Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer (Apocalyptic)

Its safe to say that Rimmel london's Apocalips lip lacquers have gone down a storm with beauty addicts. Always one intrigued by hype, I couldn't resist trying them out during a recent trip to Boots. Super pigmented, in beautiful wearable shades, it took all my willpower not to purchase each shade on the stand, but with £6 in boots points I decided to be sensible and stick to one. I opted for Apocalyptic the perfect bright pink shade. 

With a doe foot applicator Apocalyptic applies like a lipgloss but dries with a lipstick like finish. This beauty seriously packs a punch, and in terms of longevity I was left really impressed. Applied in the morning Apocalyptic survived an orthodontic appointment and a costa coffee (wowweee). 

In terms of packaging its nothing special, but it does the job. 

Overall im seriously impressed, and for the grand total of £5.99, I think its best I avoid boots and superdrug for a while haha 

have you tried Apocalips lip lacquers?? 

50 random facts about me...

1. my claim to fame was appearing on Hearsay's video at the age of 8, having my picture taken with Kym Marsh

2. Myleene Klass told me i was beautiful

3. I collect pretty carrier bags & display them on top of my wardrobe

4. My two ginger toms Bill & Ben are like my big babies 

5. most of the things i despised as a child, i have now come to love, hello fringes, flat shoes and floral prints 

6. most of my food gets smothered in balsamic dressing or salad cream 

7.Dressing up is a favourite past time 

8. When I was younger i would buy makeup, but wouldn't use it for the fear of it running out ha

9. I went to uni a size 8 and left a size 14 (i blame dominoes and ponanas) 

10. my aunt used to live by Will from the Ordinary Boys 

11. I had a hug off Travis Clark 

12. my most listened to album on iTunes is Wicked

13. I have a strange obsession with Karl Pilkington 

14. i used to be ambidextrous

15. Im a big dreamer, so much so that I've already planned my dream house and wedding in my head in great detail 

16. I graduated with a BA hons in the Study of Religion with Philosophy and Ethics 

17. i love to capture life events through a camera lens

18. this being the case I'm often referred to as snap happy 

19. life wouldn't be right without books
20. one of my favorite authors is Lindsey Kelk  

21. im a natural worrier 

22. I've been blessed by an elephant 

23. I talk to much 

24. i would love my own real life Thumper 

25. I used to do ballet, tap and jazz
26. my pet peeve is chomping, I've been known to leave a room just to get away from the noise
27. in my first year of uni I drunkenly stripped down to a cardigan, proceeded to dress in my male housemates cap and shoes, and the photo has forever haunted me since
28. my Brother is more obsessed with fashion than I am
29. My Dad lived in Peru for four years, which resulted in a trip of a lifetime to Lima
30. I have a tendency to over think things
31. im lucky enough to say that my best friend is my soul mate
32. my boyfriend is a massive geek, and I love him for it
33. I have a penchant for afternoon tea
34. I hate tomatoes
35. I keep gift tags and cards that iv'e been given
36. In the summer of 2008 I helped build a school for underprivileged children in Romania
37. Due to this and walking the Wicklow mountains I was awarded my gold Duke of Edinburgh at St James palace
38. I dont like speaking infront of loads of people
39. my favorite place in the world is New York
40. Im addicted to bath and body works hand sanitisers
41. my Mum and Nan have always taught me to live life to the full
42. visiting Auschwitz was one of the most harrowing things I have ever experienced
43. I love lying on the beach at night looking at the stars
44. I want to be friends with Sheldon Cooper
45. I would rather see the good in someone, than the bad
46. I once got a chipstick stuck up my nose
47. I could quite happily live on hummus and carrot sticks
48. my favourite designer is Michael Kors
49. im a musical fanatic and have been lucky enough to see Dirty Dancing, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Lion King, Les Miserables, Wicked, Beauty and the Beast and Miss Saigon
50. I overcame my fear of lifts, after being made to go to the top of the Empire State 

TkMaxx Bargain....Michael Kors Flip Flops

 I know I know, you all must think I'm mad, most of the uk is a winter wonderland covered with blankets of crisp white snow, while the rest of the uk is succumbed to rain and wind, and here i am telling you about a pair of flip flops. but in my honest opinion if it were acceptable I would wear sandals all year round, in fact i will go one step further and say i would quite happily move to somewhere with a hotter climate just so I could do so ha. 

