Recently...

-New room decoration
-A box of Thornton's chocolates... Mmm
-Charlie
-LUSH goodies
-Belle. I was cooking and had the feeling someone was watching me, turned around to see this :)
-The tiny bit of snow that fell a few weeks ago

-The gorgeous flowers I received for my Birthday
-The little poser
-Cute glitter Birthday present bag
-My giant jasmine candle
-Love these Zebra slippers.. they are so warm and cosy
-My Christmas nails Bewitching (review here) and No7's Gold Glitter)

It's Christmas Eve!! I really can't wait to have a nice chilled out day tomorrow with some of my loved ones. 

Wishing you lovely lot a Merry Christmas!

The Little Things

{Source: Pinterest. Original Source: Unknown}

It's been a while, this may be a long one


-Spending time with family and friends. I had a long weekend back at home a couple of weekends back now and I really enjoyed having a catch up with everyone


-Dads cooking - hearty pasta dishes yummy


-Exchanging Christmas gifts and wrapping presents - some family and friends live a little way away, so gifts are exchanged earlier during visits


-Snow! There was a little bit of snow a couple of weeks ago. I loved waking up, pulling back the curtains and seeing that it had snowed. Okay it wasn't much but the floor was covered and so was my car. It was a nice surprise :)


-My lovely surprise Birthday/Christmas present from my Dad and his partner. A handy little Samsung Tab... I absolutely love it!


-Catching up with an old friend who I hadn't seen or properly spoken to in over 7 years!


-Being looked after - I had a cyst removed from my head a few weeks ago and my Mum and boyfriend, among others, were so lovely and sweet. Hot drinks, chocolates and sympathy were all appreciated



-Sending and receiving Christmas cards

-Seeing all of the Christmas decorations and sparkling lights everywhere. I love this time of year - it's all festive and pretty!


-Enjoying my birthday celebrations on Monday. I loved all of my cards, messages and gifts!


-The surprise hot stone back massage that my boyfriend booked me in for on Monday. It was so relaxing and just what I needed


-Finally getting around to having a declutter and organising out my little closet. It looks so much tidier and I feel so much better for it



-The look on Charlie's face as he peeks his head through the banister rails on the stairs. He waits patiently for people to walk past before taking a cheeky swipe at those walking by. He's so naughty but he makes me smile


-Picking up a few Christmas Lush bits and having a lovely hot bath with them


-Wrapping up in chunky jumpers and warm coats. Its been so cold recently!

Nars - Easy Lover

A few weeks ago my lovely boyfriend treated me to a lip gloss which has quickly become a firm favourite of mine. I don't own many products from NARS, in fact currently this gloss and a blush is all I own from the brand. When I initially spotted Easy Lover I wouldn't have picked it out as a shade that I would have particularly lusted after. However, after swatching it I fell in love.

The packaging for this lip gloss is a soft plastic, it's simple and lightweight. The shade resembles a hot pink but has a very subtle hint of purple, although once applied Easy Lover is sheer which I love! This lip gloss is quite long lasting compared to many of my other lip glosses, it feels very smooth when on the lips and isn't sticky or gloppy. There is a slight scent to this gloss which I would struggle to describe (an almost plastic type scent - it isn't the best smell). This scent personally doesn't bother me as I can barely notice it, it isn't strong at all and doesn't sway my opinion on this gorgeous lip gloss! But it may bother some people.

I think this lip gloss looks very flattering when on the lips, whether it's on its own or on top of a lipstick. NARS lip glosses retail at around £17.50. These definitely aren't the cheapest of glosses but they are a great quality so if you're after a decent lip gloss it's worth the money. What are your favourite lip glosses?

Words To Live By

  

-"If you're going through hell, keep going" - Winston Churchill

-"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door" - Milton Bearle

-"When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile" - Author Unknown

-"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles. It empties today of its strength" - Author Unknown

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Nails Inc - Jermyn Street

A few days ago I was having a little browse through all my nail polishes deciding what colour I wanted on my nails. I picked out Nails Inc's - Jermyn Street which is a shade that I seem to constantly neglect. I adore brown and taupe shades all year round, but I particularly like wearing them at this time of year. Jermyn Street is a soft brown/taupe shade which reminds me of melted chocolate. I think this polish was a freebie in a magazine some time ago now. 

