pToxKZvKcpJti_Z81fGjQkIGzceKsr4QIW-ypGLEpY3SVnJpXpycZ9moysE5AQ/s1600/IMG_0305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVgvMu4e4MB7gIzcHXnkraj1ix1MU2ZebNe7gQFp3Efgh6hejaz8-XbbM5HJSUFrrmVKK9Fv0BQkO2pToxKZvKcpJti_Z81fGjQkIGzceKsr4QIW-ypGLEpY3SVnJpXpycZ9moysE5AQ/s1600/IMG_0305.JPG" height="386" width="640" /></a></div>
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Not a patch on something you'd find in store but they're pretty tasty, and I'm sure Momma Freeman will enjoy, it's the least she deserves. </div>
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TTFN</div>
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xXx</div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-76307682754326288112015-01-18T14:39:00.001-08:002015-01-18T14:39:58.163-08:00The perfect 10?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnsuSTtJ70shvGk9uRefpPMAjGkcMELh-boaaHZ5yZyXkGftTGgesi4h4jl9e9mf_pLCvGXccTi4DiEpAIMKHXvNr0H4JVZx-tVPTE82_MiAdcad4D6jc21dtCwvUOsVPoLNp0-4eltg/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnsuSTtJ70shvGk9uRefpPMAjGkcMELh-boaaHZ5yZyXkGftTGgesi4h4jl9e9mf_pLCvGXccTi4DiEpAIMKHXvNr0H4JVZx-tVPTE82_MiAdcad4D6jc21dtCwvUOsVPoLNp0-4eltg/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Today we're having a look at days 10 through 20. A couple of cult items crop up here!</div>
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As you can probably tell by now, Lancome feature pretty heavily in this advent calendar, day 10 was no exception.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhi2nDVk_JHY3gl7Mx6vOmFJjoLQh4MyqSMBCMquz2jqMKWmpL5GNhYItRGFhW0tyJWmv0FaRVABmZL90Zi2pFWcXzgqE80vQ7GHfI4U7cVhMkowbEYcumKI8or3eYeTl6nZDfs0XP0E/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhi2nDVk_JHY3gl7Mx6vOmFJjoLQh4MyqSMBCMquz2jqMKWmpL5GNhYItRGFhW0tyJWmv0FaRVABmZL90Zi2pFWcXzgqE80vQ7GHfI4U7cVhMkowbEYcumKI8or3eYeTl6nZDfs0XP0E/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztHoBZQ-S2a9kSTi3Tn9Tlu9bXjhv8Zw7kBe-2zuUDFzyOXihMgzBcqltWU0pu_WSlOkRMtw2nhJFko1-KvNanNOdRMt0P6em-Rm_uv5Se7os67zo5KNCoU02_IAJnE_ygCcp3_IZ9MM/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztHoBZQ-S2a9kSTi3Tn9Tlu9bXjhv8Zw7kBe-2zuUDFzyOXihMgzBcqltWU0pu_WSlOkRMtw2nhJFko1-KvNanNOdRMt0P6em-Rm_uv5Se7os67zo5KNCoU02_IAJnE_ygCcp3_IZ9MM/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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<i> L'Absolu Rouge 06 Rose nude.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ve9jm9LT5mUKLSdw8-LR5CyXUPMvkrzBpAN3hJxuHVBxU8oWSGsKcFKci4pulppehZtzNf2-oBqRJObrOoFn2rgtbiPO7n4JqSrBdvTgFoxUdA7vh7C23JwZ0I1ifZL9iDejhNHl7gU/s1600/IMG_0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ve9jm9LT5mUKLSdw8-LR5CyXUPMvkrzBpAN3hJxuHVBxU8oWSGsKcFKci4pulppehZtzNf2-oBqRJObrOoFn2rgtbiPO7n4JqSrBdvTgFoxUdA7vh7C23JwZ0I1ifZL9iDejhNHl7gU/s1600/IMG_0117.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is a beautiful deep nude shade. I say deep, but I am a spectacularly pale individual so this may prove a more natural shade on others than myself. There is definitely a strong pink hue that comes through so it's lovely to brighten the lips on a day when you're feeling less than perky without going too over the top. The formula is very moisturising, and even the scent (my big Lancome pet hate) does't turn me off on this one, personally it reminds me of parma violets. Yummy.</div>
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Day 11 decided to give me a treat for the eyes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLN5iEU6-xpYvZ1iw2gDUgzGC1y-29PsAzYBzZE9l4mW24DcUldabUBQ7SYsr7A0naJu_qyhlRdvZqOQ7ZnTbE39wci2fMR47Gr8u2JRAMnhbpaR92Bee-I62hfL4VSZfEl_2zaCuMQk/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLN5iEU6-xpYvZ1iw2gDUgzGC1y-29PsAzYBzZE9l4mW24DcUldabUBQ7SYsr7A0naJu_qyhlRdvZqOQ7ZnTbE39wci2fMR47Gr8u2JRAMnhbpaR92Bee-I62hfL4VSZfEl_2zaCuMQk/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Lancome Hypnose Drama in excessive black.</i></div>
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I found my ultimate Mascara a few years ago in MaxFactor false lash effect fusion, I've tried others since then but I've always gone back to it as nothing comes close to it. I'm sorry to say that I won't be changing my mind anytime soon. There was nothing wrong with this mascara, it just didn't blow me away. I did like the s-shaped brush as I felt this added an extra curl to my lashes, it is definitely something you need to adapt to though - prepare for some mascara smudges. For adding length this performed well, thickness on the hand is hit and miss. A single coat looks lovely but I like full on drama (as the name suggests), when I tried to build up the thickness with an extra coat my lashes started to clump and look spidery, not really what I was aiming for. All in all it's a good mascara for a more defined, natural look. For full on glamour and eyelash flutters it just doesn't go the distance in my opinion. </div>
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Another beautiful bottle on day 12!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm6N-T6ehQ4miiOTBv0gX0OBkWpu5mwrWqSZniu1lccnBoevLpvYE2kkr9PCa70Yv975SSzMMDeGfHbR5OnFDDReUh9BW6fv5msAfq3DYATA2yRt8wMGNGviU35ClW1pm9dE-JhEKkGk/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm6N-T6ehQ4miiOTBv0gX0OBkWpu5mwrWqSZniu1lccnBoevLpvYE2kkr9PCa70Yv975SSzMMDeGfHbR5OnFDDReUh9BW6fv5msAfq3DYATA2yRt8wMGNGviU35ClW1pm9dE-JhEKkGk/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUN5Z2q3ep968VoIVDeJYatBdSPBWGwrtAlNWmiDPv4qKpsKrydccH5G5RMryGzdnnFuRlxykM7gWnLZgVLjVmC_CvoHCHq9gw2qlRL94Ay3QMWg1yRUlJvxN1ZtuiktPcZk6XWg8FSDs/s1600/IMG_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUN5Z2q3ep968VoIVDeJYatBdSPBWGwrtAlNWmiDPv4qKpsKrydccH5G5RMryGzdnnFuRlxykM7gWnLZgVLjVmC_CvoHCHq9gw2qlRL94Ay3QMWg1yRUlJvxN1ZtuiktPcZk6XWg8FSDs/s1600/IMG_0125.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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<i>Emporio Armani Diamonds rose.</i></div>
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With this sparkler containing notes of rose, raspberry and blackcurrant I knew it would be right up my street! Visually you can't not love the pale pink hue of this perfume and diamond shaped bottle. The ingredients would suggest an overly sweet fragrance but that really isn't the case, whilst there are fruity notes they certainly aren't an overpowering factor. It's something I'd definitely wear if I wanted to feel a little more sophisticated but still wanted something that was me. </div>
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Unlucky for some, number 13.</div>
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<i>Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate.</i></div>
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This day I was treated to another delightful little serum, this time from Kiehl's. More of an oil treatment than your traditional serum, I was a little cautious as my skin is on the oily side normally. I needn't have worried. This stuff is an absolute dream! It's beautifully light, something I long for in a night time treatment as I don't enjoy going to bed with a heavy layer of products on my skin. My skin isn't shiny when I wake up (the usual view I'm greeted with at 6am), instead it has a beautiful glow and my skin tone has improved greatly since I've been using this. Overall an absolute winner that I'm seriously considering purchasing when this wee bottle runs out. </div>
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A familiar sight behind door 14.</div>
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<i>Lancome Hypnose mascara volume sur mesure.</i></div>
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Like I said before, it's hard for a new mascara to step in and mark it's spot in my make up collection these days. Unfortunately Lancome just isn't coming up with the goods. Whilst this wasn't a bad offering, it had one pretty huge flaw in my book which I'll get to in a moment. The brush and application were simple enough, a fairly narrow brush head, but nothing unfamiliar so no risk of random mascara splodges around your eye. This mascara can be layered as the formula doesn't clump (unlike day 11's offering) so it leaves you with wonderful fluttery lashes. On the down side, at least 3 layers are needed to achieve any sort of volumising effect - and we all know I love lashes with mega volume. If you're looking for a fluttery day time look then this mascara could be the one for you. Whilst I would love to keep this mascara for more subtly during the day, unfortunately the formula just isn't one for me. I've spoken may times about my shiny skin, and that doesn't end with my eye area. Just two hours after applying this mascara I got quite a shock when I looked in the mirror! I looked like a member of Kiss the morning after a heavy night. I had heavy black smudges underneath both my eyes, definitely not the result you want from a mascara. Sorry Lancome, but this one is going to have to be set aside.</div>
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Maybe things will improve on day 15?</div>
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<i>Yves Saint Laurent waterproof eye pencil in black.</i></div>
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A good black eyeliner can be hard to come by, and a waterproof one that stands up to the claim is almost a thing of legend. This liner very nearly cuts the mustard. It glides on beautifully to both the skin and waterline, and truly does live up to the waterproof claim. My only negative point is in regards to colour pay off. If you're looking for a true and dramatic black, this just isn't going to create that for you. I would describe the colour as more of a charcoal grey, still beautifully flattering, but I'm sure there are much darker pencils out there. I think I'll retain this pencil to use as a base for a smokey eye. It's easily blendable and so should be great for creating a grey haze over the lid. The dark grey appearance is also a great alternative to black when lining the waterline, giving a much less severe look, ideal for a touch of drama in the day time. In summary, still a great product just maybe not quite what it is advertised to be. </div>
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We're halfway there, just 5 more to go...</div>
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<i>Lancome Genifique Yeux, Light-pearl.</i></div>
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It's time to delve into the world of eye products with this quirky looking little creation. Lancome claims this to be an 'eye-illuminating youth activator', and it certainly feels like magic under the eyes. As the applicator is a metal wand, it's unsurprising that it creates a wonderfully soothing feeling on the skin. The applicator itself sits on a pivot, this is fantastic for the gentle eye area is it moves when you apply too much pressure. Personally, I did see a brightening effect after application, and - miraculously - my eyelids seemed less hooded to normal. These results however did not last, the dreamy eye opening effect wore off within a couple of hour and then i was back to dull, heavy eyes. A great instant pick me up but I've yet to see any long lasting results. </div>
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Here's one we all recognise behind door 17.</div>
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<i>Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion.</i></div>
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If you're not familiar with this much loved primer from Urban Decay yet, where have you been? Eye shadow primers are one of those things I had always been skeptical about, then I tried this little beauty a few years back. It's truly an item that you have no idea how you lived without once you've tried it, and this particular version is one of the best. This 'potion' is perfect for my greasy eyelids. The neutral shade provides a clean base to apply anything from the simplest day to day look to full blown disco glamour. It makes colours appear brighter and more opaque, prevents creasing and really improves the longevity of your makeup. Now I have this lovely miniature, it's perfect for popping in my 'reduced' sized (I use the word reduced lightly) makeup collection when I go away for a few days.</div>
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A milestone number for some, Advent day 18.</div>
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<i>Lancome Visionnaire LR 2412 4% - Cx.</i></div>
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Catchy name there Lancome. Technical numbers and figures aside, Lancome explains this to be an advanced skin corrector to improve the appearance of wrinkles, pores and skin texture. Now I'm not really at a point in my life where I can comment on a product's capabilities to reduce wrinkles (and I'm certainly not complaining) but when it comes to the appearance of pores and skin texture I'm all over that. I feel I have quite large and visible pores, particularly on my nose and across my cheeks, so any product claiming to reduce pore size I'm going to jump on. I haven't been using this serum long enough yet to make a full blown conclusion, but so far I'm liking what I'm seeing! The consistency isn't like a normal serum, it's thicker and opaque more like some primers, and applies in a similar fashion too. My skin feels so smooth afterwards, and after a week of use I do think the texture of my skin has improved. Whilst I don't think my pores have decreased in size (I don't think that miracle product even exist unfortunately) they do seem easier to cover, my foundation applies much more smoothly. I'm a big fan of this product, although looking into future purchases it retails at £60! I think I'll have to wait and see on this one if it's something I can't live without when I've made my way through the sample.</div>
