OK, so I'm well and truly feeling festive! The wreaths are on the doors and a few decorations have found themselves being dotted about the house. The tree is arriving on Saturday, a prospect that I am ridiculously excited about, it takes me hours to decorate but when I'm done I spend more time gazing at it that I do the telly.

My food delivery has been booked for the 23rd and we've got our Christmas diary sorted. The only thing I haven't done is give any thought to what I'm going to wear but not matter what I'll be shopping my wardrobe and making sure my waistband is forgiving enough for a roast with all the trimmings.

I just need to buy Christmas cards, write, and post them... when's the last posting day?

I first saw this on Pinterest and decided to apply it to my Christmas wish list. I think it's meant for children, but hey what the heck!





Benefit Majorette. I first saw this on Really Ree and even tweeted that I'd keep an eye out and buy it when it hit the shelves. Months later I still haven't got one. But I still want one.



Bosch Sander. OK, so I doubt you'll see this pop up on many bloggers wish lists but I am so sick of sanding by hand. Bring. It. On.




Nike Rosherun Winter Black Trainers. There is just something so, so lovely about these. I'm slowly turning into a flat shoes kinda girl - what's happening to me!




Amy Poulter, Yes Please. I'm dying to read this (love her!) but as I have a huge dislike of hardback books (reading books not beautiful coffee table type books), I'm happy to wait until it comes out in paperback. Just no spoilers 'k?

What's on your Christmas wish list?

My August challenge has made me think about not just the clothes I have languishing in the back of my wardrobe but all the things I have that I rarely use. Take my make up drawer for example - it's full of stuff and yet I use the same items day in, day out.

So, taking a leaf out of Lauren's book I decided to do a weekly make up, shake up to mix things up a bit. Although so far I haven't been organised enough to post weeky. Oops.


Firstly, I have to say that there are some items that I just could not do without - eyelash curlers, obviously. Elf Eyelid Primer (introduced to me by Lauren), Avon Supermagnify mascara, the only thing that works on my lower lashes. Benefit Erase Paste, a recent find but one I instantly fell in love with! And Body Shop Brow and Liner Kit, I searched high and low for a decent eyebrow kit and this is by far the best and the only one that doesn't leave me with orange brows. These will remain in my make up bag no. matter. what.


Week One
Elf Brightening Eye Colour in Brownstone, great colours, my favourite being the maroon colour which I used as an eyeliner quite a lot. I hate the eyeshadow applicators that come with it. They're hard and scratchy. Yuck.

Boots No7 Lash Adapt mascara, I'm on my second tube of this. It's fab, I was absolutely certain that I'd reviewed this, I haven't but I meant to! I have fine, stubborn lashes but this stuff works a treat and the claim that you can apply several coats to build up fullness and length is true, although seven layers (so they say) is pushing it for me.

Eyeko Skinny eyeliner in black, I received this in a Glossybox some time ago. I really like the formula and it stays put but it didn't fit in my make up bag (it was too long) so it got thrown in the drawer. However, my larger make up bag and I are now loving it.

Becca Beach Tint for cheeks and lips in watermelon, another Glossybox item. It smells divine. I only use it on my cheeks for a pinch of colour, it tastes a little odd and doesn't really last as a lip colour. I don't normally bother with blush but this is really nice.

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker XL Extreme Plump XL Lip Plumping Gloss I've had this for ages, it's nearing the end. It's great stuff, lasts for ages, gives a fuller lip (don't expect miracles though it's plumping not totally transformative), it leaves lips soft and tastes yummy. I'd happily purchase this again, as soon as I've used up all the other lip glosses in my possession, which could take a while. I don't use lip gloss on a daily basis so I don't know why I have so many.

Love

My final instalment of Flying Saucer's May Challenge, albeit rather late! A bit of a long one and lots of pics of me in it (sorry - overload! I tried to keep them to a minimum).

See the others here, here and here.

21st. Something that is your favourite brand
This begs the question what is my favourite brand? Avon has to be up there, or Essie - a new discovery for me - but for sheer longevity alone I'd have to say Olay (60 years old this year and still looking fabulous). I've used their moisturisers for as long as I can remember and recently Really Ree introduced me to Olay's Regenerist Wrinkle Relaxing Complex. It's utterly divine, I'm already on my second pot. Read Ree's review here.

22nd. A piece of clothing or jewellry that was a gift
My Pandora bracelets. All of these charms have been given to me, the cute little giraffe was a gift from my brother after I returned from Kenya with a huge giraffe obsession (if you ever get the chance to visit the Giraffe Centre in Kenya, take it!). My absolute favourite is the little house that OH gave me after we moved into our new home lat year.



23rd. Something from your favourite store
H&M is my go-to store especially for basics, but I also love their scarves. I have a bit of a 'thing' for scarves and the majority of my collection originates from here. This is my latest addition.



24th. The item that brings all the boys to the yard
Haha! I'm really not sure what that even means (showing my age?). OH likes this outfit - does this count?



25th. A totally YOU outfit.
Jeans, bag, big-ish necklace or arm party, slouchy top, scarf or ballet flats...



26th. What's in your bag
You can check this out on What's in My Handbag. Great site - loads of fun and a great way to find new beauty products too! If you'd like to join the site click here.