I have a handful of Nail's Inc polishes and I tend to find some of them can be a bit of a hit and miss, which probably explains why I tend to neglect this polish. However, Jermyn Street is definitely not a miss in my opinion. I adore this shade, it's very versatile and flattering. After painting my nails with this shade I've received quite a few comments on the shade - even a sales assistant in a high street store commented on how nice the colour is!

The polish itself applies nicely, two coats gave a glossy and opaque finish which was very true to the shade in the bottle. I definitely won't be neglecting this little beauty again in a hurry.

The Little Things

-My little birdcage candle holder which sits in the middle of my windowsill (pictured above). I love lighting this in the evening, I think it looks so pretty!


-Shopping and lunch with my Mum. It's always nice to have a nice girly day and a catch up with my Mum


-My Thornton's advent calendar which is sitting patiently on the side... not long now (you're never too old for an advent calendar in my opinion!)


-Finally getting around to upgrading and receiving my new phone, playing around with a broken button was no fun anymore. It's refreshing using a phone that has fully functioning buttons and is all shiny and new :)


-Getting better. I've had the worst cold so I've been a bit of a mess. It feels so good to have a decent nights sleep and feel a lot better in myself


-Decorating the Christmas tree. This may seem very early for some people, but my Mum and Stepdad get very excited and start Christmas preparations early... there is already a cupboard just for yummy Christmas goodies


-Chunky, fluffy socks. So cosy and so warm when lounging around the house


-Planning a trip to visit some of my family and friends next weekend. I really can't wait


-Buying and eating some Halloumi cheese. Me and my boyfriend love it so much, we got very excited after picking it up in Tesco's. It's sooooo good. This is a new favourite of ours after ordering some in Nandos and constantly craving it


-Seeing the gorgeous Christmas lights at my local shopping centre. The decorations there are so lovely this year. When I see them it makes me feel happy and very Christmassy. I'll definitely put a picture up at some point - they also have an outdoor ice rink and a lit up castle which reminds me of Disney - love it

Book Ramble/Review - 'The Girl You Left Behind'

{I really love the front cover - the way that the words Girl You are in red leaving the words
The Left Behind in black. It's as there are two titles - The Girl You Left Behind  and a symbolic title
of The Left Behind. A tribute for all of those that were left behind during the War}

I spotted The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes in a column of a magazine - as a book recommendation. I'm a massive bookworm so I'm always adding books to my to-read list. After finishing Life of Pi I decided to grab this book and I'm so glad I did. 


The Girl You Left Behind is a narrative story that is split between two times, 1916 and 2006. The main focus of the story of a painting and the characters and circumstances surrounding the painting. Although this is a story about a painting it also is a story of love, war, grief and bravery.

In 1916 the story begins with a young woman named Sophie, and her family, living in a small French town which has become occupied by the Germans in WW1. Sophie has been left behind by her husband, Edouard who has gone to fight at the Front. Edouard is an artist who painted Sophie's portrait some time before the war began. The painting hangs proudly in her home but manages to draw the attention of the Kommandant in the village in which she lives. 

In 2006 the same portrait now belongs to a lady named Liv who treasures it. Due to circumstances the history of the painting and the girl within it, is revealed. The story weaves between both 1916 and 2006 and eventually merges both Sophie and Liv's lives together through the portrait.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Girl You Left Behind. I found it was a gripping, interesting story which I fell in love with. Jojo Moyes is a great story teller, the story is at the perfect pace - it isn't too slow or lacking in detail. The book began in 1916 and I was quickly immersed in to Sophie's story so when I got to the chapter saying 2006 I found myself thinking that I wanted to get back to reading Sophie's story, and was worried I wouldn't be as interested in Liv's story. I was wrong. I think that's a skill right there, being able to weave between two timelines and make a reader be interested in both stories. I think The Girl You Left Behind is well written and captivating. I also found this read to be quite touching and at times heart-breaking but at the same time a really beautiful, heartfelt story. I really recommend this book. I will definitely be on the lookout for other books by this author, as I seriously enjoyed The Girl You Left Behind and Moye's writing style.

Last Week I...

-Loved seeing all of the Autumn colours on the trees when out and about

-Spent a large amount of time in bed, with lots of tissues, hot drinks and olbas oil!