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Ladies and Gentlemen, day 19 is very special.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuIjvlqp0i5OH9LcrFAz6r5zS54TKDEJBLceVILORPAkjwZH0cdyogkodvKgTXoDVaGQUd8WR0mry7Cw4bzQIvVBHPxIYBCnjbas7_GBE59RdVHmx7hDRX2gMCf49d1rRIyiMohr1ybk/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuIjvlqp0i5OH9LcrFAz6r5zS54TKDEJBLceVILORPAkjwZH0cdyogkodvKgTXoDVaGQUd8WR0mry7Cw4bzQIvVBHPxIYBCnjbas7_GBE59RdVHmx7hDRX2gMCf49d1rRIyiMohr1ybk/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb.</i></div>
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This day I felt super spoilt indeed. Already a fan of this amazing fragrance I was over the moon to have a miniature to pop in my handbag. If you've never sampled Viktor & Rolf fragrances I suggest you pop down to your closest perfume store pronto. It's a wonderful mix of sweet vanilla and floral notes, I'd say it is quite similar to Armani Si if you've sampled that delight. Being an Eau De Parfum, a little really does go a long way and also really lasts throughout the day. I could honestly wear this everyday and not get tired of it, alas, it's not a cheapy so I like to save it for special occasions. </div>
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Last but not least for today, what was hiding behind door number 20?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwQW8SnFSSgAuY2cUGHBxDukhyphenhyphen-VgdE_N3pP-vgAxpOilfuxySGc1OnaKHvYoih0g2ja28vTN9TyBQyjIJGEe3ufC5dr2D45u9MqJblOSci5OCccYHz8aFKjaQWZoErx2fMEJF44wOXQ/s1600/IMG_0153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwQW8SnFSSgAuY2cUGHBxDukhyphenhyphen-VgdE_N3pP-vgAxpOilfuxySGc1OnaKHvYoih0g2ja28vTN9TyBQyjIJGEe3ufC5dr2D45u9MqJblOSci5OCccYHz8aFKjaQWZoErx2fMEJF44wOXQ/s1600/IMG_0153.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3x14E1Mj2Ks-CpwIggoB9D-BJWQSl_lobHRtvW6wgqbJhcKWAlX1mF5Bju0MiX5vIabSThyRpX_glXZG4W6P4wQnaTesFyuTv8jwdc7QKNApjcc4xiYvyrUjIBkubw585QqEFSOLNO4/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3x14E1Mj2Ks-CpwIggoB9D-BJWQSl_lobHRtvW6wgqbJhcKWAlX1mF5Bju0MiX5vIabSThyRpX_glXZG4W6P4wQnaTesFyuTv8jwdc7QKNApjcc4xiYvyrUjIBkubw585QqEFSOLNO4/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdSg3kB8BGL2NpwdxckXlF6wqT4NLsYd7dvRDEAmmd7ckN2HEPAsZo03BdWaJ7zvvPorOFLYMccIgMK-9km7zv7QCEwljfz4Tn-KLnlsXbDaUph5pOkePyHiFG53lYXSLlWnn8kpCC0g/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdSg3kB8BGL2NpwdxckXlF6wqT4NLsYd7dvRDEAmmd7ckN2HEPAsZo03BdWaJ7zvvPorOFLYMccIgMK-9km7zv7QCEwljfz4Tn-KLnlsXbDaUph5pOkePyHiFG53lYXSLlWnn8kpCC0g/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Lancome Bi-Facil, non oily - sensitive eyes instant cleanser.</i></div>
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Sadly we're not finishing on a positive note. As I've said before, I don't like cleansers that leave a film on my skin. It completely defeats the purpose of a cleanser if it doesn't leave your skin feeling clean. Despite claiming to be 'non oily', I feel Lancome have told a bit of a porky here. Yes, this product does remove makeup but it takes a few too many sweeps to really remove your eye makeup in my opinion. Still not one to push aside my micellar water just yet! </div>
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Have you tried any of these products? How did you find them, perhaps you had a different experience to myself? Let me know in the comments below.</div>
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TTFN</div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-1751161886312051502014-12-26T14:46:00.000-08:002014-12-26T14:46:58.999-08:00Why was 6 afraid of 7?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrsz-K4YamweBKY1l1o0lXfIrudJbbzsnfzDz19GhgzjdZfzNwJcQ0dgZbMDDr9Va3zqAZdqKGuEp15q_J-nttFwRiF2b0JC7FYLVcoRQD37W_HoEpbkx-F39zNyKDTUc1ysIuKkAw90/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrsz-K4YamweBKY1l1o0lXfIrudJbbzsnfzDz19GhgzjdZfzNwJcQ0dgZbMDDr9Va3zqAZdqKGuEp15q_J-nttFwRiF2b0JC7FYLVcoRQD37W_HoEpbkx-F39zNyKDTUc1ysIuKkAw90/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Because 7, 8, 9!</span></div>
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So we're a little bit behind on the advent delights, we're even behind on the christmas goodies! Life has just been a little hectic to say the least. I've been working 6+ days a week and safe to say it's taken it's toll, queue the token christmas flu. Definitely time to get some pampering in then. So what pretty treat occurred on December 6th?</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYn7wpagXwcyFcdqXOdb3Vy-ykzrHJrfjSKcDqO9CluN9nDljIJh0Ubo5WyaZNH-4feI25SYA5a0HuhNzPqWPH_LQQYLJxGUsZBWGcGObJBCe49dKxBuCNynz_kbRTlc_iANbITI_gNNk/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG" height="408" width="640" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hE9H3LlmH7wHHV_ULSYOzd3tHoWDVccJtNyF2ZzCRyYwVCbwwcjX96Q_cApXzGsYybAB4mf4PsPTWBII7-ZliYYHk1DN7UWn04h3vRezMwJbqFbxyDFoMLDM68_7yZngeX31o2rUJEU/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hE9H3LlmH7wHHV_ULSYOzd3tHoWDVccJtNyF2ZzCRyYwVCbwwcjX96Q_cApXzGsYybAB4mf4PsPTWBII7-ZliYYHk1DN7UWn04h3vRezMwJbqFbxyDFoMLDM68_7yZngeX31o2rUJEU/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgou6ojnxpUho1RFgg9ARj3mt6IVqzjzPt-huz9T5tJJMpbgsx2oM8WO7XHfwieS96wsfOqCjvrXOne2P9ks0vqHZclZ0kS1KdoQ-nFNNZcjjjwqFrGaC1IDTQ4EnoV__rREeGUGyqpxvw/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgou6ojnxpUho1RFgg9ARj3mt6IVqzjzPt-huz9T5tJJMpbgsx2oM8WO7XHfwieS96wsfOqCjvrXOne2P9ks0vqHZclZ0kS1KdoQ-nFNNZcjjjwqFrGaC1IDTQ4EnoV__rREeGUGyqpxvw/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG" height="386" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>(I must apologise for my awful nail polish, too busy to even fix that mess!)</i></div>
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Oh I do love miniature perfumes. There's just something so sweet about a scaled down version, and it's especially handy to keep in your handbag on the go. </div>
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I was treated to Lancome, La Vie est belle EDP. The appearance is so beautiful with the ribbon and pale pink colour that I almost don't want to use it . . . almost! As I mentioned before I'm a fan of sweeter fragrances so this is right up my sweet. It's nothing too overpowering so don't be put off if that isn't your thing. Initially I'm hit with a floral scent, this fades out to sweeter vanilla notes and boom, I'm in heaven. Definitely a winner if you're looking for something a little more grown up, but you're not ready to step away from the sweetness just yet.</div>
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Could number 7 step forward please?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmpxdd7ef46RUi27f1-pfX6lUARNPO3AlJrUw7nCLUIOKBXdYh5P9mdWA5OCuERmsXbsLl0LIPezBgPYwAZ18_mLL3ZIh_ejYqw2Y26927he7ixnnAXqHoESv8hvlwcuuAj7YAEN43as/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmpxdd7ef46RUi27f1-pfX6lUARNPO3AlJrUw7nCLUIOKBXdYh5P9mdWA5OCuERmsXbsLl0LIPezBgPYwAZ18_mLL3ZIh_ejYqw2Y26927he7ixnnAXqHoESv8hvlwcuuAj7YAEN43as/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHD4GhO0L9NeC57TnWvxlVmGcd_SUDKJnWc5IEAaOc76akgwMGpc6D1eL45nZAHxTyZEgZuFTgS_dW1_CZ9OeqclfN1V_gw1p7oh4E5Ca7wRrV5M1dBMC9s8mCO8f_rARixj9ji-6uF0/s1600/IMG_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHD4GhO0L9NeC57TnWvxlVmGcd_SUDKJnWc5IEAaOc76akgwMGpc6D1eL45nZAHxTyZEgZuFTgS_dW1_CZ9OeqclfN1V_gw1p7oh4E5Ca7wRrV5M1dBMC9s8mCO8f_rARixj9ji-6uF0/s1600/IMG_0104.JPG" height="410" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWZW3V_nYRxzBHuTO1mLhcWxceHv_MTIpuOKYrTBYsGXRGLgdzXTP5GMotEI_daJC2wp4XNzKmQ-x-aRjc4FbiE6jZwpj6xcQYAV7XgLA6QwxIIJLmS5j0TcmvPVfr8uWG8ZKiBv2Jdo/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWZW3V_nYRxzBHuTO1mLhcWxceHv_MTIpuOKYrTBYsGXRGLgdzXTP5GMotEI_daJC2wp4XNzKmQ-x-aRjc4FbiE6jZwpj6xcQYAV7XgLA6QwxIIJLmS5j0TcmvPVfr8uWG8ZKiBv2Jdo/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" height="410" width="640" /></a></div>
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Kiehl's ultra facial cream. Now you should all know by now my struggle with moisturisers and my silly shiny face, so a cream for dry skin shouldn't really be an ideal choice, right? Wrong. This makes my skin feel so smooth and doesn't transform my face into a greasy mess. It's not a matte formulation so I wouldn't use it as a base for make up, but if I'm braving a bare faced day I certainly wouldn't think twice about using this as my moisturiser of choice. There's no overpowering scent and really relieves my skin when it's feeling tight.</div>
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Next up, number 8.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_E080Rw_bPer2AN5NCKsZFJaXjBs8zte0rVftnuQG4ZxOwGrQVPsffif0F-nDYO0HcvParywO31_kRACrFzXNpMS4gHnOVSqj5tMzYSnJQEhg1x2Qh1WwLg4ljFYXvLhf031PfiXytGg/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_E080Rw_bPer2AN5NCKsZFJaXjBs8zte0rVftnuQG4ZxOwGrQVPsffif0F-nDYO0HcvParywO31_kRACrFzXNpMS4gHnOVSqj5tMzYSnJQEhg1x2Qh1WwLg4ljFYXvLhf031PfiXytGg/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWziaSdI-w9dT7-LrNQrXITnxfEh8O8XpVR9bT-5anyTzZhJmtMcJcAyhEigwzQXxQlYryitIlL_m53nOKe67LDToZOtOH9MNhqH012ZwXAHGUM4tQcb9oOG3bjL4TdUiRPbEhnERu598/s1600/IMG_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWziaSdI-w9dT7-LrNQrXITnxfEh8O8XpVR9bT-5anyTzZhJmtMcJcAyhEigwzQXxQlYryitIlL_m53nOKe67LDToZOtOH9MNhqH012ZwXAHGUM4tQcb9oOG3bjL4TdUiRPbEhnERu598/s1600/IMG_0108.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrt0tgi7xS4bDlpCwiyKwYFotmyQYMb1Yu_Ix_4M2K_9JjK0S3tR3sb2MUZLW2HckqT6CUw2XGYvn79wRKrSaOIVdPamPYEwYx24fWuAdIx2nGGWokiM9XaJDPMH2WEzBS9jZt0Z5QYE/s1600/IMG_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrt0tgi7xS4bDlpCwiyKwYFotmyQYMb1Yu_Ix_4M2K_9JjK0S3tR3sb2MUZLW2HckqT6CUw2XGYvn79wRKrSaOIVdPamPYEwYx24fWuAdIx2nGGWokiM9XaJDPMH2WEzBS9jZt0Z5QYE/s1600/IMG_0109.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yves Saint Laurent Forever Youth Liberator Serum. Again, anti ageing isn't exactly a current necessity of mine but it's never to early to start. Prevention is cheaper than the cure they say. In all honesty I'm not 100% sold on this as the ingredients list has me curious. The second ingredient listed is alcohol, I'm no skin care genius but I'm pretty sure alcohol is just going to dry out the skin. That along with the price for a full size version (£61 for 30ml!) don't exactly fill me with a desire to purchase once I've finished this mini. The serum made my skin feel smooth enough, but no miraculous results to make me want to part with so many pennies.</div>
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Last but not least, door number 9.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdjrcV2vaY3jFKt2nWLyePjLoTL2Q5_g41BgOBzTTiSnXIsqRNU9HEK3rZbG93L7dT7ghr8IK12InSnpMQ9WbCsIiZUnKy7_e5BppN-MVJhjvOGjIs3FiIGo40wQkgSrNQ4dUTTRcFK8/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdjrcV2vaY3jFKt2nWLyePjLoTL2Q5_g41BgOBzTTiSnXIsqRNU9HEK3rZbG93L7dT7ghr8IK12InSnpMQ9WbCsIiZUnKy7_e5BppN-MVJhjvOGjIs3FiIGo40wQkgSrNQ4dUTTRcFK8/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG" height="406" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimubIXpvtdOTscc02ty9690PTRtA_fN7lq8uwlQRtwQYcL8lTT9yIRWNEX1vWr3moUpO3DIMnST-J1p5qwLfrlNSnFrxSbGy_-_pkAkWE8ARZo_8uXwEiRaUZbA0xBwk-T6SI_MX_ITtg/s1600/IMG_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimubIXpvtdOTscc02ty9690PTRtA_fN7lq8uwlQRtwQYcL8lTT9yIRWNEX1vWr3moUpO3DIMnST-J1p5qwLfrlNSnFrxSbGy_-_pkAkWE8ARZo_8uXwEiRaUZbA0xBwk-T6SI_MX_ITtg/s1600/IMG_0113.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Emporio Armani Code. Another pretty wee bottle. My sister has worn this fragrance for years so it's a very familiar scent to me. Not as sweet as my favourites but a pleasant odour nonetheless. This is a more musky fragrance with an orange undertone, personally however I just don't feel it lasts very long. After just a couple of hours I can't notice the fragrance anymore, I don't mind the odd top up spritz throughout the day just not as often as this would require.</div>
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Have you tried any of these beauty treats? How did you find them?</div>
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TTFN</div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-84154981337952851802014-12-11T15:10:00.000-08:002014-12-11T15:18:32.140-08:001,2,3,4,5 ....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uzUMjI7fth3pNfeYGDv1tGPHFimfiTMQ7XaEU3a_RCGegJaobw3qd38LENSn2S7sS6BVszRCmGEY8nrF_ZZc_snk-G0H5SvkUWGwt9AZ4EMNPg2z9DDwfLCtOrLs1HmAHUjd5CGzSMc/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uzUMjI7fth3pNfeYGDv1tGPHFimfiTMQ7XaEU3a_RCGegJaobw3qd38LENSn2S7sS6BVszRCmGEY8nrF_ZZc_snk-G0H5SvkUWGwt9AZ4EMNPg2z9DDwfLCtOrLs1HmAHUjd5CGzSMc/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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..I think my beauty collection is going to thrive!</div>
