What do you do when you can't sleep? Read? Watch TV? Just a touch before 5am this morning, I took this picture of my NYE manicure. Madness!
I usually don't like glittery nails, but Chelsea Embankment from the recent Nail the Day TSV (classic gold glitter - no, really?) just spoke to me. I'm coming down with something and I'm severely sleep deprived, so I think I can be excused a frivolous nail polish choice to end the year with.
I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much. Often a good solid block of colour/glitter requires at least three to four coats to reach the desired look. However, if I had been a little more precise with the application I could have easily managed with one. Super dense and chock full of glitter particles: this maybe the best glitter polish I've ever owned.
Thankfully it doesn't feel particularly gritty on the nails - as that's a massive deal breaker for me! It looks so eye catching and sparkly. I can't stop staring at it. I know I won't look forward to removing it though. Glitter polish is notoriously difficult and time consuming to remove. Still, I'm happy with it for this evening.
What will your NYE manicure be? Are you going to be "blinging" in the New Year like me, or will you keep it classic?
As is the norm for Boxing Day (well, the norm for me anyway!) I popped along to Boots with The Boy, to dispose of my Christmas vouchers (Thank you Aunties, Cousin, MiL and FiL) and didn't I do well?
With my gift vouchers I managed to swoop in and collect:
Loverdose 50ml collection
Loverdose 30ml collection (and I got a bottle for Christmas from my Little Bro - I think I really love this stuff!)
Gucci Guilty
Guerlain Shalimar Initial
Stella McCartney Stella
Estee Lauder Sensuous
Then, by the power of Boots Advantage points ( I had just over 10300 points!) I treated myself to Elie Saab which I had really lusted after and Givenchy Very Irresistible L'Intense. I love the original, so anything that had intense in its name, well I'm bound to love that too. Actually, I really need to just say how impressed I am that Givenchy steered away from the body lotion/shower gel combo for their gift set and treated it's customers to a roller ball perfume (Hello perfume houses! Why do we not have more of these in the UK... The Americans have lots of options for roller ball scents! Sorry, rant over.) which I personally love and a little candle. Total winner for me. Big thumbs up for Givenchy.
So that is my perfume collection sorted out for the rest of the year. Did anyone find any other amazing bargains in the sales? I'll be out with my friend on Thursday, so I may unearth a few more bargains. Watch this space...
I've been and had a soak in the bath. I have my new jarmies on and I'm eagerly awaiting Santa's arrival. Each year I like to track him on http://www.noradsanta.org/en/ (Hi Florence - Italy, Santa is on his way!!) just to make sure the big man is still on track!
I love Christmas, but what if the holiday season is not a happy and joyful time for you. Who can you turn to if it all becomes too much? Kellie from Big Fashionista complied this list of useful contacts to make sure that you know that you are not alone, whatever the time of year.
I hope the Mothership takes note! John Lewis have an offer on their Philosophy Christmas gift sets - 25% off until Christmas Day. Mother, I'd like any of these... please!
On Black Friday, I entered Bath & Body Works with a little trepidation. I'm not sure what I was expecting. Perhaps a stampede? What I found was a whole host of lovely SA's and some seriously divine smellies.
As I walked in I was informed that if I spent $40 (don't dare me!) you could buy a VIP tote bag of selected goodies for $20 that retailed for over $125. Made great financial sense to me! So I began sniffing and debating my purchases - whilst worrying about the weight of our luggage on the flight home. The Boy told me not to worry, approved the choices and after a short while we headed to the till.
What did I get?
Dark Kiss Shower Gel
Dark Kiss Body Spray
Warm Vanilla Sugar Shower Gel
Warm Vanilla Sugar Body Spray
Black Raspberry Vanilla Shower Gel
Black Raspberry Vanilla Body Spray
Cozy Autumn Vanilla Shower Gel
Selection of Pocketbac's
Selection of Lip Glosses
I can't really tell you anything about these goodies yet, as I haven't put them through their paces. The only thing I can say is that they all smell lovely and we didn't exceed our luggage allowance, in fact we were nowhere near it... I seriously could have bought more. Watch out for individual reviews as I work my way through them.
So what was in the VIP Tote?
Be Enchanted Shower Gel
Be Enchanted Body Lotion
Be Enchanted Shimmer Mist
Mistletoe Kiss Foaming Soap (this is the only thing in use at the moment. Well it is almost Christmas!! PS it's lovely)
Mistletoe Kiss Pocketbac
Pocketbac Holder
Liplicious Cranberry Kiss Lip Gloss
Night-time Tea Body Lotion
Mini Water Lily/scrub
Pump
Two small make up bags
A total bargain for $20 I'm sure you will agree. I really hate that we cannot get this stuff over here. This is yet another American retailer (like Sephora) that used to have stores in London/UK, but not any more. Please come back to Blighty B&BW! I beg you!