-Have been burning one of my favourite candles (Daisy Dip) I love the cute tin. I think this candle looks and smells beautiful


-Went to Chiquito's and had some yummy chicken fajitas

-Finished reading 'The Girl You Left Behind' by JoJo Moyes...a good read which I seemed to whizz through

-Found Belle looking so sweet and innocent, nestled on the floor at the bottom of my bed.  Love her


-Watched Hollyoaks every night during the week... it was all very dramatic and sad!

-Had a big declutter and tidy up in my bedroom

-Thought Charlie looked so adorable all snuggled up on my bed

-Enjoyed spending some time with my boyfriend who had the week off work. Although I was ill throughout most of the week it was still nice to see more of him :)

-Had lots of cups of coffee (with Baileys). This is definitely a wintery drink for me

What did last week consist of for you?

Clarins - Great Skin Kit

As mentioned in my October favourite's over the last month now I have been trying out some Clarins skin care products from the Great Skin Kit. This kit is priced at £15 for four products, which I've listed below. As I hadn't tried Clarins skin care products before, I thought this little set would be perfect. I also think it's an affordable way to try out products.

The Daily Energizers - Great Skin Kit contains the following;
-Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel 30ml
-Daily Energizer Wake-Up Booster 30ml
-Daily Energizer Cream 15ml
-Beauty Flash Balm 15ml

Clarins describes this kit as a "range of gentle yet super-effective plant-based skin care products exclusively for 18 to late 20's skin". I definitely agree that these products have felt very gentle and kind to the skin. For the price I think this is a great deal, as these are nice sized products. I've been using these products daily for three to four weeks now and they've lasted me well! Although I managed to get through the Energizer cream quite quickly, I still have a nice amount of the Cleansing Gel and Wake Up Booster left. 

All of these products have a simple yet lovely light scent. The scent is a fresh, clean one which reminds me slightly of Shampoo. The Energizer products overall are very gentle, easy to use and have worked very well with my skin. The Cleansing Gel in particular leaves my skin feeling very soft, clean and refreshed. It foams up slightly in to a nice lather, so a little bit can go a long way. I've loved using these products in the morning in particular as I find it helps to wake me up a little. 

The Energizer Cream is a nice consistency and works well in to the skin, making sure my face feels moisturised and soft. I can sometimes suffer with dry skin, particularly in this weather, but this hasn't been an issue whilst using this cream - bit of a shame that they didn't a 30ml instead of a 15ml as I seemed to get through this product quite quickly.

The Beauty Flash Balm is a Clarins product I've heard much about so I was pleased that this was included within the kit. This balm is described by Clarins as being a radiance booster and a primer. After using this myself I can understand why. This does leave a really healthy glow to the skin, this also works very well as a primer. I noticed that my skin looked healthy after using this, even once I'd applied my make up my skin still looks radiant. The balm is a similar consistency to any face cream it isn't too heavy or too watery so it feels nice when applying this to the skin. The Beauty Flash Balm also has a clean, fresh scent to it, like a subtle baby powder smell which I quite like.

{L-R- Cleansing Gel, Daily Energizer Cream & Beauty Flash Balm}

Overall I've enjoyed using this kit. I think the Energizer products in general are very simple, fresh and gentle and I have loved trying them all out. I love trying out new skin care products, and sometimes these products can break out my skin but this hasn't been the case with this kit. Next on my list is the Liz Earle Essentials- Try Me Kit. I've been very patient and have waited to use up my other skin care products first. My boyfriend actually gave me this as a gift months ago, I haven't tried any Liz Earle products before so I'm really looking forward to it as I've heard nothing but good things :)

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend and enjoy the rest of your Sunday. I've had the weekend off due to being ill - so I think I'm going to have a nice lazy day today.

The Little Things

{Source: Pinterest. Original Source: Unknown}

-Wearing my cute owl pyjamas


-Getting engrossed in a good book! I've been reading The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes in bed and seem to be getting through this book very quickly


-Talking of books... finishing Life of Pi by Yann Martel


-Although I dislike the cold, wet and windy days, I have to admit I do love this time of year. It's starting to feel and look a lit like Autumn/Winter. I love the cosy feeling when indoors and all the gorgeous winter accessories that are floating about etc


-Mum's homemade chicken &/or vegetable soup (that I think may be stolen from my Italian Auntie). I literally cannot describe how delicious this is!! At this time of year it's a must