Tkmaxx to me is one of those marmite like shops you either love or hate. In all honesty I'm not the biggest fan, main reason being that I fail to ever find anything I love, and if I do its more often than not still out of my price range. Yesterday I went in with the soul intention of purchasing a pair of boots, desperately searching the aisles, these bright orange pretties immediately caught my attention. Did I mention they were Michael Kors? at the grand total of £15 I ran to the till (after picking up a second pair of flip flops), smug with my bargain find. 

Perhaps not to every ones taste, these bright orange flip flops finished off with the iconic gold embossed Michael kors logo, leave me longing for summer. Im already putting outfits together in my head, with my imaginary golden tan!! 

Have you found any bargains in tkmaxx lately?? 

Friday Fancies #6.. Bedroom Decor

With endless pins on home decor, youtube videos boasting the most perfect walk in wardrobes, and vintage home pieces being offered on Etsy, its hardly surprising that everyones going decor crazy. 

My room to me is my place of solace, where I escape from the outside world, the place where I have girly chats with my best friends and heart to hearts with my boyfriend. Its the place I blog from and the place I sleep. Since graduating from university and moving back home, I have become uncontent with my childhood bedroom and have found myself forever adding bits and pieces to try and make it the perfect space. My dream room would be a romantic, girly space filled with vintage pieces.

Since browsing the next catalogue I have found myself lusting after the mirrored furniture above, I love how it incorporates both old and new with the use of the gold detailing. 

I'm lucky enough to have a boyfriend whom works within furniture. During my first week in university he turned up at the door with a bright pink ottoman that an old lady had given him, since then it has become a must have in my room, making use as shoe storage aswell as a seat!! A little on the shabby side now, I'm thinking of upholstering it, and the above ottoman from next is my inspiration.

In all honesty im a little cushion crazy, so I can't help but admire some of the offerings from H&M and Zara home. how cute is the love story cushion!!

Finally last but not least, being a typical girly girl, its safe to say that my room is filled with trinkets and candles, so it goes without saying that i find myself admiring one thing or another on a weekly basis ha.  Im loving the glass trinket box from Velvet along with the Winnie the pooh quote plack. 

what would you put in your dream bedroom??

Marc by Marc Jacobs Katie bunny USB Chain

 When it comes to my laptop, organisation is not my fortay. With an array of folders brimming with hundreds of photos I've taken for my blog, and a mass of random word documents Ive collected as "research" during my 3 years at university (photos of Lauren Conrad's latest outfits counts right? ha). With my cyber hoarding getting out of control I knew it was time i deleted the rubbish and find some sort of way of curbing my ever growing 'add new folder' situation.  

Que the marc by marc Jacobs Katie bunny usb chain. Okay so it may only be 2gb but, its bright pink, looks like a bunny, has a cute name, and is beautiful enough to adorn any set of keys, laptop case etc ;). I'm somewhat of a tech fobe so I can't tell you how its better than x and y USB sticks, but i can tell you that it is a chic alternative to the usual drab USB , and a perfect tool to help me on the way to gaining a clutter free laptop ha.  

Birchbox UK..first impressions

 A big hit with 300,000 beauty addicts worldwide, the New York based beauty subscription service Birchbox has decided to touch down on British soil, and take over what was formerly known as Joliebox.Like various other beauty subscriptions out there, Birchbox aim to offer 4-5 deluxe samples each month, catering to subscribers beauty profiles. 

With my one and only experience of Beauty boxes leaving a sour taste in my mouth (here's looking at you Harrods glossybox), I was hesitant about trying another subscription service, but now a graduate with a more disposable income (unlike when I signed up to glossybox), and a growing desire to try new things, I decided to bite the bullet and give beauty boxes a second chance.

If this months box is a preview of whats to come then I will happily say that I have made the right decision. (best of all there was not one single perfume sample in sight hooraaah)

Lets see whats in my box

 Fresh sugar rose lip treatment 2.2g 

What they say: "beauty editors love this delicious treatment, which keeps lips flake-free and soft"

My thoughts:  At a whopping £15.50, and a hard to find item in the UK, This months box is worth it for this product alone!! After receiving the sephora fresh duo way back in June I have become totally smitten with this lip treatment (and the brand in general), so much so that it featured in my 2012 faviourites. This beauty smells amazing (I would say it has a more sweet, lemon scent rather than a rose one) and is extremely moisturizing.