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So of course the daily blogging didn't happen. It was my honest intention but truth is there just aren't enough hours in the day, particularly ones with daylight.</div>
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Consequently the lighting in these photos is extremely improvised. When I leave for work in a morning it's still dark, it's then dark again before I've even left to come home again. Cheers winter. To top it all off, my bedroom light doesn't work. That's right, I have to muddle through my ridiculous beauty regimes (and daily clothing struggle) with just the aid of a small desk light.</div>
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For the future I'm going to have to be extremely naughty and perhaps open my calendar a tad early..it's all for you guys I swear! I'm going to be super organised and take a bunch of photos at the weekend in some much needed sunlight. This also means I can try out each product a little longer before I review it and get a better feel for them.</div>
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Enough of my ramblings and excuses, onto the next 3 days of goodies!</div>
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<i>Knock knock!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWk2pvM2Cp0DoJI4d56htRc2q0qjVqlG41pGB2cFZoIfhiqSdTbQMM0NdAGeIjHo9X6WH5k5SX9rB4UzPo33IzkvbMiJ8WZ85_tP4IKe0JP3AO55Q3qEpC8yeKj5flLt127vAc4C-3W54/s1600/IMG_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWk2pvM2Cp0DoJI4d56htRc2q0qjVqlG41pGB2cFZoIfhiqSdTbQMM0NdAGeIjHo9X6WH5k5SX9rB4UzPo33IzkvbMiJ8WZ85_tP4IKe0JP3AO55Q3qEpC8yeKj5flLt127vAc4C-3W54/s1600/IMG_0085.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Who's there?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXDd4qigJv54EBBpx24i5PHk9J10FNVSnwO9UcurMEEASJoQq26V2pYQkIsFs7frLaIYlSJZmhpHp2X4Q36DGt1oj6uaFlddjykT3tD0pkH2O2-nceSAgxX9bIT9oPHIvZnvzh5GAmSU/s1600/IMG_0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXDd4qigJv54EBBpx24i5PHk9J10FNVSnwO9UcurMEEASJoQq26V2pYQkIsFs7frLaIYlSJZmhpHp2X4Q36DGt1oj6uaFlddjykT3tD0pkH2O2-nceSAgxX9bIT9oPHIvZnvzh5GAmSU/s1600/IMG_0086.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 15px; outline: none 0px; text-decoration: none;"><i><a href="http://www.lancome.co.uk/_en/_gb/ecommerce/services/index.aspx?code=Commitments" style="color: #222222; line-height: 15px; outline: none 0px; text-decoration: none;">Lancôme</a>.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KK1qekzCP54p2HAksE635bamJhFpr7vBnLS7rPfKmARJj9asjzDsH6_Vbu93ftumU-MFS2NHLD_GrCTQmS6EGyNr-_0lbs4UtjJgNtqfOo87jUv1ee7_mFbdsRDbzTWkX27RioTudlg/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KK1qekzCP54p2HAksE635bamJhFpr7vBnLS7rPfKmARJj9asjzDsH6_Vbu93ftumU-MFS2NHLD_GrCTQmS6EGyNr-_0lbs4UtjJgNtqfOo87jUv1ee7_mFbdsRDbzTWkX27RioTudlg/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.lancome.co.uk/_en/_gb/ecommerce/services/index.aspx?code=Commitments" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 15px; outline: none 0px; text-decoration: none;">Lancôme</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"> who?</span></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.lancome.co.uk/_en/_gb/ecommerce/services/index.aspx?code=Commitments" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 15px; outline: none 0px;">Lancôme</a><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.15em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Rénergie Multi-Lift.</span></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.15em;">At the ripe old age of 23 I'm not exactly the target demographic </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">for a 'lifting, firming anti-wrinkle cream'. That said, it is still a moisturiser at the end of the day. I may not have any wrinkles that need dealing with but my skin could always do with some extra hydration, and it can never be to early to start on the anti-aging front. Bonus ball; it also has SPF 15.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Personally, I prefer to sample new moisturisers at night. My skin becomes very shiny throughout the day, I am careful therefore about what products I apply in a morning to try and ensure the dreaded oil-slick stays away for as long as possible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">For me this definitely isn't a moisturiser I could use during the day, I'm not saying I don't like it though! When I wake up in the morning after applying this my skin appears to have taken on a reflective glow. Not the good kind. After a quick cleanse however, my skin felt lovely and smooth. Maybe I did have some wrinkles after all?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">One point I didn't like about this product though was the fragrance. It has quite a heavy perfumed scent - if you have sensitive skin I would try this on only a small area first. I feel the fragrance irritated my skin on occasions when it was already a little tight from cleansing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Who's at the door, door number four?</i></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIGvkeXuivb71ioKlT4s3SftS0QcmilJ1lsotYfITBpqcvjF1w-2HWOKTPg1TA5oxPhmnqIYAOyEJ-wGr9CDW5lXA0Y1iU7dDheBBmKYYITmSocEkbRIATpUuRsnp-5uAZYHTRyUJVik/s1600/IMG_0089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIGvkeXuivb71ioKlT4s3SftS0QcmilJ1lsotYfITBpqcvjF1w-2HWOKTPg1TA5oxPhmnqIYAOyEJ-wGr9CDW5lXA0Y1iU7dDheBBmKYYITmSocEkbRIATpUuRsnp-5uAZYHTRyUJVik/s1600/IMG_0089.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>We have another offering from <a href="http://www.lancome.co.uk/_en/_gb/ecommerce/services/index.aspx?code=Commitments" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 15px; outline: none 0px; text-decoration: none;">Lancôme</a>.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUQj675VmU36QVY1Uv7ifvnxm6flgLG2NvgAwjDMDg34YHEXs6LkEFC6vUCjklXZOFEVk-shjpXPe-tTtRuF0KSl8Yoixm0kFK1utkXWzlrkMl4IulJ39ewYNOZ2QHFKKsMSi_lEFmn4/s1600/IMG_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUQj675VmU36QVY1Uv7ifvnxm6flgLG2NvgAwjDMDg34YHEXs6LkEFC6vUCjklXZOFEVk-shjpXPe-tTtRuF0KSl8Yoixm0kFK1utkXWzlrkMl4IulJ39ewYNOZ2QHFKKsMSi_lEFmn4/s1600/IMG_0090.JPG" height="402" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>And number 5?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja943RLjEbun68-7pDWDUfVhREyCPF6BIOO9un-GKsdlBRhZ0pjZetMvHlNsGeY1ZxLp6O9trhnhQr36bY5Qzi1t5gE0qTUrY7QiVQ81E6KMWfRltmumtdPNephT1K840Prv5xd8R2KEo/s1600/IMG_0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja943RLjEbun68-7pDWDUfVhREyCPF6BIOO9un-GKsdlBRhZ0pjZetMvHlNsGeY1ZxLp6O9trhnhQr36bY5Qzi1t5gE0qTUrY7QiVQ81E6KMWfRltmumtdPNephT1K840Prv5xd8R2KEo/s1600/IMG_0093.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>A wee vial of Shu Uemura magic.</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.lancome.co.uk/_en/_gb/ecommerce/services/index.aspx?code=Commitments" style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 15px; outline: none 0px;">Lancôme</a><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"> </span></span></u><u style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 30px;">Galatéis Douceur</u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">(Described as a 'gentle softening cleansing fluid for face & eyes', this is in essence a cleansing milk.)</span></div>
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<u style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shu Uemura skin purifier</u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(High performance balancing cleansing oil advanced formula.)</span></div>
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I'm reviewing these two products together because, unfortunately, I'm a stubborn little monkey stuck in her ways. What I mean by this is that my makeup remover of choice has been micellar cleansing water for quite some time now. Sorry guys but you never stood a chance. From the first time I used a micellar water it was like a revelation. They honestly just completely sweep away makeup (even the blackest smokey eye) without ever feeling harsh. To me, everything else I've tried in comparison requires far too much product to achieve the same results and many aren't as gentle on my skin. One of these products miraculously had me questioning myself however ...<br />
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My makeup remover preferences are predominantly for something that easily and gently removes eye make up. This means I can then jump in the shower and remove the remainder of my makeup with my clarisonic and whichever liquid cleanser I'm favouring. Whilst both removers did tackle my black eyes, it wasn't completely plain sailing. The cleansing milk had a tendency to soak into the cotton pad as well as my skin. This meant that sweeping the pad over the eye area began to feel uncomfortable, and almost rough as the gliding sensation disappeared, owing to it being such a delicate area. I had to keep using more product to avoid any pulling. Like the moisturiser, I felt this too had an unnecessary amount of fragrance in it, this however did't seem to aggravate my skin though.<br />
I've never used a cleansing oil before, but the concept has always intrigued me. I've definitely been missing out.<br />
The Uemura skin purifier seemed to melt away all the makeup on my face, don't get me wrong it is a kind of messy process. If you're wearing more than a little mascara be prepared for some serious racoon eyes! Don't fret however, after a good rinse with warm water all traces of makeup, dirt and oil disappear to leave beautifully soft and clean skin. A lot of cleansers (and even just a splash of water sometimes) can leave my skin feeling tight and dry, it was a welcome change for my face to feel so comfortable after a thorough cleanse.<br />
I don't think I've found a replacement for my beloved micellar water, but it's certainly something I'll use on the occasions my skin is feeling particularly dry.<br />
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Have you guys tried any of these products? Let me know how you found them.<br />
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TTFN<br />
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Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-52471279943270894652014-12-03T15:12:00.003-08:002016-05-22T10:43:05.123-07:00Bloglovin<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y40tK0UCO4FNmwLCZILlY2xvxeAO3m_wB0AD9g0OEO8tCi5tngc-GfNNcUQyiMEKDK0-wBmPXc5Zv11WtdbsjytStwPwoyU4vyNFh7YdyTnA3qEwReg6BuutGiIf2-X_6Fwycpa6e8Q/s1600/12546312_10153170632887245_1093545831_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y40tK0UCO4FNmwLCZILlY2xvxeAO3m_wB0AD9g0OEO8tCi5tngc-GfNNcUQyiMEKDK0-wBmPXc5Zv11WtdbsjytStwPwoyU4vyNFh7YdyTnA3qEwReg6BuutGiIf2-X_6Fwycpa6e8Q/s640/12546312_10153170632887245_1093545831_o.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
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So after my little revamp recently I've finally got around to changing my bloglovin info. Make my day and follow me, I promise to do a better job than last time, hooray for finally having a routine to my week!</div>
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/13265589/?claim=2kvutcq2zap">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a></div>
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TTFN </div>
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Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-24294761837082107752014-12-02T15:08:00.001-08:002014-12-02T15:17:28.288-08:0060 seconds in 1 minute, 60 minutes in 1 hour, 24 hours in 1 day, 365 days in 1 year. How many seconds are there in 1 year?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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12! The 2nd of January, 2nd of February . . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYY0Jr8vARU98Ox2XhQYY4ShH4kNVJMHjXCHlSTN1Tln0r4JlgkY1r3QmJnAnUXqNBTEQWwSBawKNqJ6cuUAZBT35LAlG6Q8jWTEvNh23QdATZmZLSBxx5y7aApefsBmBI39fYLIt2yU/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYY0Jr8vARU98Ox2XhQYY4ShH4kNVJMHjXCHlSTN1Tln0r4JlgkY1r3QmJnAnUXqNBTEQWwSBawKNqJ6cuUAZBT35LAlG6Q8jWTEvNh23QdATZmZLSBxx5y7aApefsBmBI39fYLIt2yU/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I apologise for the awful joke but it seemed appropriate. </div>
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So for December 2nd this morning I found;</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIM_KcRv-5E_BAfsXy7m93ABuuGqqx0MYAHt5Xz1A07hAzpLVGJVx2LhuNOZ3p3nVWblJBaNrrFj2CWAOeqkrMGM9j-jE-fQwc6nNbW1pNXZMKqrf9txXvvvuy8x8NYn-DUeRsAYvEbA/s1600/IMG_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIM_KcRv-5E_BAfsXy7m93ABuuGqqx0MYAHt5Xz1A07hAzpLVGJVx2LhuNOZ3p3nVWblJBaNrrFj2CWAOeqkrMGM9j-jE-fQwc6nNbW1pNXZMKqrf9txXvvvuy8x8NYn-DUeRsAYvEbA/s1600/IMG_0083.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Kiehl's ultra facial cleanser.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjx4n_ldIngvfrtmIFDXD0vHQ_dRqpxfPUzImfoB6nPCUzUhuQsa9iI70QISd8511puiXH2Yr70Pj8_AQmjmGUpcQq8KGTN76tDSkGlo0NEx9Gb39t5cbJ_yYsSZmBmf-EsD9UyVKE1ws/s1600/IMG_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjx4n_ldIngvfrtmIFDXD0vHQ_dRqpxfPUzImfoB6nPCUzUhuQsa9iI70QISd8511puiXH2Yr70Pj8_AQmjmGUpcQq8KGTN76tDSkGlo0NEx9Gb39t5cbJ_yYsSZmBmf-EsD9UyVKE1ws/s1600/IMG_0084.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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It claims to be a 'gentle liquid formula that cleanses without over-drying or stripping skin'. So how did it pan out?</div>