-Looking forward to a night away on Saturday with the boyfriend in our favourite hotel after a day of early Christmas shopping. I really can't wait


-Having a long weekend off work to look forward to, I worked long days all of last weekend so I'm looking forward to this a lot


-That feeling of finishing a hectic 12 hour day at work


-Drinking Bailey's coffee...mmm, delicious


-Fireworks


-Although it was short lived, and didn't settle - those 10 minutes of watching the snow fall last Saturday morning

The Liebster Blogger & Versatile Blogger Award

The lovely Chloe (twinklespoon) has very recently nominated me for the Liebster Blogger and Versatile Blogger award. So I'd like to say a big thank you for that :) It really means a lot to me that people have taken the time to pop over on to my blog, let alone like it. I hope you all have a little look around Chloe's blog, I'm sure you will all love it.

The Liebster Award
Here's How it Works:
-Each person must post 11 things about themselves
-The questions that have been made for you, by your nominator, should be answered and 11 questions must be created for the the blogs that you choose to nominate
-Choose 11 people and link them to your post
-Let those people know
-No tag backs! Easy - enjoy!

Versatile Blogger Award
So here are the rules:
-If you are nominated you have been awarded the Versatile Blogger award
-Thank the person who nominated you for this award
-Include a link to their blog
-Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you've recently discovered or follow regularly
-Nominate those bloggers for this award, with a link to their blog
-Tell 7 things about yourself

11 Things About Me...
-My family and friends mean the WORLD to me. I love and appreciate every one of them.
-Turquoise is my favourite colour.
-I absolutely love Elephants (love love LOVE them!!)
-I'm a massive book worm.
-My middle name is also my Nan's name, this means a lot to me - especially as my Nan is no longer with us.
-My favourite flowers are Peonies.
-I have the worst sweet tooth.
-My brother is easily one of my best friends!
-I love going to new places. I have a huge list of places that I would love to go to. Finding the time and the money is my only obstacle at the moment.
-I really would love to learn how to play the piano. I will (hopefully) find the time to do this at some point.
-I'm a sucker for glitter.

The Questions...

1. Have you been travelling? If so where and if not where would you most like to visit?

I have been to Spain, France, Greece, Italy and Turkey - all of these were holidays. I would really love to go travelling and definitely have plans to do this in the future! There are loads of places that I'd like to visit such as, Africa, the US, Thailand, Australia, India etc.

2. Favourite beauty product EVER?

This is quite a difficult question for me. I don't think I have a single stand out favourite. But if I had to pick it would probably be my Bobbi Brown corrector - simply because a decent concealer is a must for me. Otherwise it would be a lipstick... but again it would be hard for me to choose a favorite :)

3. Favourite piece of clothing at the minute?

This would be a tie between my new black jeans from Warehouse or a big comfy knit cardigan.

4. Beauty product you really want to try?

I would quite like to try the Clarisonic. It's been on my wishlist for ages.

5. Most embarrassing moment?

This would be a close call between me almost drowning under the BIGGEST waves in Spain a few months ago (in which I rose from the water looking a complete mess, coughing and bikini that had NOT stayed put) or when I graduated and my cap fell off on stage. I laugh about both of these things now, but at the time they were slightly embarrassing!

6. What do you look for in a boyfriend?

The usual: a sense of humuor, someone who is caring, thoughtful, honest and supportive. 

7. Worst Fear?

Being trapped in a very confined space. I'd really hate that, I can get quite claustrophobic. 

8. Heels or Flats?

I do love heels, but I often wear flats so think they win this one.

9. What was your favourite stuffed animal/toy as a kid?

I had a white fluffy teddy bear with a red and white bow tie. I can remember when I was given him and that he was always in my bed - I loved that bear.

10. Favourite TV show?

I have loads of favourite's. I love F.R.I.E.N.D.S, Grey's Anatomy, True Blood and Family Guy.

11. Five words that best describe you?

Caring, optimistic, creative, honest and open-minded.

My Questions for those that I have nominated...

1. What do you enjoy about blogging?
2. What is your favourite blog?
3. What are your top 3 favourite beauty products?
4. Your favourite lipstick (or balm/gloss)?
5. Your favourite nail polish?
6. What five things could you not live without?
7. What is your favourite book?
8. What five words best describe you?
9. Have you ever been travelling? If so where have you been, if not where would you love to travel to or want to see?
10. What would your dream job be?
11. Your favourite shops/stores?