 KMS California (Free shape quick blow dry) 30ml

What they say: "save precious time with this dual-phase mist: the top layer detangles and softens hair, while the bottom layer helps it dry faster"

My thoughts: If you've been reading my blog for a while, then you'll be aware of my sheer laziness when it comes to haircare, this being the case a product claiming to reduce drying time, is a very welcome addition. Fingers crossed it works.

Reverence de Bastien (Ungent for nail & Cuticles) FULL SIZE

What they say: "Apply this french brands argan and vitamin-rich treatment to your nails between manis to keep them healthy"

My thoughts: After seeing sneak peeks of various other boxes containing miniature moisturizers (something I have a plenty of) I was excited to see a full sized sample of the reverence de Bastien Ungent for nail and cuticles. With hints of red berries, this smells absolutely amazing. It leaves nails and surrounding skin feeling really smooth, although it is somewhat oily/ greasy once applied, which is probably due to argan oil being an ingredient.

Wei (royal Ming firming and hydrating cream)

What they say: "Inspired by 600-year-old recipe used by Chinese courtesans, this supercharged cream contains 18 herbs to address all the signs of skin ageing" 

my thoughts: Iv'e not really heared much about this brand, but with the full size tube costing a whopping £74 im intrigued to see what all the fuss is about!!

Lifestyle extra (I love how glossybox add this additional sample) 

Teapigs (Chamomile flowers)

What they say: "the chamomile flower is celebrated for its medicinal benefits, which include calming, soothing anxiety and aiding sleep"

my thoughts: with a developing obsession with herbal tea, Im looking forward to trying this, although I would have perhaps preferred one of the other flavours, but who knows I may love it. 

All in all I am thoroughly pleased with this months Birchbox. With 5 reasonable sized samples, including one full size product costing over £10 I really feel like iv'e received my moneys worth out of this box.

my only niggle is that the parcel in which the box arrived in, had no sticker etc for preventing someone tampering with the products inside, but apart from that im extremely happy.

 Im already looking forward to next months box!!

Have you subscribed to Birchbox? If so what were your thoughts??

Friday Fancies #5

NOTD MUA Fluff & Cuddles

Hello lovelies, I hope your all well. 
 So when I saw pictures on Instagram of MUA's version of the velvet manicure  aptly named the "fur-effect nails" , I knew I needed to take a trip to Superdrug. Forever wanting to try something new I couldn't wait to get my hands on these Ciate inspired dupes. 

The fur effect collection contains five different shades of fluffy delights. Fluffy Bobbin (deep blue), Fluff and Cuddles (a deep pink/mauve shade), Fuzzy Fluff (bright pink), Boo Boo Fluff (bright light blue), Fluffy Puff (baby Pink). With the £2 price tag I had to stop myself from purchasing them all, however I sensibly opted for two, Fluffy puff (post here) and Fluff and Cuddles.

Fluff and Cuddles is a gorgeous dark pink/mauve shade, which also looks red in some lighting. 

To create the above look all you need to do is;

• Prep nails with your choice of polish. I opted for Nails Inc's Victoria, a gorgeous deep oxblood red colour the perfect shade to create a contrast.

• Then apply a second coat
• Whilst wet press your nail down into the fluffy pot, until covered (I only applied fluffy puff to ring finger)
• Finally brush excess off, Its as easy as that

MUA's fur-effect nails, is a rather effective and easy form of nail art. Like I mentioned in my previous post the only gripe I have is that the fur gets dirty rather quickly, and who wants dirty looking nails. 

Have you tried fur-effect nails??

What do you think of this furry trend??

Chanel Foundation Brush no6

Picture this, its boxing day, im curled up on the sofa snuggled up in my new Bambi pajamas with a glass full of Disarona. With Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket I decided to hit the sales from the comfort of my own living room, free from pushing, prodding and crazy sales addicts. My first stop was Harrods, and after much deliberation and a little draining of the bank balance I pressed that little checkout button, within my basket an Anya Hindmarch key-ring (sadly they went out of stock, so I never did get my fix of sweet shaped goodness) and uhh, a full priced Chanel Foundation Brush. 

Since the day I visited that fabulous covent garden pharmacy, way back in November when I bit the bullet and purchased Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, I have dreamed about the fabulously soft foundation brush, that the mua used to apply my beloved foundation. 