I did quite a bit of beauty shopping whilst in Las Vegas. However, my shopping was positively minuscule compared to Annabella (aka Skin Scrubs) who massacred the beauty aisles and taught me how to shop the American way! Thank you my lovely friend Annabella, although I needed no encouragement!
Ladies, what will you be doing as the clock strikes midnight tonight? In fact, don't answer that!! I'll be in my PJ's tuned into QVC for the launch of the "Nail The Day" Nails Inc TSV and wow-wee it promises to be a fab one. I was a little on the fence about this and didn't know if I was going to go for it. Then The Boy very kindly offered to purchase for me and send it off to Father Christmas for delivery on the 25th December. Yay! How could I refuse?
The colours are lovely, wearable classics, glitters, over glaze and metallic's - oh my! There really is something for everyone here. If you feel a little bad about treating yourself so close to Christmas, perhaps you could repackage and make smaller gifts for a few lucky friends and family....while sneaking one or two out for yourself. Well, you've been a good girl haven't you?
Thank you for putting a big smile on my face today. I'm so glad that you are finally home to spend Christmas with your families. What great sport's you are - particularly the dude in the Geri Halliwell-esque Union Jack dress. Ha-ha.
Naughty Hannah (Snowdrop85) made me need this gorgeous Nails Inc collection when she blogged about her love for the Gossip Girl sets. I have to admit, I've never seen Gossip Girl. I'm not sure I would know it if I fell over it, but I loved the look of the polish.
I was so good, I didn't cave in and buy it before I went on holiday. But during one of my many, many visits to Sephora I noticed The Wyndham Collection sat on a shelf. Staring at me. Ah-ha I had birthday money, so I didn't feel bad about purchasing! This cost me $20 (roughly £12-£13 odd) for a set that retails in the UK for £20 (just over $31) - Bargain!
You begin by laying down the blackened teal base colour and add the special effects polish to take the manicure to a whole different level. Obviously, this polish is shown to best advantage in the sunlight (picture below). I personally think its gorgeous in any light! You'll have to excuse the haphazard application and slightly dehydrated cuticles, but I was on my holidays!!
What do you think about The Wyndham/Blair collection? Yay or nay?
Wednesdays. They're boring aren't they? I prefer to call Wednesdays 'hump day' (as in the hump of the week), from there on in you can take a slow slide into the weekend. Anyway, whatever you like to call Wednesdays, they are usually pretty uneventful. Not mine! Not Nic's! Not yesterday!
Yesterday, Nic and I were delighted and beyond amazed to learn that we have been named in Channel 4, 4Beauty Best Skincare Blog's. Surprised? So are we!!
We are both astonished and very honoured to appear on the 4Beauty website. We're still very much in our infancy as bloggers, so to be listed alongside established bloggers we admire and read on a daily basis, is quite simply amazing! Make sure you check out the other named bloggers on the list and also the 4Beauty Best Makeup Bloggers - many of which form part of my own daily blog reading routine. Congratulations everyone!
And finally thank you so much, 4Beauty. You made our day!
I caught the advert for Diesel Loverdose and was instantly turned off to this fragrance. I didn't like the advertising (cheesy), I hated the bottle (tacky), didn't like the name (don't you think it sounds like an STI?!). There was literally nothing on paper that I liked about this scent. Not one thing. And yet, when I caught sight of it in Boots I thought, I'm going to have to smell this to see how awful it is. I hope I'm not the only person that does that? I am, oh God. I'm stranger than I though!
Anyway, I gave it a sniff and to my horror, not only did I not hate it - I actually thought this is quite nice!!! I immediately left the perfume section, slightly disgusted with myself and continued to browse the store. I completed my purchases and as I walked to the exit I thought, I going to have to actually spray this on me and see how it wears. Against all my better judgement I picked up the twee purple heart shaped bottle, sprayed on my wrist and ran out of the door. Hoping no one had seen me.
Fast forward to my train journey home. I'm sat there, reading my Kindle and generally minding my own business, then I get a whiff of someone and think 'ooooh they smell nice'. This instantly jolts my memory to Loverdose (cringe!) and I begrudgingly gave myself a cursory sniff. To my shock and slight dismay - it's me! I'm the one that smells nice and the smell is bloody LOVERDOSE (double cringe)!!!!
I get home and walk through the door and into the arms of The Boy to a comment of 'mmmmmm you smell nice'. This is not an uncommon event in our house, I'm pleased to say *polishes halo*. So I offer up my wrist and ask, is it this? Which received the response of a deep sniff, a long guttural growl and more mmmmmmmmm-ing. 'Yes! What is it?' No no no no no! You cannot like it too! I tell him, how I hate the advert, the packaging and the name and he simply says 'Yeah, but if you like it. You're just going to have to get over it!' Okay, sulking now.