I nominate the following for both awards:

-Natalie (youralmostalice)
-Judy (judysbeautyblog)
-Hannah (cosmetic crave)
-Meg (wonderful-you)
-Rachael (madeupoflittlethings)
-Hannah Louisa (hannahlhearts)
-Georgina (makeup-pixi3)
-Amy (alittleboatsailing)
-Becky (rosee-petals)
-Emily (emily--charlotte)
-Ellie (http://alittlewishing.blogspot.co.uk/)

I love all of the above blogs, but for different reasons. I easily could have nominated more than 11 blogs as there are loads more blogs that I absolutely love. I hope you all have a little browse through these blogs.

If you decide to participate and answer the questions, please let me know I really would be interested in reading what you all answer :). If you don't really fancy taking part then that is absolutely fine - but just so you know, I love your blog :)

October Favourites | 12

It's November! We are slowly creeping towards Christmas (seriously, where has the time gone?!) and probably have many cold and rainy days ahead of us. Despite the rain, darker nights and cold days I have to admit I quite like this time of year. Anyway I have a little handful of favourite's from the month of October to share with you all today!

Essie - Not Just A Pretty Face
A gorgeous pink/nude shade which has been perfect for days at work. I very recently did a little post on this one here!

Barry M's - Rose Quartz Glitter

This should probably come as no surprise. I absolutely love this glitter polish!! I've also done a post on this here!

Johnson's Hand Cream with Shea & Cocoa Butters

I'm often using hand creams and try to look after my hands. As I work in care I wash my hands very regularly so my hands can become dry so I couldn't live without a decent hand cream! I've been loving this one in particular as it smells delicious (like cocoa butter), feels moisturising and soaks in to the hands nice and quickly. This is great for when I'm out and about and don't want slippery, greasy hands after applying some hand cream.

Clarins - Daily Energizers Great Skin Kit
Over the last two weeks I've been dipping my toes in the Clarins skin care pool. This little kit is £15 and contains four decent sized products, so I thought it would be a nice way to try something a little different. I've been using these products daily and I've really enjoyed using them. They make my skin feel refreshed, clean and soft. I'll be doing a post on this kit very soon so keep an eye out if you're interested.

The Body Shop - Big and Curvy Mascara

This mascara was a freebie in a magazine recently, I picked this out of my make up bag last week and thought I'd give it a go. The brush is quite thin and if this isn't applied right it can quickly clump and look like a bit of a heavy mess. But if it is applied right this can add some definition and curve to the lashes. I've been so impressed with how long it's lasted, towards the end of the day my lashes often sort of drop with some mascaras but this holds the curve so well. 

Yann Martel - Life of Pi

I've been reading this book on and off over the last month, to begin with I struggled to get in to the story. However I'm just under 100 pages away from the end of this book and it's really  roped me in. It's very well written, interesting and original. Although it's very different to what I normally go for this is a book that I've heard many people mention over the years and now I can see why. It's a very unique story. Life of Pi has actually been made in to a film as I was surprised to see a trailer for it at the cinema the other night. If you'd like to know more about this book then click here or here (official trailer)

Tesco - Grey Fingerless Gloves

I spotted this in Tesco's for the bargain price of £3.50 and thought they looked so cute! I've been wearing these often as they have been perfect for the not warm but not freezing weather. I love the little flower corsages!

The Killers - Battle Born

I actually grabbed this album for my boyfriend as he's a Killer's fan and ended up falling in love with it myself, the boyfriend loves it to. This album has quickly become one of my favourite albums, I love pretty much every single track and have been listening to this constantly! Some of my favourite tracks are; 'Be Still', 'Here With Me', 'The Way It Was', 'Heart of a Girl', 'Runaways' and 'Deadlines and Commitments'. This album is quite chilled in my opinion, ahhh I love it. Click here to listen to 'Be Still', it's a really beautiful song - great lyrics.

Random

-The new bond movie! I really enjoyed this film, I want to watch it again! It definitely lived up to all the hype. Daniel Craig... swooon :)

-Hot chocolates 

I hope you all had a lovely October, what have been your monthly favourite's?

