January Favourites

Ok, so I'm aware that my January favourites are a little on the late side, but I've been so excited to  share these products that I thought I'd rather write this post a little late than not at all. January was quite a busy month for me, and has been as up and down as the banks of the Thames. For starters, I passed my driving test! First attempt, I might add! :) It's something I'm immensely proud of, and I'm so glad that it's now ticked off my to do list. However, due to the diabolical weather conditions, I've not been able to do much driving with my shiny new licence, and on top of that we've been treated to power cuts and floods all over the place. As a result, most of the back end of the month was spend literally holding down the fort through fear that it might blow away, and, the icing on the miserable cake, I had a stinker of a cold. Things are finally starting to resemble normality here, however, despite the fact that one more inch of rain will mean I may have to swim to work. And although I cannot wait to see the back of this abysmal weather, here are a few of the beauty products that I'm happy to have stick around.

Liz Earle//Blend & Contour Brush

I discovered Liz Earle's Colour collection at the end of last year, and as a result, this little blending dream crept into my brush collection. It's quite a long, tapered brush with a definite point to it, which I find absolutely amazing for blending eyeshadow on my slightly hooded eyes. You literally place the tip in your socket and move it backwards and forwards - no skill required - and you're left with perfectly blended shadows. It's revolutionised the way I apply my make up, so much so that I actually struggle to use my old blending brushes now without making a terrible mess of things. I'm not a huge fan of the clear handles, I feel it's more childish than stylish, but I can definitely deal with the less than pleasing aesthetic when the results are so good!

MAC//Mulch Eyeshadow

Ever a lover of MAC eyeshadows, I've been pining after this particular colour for a while. I finally caved and added it to my collection last month, and I was right to want it so badly. A dark shimmery reddish brown, it looks fantastic on blue eyes. I've been loving coupling it with MACs Patina, (the pair blend together seamlessly) blending it through my crease for a beautifully smoky daytime look. 

Jo Malone//Pomegranate Noir

This beautiful fragrance was a Christmas present, and let me tell you, I cannot get enough of it. Fruity and quite spicy at the same time, it has that perfect rich wintery undertone, whilst still packing that delicious juicy punch.

Soap & Glory//Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Nudist

I've never been one for nude lips, and I think I'm only just realising that this is because I hadn't yet found the right nude colour for me. That is, until now! I've recently dipped my toes into the realms of Soap & Glory makeup, and found rather a few gems, but this gloss stick is by far my favourite. Quite a pinky nude with a beautiful shine,  this glossy pencil is the perfect 'your lips but better' shade for me.

Maybelline//Dream Touch Blush in 07 Plum

Now, I don't usually go for pink on my cheeks, but I've been having a bit of a moment with this blush over the past month. I love the texture of the Maybelline mousses, and I'm a massive fan of this blush's peach counterpart, which I reviewed last summer. These blushes have quite a bit of sheen to them, making them the perfect pick me up in these dreary Winter months. Didn't want my complexion to mirror the dullness of my mood now, did I?

Fresh//Sugar Coral Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

I often suffer from awfully dry lips, and am constantly searching for the best products for keeping them soft and supple. This beautiful balm has done an amazing job of keeping my parched peckers in ship shape this winter. Not only that, it's the most wonderful coral shade which is a lot more than just 'tinted', like a lot of the sheer lip treatments on offer. Although not as long lasting, it's as pigmented as lipstick, and I love wearing it as one when I want that pop of colour, but my lips are feeling oh so dry. This product comes in quite a range of colours, so I'm absolutely going to be expanding my collection. Plus, it has an SPF of 15 built in: always a bonus in my mind. 

L'Oreal Paris//Black Laquer Super Liner

Eyeliner is definitely not my forte. I can never get a straight line, I always end up messing something up and don't even get me started on feline flicks. As a result, I've always got my badly lined eyes peeled for a product that's really easy to use, as well as being really pigmented and having some stick. This month I found it, in the form of L'Oreal's Black Laquer Super Liner. It's got a very narrow sponge applicator which, as well as being fine, is quite sturdy, making it so easy to use. It dries to a kind of vinyl finish, which I love, and it's made my make up routine just that little bit easier this January. 