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I removed my eye make up first as it states to avoid the immediate eye area, already a negative point in my book as unless I'm exfoliating I don't see the point in using a separate makeup remover (particularly when a product boasts about removing makeup on the label).</div>
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To give it a fair run I avoided using my much loved clarisonic, and instead opted for that old school cleansing tool; fingertips. </div>
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As a standard cleanser I can't knock it. When following up with my toner not a scrap of foundation, or dip brow for that matter, came off on that cotton pad. That's where the positives end I'm afraid. After patting off the excess water on my face, I allowed it to air dry for a minute. For a product claiming not to over-dry the skin I would expect at the very least for my face to feel comfortable, the tightening sensation that followed however was up there with my most hated cleanser; clearasil rapid action gel wash. This particular clearsil cleanser honestly turned me into a reptile. Within 3 days my entire face was dry, scaly and began peeling off like sunburn. I would like to state that this was a few years ago now so the formula may well have changed, but it's safe to say that since then I'm very picky about which cleanser I use and pay very close attention to how my skin reacts to a new one.</div>
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Back to the product in hand, <b>skin care is hugely variable from person to person so don't take my word as Gospel</b>. I don't believe myself to have particularly sensitive skin these days; I've used a variety of toners, serums and peels without adverse affects, so I didn't expect such a reaction from a 'gentle' cleanser void of any acne fighting claims. </div>
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Don't get me wrong, the sensation is nothing a touch of moisturiser can't fix, but that's not my point. Why advertise as a gentle cleanser when it really isn't the case.</div>
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I will be giving this Kiehl's cleanser another go in the future (providing we don't have another reptilian outbreak) as I don't believe you can make a clear decision on just one use. I have many products that I disliked to begin with, only to have found them to be staple products in my beauty routine months later (hello Illamasqua skin base). As a cleanser it does the job, in regards to actually delivering what it promises on the packaging however it falls short of the mark so far. </div>
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Hopefully tomorrow I'll find something slightly more agreeable.</div>
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TTFN</div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-91023644572802227622014-12-01T07:22:00.001-08:002014-12-01T07:22:50.569-08:00A little bit of Christmas every day . . . <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzwwlPgfbs_nCNlvxNNGx8-X084RA8ERm3oVWV3gDKh3zshKe9h7OG7zLeQHIKtEvRxPkms7Hk43gdcoXVh-LxmMZTHoQJCPWSoGc0qvb8a_ET4VZHRIUgOoDZtJK_xEZ4i2ZXDwpSTM/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzwwlPgfbs_nCNlvxNNGx8-X084RA8ERm3oVWV3gDKh3zshKe9h7OG7zLeQHIKtEvRxPkms7Hk43gdcoXVh-LxmMZTHoQJCPWSoGc0qvb8a_ET4VZHRIUgOoDZtJK_xEZ4i2ZXDwpSTM/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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The beauty Gods have spoken and granted us this little gem of an advent calendar.</div>
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At 23 years old I really am still just a big kid at heart, I love christmas and everything about it so as soon as December begins I'm all over advent like a kid in a sweet store (literally, I have about 5 chocolate calendars).</div>
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This year however, I also treated myself to a more 'grown up' offering, the Enchanted Spells advent calendar from Selfridges. I can't thank Rose (you really must visit her blog <a href="http://www.mixedgems.co.uk/" target="_blank">Mixed Gems</a>) from Selfridges enough for sorting out this order for me. When are we going to get a store in Leeds please!?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAEWkIiGYEhrygaemQvBkEtcci1UHRM3asR3Puxxm-lvVM2RGnjpGrCs3bts5RGzikG6L5_rRWNVv5zVb55pK6EIQgUZ8Qx0hJehwECDCTzfclX8cbRvnE9J3g8e1S5OupQHsBl139kk/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAEWkIiGYEhrygaemQvBkEtcci1UHRM3asR3Puxxm-lvVM2RGnjpGrCs3bts5RGzikG6L5_rRWNVv5zVb55pK6EIQgUZ8Qx0hJehwECDCTzfclX8cbRvnE9J3g8e1S5OupQHsBl139kk/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I mean it when I say 'a little bit of christmas every day' here. These 24 doors hide little treats from Shu Uemura, Lancome, Viktor & Rolf, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Kiehl's, Diesel and Urban Decay. </div>
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So what was behind door number 1 I hear you ask?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe8bqpa57GhqqWByZc9yckDJTBIt5amHHGp6Mf8ratglnXqIWpkZpAMUvgkZ7BXkcYTBwM_c4xX87JlpwCooPAtJ8v_vABwk3-wVEjpMHqUT1r5xeQZrywNkeFS5CLrfxsM1th7V4t0c/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe8bqpa57GhqqWByZc9yckDJTBIt5amHHGp6Mf8ratglnXqIWpkZpAMUvgkZ7BXkcYTBwM_c4xX87JlpwCooPAtJ8v_vABwk3-wVEjpMHqUT1r5xeQZrywNkeFS5CLrfxsM1th7V4t0c/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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A true classic was nestled behind this window ...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1EhEbe9zTwK8AyzHO4emUZxVt7GWa_fMZq2z5PiD8RUOtV6oIcBt4o6AyHD2tUBBiyV9IB1KhlwANgSLkKNBiJ8V38nNPvjO6RoMmZo5cbYxXwqcSeKoDtWM2Peb_l7YeXWSs5azmB0/s1600/IMG_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1EhEbe9zTwK8AyzHO4emUZxVt7GWa_fMZq2z5PiD8RUOtV6oIcBt4o6AyHD2tUBBiyV9IB1KhlwANgSLkKNBiJ8V38nNPvjO6RoMmZo5cbYxXwqcSeKoDtWM2Peb_l7YeXWSs5azmB0/s1600/IMG_0080.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7oxfw0oTvUn8bqId_i5NOIbYSCo60zskIddNp2347QDF4H_OZt2VgWegHEUPOjXSVscTkqUfYYFj-oXDZtOwxtOywXSSpZ_trGOxhRe2aAYuhO29ic-uYDdHkirzIt2k3DQF8Mxl8V8/s1600/IMG_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7oxfw0oTvUn8bqId_i5NOIbYSCo60zskIddNp2347QDF4H_OZt2VgWegHEUPOjXSVscTkqUfYYFj-oXDZtOwxtOywXSSpZ_trGOxhRe2aAYuhO29ic-uYDdHkirzIt2k3DQF8Mxl8V8/s1600/IMG_0081.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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...Opium!</div>
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Now, just to warn you, I'm no perfume expert, I just know what I like and what I don't.</div>
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Personally I would usually opt for ridiculously sweet and fruity scents (Escada never fail to disappoint in this department, along with my new love; Armani Si), so this is a wonderful chance to try something new. Initially, I did feel as though I was playing dress up and had raided my mothers vanity unit; an understandable consequence of a scent that's been around for so long in one form or another. Throughout the day though it has really grown on me. A far cry from my usual perfumes of choice but sometimes it's nice to have a change. </div>
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If you haven't tried opium before, it is what I would describe as a more mature perfume. Whilst still having quite a fresh scent, I also smell more woody notes. As with any fragrance it develops throughout the day and the sweeter notes really begin to come through. </div>
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Overall not a bad start to december!</div>
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Remember that job interview I told you guys about? Well I got it! I start tomorrow, so whilst my intention is to blog daily about my advent wonders I can't make any promises. Just watch this space.</div>
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TTFN</div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-70725244424654759182014-11-13T14:48:00.000-08:002014-11-13T14:49:02.544-08:00I'll sleep when I'm dead<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4AYgKrI_W8xi3LhCjxs8FC_JB4QQmAPx3-KC-DJp9-Rys3TTRgxTYww_NT7DERIMcQ9TIR7Kf4w_NVdnoJ-BXiycKvnz66PdPIfqQoyVSB21Seq1adzHruCrkwlfgLwbaGosm29XDKE/s1600/IMG_20141106_160116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4AYgKrI_W8xi3LhCjxs8FC_JB4QQmAPx3-KC-DJp9-Rys3TTRgxTYww_NT7DERIMcQ9TIR7Kf4w_NVdnoJ-BXiycKvnz66PdPIfqQoyVSB21Seq1adzHruCrkwlfgLwbaGosm29XDKE/s1600/IMG_20141106_160116.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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How many cups of coffee does it take to fuel one Sian before 10.30am?</div>
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In answer to the above, 1 mocha in my trusty pug cup upon waking, 3 Starbucks Caramel Macchiato's before reaching even halfway to Birmingham, and then another 3 cheeky freebie coffees on the train.</div>
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I'm currently writing this whilst on my 3rd train of the day and it's not even 11am yet. Whilst normally this wouldn't be much of an issue, I'm currently running on 2 and a half hours sleep, for a change through no fault of my own - the joys of shift work are to blame for this one.</div>
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Being one for grabbing any chance I can to catch up with friends, I'm on my way to visit some uni friends in Oxford...tickets were purchased 2 days ago! It's not exactly the most local area for me so it involved a 6 am wake up call, 3 trains and a wee change over at Birmingham New Street station, an unexpected treat as Birmingham is in fact the uni in question that I attended. I was expecting a much welcome blast from the past but oh my has it changed! New street is now all new and swanky, I'm pretty sure if I'd had time to venture outside I may have felt a little lost, it seemed 3 times the size of the station I once frequented 2 years ago.</div>
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To keep me entertained on my little journey I weighed my trusty Mulberry down with my macbook and a couple of choice DVDs, in hindsight potentially the wrong choices. For Leeds to Birmingham's 'in flight' entertainment I opted for 21 jump street. I had to stifle fits of laughter for the entire thing (along with stopping myself drool over the delightful specimen that is Channing Tatum). For the homeward journey I've packed frozen . . . Hopefully my carriage won't mind an impromptu Karaoke session to 'Let it Go'?</div>
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As the tittle suggests, myself and my friend Caitlin (mosey on over to her blog <a href="http://littlegirllittleblackdress.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">here</a>) are firm believers in the 'I'll sleep when I'm dead' principal. Quite frankly there aren't enough hours in the day, or week for that matter, to squeeze in work, fun fulfilled activities and rest. Enter Coffee.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQiMGChcHXhzeDeC0uwWyP6tdfedR6E6WjZc8JAo3hVEcwDPyVpy_AhSRQMnM4ykLBMEOk31ggIrWvEq8uqQc2kEn4QB5ycXMeSmW2aZ7eBui5zJ1SCwfGsfnFOQPR2Czc7t145IdFQQ/s1600/66ef3f85e58bd93cade775a9ca6b488e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQiMGChcHXhzeDeC0uwWyP6tdfedR6E6WjZc8JAo3hVEcwDPyVpy_AhSRQMnM4ykLBMEOk31ggIrWvEq8uqQc2kEn4QB5ycXMeSmW2aZ7eBui5zJ1SCwfGsfnFOQPR2Czc7t145IdFQQ/s1600/66ef3f85e58bd93cade775a9ca6b488e.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Any more Gilmore Girls fans out there?</i> </div>
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In the past few years I've come to realise how precious time really is, especially time with friends. It's far too easy to come up with what feels like legitimate excuses to put off plans. I refuse to do it anymore. So what if I'm working late the night before or early the following morning? So what if it's far away? The time is always there, you just have to find it. We found the perfect equation; Not enough hours in the day - sleep + coffee = more time for all the things you want to do.</div>
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I've got plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead.</div>
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<i>Edit: I may not have drooled over Channing Tatum . . . That didn't stop me from drooling when I nodded off on one of my trains home. Ever the graceful lady me.</i></div>
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Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-27721977853881870112014-10-24T10:28:00.001-07:002014-10-24T10:29:25.667-07:00Something wicked this way comes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMimV3at9mxsDFykEwxT8K6Hhy274m1wEom9hxyrHAocxdQrdlblt9MJCvOmnKv_nFRC_bwxpn1lsIyYfT2ixQXAt85C7Fl3YNy4j8RY_wCT3JqdaowVSjUwTWOI1AyZOgdm4C1E5kSnA/s1600/IMG_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMimV3at9mxsDFykEwxT8K6Hhy274m1wEom9hxyrHAocxdQrdlblt9MJCvOmnKv_nFRC_bwxpn1lsIyYfT2ixQXAt85C7Fl3YNy4j8RY_wCT3JqdaowVSjUwTWOI1AyZOgdm4C1E5kSnA/s1600/IMG_0044.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's nearly halloween people!!</div>
