Treats To Brighten a Bad Day

So yesterday I was walking down the street minding my own business when a dog bit me! Fortunately I had a last minute change of heart with my outfit and changed out my skirt into jeans. If it weren't for my jeans I may not be here to tell the tale. I jest. But the event seriously traumatised me and was made even worse by the owner implying it was my fault for scaring the dog with my flip flops, I didn't think they were that ugly. 

Anyway I was really upset by this incident, I love dogs they're probably my favourite animal and I can't believe one bit me and made a hole in my jeans. So to get over the trauma (and to put to the back of my mind the fact I will soon have to do a dreaded jeans shop) I did what all good beauty bloggers do, I bought makeup. 

 

Though the incident actually took place in Camden where I had already picked up this really cute T-shirt. 

I really like the baggy oversized fit of it and it says "come with me to touch the sky" which I think it's absolutely adorable and I just love it. Though I did but this before the bite it has definitely helped, along with the other purchases, with the healing process. 

Though I knew to fully cheer me I would need to hit Zara and Space NK. Well when I got off the tube at Oxford Circus I knew I could do one better than that and headed for the mother of all department stores, Liberty. With my loyalty card and a nice little £5 voucher in hand I headed for the NARS counter and picked up something I've been meaning to try for ages. 

Though this now takes me up to a total of 12 foundations I currently use I just couldn't go another day without it. For those who don't know it is the NARS sheer glow foundation and I'm the colour Fiji, though I am a little nervous that once I've got some colour on my skin it'll be too light. What is Chanel Bronze Universal for though eh? I did however make the rookie mistake that everyone makes when they first get this in that I forgot to also get the pump. I'll add that to the list of things I 'need' from Space NK. 

Finally slightly happier I went to check out the Zara sale and found a couple of hidden gems amongst the mess. 

This blouse was £25.99 reduced to £12.99. I already have one similar to it that I picked up in a Zara sale past that I have just worn into holes so I know this one will be just as loved. 

My other purchase may actually be my favourite from the day, this skirt was reduced from £79.99 to (wait for it) £19.99! At that kind of reduction I just couldn't say no. I have no idea what it was doing in the summer sale because for me this is a total Christmas party skirt, but there's no harm in thinking about Christmas party outfits already is there? 

What I learnt from yesterday is, not only am I magpie and I'm just attracted to anything sparkley, but also that no matter how bad you are feeling a little self indulgence is always a good place to start a recovery. 

Office Outfit of the Day Part 3

Here it is again, the weekly work outfit. For some reason this week the aircon has been on steriods and it is absolutely freezing in the office, the men are wearing their suit jackets at their desks and us girls are sporting scarves already. 

Today's outfit was a Jack Wills shirt with a grey Next skirt and black tights. This was hot enough on the tube this morning so I kept my cream pashmina in my bag and wacked it on when I got to my arctic office. 

My hair was left in a lose French plait overnight so I wore the the waves in a high ponytail with natural makeup and my pearl earrings. 

Gosh I hope next week they turn the air con down, I have too many nice summer skirts to carry on in this fashion. 

Naughty End of the Month Splurge

Despite the fact that it is the end of the month and I can't even afford to buy food until payday, it did not stop me having a wild moment (more like an hour) in New Look.

For me Saturday's are often a slow start as I enjoy the freedom of the lie in and it definitely has nothing to do with the fact that I got home at 3.30 last night and was nearly up for 24 hours, sometimes I feel like I have more wild nights out with work than I used to at uni but that is an entirely different story.

So after the slow start and finding my local sorting office to pick up my new bottle of Bioderma I headed to the gym and indulged in some pampering to help my sore head and tired body. This is my new favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning/afternoon, go for a swim and then take full advantage of the jacuzzi and sauna and steam rooms to sweat out the toxins and the alcohol. Once I left the gym feeling much better than I did when I entered I decided that now was the perfect opportunity to go and buy a new work skirt in the Next sale. Well one thing led to another and this then happened...