NARS//Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

I used to use Urban Decay Primer Potion religiously, but when mine ran out, I fancied a bit of a change, and I'm really loving the alternative I chose. I found that the Urban Decay primer left my lids looking a bit dry and patchy as I got through more and more of the product, but I haven't had that issue with NARS (yet - it is still early days). Additionally, my eyeshadows blend a lot better on top of this product, and I love the doe foot applicator, as I find it very difficult to waste product this way. So far it's a winner in my books.

What were your favourite products this January? Were you loving any of the same things that I was? Let me know!

S.

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My Birthday Shenanigans

For this post, I thought I'd do something slightly different because.... it's my birthday!! Yay! At least it was last Friday, but it's close enough. I'm quite partial to a good lifestyle post, and so I thought, given that it was a special occasion, I'd try my hand at it, with a little birthday gift haul thrown in for good measure. So I hope you enjoy this change from the norm. I had such a lovely birthday and it seemed a shame not to write about it all. Also, as a little side note, I'd just like to say that I'm rubbish at taking photos when I'm out, but I'll stick in the very few Instagram snaps that I did get.

Cupcakes! They had sparklers on them, but they took so long to light that they went out before I could snap them.

So, on my actual birthday I stayed at home with my favourite person - my mum. We gorged on pizza and cake, spending the whole evening watching old school chick flicks. Hello, Notting Hill! I know, slow down, crazy party lady! I could have gotten dressed up and gone out for the  night, but I just feel like I'm past clubbing now (sign #1 that you're getting old), and, as all my friends live in London, it's quite an expensive ordeal, particularly as we were all so used to student prices once upon a time. And it was lovely to just lounge around in our lazy clothes, and eat about a months worth of calories in one sitting - if you can't on your birthday, when can you, eh? I couldn't think of a more enjoyable way to spend the evening, and I'm so pleased that I didn't feel at all obligated to go out.

My Parma Violet tasting drink!

Loving this birthday card.

The following day, which just so happens to be my brothers birthday, I actually did go out, but only for dinner with friends. We went to a place called Bubbledogs, a novel little restaurant which only serves hot dogs and champagne. And let me just start by saying, hands down, best hot dog I've ever had. And you can never go too far wrong with a cheeky bottle of champagne. You might have to queue for about an hour for a table, but I would definitely urge you to put your name down, send someone on a sly alcohol run to the Tesco around the corner, and enjoy the wait whilst sipping on a G&T, because the food is worth hanging around for. The hot dog I chose was the 4th of July. Piled high with spicy BBQ sauce and delicious coleslaw, it was a messy yet wonderful affair. I keep telling myself that the reason I took no photographs is because my hands were too sticky to touch anything, but, lets face it, I was never going to remember to get my camera out. They were really sticky though... It's not the type of  the type of place to go on a first date, unless your idea of romance is having someone lovlingly pick the coleslaw out of your hair (how did it get there?!), but I was in the company of my nearest and dearest, so I wasn't afraid to just get stuck in and enjoy the delectable experience. I overcompensated with sides, as I'd read a few reviews online which claimed that the hot dogs were tiny, and not very filling. Lies. They're normal sized hot dogs.So learn from my mistake - one side will be enough. As for which sides we ordered, not known for our frugality, we went for the lot: tots, sweet potato fries and coleslaw, all of which were deliciously moreish. The type of food that you can't stop eating, even though you feel like you might explode after every mouthful. The tots were my favourite because they reminded me of when I was a tot - they taste exactly like those potato smilies that we used to have as kids, only crispier and more delicious. Remember those? Good times. We washed it all down with a couple of cocktails to end the evening. I went for the Aviator, which tasted exactly like Parma Violets, and then headed home with a full tummy and a huge smile on my face. I had such a lovely birthday, and it made me feel so blessed - I have the most amazing people in my life, both friends and family, and I am so glad I got to spend my special day with those I love the most. 