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Being a makeup junkie I absolutely adore halloween as it swings the door wide open for bursts of creativity. Here's some of the fun I've been having in preparation over the last couple of weeks.</div>
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I wish I could take credit for this design but I followed a youtube tutorial from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/GlamAndGoreMakeup/featured" target="_blank">Mykie</a> (she's amazing!). It's a much simpler dramatic style that's prefect for halloween if you don't want to go all out on a costume.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxy8N5KRfd1gz8HVT3zaDfW7N8nnvnEftekXeIEyroPLFqTpEvMT-JdR94JbERas-6_FVObsh68s008Xvw4XiECag-f-iEgmeKYOhrshUE_-2RPoTzeX340IlsxPo0ZNd-EqAJlyFZhw/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxy8N5KRfd1gz8HVT3zaDfW7N8nnvnEftekXeIEyroPLFqTpEvMT-JdR94JbERas-6_FVObsh68s008Xvw4XiECag-f-iEgmeKYOhrshUE_-2RPoTzeX340IlsxPo0ZNd-EqAJlyFZhw/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43D2F4XlEK8JAGfSOb5c8h0N7pp3afdVCEXU7CNAcz9pvftypIoLnTDDIw1p8W55LTiqg4oxlcbe4Qtz2sH_XxhC7uIt9K7DP87HnC4INFx0LzZ669oUSLLsmT3jjVW5x-NS-cOpONv0/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43D2F4XlEK8JAGfSOb5c8h0N7pp3afdVCEXU7CNAcz9pvftypIoLnTDDIw1p8W55LTiqg4oxlcbe4Qtz2sH_XxhC7uIt9K7DP87HnC4INFx0LzZ669oUSLLsmT3jjVW5x-NS-cOpONv0/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbZNJq33OqXJNRTOWoYXGruI__Xjw9PJr-qQ4-2IZIPcyDkfpV8J6AoLYdjwjEizcQEYCqGQhh3zXSRG-MjFYioPo5XYx-wyUTDv5ZtXzLzTfgHisSoYWqErXLUwbH9KSkdKv2LoE4OQ/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbZNJq33OqXJNRTOWoYXGruI__Xjw9PJr-qQ4-2IZIPcyDkfpV8J6AoLYdjwjEizcQEYCqGQhh3zXSRG-MjFYioPo5XYx-wyUTDv5ZtXzLzTfgHisSoYWqErXLUwbH9KSkdKv2LoE4OQ/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmBI5pgtiVFlaxQzeGuXEZvzqFsVsBsN5Xzxfde6fp6UWBKDNFYHRUKCE4m7qD2Gorqv-FxVSxdRkephkircQrsmk5PVeyNvuwc_xwNrutbdWEfUW_UNdaIRvNEgyN-aAK9s3pAB5mvI/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmBI5pgtiVFlaxQzeGuXEZvzqFsVsBsN5Xzxfde6fp6UWBKDNFYHRUKCE4m7qD2Gorqv-FxVSxdRkephkircQrsmk5PVeyNvuwc_xwNrutbdWEfUW_UNdaIRvNEgyN-aAK9s3pAB5mvI/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" height="602" width="640" /></a></div>
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I find it quite amusing that I packed in a load of extra white to my foundation to pale myself up for this and I don't actually look any different to normal! Please tell me I have some more pale friends out there?</div>
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Mykie talks through all the products required, I didn't have all of them so improvised with similar Sugarpill and Illamasqua shades that I did own. For the lips I used a combination of Illamasqua ESP (one of my all time faves, definitely check that one out) and Mac Cyber.</div>
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Next up, my fabulous halloween themed claws.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UkUEtU8OTggwvjfXCsdWLNEtQEECacxXDPz6F_lVG1tUf5MOwBjqPUvSxQowdn4faeIIiv6CybkBBNEv96-2O9yGLtIvJvkC_9mvaFDNrzcEOb8YR5dsdiQAIJaQdq-2VbFJgkaSw08/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UkUEtU8OTggwvjfXCsdWLNEtQEECacxXDPz6F_lVG1tUf5MOwBjqPUvSxQowdn4faeIIiv6CybkBBNEv96-2O9yGLtIvJvkC_9mvaFDNrzcEOb8YR5dsdiQAIJaQdq-2VbFJgkaSw08/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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How cute is my little dracula man! These were created by the oh so lovely Hannah at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hanas.nails?fref=ts" target="_blank">Hannah's nails</a>. If you live in the Leeds/Pudsey area I'd definitely check her out, she always offers a cup of tea and never gets annoyed when I don't have a clue what I want doing to my nails that week, patience of a saint that one.</div>
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See that cracked nail on my index finger? That leads me to these next pictures. . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlLbC4jPprOsZp8ae7hD-dDoBpRHOguzai9J69otXZ13o6Yy5rFLUBwiqESp9HDqrnnXxtI4b9DYGS4puqHtNebi9Zdcinj9PPA9ZU7eyjgJ9V7lVhIsMB1HP2_UF4DdN751U2MlThSA/s1600/Photo+on+14-10-2014+at+01.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlLbC4jPprOsZp8ae7hD-dDoBpRHOguzai9J69otXZ13o6Yy5rFLUBwiqESp9HDqrnnXxtI4b9DYGS4puqHtNebi9Zdcinj9PPA9ZU7eyjgJ9V7lVhIsMB1HP2_UF4DdN751U2MlThSA/s1600/Photo+on+14-10-2014+at+01.17.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is my plan for when I venture out on Halloween, a broken dolly. I can't tell you how much fun this was to do! For whatever reason there is nothing more satisfying than completely painting over your entire face, I even coated my eyebrows in pritt stick, that was an odd experience (peeling it off after however took me right back to primary school, come on I know I'm not the only one who covered their hand in PVA just to peel it all off once it dried). On the night I think I may alter the eye make up a little, I can't put my finger on what but something about it just doesn't do it for me. Maybe a pop of colour in there? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhGzdgy-sneXot82rDTi9BV089t1YmlsAxlZYup1Om4YWq83Mmb4DPXoMNERvKkfOoDW8wZBrc4W3uugvWl7bndtwow1XFHNd20dn6uAPCkTvyqAl_7EqaoU57V7vzuDxcUnbMhOCvjI/s1600/Photo+on+14-10-2014+at+01.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhGzdgy-sneXot82rDTi9BV089t1YmlsAxlZYup1Om4YWq83Mmb4DPXoMNERvKkfOoDW8wZBrc4W3uugvWl7bndtwow1XFHNd20dn6uAPCkTvyqAl_7EqaoU57V7vzuDxcUnbMhOCvjI/s1600/Photo+on+14-10-2014+at+01.22.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4rpEs6MyaeC7zuiTzAa9yu-Cer1b2WmihKIUtrpr6zE3FAmMtXSFmlbzgvoq4lnOCGvdTnXJE4avuYeMPLZv83rKp7w05mQN196A1P9A3bXmtvCreOZRxzJaOzeW8GRVnUA7a8s3hhw/s1600/Photo+on+14-10-2014+at+01.22+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4rpEs6MyaeC7zuiTzAa9yu-Cer1b2WmihKIUtrpr6zE3FAmMtXSFmlbzgvoq4lnOCGvdTnXJE4avuYeMPLZv83rKp7w05mQN196A1P9A3bXmtvCreOZRxzJaOzeW8GRVnUA7a8s3hhw/s1600/Photo+on+14-10-2014+at+01.22+%232.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Weapons of choice for this look were Illamasqua precision ink in scribe and abyss along with Mac's cherry lip liner,</div>
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Speaking of painting all over your face ...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrH734cJ2BV2IacR3Oo_uO_FQYxMJ8ZRapyMhKh3yuMPKsa_qM9QTG9xCxkvN9NdgUYSUt9945hpGA1nLPZrwEAbOHNk2aO6n6uLbZCRKt7btDlpO5r-MU7dLN1GYZZAC7LnMZHPxnqM/s1600/10694287_10152247475142245_1352959150684330192_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrH734cJ2BV2IacR3Oo_uO_FQYxMJ8ZRapyMhKh3yuMPKsa_qM9QTG9xCxkvN9NdgUYSUt9945hpGA1nLPZrwEAbOHNk2aO6n6uLbZCRKt7btDlpO5r-MU7dLN1GYZZAC7LnMZHPxnqM/s1600/10694287_10152247475142245_1352959150684330192_o.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Half skulls are everywhere and this is my attempt. I have to say I was incredibly proud of myself as this was my first go and I didn't really plan it. Again, my skin is almost the same colour as the WHITE skull portion. Round of applause for us pale ladies. </div>
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Removing this one is not an easy feat. I used gel liner for the black detail and my eyebrows were grey for the next 48 hours. A thorough shower scrub is certainly required here, but I think a small price to pay for such a cool look. </div>
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I have a few more creative looks over on my <a href="http://instagram.com/createthecover" target="_blank">Instagram</a> page so I'd love for you to have a look. Bambi is one of my personal highlights.</div>
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Let me know your thoughts in the comments or if there's anything you want me to have a go at in the future.</div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-64322840712309484032014-10-23T15:50:00.001-07:002014-10-23T15:55:17.305-07:00Ice ice baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj204WfukEnGaxXdgbdrD0GGLh8mmGBja4zMrxkhK2ve5mbJv7DUxia7dfMMXlVwcq22rEEoSW3EOzGDTXTva9DKEgtDnwh2J0ql91B1JBZcdvwt4AoUq9gV9kWt7e4viaAVwmniJN0q_4/s1600/IMG_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj204WfukEnGaxXdgbdrD0GGLh8mmGBja4zMrxkhK2ve5mbJv7DUxia7dfMMXlVwcq22rEEoSW3EOzGDTXTva9DKEgtDnwh2J0ql91B1JBZcdvwt4AoUq9gV9kWt7e4viaAVwmniJN0q_4/s1600/IMG_0036.JPG" height="206" width="640" /></a></div>
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Today I tried out some fashion lenses (right eye), just look how pretty! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOr0-YY9rv3RAcSJgOUeIAatD5wqnMf5XXaOTDiqhXkePg5lIIP5JwX5L3epGpjs9JXvuiwjSxkkk_fGqkmx3LP39gO4tpOnte7JCgTEgaTLE0M19OZYSfOKy-_HWB-aDxwYQrqPYNdc/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOr0-YY9rv3RAcSJgOUeIAatD5wqnMf5XXaOTDiqhXkePg5lIIP5JwX5L3epGpjs9JXvuiwjSxkkk_fGqkmx3LP39gO4tpOnte7JCgTEgaTLE0M19OZYSfOKy-_HWB-aDxwYQrqPYNdc/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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The brand in question, 'Desio', are an Italian brand and may be known to you if, like me, you are an instagram stalker. Loved already by many beauty and fashion bloggers, Desio lenses can easily change the colour of even the darkest eyes. </div>
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With a shade range of 8 colours, I opted for the lightest 'innocent white' to brighten my already pale blue eyes, I just wanted a subtle change to really make my eyes pop.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wNz8WQuz6o_peI_m7cVREyWppU9jV6W3DODBD7nJzhFZQw81a-YapA4rENzxZHfHyX5vzWzm6YV6RkoK5_T0wl29nFbF7UZeqFeDtFVRTST34uKDmjhOmqRyWMysSKQa0ZWqP88fY1s/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wNz8WQuz6o_peI_m7cVREyWppU9jV6W3DODBD7nJzhFZQw81a-YapA4rENzxZHfHyX5vzWzm6YV6RkoK5_T0wl29nFbF7UZeqFeDtFVRTST34uKDmjhOmqRyWMysSKQa0ZWqP88fY1s/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5W-HvalnNfEgC-LPW3HL7vC9UcBzuGQmGZmffbJkPzZq3puLBbUa3GkzDrdY9WPGpuok72rZmGNppLo3GLa-XcFBe0GzCjinvXGdPraBBam9wrwuX941UjcIyQ31Tw9xL-KbxN8tJEA/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5W-HvalnNfEgC-LPW3HL7vC9UcBzuGQmGZmffbJkPzZq3puLBbUa3GkzDrdY9WPGpuok72rZmGNppLo3GLa-XcFBe0GzCjinvXGdPraBBam9wrwuX941UjcIyQ31Tw9xL-KbxN8tJEA/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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The lenses themselves came in individual blister packs in a beautiful rose gold packet. I also received a lens case with my order, a feature I believe may be new from Desio as it's absence was a note of annoyance I noticed from reviews by other bloggers. </div>
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The below images show first, my natural eye colour and then with the new lens. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRz6Aw7ADa4KqR5fUA3NLnTZdCIFyX2ae1yT4hIwlPii8F38NWjug9UkwoegYNYKVjYaZUR8SRASsJJ9nA5RzYhIupHbA5Nra3sZf7PC_jn5bBxGX8YGL8NTS_Yw9WHeSWlBDjEJjyg6o/s1600/IMG_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRz6Aw7ADa4KqR5fUA3NLnTZdCIFyX2ae1yT4hIwlPii8F38NWjug9UkwoegYNYKVjYaZUR8SRASsJJ9nA5RzYhIupHbA5Nra3sZf7PC_jn5bBxGX8YGL8NTS_Yw9WHeSWlBDjEJjyg6o/s1600/IMG_0038.JPG" height="504" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWJG3iTp-i0x63MuKO5CEYUfA7f9tyL_19r0jzOC07ReHgIIu9oOah_WC4vWH-u1chKSmh8f_-xn8XSsU3JRPOAsAFWWeSZtaQKRgLAdDbl_3G3ze_vPm-AzKDfWAoiOxLluJXwfqJRY/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWJG3iTp-i0x63MuKO5CEYUfA7f9tyL_19r0jzOC07ReHgIIu9oOah_WC4vWH-u1chKSmh8f_-xn8XSsU3JRPOAsAFWWeSZtaQKRgLAdDbl_3G3ze_vPm-AzKDfWAoiOxLluJXwfqJRY/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG" height="526" width="640" /></a></div>
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The difference is a subtle one but I love it. The results are so natural that after wearing them all day at work nobody knew the reason behind my eyes looking so 'striking'. Everyone knew something was different but they couldn't put their finger on it. </div>
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Are they comfortable I hear you ask? Definitely, I almost forgot to take them out before bed they're that good. I purchased some fashion lenses last year for halloween and they were an absolute nightmare, everything was blurry and every time I blinked they would move and it felt like my eye was being scratched. I assumed perhaps that I was one of those people that just couldn't wear contacts as my friend also purchased a pair but didn't have any problems. I'm now thinking it was infact the contacts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_dLZOPLDFyR8jVttpHGqwKLUvcELHkmRBOkNlk1OT81pY4Pj36sBL1HlslfV6y5otm6uAICp2eg7UuINbsHaRqZ9H1mWa_4ldRSjZkr0LkpiVdCE-BolGPLraRUZw85OTP85u0L2f1I/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_dLZOPLDFyR8jVttpHGqwKLUvcELHkmRBOkNlk1OT81pY4Pj36sBL1HlslfV6y5otm6uAICp2eg7UuINbsHaRqZ9H1mWa_4ldRSjZkr0LkpiVdCE-BolGPLraRUZw85OTP85u0L2f1I/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next I'd love to try the 'forest green' shade as I've always been jealous of green eyes on others. </div>