Barry M - Rose Quartz Glitter

Another nail polish post today... I know, I know I'm a little obsessed but this polish has quickly become one of my all time favourite's and I'm excited to share it with you all. I couldn't resist grabbing this little Barry M polish as it's absolutely beautiful. Rose Quartz Glitter is one of Barry M's newer polishes and is filled with tiny bits of silver glitter and slightly bigger pieces of pink hexagonal glitter within a clear polish base... and oh how it catches the light! This polish seriously sparkles, it's really stunning how all the tiny pieces of glitter catch the light and kick back other colours - it's seriously gorgeous.

There is the perfect ratio of glitter to clear polish with Rose Quartz Glitter - there is a lot of glitter within this so you don't have to fight to spread glitter evenly on the nail so it's very easy to apply and create different looks. With one coat you get a nice scatter of glitter across the nail but this is easy to build and within three coats you have a fairly opaque glittery nail.

I applied this over my ring fingers on top of Essie's - Not Just A Pretty Face and I absolutely love the combination, they both work very well together. 

{Nails: Essie's Not Just A Pretty Face. Ring Finger: Barry M's Rose Quartz Glitter 2 coats}

I honestly can't say enough good things about Rose Quartz Glitter, it was super easy to apply, dried quickly, is easy to build upon and looks stunning. I always feel like my pictures don't quite give these polish swatches enough justice (I blame poor lighting and my Iphone). Barry M polishes are £2.99 a bottle and can be purchased in Boots and Superdrug stores, so if you're a glitter fan I strongly recommend this little bargain!

Essie - Not Just A Pretty Face

Essie's - Not Just A Pretty Face is a gorgeous pink nude shade. Being a little Essie obsessive, and whilst on the look out for a new nude shade, I decided to grab this one. I love my bright and dark nail polishes but due to work I'm often wearing toned down, natural - nude shades which is fine with me as I also love pretty nudes too.

I'm not going to go in to much of a review for Essie nail polishes as this isn't the first Essie polish I've done a post on (Essie-Eternal Optimist and a few others). But in a nutshell they are great quality, long wearing and are the easiest to apply due to the wide brush. Essie has become a lot more accessible due to being in more mainstream stores such as Boots and Superdrug.

Not Just A Pretty Face applied beautifully, just one coat gave my nails a subtle nude shine to my nails (a sheer my nails but better look). Two coats gave a much more opaque finish which was pretty much spot on with the way the shade looks in the bottle. This leaves a gloss on the nails and in my opinion gives a very pretty and clean look. 

I normally get a few days wear out of Essie's polishes without chips and tip wear which is great. I think this is my new favourite nude for work, I love the gloss and the pinky/nude finish! Have you tried this nail polish? What are your favourite natural/nude polishes?

The Little Things

{Pinterest - Original Source Unknown}

-Having two of my closest friends come to visit me for a few days. Those few days were lovely! 


-Listening to (and loving) The Killer's latest album


-Warm hot chocolates in bed after a long day at work


-A little DVD splurge in Tesco due to all the bargain prices! Oh I do love a bargain


-Period dramas! Getting tucked up in to my warm bed, hot chocolate in hand and watching Pride and Prejudice. Nice and cosy :)


-Spending yesterday afternoon with the boyfriend and enjoying some delicious Mexican food together. Yummy


-Hearing good news. It's always heart warming when someone close to you has some lovely news and seeing their ridiculously happy faces :) 


-My mums dog has had a little hair cut, she looks so cute! Her hair can get quite long and it can become a struggle to see her eyes! She's all teddy bear looking now... awwhh


-Knowing I have this weekend off work (this can be rare!). I'm looking forward to spending some time relaxing and with a few of the loved ones

Balmi Lip Balm

I am a lip balm obsessive. I always struggle to resist picking up new lip balms - particularly those that are new or that I haven't spotted before. That is why it took me less than five seconds to spot Balmi in Boots and sling it in to my shopping basket. I hadn't heard anything about these lip balms prior to picking this up so had no idea what to expect. Although to be honest, I was expecting it to be a bit of a disappointment. Only because I have discovered how difficult it can be to grab a decent lip balm that actually does its job.

Anyway I picked up a Balmi - in Raspberry for just under £5 in Boots (for around 10g of lipbalm). The packaging and product is different to the standard lip balm tubes or little pots. Balmi is actually the size and shape of a bouncy ball and includes a little chain which you could easily attach to your keys. The product twists open to reveal a ball of lip balm. You can hold the bottom of the product and just apply the lip balm directly to your lips or you could use your finger. Due to the size of the lip balm ball it feels that it's not only going to go on to your lips but all around your lips - and on to your face. But this isn't actually the case.