And speaking of feeling blessed, over the two days, I was spoilt rotten, and I got such a lovely collection of gifts that I just had to share.

The first on my birthday wish list and my main gift was an ever popular Michael Kors watch. I know, everyone and their grandma has got one of these, but I just think they're so beautiful. They're feminine yet substantial, if that makes sense, and I'm so ridiculously happy that my parents treated me to one. I actually took a leap of faith and just said I wanted this particular brand, and that they could choose the watch, and my Dad picked out the exact one that I'd been swooning over for months! They know me too well! I would have been happy with anything they picked out, but I'm so pleased it was this one. It's the MK 5799 if you're interested.

As if that wasn't enough, my parents also got me a handbag and shoe combination from New Look. My mum claims it's because I knew I was getting the watch and she didn't want me to know what all my presents were. I love that woman. For some reason, I always opt for brown shoes, never black. So whenever it comes to anything remotely formal, be it an interview or similar, I always end up having to wear stupidly high shoes, the only black ones I have, and come home complaining of blisters and aching legs. I think my mum chose these with this in mind and I'm so pleased to own some black flats now, with a bag to match. They will be office staples. If ever I get a real job, that is. 

My brother has always been good at picking out things that I love. He thinks it's a fluke that every year he picks something I've secretly been pining over, but I beg to differ. We did live together for 20 years, he must have just picked up on my tastes. This year was no different, as he got me a beautiful Jo Malone cologne, in the scent, Blackberry & Bay. I've actually never smelt it before, and although everybody raves about it, I'm very picky with my perfumes, so this could have all gone horribly wrong. To my little bro's relief, I adore it. It's very fruity, and quite tart, and I think it will be absolutely perfect for Autumn. It will take pride of place on my scent shelf. 

At dinner on Saturday, my friends also gave me a few cheeky presents. They kept saying that they were only little things, but in my eyes, there's really no such thing as a little gift. If someone puts thought and effort into picking something out for you, it's a lovely gesture, and all of the gifts they got me were so perfectly suited to me that it made me feel absolutely wonderful.  

Firstly, I got an Essie duo, which contained the shades Bahama Mama and Chinchilly, which are perfect shades for the season. My friend was worried that they wouldn't be my cup of tea, but she got it so right - I love them! So much so that, the day before, I was dangerously close to buying Chinchilly for myself, but at the last minute, I put it down and picked up one from the Essie fall collection instead. Thank god for that, eh?

Speaking of cups of tea, as my friends are aware, I am a huge tea drinker. So they also got me an adorable little 'tea for one' set. I always get these as gifts for other people, but I've never owned one myself, so it was such a perfect gift idea. I can't stop using it, it's so beautiful. The pattern is perfect too - it has little woodland creatures all over it, which I love, and the colour scheme is so well suited to me, with a mixture of greens and purples, one of them being my favourite colour, the other being the colour of pretty much everything in my bedroom. I don't know whether my friend considered this when she bought it, or whether it was a subconscious thing. Either way, it's like it was made for me. 

Last but certainly not least, I got a beautiful little notebook, with the words 'Love and Luck' emblazoned on the front. The friend that got it for me thought that the words were fitting because it's what she wishes me all the time, and now I'll see it every time I write something down. Now, I don't know about you, but I thought that was the sweetest sentiment, it made my heart swell in my chest a little bit.

So that was my birthday - I had such a wonderful time, and everybody made me feel so loved. I love celebrating birthdays, even if they aren't my own. It's so great to do something a little bit different and to celebrate life every once in a while, so I can't wait for the next one to come knocking. Have you recently celebrated a birthday? Is yours coming up? What is your favourite way to spend it? Let me know!

S.

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