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If you'd like to see yourself with a set of different coloured peepers you can purchase Desio lenses <a href="http://www.desiolens.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. They retail for around £30 and are available with or without prescription. My delivery took just over a week which isn't too shabby considering postage is free and they're coming from Italy. Thumbs up there Desio. </div>
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Have you tried Desio or any other brands of lenses? How did you find them? Leave me a comment about your experiences or recommendations.</div>
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TTFN</div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-91598931504304730012014-10-21T12:03:00.003-07:002014-10-21T14:12:25.655-07:00Homely comforts<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUGJO7udH5QegjX_DanC-sEkbpC5cOGF6JzIYd65vdJ6-xuDkjZWS-m7X40ko_9TyY4al_gjRgcUZU2abEVxJyzU1UHgSJ2d2I-x1W2V0RkO_FMi-k4QqBPpoi_WGYNg_zzPbeDXk998/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUGJO7udH5QegjX_DanC-sEkbpC5cOGF6JzIYd65vdJ6-xuDkjZWS-m7X40ko_9TyY4al_gjRgcUZU2abEVxJyzU1UHgSJ2d2I-x1W2V0RkO_FMi-k4QqBPpoi_WGYNg_zzPbeDXk998/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hands up who hates Primark? This used to be me, but I can tell you I've been converted.</div>
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Usually the thought of going to Primark would thoroughly fill me with dread. The idea of being shoved around what can only be described as an enormous floordrobe never exactly seemed appealing. <br />
<a name='more'></a>Turns out that is only the case on Saturdays. Since I am now one of those anti-social shift-worker bees, I stumbled into good old primarni on one of my days off. What a difference. Clothes were neatly folded and even on hangers! There was actually space to walk around the store at a leisurely pace and see what was on offer. </div>
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I walked away spending almost £150 (who manages that in Primark!) and thought I'd share just a snapshot of a couple of items I picked up as I'll be doing a clothing hall (including a shirt I picked up for a recent job interview, fingers crossed for me guys) as soon as I have some time to spare in the daylight.</div>
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I think everybody loves a candle, and this one is a hidden gem. This is the Blackcurrant & Orchid scent, however I have since picked up the Sweet Pineapple & Ginger one and oh my does it smell yummy! Don't get me wrong, they're not the strongest smelling candles in the world but sometimes you don't want something that overpowering. They provide a lovely gentle background scent and a warm cozy glow and with 28 hours burning time for £3.50 you can't really go wrong.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SpGuDk9YQK3y_Z-HdtS-eX9SsvEgWGtYTz_CuWioXTzveJpO0MYqthBy1XzPs5WHvjtADJwxUTxhTWktwEBS-_xuAJXgYOEuPNi3PPYOLvP6mXjHy9y_ESPTdZq4_tk1XTDwJhWQbLc/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SpGuDk9YQK3y_Z-HdtS-eX9SsvEgWGtYTz_CuWioXTzveJpO0MYqthBy1XzPs5WHvjtADJwxUTxhTWktwEBS-_xuAJXgYOEuPNi3PPYOLvP6mXjHy9y_ESPTdZq4_tk1XTDwJhWQbLc/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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How cute is this mug, such a squishy little pug, I want to give him a great big hug. I'm going to stop now I promise. </div>
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So as I said just a brief little peek at some of my goodies, watch this space to see what other treats I managed to find. </div>
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TTFN x</div>
Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-22182065433260445702014-10-07T16:21:00.000-07:002014-10-21T14:05:42.966-07:00M.I.A.<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm back, and with a brand new layout!</div>
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I know I've been missing in action this past year but I'm back and determined to make it stick.</div>
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So where have I been you ask?</div>
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Basically my employment has been all over the shop and that has eaten up a lot of my free time. I've now got a brand new room set up though and so it's going to be much easier to stay organised and pay more attention to my blog for you lovely people. </div>
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Since my last post, I was lucky enough to work for Benefit cosmetics over the christmas period in-store at Boots. It was a wonderful opportunity and I really enjoyed my time there, however I don't think the brand was right for me. I love to experiment with creative looks and whilst Benefit has some great staple products (hoola bronzer anyone?) they just don't have a very diverse shade range, particularly when it comes to eye and lip colours. I didn't pursue a full time position after the festive period for these reasons, but it did confirm to me that I loved that environment and definitely want to work for a makeup brand again in the future, just one where I know I can suggest a product to suit any need a customer may have.</div>
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I've now completely jumped out of the cosmetic world and into the wetherspoons family. Whilst it probably wouldn't have been my first choice 'career' wise, it was offered to me as I was coming to the end of my time at Benefit and so saved the chore of job hunting. I'm having a great time surprisingly and using my earnings to build my make up kit, attend some makeup courses and improve my blog (I am currently writing this on my shiny new macbook pro and will soon be purchasing a new camera, no more crapola photos here!).</div>
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So that's about it really. I really am going to try and give my blog the attention it deserves (much more so when I have my new camera) and branch out more into fashion and lifestyle as well as beauty. I hope you'll stick around and feel free to comment any topics you want me to write about.</div>
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TTFN </div>
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xXxXx</div>
Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-42550971752845444922013-11-06T13:55:00.001-08:002014-11-13T14:58:57.764-08:00Halloween Handywork<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBiTi3PSMi79iSTcuFFRbNHJZ77PjPot2a-PfQCw_THP45dKHCRwQKgGgZzsrwOqig7r3bGYO2Mn8jhJXlL5AUdSK-pp2nzJLI-iaVy_RtWf7B4SJCBsOufX39qBt_263fWKjwfMFzhM/s320/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBiTi3PSMi79iSTcuFFRbNHJZ77PjPot2a-PfQCw_THP45dKHCRwQKgGgZzsrwOqig7r3bGYO2Mn8jhJXlL5AUdSK-pp2nzJLI-iaVy_RtWf7B4SJCBsOufX39qBt_263fWKjwfMFzhM/s320/photo+2.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This Halloween I ventured out of my comfort zone and did a couple of my friends make up. Despite my ever growing love of all things cosmetics, and my fascination of experimenting with different make up techniques, I've always been too scared to doodle on someone else's face. I have forever been a perfectionist and therefore have a fear of leaving someone looking like an idiot, and as this make up was for an event there wouldn't be much of an opportunity to fix it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My friend Faye decided to dress up as Medusa for Halloween at work (you wouldn't believe how hard it is to find appropriately sized rubber snakes!) and asked if I would do her make up. Naturally I said yes, inside however I was more than a little nervous! I got experimenting at home and decided the best approach was to whack out some good old fishnet tights. Snakes are scaly after all. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnhOTDBfppZX6jcpF7j78tf3rDSkUnZpkl6l1SBY2bObm7fPIsw6YI39oM6qsD5GnJPce8gjjowcN7_EZvQDnTr7afcXRD9cwpzqFdHa-m4URtU22d_H2Gn84xRttoeQ9rhDvoXt8d4w/s1600/IMG_2121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnhOTDBfppZX6jcpF7j78tf3rDSkUnZpkl6l1SBY2bObm7fPIsw6YI39oM6qsD5GnJPce8gjjowcN7_EZvQDnTr7afcXRD9cwpzqFdHa-m4URtU22d_H2Gn84xRttoeQ9rhDvoXt8d4w/s320/IMG_2121.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqy9eccGM9gHaVt7-TlYajlSeSTk1WLQD_gegGNIc-K8wJAkT5qWkG4ZDl-UcJZzcLZN-YdYpJbf80vhW7YZxtws7WMVmn2CLd4mlyPJKnHUIYumHDQVpGYu8QNnGbyBBFdDD_mGKbGPU/s1600/IMG_2123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqy9eccGM9gHaVt7-TlYajlSeSTk1WLQD_gegGNIc-K8wJAkT5qWkG4ZDl-UcJZzcLZN-YdYpJbf80vhW7YZxtws7WMVmn2CLd4mlyPJKnHUIYumHDQVpGYu8QNnGbyBBFdDD_mGKbGPU/s320/IMG_2123.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This was a quick 20 minute practice on myself of how I wanted the look to go.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Below is the finished look I created on Faye.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAotxlLri4JmJIzLYC_MJJLr8HlpjLMtDgxO-RG-o0BnD2DgRyl5SIFUX-r0lJxqPLfLp710bA3H5VJjrHwRozFoJpZvuWOqTO8glBRMRCjlR7hJyXzqaQpccsc8u8f9ENsYAdhYizLA/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAotxlLri4JmJIzLYC_MJJLr8HlpjLMtDgxO-RG-o0BnD2DgRyl5SIFUX-r0lJxqPLfLp710bA3H5VJjrHwRozFoJpZvuWOqTO8glBRMRCjlR7hJyXzqaQpccsc8u8f9ENsYAdhYizLA/s320/photo+1.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKmbAQsY7BcNyKXVr3wTbnFjm3WnGVUM2VloqqIf1tzZhr-ukKvND7TEmQcwIXp5BNOmdluS4ACBUY4GylT9P1OWndZOTZSh2b1jUpXimqp5q6W5EIEME_zdxI0mffIVELHiFEVZOW9Q/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKmbAQsY7BcNyKXVr3wTbnFjm3WnGVUM2VloqqIf1tzZhr-ukKvND7TEmQcwIXp5BNOmdluS4ACBUY4GylT9P1OWndZOTZSh2b1jUpXimqp5q6W5EIEME_zdxI0mffIVELHiFEVZOW9Q/s320/photo+4.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Unfortunately the camera doesn't pick up some of the scale detail, a real shame as Faye had to sit there with a pair of fishnets over her head to for 10 minutes (yes I did laugh, I'm a terrible friend) whilst I used browns, greens and blues to contour the cheekbones, jawline, nose, temples and hairline. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also extended her eyebrows either side, emphasizing sharp angles and points at the arch, centre and tail. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For the eyes, I created a very dark green-blue smoky eye with dark definition in the socket which I connected to the eyeliner. I created a double flick with the liner to replicate a snake tongue and emphasized this by running a white under each line. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To finish the look I created a black and orange <span style="background-color: #ecc2b7; line-height: 20px;">ombr</span><span style="background-color: #ecc2b7; line-height: 17px;">é</span> lip.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Key products used:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Rimmel <a href="http://uk.rimmellondon.com/products/face/match-perfection-foundation">Match Perfection</a> foundation in 010, Light Porcelain</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Any pale foundation will work as you want to create a light, stony looking base.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">-Illamasqua <a href="http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/products/eyes/toxic-powder-eye-shadow">Powder Eye Shadows</a> in</span> <span style="color: #073763;">Never</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">, </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Fame</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">, and </span><span style="color: white;">Sex</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">-Mac <a href="http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/154/1573/Products/Eyes/Shadow/Pro-Longwear-Paint-Pot/index.tmpl">Pro Longwear Paint Pot</a> in</span> <span style="color: #c27ba0;">Stormy Pink</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This creates a lovely dark haze all around the eye, perfect for building a smoky look.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">-Illamasqua <a href="http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/products/eyes/precision-gel-liner">Precision Gel Liner</a> in</span> Infinity</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A gel liner is perfect for this look as it gives great accuaracy for the sharp lines and can be blended out into the smoky look when working quickly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">-Illamasqua <a href="http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/products/eyes/havoc-precision-ink">Precision Ink</a> in</span> <span style="color: white;">Scribe</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">-Illamasqua <a href="http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/products/lips/climax-lipstick">Lipsticks</a> in</span> <span style="color: orange;">Flare</span> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">and</span> Pristine.