Since then I have been using my Real Techniques foundation brush (which dont get me wrong I love). But with small, dense bristles, I wanted something a little chunkier. Que the much lusted Chanel foundation brush. At £30 I will quite happily blame the purchase on being high with Christmas spirit ( is this acceptable reasoning?? id like to think so ha). 

Fabulously packaged, incased within a velour pouch, this beauty screams high end luxury. With a thick plastic (I assume but I may be wrong) easy to hold handle, applying foundation couldnt be easier. With a range of three different types of bristles (see picture above) including smooth feathery like tips aswell as a stiff base, makes this brush perfect for using alongside a liquid foundation, whilst creating a natural 'airbrushed' finish. 

My only superficial niggle is that I expected the logo to be engraved. What seems to be a printed 'Chanel' logo, is something that will easily be rubbed off through use. 

Whats your must have Foundation Brush??

Have you used this foundation Brush?? if so what did you make of it?  

One more dawn, One more day, One day more!!

Cardigan, RIVER ISLAND

top ZARA

leggings ZARA

necklace MISS SELFRIDGE

Hello lovelies I hope your all well. If the musical fanatics amongst you haven't already guessed by the title, tonight im off to the cinema to see the much anticipated Les Miserables. With it being one of my favourite musicals, im both excited to see the interpretation, aswell as being somewhat sceptical at the same time. 

With this bitter cold weather (I swear we are the only ones without snow, boo) im planning on wearing my new River Island Cardigan. Its not my usual style but im completely smitten with it, from the cut, to the pattern and of course the fur collar. Its super snug and perfect to jazz up a simple outfit. Above I have done just that and paired it with my trusty Zara tee and leggings.

Have you seen Les Miserables yet? What did you think??

NOTD..MUA Fluffy Puff

Lets face it Ciate seem to be the crème de la crème of nail art. First there was the release of Caviar nails, and now there is the anticipated release of the velvet manicure . In all honesty no matter how much I may love the designs I find the prices extortionate for nail art that will more than likely be a fad. So when I saw pictures on Instagram of MUA's version of the velvet manicure  aptly named the "fur-effect nails" , I knew I needed to take a trip to Superdrug. 

The fur effect collection contains five different shades of fluffy delights. Fluffy Bobbin (deep blue), Fluff and Cuddles (a deep pink/mauve shade), Fuzzy Fluff (bright pink), Boo Boo Fluff (bright light blue), Fluffy Puff (baby Pink). With the £2 price tag I had to stop myself from purchasing them all, however I sensibly opted for two, Fluff and Cuddles (post to come) and Fluffy Puff. 

A gorgeous baby pink, fluffy puff is perfect for jazzing up a basic manicure, and best of all its easy enough for even the biggest novice (myself included). 

To create the above look all you need to do is;

• Prep nails with your choice of polish. 

I opted for Ciate's Cutie Pie, a fellow baby pink and the perfect companion to fluffy puff.

• Then apply a second coat
• Whilst wet press your nail down into the fluffy pot, until covered (I only applied fluffy puff to ring finger)
• Finally brush excess off, Its as easy as that

MUA's fur-effect nails, is a rather effective and easy form of nail art. The only gripe I have is that the fur gets dirty rather quickly. 

Have you tried fur-effect nails??

What do you think of this furry trend??

Viva La Juicy La Fleur..

 Whilst perusing the displays in Debenhams, I couldn't help but stop and admire Juicy Couture's latest offering in the form of Viva la Juicy la Fleur. With a dresser brimming with perfumes, I could not justify purchasing a full bottle. Instead I opted for the roller-ball and lipgloss duo for the grand total of £9.99. Simple, yet convenient this duo is the perfect size to throw into my new handbag. 

The perfume

There's something truly special about perfume, with just one spritz, you can be transported back to many a happy memory, and the playful scent of Viva la Fleur does just that. The fresh smell reminds me of new beginnings and in particular makes me relive my first few weeks in University, when I first got with my boyfriend. Viva la Fleur truly is a beautiful feminine fragrance, with a blend of Mandarin, Berries, Waterlily, along with Honeysuckle, Gardenia Petals and Jasmine. In all honesty im very much a scent novice, so cannot specifically identify these individual notes, however what I can say is that it is floral yet fruity, fresh yet still sweet. In terms of longevity the scent lasts a reasonable time, but does disappear alot quicker than a lot of other perfumes that I own. 