The lip balm is actually quite moisturising and soft on the lips and also contains SPF 15 which is great. It isn't like some lip balms which are too dry or just sit on the lips doing nothing. Once applied your lips have a slightly clear glossy finish on the lips which I like. I also like the quantity of lip balm that is available as well as the quirky packaging. The lip balm itself smells gorgeous - like sweet raspberries. Overall I do like this product and was surprised by the quality. But as nice as it is, in my personal opinion I believe that there are other lip balms that work a lot better for me, so this isn't going to be a lip balm favourite for me. But I think this product is nice in itself. I do love that you have the option to attach Balmi to your keys as sometimes things can get lost in the bottom of your bag, so at least with Balmi you'll never lose it.

Have you tried Balmi yet? What are your favourite lip balms?

Words To Live By

I'll start off by apologising for my lack of blogging over the last weeks. I have been pretty distracted and a little bit overwhelmed so I struggled to find the time, and sometimes the motivation to blog. Although I have missed it a lot. I've had lots of little bits that I've needed to sort out, as well as working (which can be stressful in itself).

I've been meaning to do a little post on quotes for a while as I find they can be so uplifting and motivating. I absolutely love quotes as I think they can be a nice way to gain a little bit of perspective. Quotes can be thought provoking, personal and inspiring. I love looking through them and even have a little notebook where I jot my favourite ones down from books, TV programmes and places around the internet! Sometimes when I'm feeling a little bit deflated I look through quotes and I always feel a little bit more positive afterwards. Sometimes it's so easy to let situations or people have an impact on your mood and your attitude, and so reading/hearing quotes and stories can make you realise that you're not alone and not to let these situations or people have a negative impact on who you are or what you want to achieve etc.

-"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover" -Mark Twain

-"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face" -Eleanor Roosevelt

-"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" -Eleanor Roosevelt

-"Always aim for the Moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the stars" -W.Clement Stone

{Pinterest. Original Source Unknown}


{Pinterest. Original Source Unknown}


{Pinterest. Original Source here}


{Pinterest. Quote Source: Theodore Roosevelt}

I'd love to hear your favourite quotes, or techniques that you use as a bit of a 'pick me up'.

♥

The Little Things

Some of the little things that have made me happy/smile over the last week or so;


-Hot bubble baths after a long day at work 


-Discovering old favourite's - I dug out my first iPod the other day. It's been hidden away for a good couple of years. It bought back memories listening to songs I'd completely forgotten about, but loved! It's been really nice listening back to it all


-I haven't been loving all of this rain. But I must admit I've loved drifting off to sleep with the sound of the rain on my bedroom window - so relaxing. And rainy Sundays which are the perfect excuse for a day of pyjamas, films and hot drinks


-Making and eating my delicious homemade banana cake


-Burning my Yankee tarts - Bahama Breeze is a current favourite


-Making the time to grab some food and watch a film with my boyfriend a few days ago 


-Planning to have a few friends come and visit for a few days in a couple of weeks time. Sometimes it's hard to find the time to have a good catch up with close friends, and unfortunately a lot of my close friends live a couple of hours away. So it's always lovely to see them. It's definitely long overdue


-My gorgeous cat's sleeping positions, sometimes they are very strange, other times they are unbelievably cute! Charlie never fails to make me smile! 

Yummy Banana Cake

Whenever I have the time, and feel like baking, I'll normally browse the net (thank you Google!) and search for a recipe that fits in with what I fancy and what is within easy reach ingredients wise. I had some time a few days ago and decided to try something a little bit different from what I would normally do, not to mention I had a few very ripe bananas that I knew were only going to get chucked away. So I searched for simple banana cake recipes, some really lovely recipes came up but this one seemed the most appealing... and easiest. The nice thing about this recipe is that the ingredients are fairly simple, they are basic ingredients that most people may already have in their cupboards. It's also so easy to add your own personal touch, you could add chocolate, honey or a different fruit as oppose to bananas.