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Later on I then also did myself, and my friend Joanne's make up, many of the products were the same except for my lips I used:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">-Illamasqua <a href="http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/products/pencils/eye-colouring-pencil-in-s-o-p-h-i-e">Colouring Pencil</a> in</span> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Debonair</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">-Illamasqua <a href="http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/products/lips/climax-lipstick">Lipstick</a> in</span> <span style="color: #38761d;">Apocalips</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">-Limecrime <a href="http://carousel%20gloss/">Carousel Gloss</a> in</span> <span style="color: #38761d;">Hollygram</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFf52QVzndiDQEzyQTkNhrtG8GjGxvd4jEV6ABqD6b-zdKioIfubhe5DZNmwccpwnd6gAPKFHs1oMOb7xCKU6zA5vjPHMcV_7fNDSBiXa_je8X5utAIBauoGkNSwy3z_oFZMBPOTbizg/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFf52QVzndiDQEzyQTkNhrtG8GjGxvd4jEV6ABqD6b-zdKioIfubhe5DZNmwccpwnd6gAPKFHs1oMOb7xCKU6zA5vjPHMcV_7fNDSBiXa_je8X5utAIBauoGkNSwy3z_oFZMBPOTbizg/s320/photo+(5).JPG" height="640" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">(Very bad, I forgot to take a photo with the lipgloss on that was decent enough quality to use on here, there is a photo on my <a href="http://instagram.com/p/eZpxTmqB11/">Instagram</a> however with just the gloss, it's an amazing green glitter!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope this gave you all some inspiration for some costume looks and some more wearable options too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">TTFN</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As some of you may or may not know, I am in fact a natural blonde. This little feature, as with anything, comes with its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. . .</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pros </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-fair hair on my arms and legs, extra couple days of regrowth there! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-compliments on my hair colour (when Iv'e not chucked a bottle of ginger dye on it like I have at the moments anyway) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-easy to experiment with pastel hair shades </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cons </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-ABSOLUTELY ZERO EYE DEFINITION! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I managed to find this little 'beauty' lurking on my laptop. Here I am about 15, have yet to pick up an eyebrow pencil and as you can see, there is very little pigmentation to my brow hairs.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now I know I'm not alone in this one. There are many of us out there with incredibly fair eyebrows and eyelashes, so fair they're virtually undetectable. Since discovering make up I always feel my face looks incredibly odd until I've added a coat of mascara or two and drawn on some trusty eyebrows. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's only in the last few years I've realised the importance of a well groomed set of brows. I've looked back at old photos and wondered how I never noticed what had been staring me the face, or rather not staring at me - my missing eyebrows. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now make up is a fantastic tool for creating a set of tailor-made brows to suit your mood, these days however I need something a little more permanent for when make up just may not have the staying power, and so I don't give myself a fright looking in the mirror when I've woken up looking 'au naturel'.
Here is a brief little tutorial on my brow dying routine.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aCasQC0cv61xaQtovzMne4eUzzN39uVq_XU0WIp9QIomPqF6z8eO9EEWslQXUc1XDdi9guLz9lpyLxH70Jhkv_a97hF-ZE6HHKDYR_mr1ztzuilkwbd8UAq8au5MwrTYTdkSG8dT46Q/s1600/IMG_2102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aCasQC0cv61xaQtovzMne4eUzzN39uVq_XU0WIp9QIomPqF6z8eO9EEWslQXUc1XDdi9guLz9lpyLxH70Jhkv_a97hF-ZE6HHKDYR_mr1ztzuilkwbd8UAq8au5MwrTYTdkSG8dT46Q/s320/IMG_2102.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The above image shows my eyebrows approximately 6 weeks since my last dye application, it's as light as I can bare them to be. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My dye kit of choice is the <a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Colorsport-Dark-Brown-30-Day-Mascara_49270/">colorsport 30 day mascara</a> in brown. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn_ADboSdG10t2yJD-YzxAf-tEAvJ1ajgRGouvRY7WEWjidf87VmQ82MsHpoDxOaoFsydYRljC7Omp3ZaajctX4rsvShU_R4DfNTmVI_L2Z0mdWI8vwtK7dEwgMNT3b5yDzQsxCYmHaY/s1600/IMG_2100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn_ADboSdG10t2yJD-YzxAf-tEAvJ1ajgRGouvRY7WEWjidf87VmQ82MsHpoDxOaoFsydYRljC7Omp3ZaajctX4rsvShU_R4DfNTmVI_L2Z0mdWI8vwtK7dEwgMNT3b5yDzQsxCYmHaY/s320/IMG_2100.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mix up the dye according to the instructions (be sure to do a patch test 24hours prior to dying). I really don't rate the stick provided with the kit so like to use a spool brush to apply the dye to my brows.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you don't have one of these then you can clean an old mascara wand and it will do the same job. I'm pretty messy when I apply the dye to ensure I cover all the hairs, I then clean up the edges creating a clean line under my brow with a damp cotton bud. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIT24yXaUZqRDXRmKlwXTOyVGK8ACo7bZMm0axbEdgSXnG0Q3Yo3xmn95YQ3yp0mlQIuZmkUC8LentH71-wulmbwP7oU9elmp-_08kjh0EaayUUX1XAC4ldawrTQdln4nvZzGKx_14kN8/s1600/IMG_2108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIT24yXaUZqRDXRmKlwXTOyVGK8ACo7bZMm0axbEdgSXnG0Q3Yo3xmn95YQ3yp0mlQIuZmkUC8LentH71-wulmbwP7oU9elmp-_08kjh0EaayUUX1XAC4ldawrTQdln4nvZzGKx_14kN8/s320/IMG_2108.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Leave the dye on for as long as the kit states, if you're still unsure wipe away a little of dye and check what stage the colour has reached. if they are not dark enough then recover the hair with some more dye and leave a little longer.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When it is time to remove the dye I like to wipe away the majority with a make up wipe or damp tissue. I then wash my face with my normal cleanser and make sure to thoroughly wash my brows with it too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now all the hair has been dyed you can tweeze any hairs that are our of place as they will be much easier to spot. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz79-BasG2Yj1UorubHVvW5LSjUFCFkNj-606gk68pexEG_6Ep-Q7iKzrxzVmgXCAAT5HZFyu1qt5syDUZcd4sS-5myQ7d28_HyvtLPa6jm8ksnJsR_DWZMcJKw7te6uxuLsACKwNKtFY/s1600/IMG_2110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz79-BasG2Yj1UorubHVvW5LSjUFCFkNj-606gk68pexEG_6Ep-Q7iKzrxzVmgXCAAT5HZFyu1qt5syDUZcd4sS-5myQ7d28_HyvtLPa6jm8ksnJsR_DWZMcJKw7te6uxuLsACKwNKtFY/s320/IMG_2110.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is how my brows now look after tinting and shaping. Now if I don't have time to draw them on it's not so much of a disaster!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hope this helped my fellow brow-less beauties :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">TTFN </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xXx</span></div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-29964258831325738612013-10-15T05:40:00.000-07:002013-10-15T05:44:22.845-07:00Follow my blog with Bloglovin<br />
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Got myself on Bloglovin thanks to <a href="http://www.sparklesoflight76.blogspot.co.uk/">Rosy Sparkles</a>. Would love it if you hit follow :)<br />
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<a title="Follow CLUMSY CREATIVE AT WORK on Bloglovin" href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/11065665"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=11065665" border="0"></a>Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-18062946481163555902013-10-14T13:06:00.000-07:002014-11-13T14:57:27.531-08:00Half an hour and a pair of eyelashes <div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wd5LyonjhfpZaiZhRanNO6G1jZa8byRE6kgkjX5tGT7WbO1ZgOevDIFalmitovK7_GlK0ynoO5jxKtoqs_4N1TAGkcbByssUGNIxsnFzGokzRmbQcT2LkyyM9Yi3o0jy9zTvSxE2tLk/s320/IMG_2096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wd5LyonjhfpZaiZhRanNO6G1jZa8byRE6kgkjX5tGT7WbO1ZgOevDIFalmitovK7_GlK0ynoO5jxKtoqs_4N1TAGkcbByssUGNIxsnFzGokzRmbQcT2LkyyM9Yi3o0jy9zTvSxE2tLk/s320/IMG_2096.JPG" height="640" width="513" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not long ago I purchased some crazy eyelashes from <a href="http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/products/false-eye-lashes/">Illamasqua</a>. I've never really had the opportunity to wear them (you will see why in a moment!) and so with a spare half hour in hand I got a little excited with my make up box and took inspiration from Poison Ivy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Warning: this is going to get photo heavy!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And now for those lashes . .</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am in no way a photographer and feel a lot of the detail has been lost, however you can still get a feel for the look I was after. If I venture out for Halloween this year It's pretty likely I'll go down this route costume wise. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I mainly focussed on contouring the cheeks and nose, along with creating an overall green 'glow' by blending around the hairline.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Key products used:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Illamasqua lashes - unfortunately this style are longer available on their website but a good substitute would be their <a href="http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/products/false-eye-lashes/false-eye-lashes-in-bat">bat lashes.</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybelline <a href="http://www.maybelline.co.uk/products/9/eyes/eye-liner/eye-studio-lasting-drama-gel-eyeliner/blackest-black/950?shadeId=595">EYESTUDIO lasting drama gel eyeliner</a> in 10 Ultra Violet</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maxfactor false lash effect fusion mascara - I swear by this mascara and rarely use anything else</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Illamasqua eyebrow cake in <a href="http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/stark-eye-brow-cake">stark</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Illamasqua power eye shadow in <a href="http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/products/eyes/fame-powder-eye-shadow">fame</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Most of the other colours used are generic eye shadows that I can't even find a brand name on. Just go crazy with whatever blues/greens you can find! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have however since purchased a Lime Crime Carousel gloss in <a href="http://limecrime.com/lips/glossy-lipstick.html">Hollygram</a>, and an Illamasqua lipstick in <a href="http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/products/lips/apocalips-lipstick">apocalips</a>, both of which would work fantastically with this look. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hopefully in the future I'll do a few more creative make up looks to share with you all, along with work in progress photos in order to do more of a tutorial if anyone wants to try it out. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">TTFN </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xXx</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm coming out with quite a claim here, but for me this product really has lived up to it's hype.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've always fallen victim to the awful feature that is a shiny face. Not that lovely 'dewy' finish some girls love but just quite frankly an oil slick dominating my t-zone. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until now I've failed to find any sort of primer, foundation or powder that would keep my complexion matte for anything over an hour.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Step in Milk of Magnesia.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zzbgtYzRZaXo97yt75jHSz35pB-GB72On-gueKvv8vQVZQojlZh2PzXdK6xjbBZu0rNmYmmUMNUxQjMwxKTGJKlbzunUmihxjJlxkU6WvvmiSV9Zz94nohLOZoQTh-FUshyphenhyphenXYw13Auk/s1600/IMG-20131014-00549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zzbgtYzRZaXo97yt75jHSz35pB-GB72On-gueKvv8vQVZQojlZh2PzXdK6xjbBZu0rNmYmmUMNUxQjMwxKTGJKlbzunUmihxjJlxkU6WvvmiSV9Zz94nohLOZoQTh-FUshyphenhyphenXYw13Auk/s320/IMG-20131014-00549.jpg" height="400" width="228" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Those of you already familiar with this little beauty might be thinking I'm a little bit mental at this point, traditionally Milk of Magnesia is used as a laxative. Oh the hidden treasures of the medicine cabinet!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After countless hours on youtube I came across this little tip from everyone's favourite, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNPaUN-ESbo">Wayne Goss</a>. He explained that a thin layer under foundation acts as a primer to reduce oil. Magic!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Needless to say I went straight online to order some, here's the results.