The Lipgloss

Lets face it the perfume is the show stopper of this duo, so I didn't particularly hold much optimism for the lipgloss, however apart from a little stickiness I was pleasantly surprised. A pigmented medium pink with flecks of glitter running throughout, I actually quite like this shade. As for the scent, imagine delving into a bag of maoms and you would be pretty close, its definitely sweet and yummy.  

Have you tried Viva La Fleur La Juicy?? 

Friday Fancies #4... Gold Dust

Hey I put some new shoes on, and suddenly everything is right

Sparkly black pumps £30 Zara 

Nude Leather pumps £20 Zara

Ballerina with Stars £16.99 Zara

Lux red flats £45 Carvella Previous post here

Toms, Uggs and a pair of tatty Accessorize flats is the extent of my everyday footwear (excluding sandals, something which I have a plenty haha). With this being the case, I saw the Christmas sales as the perfect opportunity (okay more excuse) to add some staple items to my wardrobe. In all honesty, apart from a pair of boots that are yet to arrive, I may have gone a bit overboard on the pumps front. 

Although purchasing four pairs of flats is somewhat excessive, its nice having an option, and the perfect pair of shoes to finish off an outfit, rather than lazily throwing on a pair of toms. My faviourite pair of shoes from the sales would have to be the sparkly black velour flats. I spotted these beauties sat alone under a table in my size looking pretty whilst making my way to the till (it must have been fate). Needless to say they made their way into my basket, much to my bank accounts dismay. 

Did you purchase any Bargains during the sales??

MAC Divine Desire Paramour Pink Kit

Addicted to anything beauty related, its hardly surprising that I was  excited to see MACs Divine Desire kit from the holiday fabulousness collection, sitting pretty at the bottom of my stocking on Christmas morning. Wearable pinks and a gorgeous purple kohl liner, encased within stylish pink satin packaging, finished off with a patent black bow is not only pleasing to the eye, but a perfect addition to any dressing table.

The packaging really is something special, with a satin pouch on the inner lid, aswell as a removable black tray, it could easily be used as a clutch, or to store jewellery etc.

The set itself includes: 

Blush Divine Desire
A beautiful cool toned pink, that's highly pigmented and easy to work with. A little definitely goes a long way with this blush, applied too heavily, I can imagine the outcome to be something resembling that of Barbie. 

Lipstick Heart to Heart
 a soft pink lipstick, Heart to Heart is an ideal shade for everyday use, and a great alternative  to my usual neutral lip (creme cup if you were wondering).

Lipglass Warm Embrace
a subtle shimmered pink is the perfect companion to finish off the look

Technakohl Purple Dash
This liner is such a beautiful shade of plum/purple. I dont tend to stray away from black liners but this shade is the perfect tool to add a pop of colour to the lower lash line 

Blush Brush 129SE

The only negative about this set would have to be the blush brush, as the bristles are somewhat scratchy, so I find it hard to work with. That being said it is the perfect size to just throw in a bag whilst on the go. 

This kit is no longer available online, that being said there may be a few floating around MAC counters, although im not to sure. 
Did you pick anything up from the fabulousness collection?? 

Updated Whats in my Bag

Bag Michael Kors Jet Set tote 

Hello lovelies, I hope your all well. Iv'e been meaning to do an updated whats in my bag for quite some time. With the recent addition to my life in the form of  a gorgeous Michael Kors Jet set tote, I thought now would be the perfect opportunity to do an updated post whilst my bag is clean and free from mountains of receipts and lipsticks (am I the only one that has at least ten lip products in the bottom of my bag?). 

So here it is the clutter free version of what I usually keep in my bag 

The essentials: My house keys (Tesco club-card total essential ha), 

Chanel Jalousie Glossimer perfect for a pop of colour on the go, 

Fresh Sugar Lipbalm (notice the lip related theme already),

Viva la juicy la Fleur roller-ball and lipgloss (I love the concept of this duo, its uber convenient and small enough to throw in any bag).

Bath & Bodywork's Hand Sanitiser

Ipod touch 

coin purse 

passport (for the days I misplace my ID, something that happens quite often oops..)

Victoria's Secret mirror (a total essential) 

Purse (home to loyalty cards & photos of the bf and I)

Diary (something I would be lost without)

What's inside your bag??

If you've done a similar post, please leave the link below, I love a good snoop ;)