I did manage to get not only one but two new plain black skirt for work.

 Priced at £12.99 each (with a nice 10% student discount thrown in) they're good value and hopefully good quality. 

I then found this adoreable mini skirt in the sale reduced to £8, for me it has a very 90's clueless vibe to it and lets face it who doesn't want to be Cher Horowitz.

I also definitely did not add to my ever growing collection of mint green blouses... This one was only £5 though so I don't think it really counts. 

While I'm waiting on my new sandals to be delivered from Office (which feels like years I've been waiting, sort it out Office) I decided I needed a stop gap pair as at the moment I'm wearing ones so old I think I may have been still in school when I bought them! These ones are leather and have lilac green and orange beading (which matches my nails!) and some little gems in the detailing so for only £19.99 again taking off 10% they'll do just nicely. 

This next purchase was inspired by my best friend. She has the most incredible enviable shoe wardrobe I have ever seen and I spent the two years I lived with her at uni cursing my big feet wishing they were two sizes smaller so we could have shared. Anyway she has a pair very similar to these which she rocks with checkered trousers and those sorts of things so I though for £12 reduced from £29.99 I am going to attempt to recreate her cool look, attempt being the operative word. 

This last one I was actually in the queue doing some quick mental addition and figuring out which card I could afford to put these on when I spotted this skirt. By this point I was very tired and there was no way I was facing the changing rooms again so I risked my chances thinking I'd bring it back if it didn't fit and thankfully it does. It's £15 and that's full price too so even without my discount it is very good value. I adore the colour and the pattern and generally everything about it, I'm already figuring out which day next week it's going to make it debut at work. 

So with heavy bags and a considerably lighter purse I made my way home to throw on some of my new purchases and some makeup (as mentioned here I now occasionally brave the shops bare faced). The ensemble is a vest top from Sainburys, which I definitely did not have to change after spilling red wine down it... with my new Clueless skirt, new sandals and new bag and purse from last weeks Westfield haul. 

The reason for the change of outfit was because this afternoon/evening myself and a few friends went to the Ealing jazz festival, a definite recommendation if you find yourself in the area and at a lose end tomorrow with £5 burning a hole in your pocket. You are allowed up to 4 cans per person but they don't rigorously check bags so we got away with wine decanted into plastic bottles (classy I know). London really is fun.

As a footnote I thought I'd mention the changes to my blog. Regular readers will notice a change in my background, well I'm no longer living in Cardiff (sob) and I felt it was time for something a little more beauty related and an update. My new background photo is just a couple of special items. 

'Healthy' Summer Berry Brownie Recipe

This is a little different from my usual posts, but tonight I went a little baking mad. After a long day at work I decided to bake a 'healthy' brownie recipe. Though once I saw how much sugar went into it I quickly realised that wasn't going to be the case. 

The recipe calls for 3 eggs which you then separate, 250g caster sugar, 300g of low fat or fat free Greek yoghurt, 300g self raising flour, 200g cocoa powder, 1 1/2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, some frozen fruit (I went for summer berries) and some pieces of chocolate. 

The last two items are optional as the brownies taste amazing on their own, but to add that extra burst of flavour (and to make it feel healthy by putting fruit in it) I would recommend adding them. 

To star off you preheat the oven, I'm not going to give advice on temperatures here because if I've learnt anything for living in four different houses and baking in four different kitchens over the past 2 years is that every oven is different and everyone knows their own oven, but I went for gas mark 4. 

Anyway, you then mix the egg yolks, sugar, oil and yogurt before sifting in the flour and cocoa powder. In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until they are fluffy and then fold into the mixture. 

At this point it would recommend taking a mid baking selfie. 

I just love any excuse to wear my apron. 

After the mixture is all mixed (and licking the spoon is now too tempting to resist) pour onto a greasproof lines baking tray. Then place the fruit where you want it and as an added extra I used crunchy chocolate pieces (chocolate with small peices of cereal in) which I broke in half and scattered in the mixture with the fruit. 