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Straight after MOM and Make up. </span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The MOM will likely leave some white chalky marks on your face when it drys, but these are easily buffed away and covered with your foundation. As you can see from the image it doesn't have an adverse effect on make up application and actually provides quite a smooth base.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq4-FORjfqjJfsUmntn_oEabRpNAgY8kNlnbD_7VaCySJ1wtqMwYezoa6S-0q3554sTXYLpmFeFO4XU5amgyhO6s2nULfnzglAqvXIg_KunrAQHPu_pQeP9qf4D-et_vjW0aOzRolJfo/s1600/IMG_2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq4-FORjfqjJfsUmntn_oEabRpNAgY8kNlnbD_7VaCySJ1wtqMwYezoa6S-0q3554sTXYLpmFeFO4XU5amgyhO6s2nULfnzglAqvXIg_KunrAQHPu_pQeP9qf4D-et_vjW0aOzRolJfo/s320/IMG_2005.JPG" height="640" width="436" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6 hours later!</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dANyI7fiQr_Ae_v-uSvYJdGHeQm3OpwTfP6XPXhvrjKHuEomZBpHzPc2jS_qFwCl4RCEKzLs9gWquGXhiDrdMlMwGhqCzRlx8xxvrWodN28P12Mu_mSIXxjLxMII3XOlG9cDGtomPwI/s1600/IMG_2042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dANyI7fiQr_Ae_v-uSvYJdGHeQm3OpwTfP6XPXhvrjKHuEomZBpHzPc2jS_qFwCl4RCEKzLs9gWquGXhiDrdMlMwGhqCzRlx8xxvrWodN28P12Mu_mSIXxjLxMII3XOlG9cDGtomPwI/s320/IMG_2042.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Without MOM under makeup, just 4 hours later (the camera is actually being kind for once, I looked much shinier in person!)</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As you can see from the photos. the Milk of Magnesia really makes a huge difference. Without it, shine quickly rears its ugly head on my nose steadily spreading out across the rest of my face, particularly my chin and across my cheeks. My pores are also much more visible. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I stated before, MOMs primary function isn't one for use on the skin, I'd be cautious therefore about using it on a regular basis as it will have a pretty alkali pH level. I currently only use it 2/3 days a week whilst I'm at work on weekends but have yet to experience any adverse reactions. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I apply it after my moisturiser by pouring a little into the lid and applying it all over my face with a foundation brush. It's consistency is like milk (as the name would suggest) but a little thicker so it's easy to spread over the face. If you don't have a foundation brush it also works well to pour a little onto a cotton ball and wipe this over the face, as with anything it's all down to trial and error and personal preference. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When purchasing MOM, be sure to choose the 'original' version, cherry and mint flavours are also available but a face smelling of toothpaste doesn't sound too appealing to me!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I struggled a little finding somewhere to buy it as I believe the formula may not comply with UK regulations any more, it is however available from America via <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Amilk+of+magnesia&keywords=milk+of+magnesia&ie=UTF8&qid=1381777376">amazon</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you decide to take the plunge and try MOM for yourself let me know how you get on,</span></div>
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<br />Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017755095588207445.post-88226059725086227242013-08-18T15:36:00.000-07:002014-11-13T14:54:45.265-08:00I finally got a MAC . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUJob9bJdM7r1N5t0CqP5OCt8nI6uULtUSeESOMmE_zwCVCFXYXyvwmARrwA-WC66wpVAPE3VkQTNQsJgjB2kgtexr_gdiaJCnt6utbhJi6DiKcKIAUZnQHg-KbHBVGWI7IGmGlbGIiQ/s320/IMG_1965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUJob9bJdM7r1N5t0CqP5OCt8nI6uULtUSeESOMmE_zwCVCFXYXyvwmARrwA-WC66wpVAPE3VkQTNQsJgjB2kgtexr_gdiaJCnt6utbhJi6DiKcKIAUZnQHg-KbHBVGWI7IGmGlbGIiQ/s320/IMG_1965.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">. . . unfortunately it's not of the apple variety, it is however (unsurprisingly) from the world of cosmetics.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes you are reading this right, I've only just purchased my first MAC products. Despite being a make up hoarder to the extreme, this brand has always managed to escape my collection. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Previously when splashing out a little more on make up, I would stick with one brand that I trusted and that I could buy in person relatively locally. Now with a few more pennies to spare, I don't mind travelling a little further for my needs or taking a bit of a gamble with online swatches. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A week ago I decided it was about time I added this cult brand to my own collection of war paint Here's what gave my credit card a turn for the worse:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First things first, I'm a huge fan of a smokey eye, even in the day time, however a full face of bold make up can be a little overwhelming. A great way to make a heavy eye look more wearable is to combine it with a 'light lip'. Enter the nude lipstick . . . or in my case, enter two by two.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Being a person that struggles with decision making, I wound up ordering two nude lipsticks, Myth (left) and Honey Love (right).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Swatchy swatchy!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadhKRhFTzAXoBl_ONzroJTMdVn0_vMOQhE8dSmR9PP2pBJpBqjYq3NquNq3KjnG_SNaGQGONfBvqfHFNZT0x9FcC11Ij_vEYCAVOe8kO5Gc4DMg8I2MVgBX5o9gQEZE3CaedvxHFH9LQ/s1600/IMG_1971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadhKRhFTzAXoBl_ONzroJTMdVn0_vMOQhE8dSmR9PP2pBJpBqjYq3NquNq3KjnG_SNaGQGONfBvqfHFNZT0x9FcC11Ij_vEYCAVOe8kO5Gc4DMg8I2MVgBX5o9gQEZE3CaedvxHFH9LQ/s320/IMG_1971.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thinking about it, it seems that one nude lipstick isn't really too different from any other nude lipstick. Oh how wrong. Though these two colours are very similar, when worn on the lip they both create a look independent from the other. On a pale complexion like mine, Myth creates a lovely natural lip a few shades lighter than their natural hue. Myth is in a satin finish and so gives a lovely silky finish to the lip.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Honey Love is great for a natural lip when you still want some darker definition, it is in a matte finish and so may not be to everyone's taste, although a smidgen of Vaseline over the top will create a creamier effect.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Next on the agenda, eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Eye-shadow in Vibrant Grape.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whilst I love the colour of this, I have to say I was expecting more on the pigmentation side of things. From a company like MAC I was expecting a highly pigmented product, what I found however was that you really had to layer the powder up to get anything more than a sheer wash of colour. Don't get me wrong, it still creates a lovely finish, it just wasn't the one I was looking forward to. In the future I may try some of their loose pigment instead, although I'm not a fan of the inevitable fall out loose powders produce.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now for the accomplices.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've read many great reviews about MAC brushes, and as gel liners are a firm favourite of mine I figured it made sense to invest in a brush that would help me achieve better results. I chose the 266, its firm bristles and sharp angle are ideal for creating a winged eye. I was also surprised at it's ability to create a narrow line, my previous brush seemed unable to draw a line any thinner than half a centimetre, not exactly eye 'liner'.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And finally.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The jury's still out on this brush cleanser. Firstly, it's a very watery consistency so I found it far to easy to accidentally waste product by over pouring. When it came to it's actual cleansing capabilities I got a mixed result. This cleanser is great at removing powder products from brushes but it just wouldn't cut the mustard when it came to fighting through my foundation or gel liner. I think for more cream type products I'll stick with using a cheap gentle shampoo but then maybe finish with this to remove any excess bacteria nasties. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All in all not a bad experience with my first venture into the MAC world. Whilst I had some small negative points, I think I may have just gone in with too higher an expectation of what I believed the products would deliver. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a bit of a play around with my new goodies I created the look below (along with some of my make up favourites from other brands).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1mMO_rS_bUBgBvSD8INUGut3ovBDvT6hyTOi1eECkd1YUHhEXDNIZgElnsDNrv88nPC3s-WKpWjMBap51hyphenhyphened69qQZ8ZkCkddlnwgFulFtuub-o1C-81TmwwUTxO8HAG75upAJ4MJwQ/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1mMO_rS_bUBgBvSD8INUGut3ovBDvT6hyTOi1eECkd1YUHhEXDNIZgElnsDNrv88nPC3s-WKpWjMBap51hyphenhyphened69qQZ8ZkCkddlnwgFulFtuub-o1C-81TmwwUTxO8HAG75upAJ4MJwQ/s320/photo+(3).JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">It's a well known fact that ombr</span>é has been a massive trend this year, but it doesn't stop with your hair. Recently ombré has crossed over to fashion and now even make up.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I decided to try my hand at a look that's really been catching my eye lately, ombré lips.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To create this look yourself you will need 2 colours of your choice, here I used quite natural lip tones however bold contrasting colours would work just as well (I'm itching to try </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: purple;">purple</span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and </span><span style="color: orange; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">orange</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">!).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">For the darker outer shade I applied Illamasqua lipstick in '</span><span style="color: red;">tramp</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">' with a lip brush. I really would recommend</span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; line-height: 20px;"> using a brush as it gives greater control enabling you to create a smooth line around the edge of the lips, as well as ensuring the centre of the lip is left clear to later apply your next colour. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To the centre of the lips I applied Illamasqua cream pigment in '</span><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Androgen</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">', again using the lip brush, and then proceeded to blend the edge of the two colours together.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To create a more vivid contrast between the two colours I then pressed a little Illamasqua powder eye shadow in '</span><span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">sex</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">' to the very centre of the lip.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAkshJjRiOYDtQajSisN1l-9KzfRYf24xte9EQFtON7XaPhjwjqtqdXlgq2_PTTn-sEew4Ugnc1BY2AkgFag9H7uOZV_Ly7Ygl5xM1OUizKUrqoy01685il8hr9CJHLP4OG5Yl4XuedM/s1600/ombrelipproducts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAkshJjRiOYDtQajSisN1l-9KzfRYf24xte9EQFtON7XaPhjwjqtqdXlgq2_PTTn-sEew4Ugnc1BY2AkgFag9H7uOZV_Ly7Ygl5xM1OUizKUrqoy01685il8hr9CJHLP4OG5Yl4XuedM/s320/ombrelipproducts.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The products used here create quite a matte finish, however if this isn't to your taste a little vaseline or clear gloss can be applied over the top to give a subtle sheen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">This is a very versatile method and can be adapted for day or night simply by changing your choice of colours. If you're feeling a little more daring incorporating even more colours would create a really intriguing look, when I have a few more colours in my collection </span><span style="color: red;">r</span><span style="color: orange;">a</span><span style="color: yellow;">i</span><span style="color: lime;">n</span><span style="color: cyan;">b</span><span style="color: blue;">o</span><span style="color: purple;">w</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> lips are definitely on the cards! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I hope you all have fun experimenting with various ombré styles.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">TTFN </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">xXx</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>Create The Coverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07559198162509789940noreply@blogger.com0