27th. Inspired by your style icon
I don't think my inspiration needs any introduction here...



28th. Something everyone has now
Stumped. Nobody owns the same thing as everyone else...

29th. Face of the day
This is the kit that I use to create my everyday face. The Benefit Porefessional is a magazine freebie but I'll definitely be purchasing a full size tube in the near future. The eyeshadow palette I have had for ages (I'm a little embarrassed to show it) but I love it, well one of the colours anyway! The Bodyshop compact is for brows - the first one I have found that doesn't make my brows look orange.



30th. Pretty hair
My hair has never felt prettier than on my friend's wedding day, I was her bridesmaid and I wore frangipani in my hair.



31st. The thing you're obsessed with at the moment!
This can change on a daily basis! When I was supposed to write this post I'm certain that it would have been something different but right now I'm in love with these. I found these via A Daisy Chain Dream - thanks Laura! (And just in case anyone is interested, I'm a 5.5 and my birthday is at the end of August).


Hope you have a great weekend
Love

I can't believe I've been blogging for a year now, at the beginning I thought it would be something that I'd tire of and forget about. But I love it and am more passionate about it than ever.

Looking back over my posts has been fun, so I thought I'd share my (random) observations about year one...

This nail varnish needs to be worn more (Nails Inc. Palace Garden Terrace)

as does this one (Ciate´Paint Pots Dangerous Affair)...

Tights are not the enemy.
I have well and truly conquered my fear of hosiery, with some encouraging words from Laura and Amanda (Thanks Ladies!), I now have quite a collection which has opened up my wardrobe options considerably. Bring on the cold weather!

These will definitely be added to my collection this year...

Discovered...
Through blogs I read regularly I have discovered Cherry & Joy, Stolen Thunder and Regal Rose. Three fantastic places to discover cute, sassy jewellery.

Through blogging and tweeting, I have happened upon, and now never want to be without, the following: 

Lee Stafford Treatment for Hair That Never Grows Past a Certain Length
I.Love.This. my review is here.

Benefit's They're Real Mascara
I.Love.This.Too. review here, but I have to add that the results I get with this improve the more I use it.

Avon MagiX Face Perfector
This is a fab product, which is why it made it into my giveaway. Smooth it over moisturiser and use it with or instead of foundation for a smooth, flawless finish.


I'm slowly defining my style...
My Three Little Words which, since posting, I have changed my mind about. Casual has become relaxed. Whilst they are similar there is a distinction, albeit a subtle one. I'll be looking at this in future posts.

Anything strapless should stay in the store...
I love the look but it's just wrong for me and my shoulders. I vow never to contemplate strapless again, I shall send strapless to reside with halter necks in the dungeon of thou-shall-not-be-worn. Long live the V neck!

No one is safe from a bad hair day...
This fringe should never have been allowed to leave the house (let alone be posted on the world wide web!).

I love a challenge...
In a year I have worn four tops different ways for four weeks, worn nothing but 12 pieces for 40 days and worn my entire wardrobe one piece at a time. I find that a challenge really makes me think about what I am wearing and as a result I have made my wardrobe work harder for me and have discovered outfits that would have otherwise never come to light. I'm already planning the next challenge.

So, that's year one. Which bits have you enjoyed the most? I'd love to know...
Love

'They're Real! lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts and separates'

Last week I arrived home to find the newest addition to the Benefit family - They're Real - beyond belief mascara - waiting for me.

Having watched a YouTube video praising it, I knew I had to try it. I placed my order and waited patiently (I wasn't so excited that I'd pay for next day delivery!).


The wand has a spiked end which is meant to be used for getting into those tricky corners and for adding extra curl and separation. To apply you're meant to 'hold the wand vertically and wiggle side to side, base to tip' and then to 'turn wand vertically and stroke upward to curl and separate. Define outer lashes with tip to create a doe-eyed look'.

You can see from the photographs below that it gave my eyes good definition. The top pic shows one eye sans mascara - proof that my lashes really are quite pathetic in their natural state! I agree that the result doesn't give me the most dramatic of lashes but considering the short, fine, impossible excuse for lashes I have to work with I think the result is pretty good.


I used my faithful Avon SuperMagnify Mascara for my lower lashes as the brush is slim with short bristles - I'm yet to find anything more perfect, it doesn't clump or smudge and adds just the right amount of product.


Now, They're Real isn't cheap. It's £18.50 a pop but the lady in the YouTube video tells me that it has a shelf life of six months rather than the normal three - not that I can find this documented anywhere. I might have to investigate and ask at the Benefit counter in my local Debenhams.

If this is a little steep then I can recommend LOreal Lash Architect Mascara 4D which is slightly less at £10.99 and gives good results.

My Day 15 WIA outfit meant that I cheated (just a little) by wearing footless tights (which aren't counted in the challenge) and a long shirt (I just wasn't in the mood for a dress or a skirt y'know?) and I dug out this clutch bag that I bought ages ago but have never used. I'm keeping this outfit, I don't know if it was the lashes, the weather, the fact that it was a Friday but I felt fabulous!


What is guaranteed to make you feel fab?

Hope you've had a great weekend