The mixture should now look something like this. Then pop it in the oven, again I'm not going to advise on times, just keep an eye on it. It could take 20 minutes or if you have a really old oven like me it could take 45. When it looks like it's done though put a knife in the middle of the mixture, if it comes out with nothing on then it's ready, if there's mixture on the knife it needs a little longer. 

When you've cleaned up the mess you'll inevitably make because let's face it, it's chocolate, hopefully the brownies will be ready and look a little something like this. 

And a little like this inside. Like all baked goods they're best hot from the oven, but mind the fruit as that can be very hot. 

Let me know if any of you guys try out this recipe. I want to start including more baking on here as I feel I am becoming the perfect housewife managing to incorporate the gym at 6.30am, a 9-5 job and cooking and cleaning daily. Sometimes being a grown up can actually be fun, if only paying bills was this fun. 

Evening Skincare Routine

Tonight I'm going to talk you through the junk I slap on my face before bed each night. Now that was written very lightheartedly because as all makeup lovers know the secret to good makeup is good skin and good skin comes from good skincare so it is important to keep on top of.

My skin has improved dramatically over the past six months from the point where I didn't even like my housemates seeing me without my makeup to where I feel comfortable enough to walk to the park (and even popped into the shopping centre by it) with absolutely nothing on my face. I think that this is due to a number of reasons, but good and consistent skincare is definitely a factor in this. 

This is what my evening skincare looks like at the moment. 

First things first, almost as soon as I get in, unless I have to go back out, I take my makeup off. For that I use two cotton pads, one for each eye, and one large one for the rest of my face with a squirt of Bioderma on which I've previously raved about here. 

Before bed I tie my hair back with a novelty hairband, these two are my favourites. 

Remember these? I could never find things with my name on as a child so having a headband with it on obviously warranted keeping. 

This almost looks like I have a skin irritation and am applying cream for that. I promise it is just moisturiser but the important point is that my headband has the Powerpuff Girls on it! Serious points for anyone who remembers and can still name the Powerpuff Girls and their monkey evil arch nemesis. 

That was completely off on a tangent, back to the skincare. For cleanser and toner I (and my bank balence) have been enjoying keeping it simple so I use Botanics cleanser and Boots Tea Tree & Whitchazel toner. The next step is the most pricey and the one I need to replace but am not looking forward to the investment. It is the Estée Lauder Advance Night Repair serum and I absolutely ruddy love this stuff. It is horribly expensive and I think is the most expensive beauty thing I own (outside of hair appliances) but everyone says that they really notice the difference when they stop using it so I haven't figured out yet whether or not I'm going to take the risk of seeing if this is true of me as well or if I'll just take the plunge and repurchase it. Next is another simple (and much cheaper) item which is my moisturiser, it is just Number 7's night cream in the formulae for combination to oily. I then use an eye cream, I've not found any that I believe to be miracle workers so at the moment I'm just working my way through testers I've revived over the years. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Finally I have been using Bio Oil on the very bad area of scarring on the right hand side of my face. Again I'm not pinning the improvement down to one thing, but I definitely think the Bio Oil has played it's part in contributing to my better complexion. 

Office Outfit of the Day Part 2

This week's work outfit of the day includes an item featured before as a favourite of mine.

It's the good old purple vintage blouse which I wore with a plain black skirt from M&S and my RayBan Aviators. 

I wore my hair in a very lose French plait and had natural makeup. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love getting ready for work. 

Westfield: A Review

Even before I moved down here I liked to think of myself as experienced when it came to the London shopping scene. However I have a confession to make, I have never been to either Westfield. Shocking I know, but today I decided to go and see what all of the fuss was about and went to the one at Shepherds Bush.

To begin with my outfit was very casual, I spent all day yesterday dressed up and in slightly uncomfortable shoes and so I decided for just a trip to a shopping centre I couldn't be bothered to dress up. Very out if character for me I know. 

I wore floral print baggy trousers from Zara, a white vest top from Laura Ashley, a denim shirt from M&S and Animal flip flops with Topshop sunglasses and a pale blue handbag from TK Maxx. 