The minute I tried a bite of this cake I immediately saved the recipe to my favourite's and knew I had to share it. This recipe was so unbelievably straightforward, it took no time at all to prepare. The batter smelt gorgeous when I was pouring it in to the cake tin - almost like custard. The end result was great, the sponge was lovely and moist and the cake tasted so delicious. It tasted sweet, and of course like bananas. Everyone who nabbed a slice enjoyed it, even my boyfriend who isn't the biggest fan of bananas. So this morning I had the last remaining slice with a cup of coffee. I will definitely be making this again.  I just loved this recipe so much I had to share it with you all. 

September Favourites | 12

It's hard to believe that we are already in to our first week of October. Summer seems to have gone by so quickly. I haven't done a favourite's post since July, as there hasn't been much to include. September's favourite's is really August/September favourite's as I've decided to combine them.

  

Essie - Peach Daiquiri

I purchased this a few months ago and wore this shade on my nails throughout my holiday  in August. It's a very bright coral red/pink shade. I found this shade perfect for the Summer. Unfortunately the name rubbed off the label on the lid on holiday - due to the heat, so I actually had to look online to find the name of this polish.

Revlon - Bewitching

I recently reviewed this nail polish -here, a few days ago . It sneaked in to my favourite's at the very end of the month, but I love the shade so much!  It's been on my nails for three days now and I only have a tiny bit of tip wear. It's a gorgeous Autumn red alternative and something I know I probably will be wearing throughout the next few months. 

Stila - Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

I have also done a review on this product - here. This liquid eyeliner is great, it stays put, it's a lovely jet black shade and the felt tip style applicator makes it easy to apply. Read my review here, if you would like to know more.

Books- 

Whilst on holiday at the end of August I made sure that I had lots of time to relax and enjoy myself. I managed to get through a bunch of books whilst away. My two favourite's from my little handful included Veronica Roth's - Insurgent and Nicholas Spark's - The Guardian. Insurgent is on my kindle, its the second book following on from Divergent, it was a great read full of lots of surprises. Nicholas Spark's is quite a popular author, and although I've watched some of the films based upon some of his books, I've never actually read one of his books. I picked a couple up as I thought they would be quite nice, light books to read on the beach. I really enjoyed The Guardian, it was a combination of a love story and a thriller. 

Face Flannels 

Okay a flannel probably sounds like a really odd favourite, but it's true. I've decided to use flannels more often. I never normally do use flannels but I've heard many positive things about them recently. So I picked up a handful, have chucked out my irritating eye make up remover and now just use a flannel. I find it a lot more gentle and soothing when taking off make up and washing my face. I normally fill up the sink with hot soapy water and hold the flannel to my face for a minute, I find it a lot more relaxing and feel it's much better for my skin. It's a cheaper alternative to all these make up remover products and wipes which sometimes can strip the skin and cause more harm than good. It's definitely worth a try! (This article has a bit more information on the benefits of using a flannel). I love my floral Cath Kidston flannel :)

Superdrug's Vitamin E - Nourishing Night Cream 

I use this product every night on my face. It's lovely and hydrating. This leaves my skin feeling moisturised and the cream smells like cocoa butter, but isn't sickly scent nor is it particularly strong once on the skin. I find this scent to be a very fresh, clean, coconut scent which I love! This is a great inexpensive product which can be purchased in Superdrug for around £2.99 although they're currently selling this product for £1.99 if you're interested.

Yankee Tart - Bahama Breeze

I'm always burning my Yankee Tart Wax burner, my current wax tart favourite is Bahama Breeze. It's a gorgeous tropical scent - I love it. Its such a lovely scent, even if the sun has disappeared and it's cold, wet and windy.

George - Slippers

Although it's starting to get a lot colder, I do love the little slip on slippers that you can purchase in George (Asda). They are inexpensive and really comfortable. Slippers often end up falling apart eventually so I love how affordable these slippers are. I always wear them when I'm at home.

Barry M Lip Gloss - 11

I've constantly been reaching for this lip gloss recently. I purchased this a few weeks back in Superdrug. It looks like quite an opaque pink/coral colour in the tube but it's very subtle and natural looking when on the lips. The texture isn't too sticky or gloppy and it smells sooo good, it has a very fruity sweet scent to it. Barry M's products are also affordable which is always an added bonus.

{Revlon-Bewitching & Essie-Peach Daiquiri}

{Barry M -No11 & Stila Eye Liner}