Next onto the actual shopping. I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the right frame of mind or if I chose to go at the wrong time of year, but I just couldn't find anything I was looking for. I had forgotten that it is near on impossible to buy sandals in July because the shops have now started stocking the autumn collection! 

Though this does mean that there are sales on and this is where my day has been successful. 

I bought this adorable bag from Fossil. It was in the sale reduced from £109 to £55. I've been looking for a small summer bag for a long time now and this one is surprisingly spacious with pockets for phone keys and oyster on the inside and a secret zip pocket on the back. So although it is meant to be for days where I don't need to carry around my massive Mulberry or my other huge handbags, it will fit a lot in. 

Though saying that my purse is too big and bulky to go in this bag. 

So I went to Aspinals where I found this beautiful seaude purse. Though it was described as a cosmetics pouch I'm going to use it for cash change and essential cards with the Fossil bag. It was reduced from £59 to £29.50 and had an extra 10% off so it came in at £26.55.

Finally something I had actually been looking for. When I was on the tube this morning I noticed that my beloved Animal flip flops had gone through the sole. Disappointly there was no Animal or any other kind of surf shop there (or not that I could find anyway) but I did stumble across these in Fat Face. They were £15 but with 10% student discount came in at £13.50 and the more I look at them the more I like them actually, though I am still on the hunt for sandals and flip flops. If anyone knows of anywhere still stocking nice ones, and not just the crappy end of season ones, in July let me know. 

Anyway slightly disappointed with what I had hoped was going to be a big day of big spending I made my way home only to pop into Sport Direct (glamorous I know). I need a new water bottle and shorts for the gym and again I'm not sure if I was being daft but Westfield just didn't seem to have that. Fortunately the Sport Direct near mine did and I picked these up. 

Nothing too exciting. The shorts are essential for exercise in this weather and we're £6 and the water bottle was the only one in a nice colour way and was £5. Good old Sport Direct. 

So after having felt I had spent lots of money but achieved nothing whatsoever I was about to go home when I walked past a nail bar and knew exactly what to do to cheer myself up.

I got bright orange shellacs and I can't stop looking at my fingers and smiling. 

All in all I was disappointed with Westfield today, but I'm willing to give it another go at a different time of year and I am also prepared to try the bigger one at Stratford to see how that compares. The things I do for research eh. 

New House, New Setup

The title of this post explains it all really. When I moved to my new house I had to find a new setup for my makeup. This was something I had very much been looking forward to for a long time.

This is my new dresser, of course there are hair grips all over it and my makeup and brushes take pride of place. Today I will focus on my makeup storage. 

This storage box is from ikea and cost around £15. I ended up getting two and keep one on my dresser and the second one as spare storage. It's not as aesthetically pleasing as some of the Muji products but it is incredibly practical and stores my masses of makeup. 

At the front are five compartments. In the one on the far left I keep lipsticks that I found whilst routing through my collection that I feel should get more of an outing. Recently there have been three lipsticks in here but two of them are currently in my travel makeup bag because I wore them to work this week. In the second from left compartment are my tools, so these are my tweezers and sharpeners.

In the middle compartments I keep liners, both eyeliners and lip liners. It's so nice to actually be able to see my liners because those are the things you lose track of in makeup bags. 

The fourth compartment holds larger pencils, so these are things such as my NARS lip pencils and my Revlon colour burst lip pencils as well as pencil eyeliners.

The final compartment holds mascaras, eyebrow gels and my touché éclat . 

At the left at the back are smaller sections for lipsticks, again there are ones missing where they're currently in my handbag... I also have a couple of MAC paint pots and eyshadow pots. 

To the right there are two large compartments. The one on the right I keep (most of) my large collection of foundations... In the left hand one I keep eyeshadow pallets, my Benefit High Beam and my ELF eyebrow kit. 

In a large section behind the front three compartments I keep most of my 'everyday face' which includes my regular bronzer blusher and highlighter as well as my powder, bronze universal, my MAC pallets and my black eyeshadow and liquid liner. 

Finally a footnote. I've had pretty crappy day to be perfectly honest and one thing I knew would help lift my spirits (as well as a bit of online shopping) was painting my nails in my favourite colour, the much mentioned Illamasqua Strike, it definitely has brightened my mood. The power of beauty eh.  

Office Outfit Of The Day Part 1

Today is going to be the first of many 'work outfit of the day' posts. I absolutely love office clothes and getting ready for work each morning. Although I am still struggling to adjust from lazy student life to getting up at 7 (some days 5.30) each morning, I do enjoy the process of glamming myself up for a day in the office.

Today I went for a mint green blouse from Topshop, this black and white patterned pencil skirt which I picked up last week in H&M and my smart black work shoes from Office that unfortunately I'm still breaking in, the worst part of buying new shoes. 

I generally keep it very simple on my face, but today I decided to brighten up the look with this bright pink lip stain. 

This one is the Revlon Colourburst in 120 vivacious exubérante and is very nourishing but still enough to make an impact on a Monday morning. 

Free Fun Day in the Capital

I may have been away for a month, but in that month I've been gathering plenty of ammo for lots of new and exciting posts. For those of you who have been following me until my recent absence, you will know that just before I disappeared I was preparing to move down to London. Well I'm here now and I finally have internet in my flat  after three very long hard weeks and so the posts can begin again.

For today's I have decided to just show you what I got up to today/what to do on a nice summer's day in London when your flatmate is away and you have no money. As it is Sunday and I knew I was heading down to a fairly posh part of London, I decided to dress nicely for the occasion.

My shirt is from M&S, my skirt is vintage and my sandals (which you can just about see) are from Office and my bag is my Mulberry Bayswater. It's not clear on the photo but on my lips I am wearing Hourglass matte lipstick in Rivera.

I decided to head to one of the parks in central London and just have a wander round and I feel I have compiled  a good list of things to do on a nice sunny day for absolutely free in one of the most expensive parts of the capital.

First of all I got the tube down to Hype Park Corner and wandered through Hyde Park where I saw the preparation for screening the World Cup final tonight (admittedly you would not see this any other day so I can't include this in my recommendation). I walked all the way through to Kensington Gardens.

Seeing an image like this is, it can be difficult to believe you're in the middle of  a city of 10 million people, though I did manage to catch a rare moment where there wasn't a Boris bike in front of me.

This is the statue of physical energy at the centre of Kensington Gardens. For me it has quite special memories attatched, but I also think it is a beautiful piece of art in a beautiful location.



This is the Peter Pan statue, again a beautiful piece of art in the middle of this wonderful park.



And finally the round pond.

Something I noticed as I was leaving the park was the view you get over two of the most famous sights of the London skyline, the Shard and the London Eye



Another absolutely stunning sight of Kensington Gardens is the Albert memorial, located at the south entrance to the park opposite the equally as beautiful Royal Albert Hall, it is simply incredible to behold. (I'm already beginning to sound like a tour guide, but this is something special.)

From the park I decided to wander down Kensington Road where my eyes lit up when I saw one of the few remaining original routemaster buses drive past me, I was beginning to feel like I had stepped back in time at this point. 

And as I walked further along the road I spotted this sign which brought an even bigger grin to my face as Hounslow is where I now work and it seems a very random place to have an old fashioned sign pointing towards from one of the most exclusive areas in London. 

Finally I turned down Exhibition Road and came across a free travel photography exhibition at the Royal Geographical Society. It was absolutely fascinating but I obviously wasn't allowed to take pictures inside. Also on Exhibition Road are the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, all free entry and all well worth a visit. All in all a beautiful day out in London for absolutely nothing (other than the price of the tube there and back). 

I hope to start posting regularly again now that I have finally been reunited with wifi and I have lots to share from my first month in London, including being at a pub Friday night with a certain Geordie Britain's Got Talent Presenter. Stay tuned.