A few days later, in Boots again and I get a voucher that has £5 of selected perfumes. There front and centre is Loverdose. No, I will not buy this. I don't need it and I don't even like it that much. Except Loverdose does a number on me and for the next week, it's all I can think about
. It reminds me of something and I try in vain to think of what it is. Then it comes to me. Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise (A modern story of vanilla. The fragile vanilla orchid forms the perfect counterpoint to the oaky caramel-rich vanilla bourbon, spiced with star anise. Warm and enveloping.) - my favourite Jo Malone scent. Classy, elegant and not even playing the same sport as Loverdose (An addictive & unique fragrance with top notes of mandarin & star anise, followed by the two key notes of liquorice & rich vanilla followed by a base of sensual dry woods. The stunning Loverdose bottle is an edgy, multi-faceted heart with a dagger through the middle. It represents a beautiful but deadly weapon of seduction), let alone the same league! Or so I thought until I looked at the scent descriptions and realised that they were more similar than I first thought.
I meet up with Nic and we discuss it. She smells it and tells me I should just buy it. And so I do and it turns out I actually bloody love it!! I kind of hate myself for even typing that, but I do.
If you like Laura Geller make up, this would make a great Christmas gift. Or a lovely pressie for yourself. No idea of price yet, but you will be able to order from midnight.
Wow! The last time I posted one of my empties posts was August!?! And I was doing so well. Needless to say, I've still been using things up. Even if my posting has gone awry. Eek!!
Paco Rabanne Black XS EDP - I love this perfume. You know I don't subscribe to the usual "this is a day fragrance, this is a night fragrance" and so this pretty much became my go to scent for work. I know some people might keep this for evening, but not me. If I didn't know what I felt like wearing, I reached for this and thanks to my Little Bro's Christmas gift last year, I have another bottle waiting in the wings. Boots.com describes the scent as the essences of Pink peppercorn, Tamarind blossom and Cranberry explode with freshness, youth and sensuousness. Then the heart notes of Black violet, Hellebore Rose and Cacao flower enter into play, weaving their own magic. An overdose of Massoia wood in the base notes forms the basis of Black XS for Her, with patchouli and Tahitian vanilla underscoring the luscious, feminine and sexy side of this bewitching fragrance
La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution - This might be my second or third bottle of this. I really like this gentle cleansing solution for eyes, lips and face. It doesn't irritate it just cleans. I generally use this as a pre-cleanse prior to my Clarisonic. I will certainly repurchase when I head to Boots today.
Classics Nail Polish Remover - Cheap and cheerful. Nothing special about this remover.
Lacura Multi Active Serum - A product that received massive hype about it's anti-ageing benefits for the amazingly cheap price of £3.49! Did I notice any massive difference? No. Did I enjoy using the product? Yes and on that note, I'd buy it again if I am passing Aldi.
Revlon Colorstay foundation - I love this. I have back-ups. Enough said!
Ghost Deep Night EDT -This is another fragrance I really enjoy and I am sad to see the back of this, as I haven't got a back-up. Good news is, this is usually reduced in the post Christmas sales. Hopefully I can scoop it up as part of my Boxing Day Bargains! Boots.com saysGhost Deep Night is an oriental vanilla fragrance that is sensual and passionate. Ghost Deep Night takes its wearer into the world of feelings between day and night. Created for the woman who is not only strong, self-confident, and clever. But also sentimental and romantic as well. A freshly oriental composition. A fragrance made for love - and loving.
Original Source Vanilla and Strawberry shower gel - This smells like Strawberry milkshake, which I don't actually like, but do like the scent of! Weird I know. Nice enough, but I prefer the Mint shower gel versions from Original Source.
Lancome Juicy Tube in Marshmallow Electro - Probably my favourite lip gloss range and one of the nicest colours. It applies almost clear with a hint of shimmer with a totally divine scent (and taste!) Perfect for use alone or over another lip colour. These mini versions are also ideal for throwing into a pocket.
Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser - This came as a sample in a GlossyBox and I was excited to try the Murad brand. This is a really nice cleanser and when I need to repurchase cleanser (I'm working through a stack at the moment!) I'll certainly consider this one.
The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion - Nice enough but a little overpriced in my opinion. Have other scrubs that I prefer to use, so I don't think I'll repurchase this one.
Soap & Glory Mist You Madly - I quite like this body spray, but I prefer it's sister Glam-A-Lot.
Yes to Tomatoes Trouble Free Facial Wash - This is another cleanser that was okay, but didn't wow me - so I'm glad it's gone! As I mentioned earlier, I'm not in the market for cleanser at the moment. However, unlike the Murad cleanser, I don't think I'd repurchase this.
Back to earth with a bump (well, a swollen face and dental abscess - but I won't bore you with that!) from Viva Las Vegas. We flew in yesterday morning so we are still a bit all over the place, but we had a fantastic time. Sephora was hit quite severely, as was Bath and Body works. More of that to come...
Still can't quite believe that Christmas is just around the corner. I've got a horrendously busy few weeks coming up in work and I really could do with another holiday to get over Vegas. I guess I'll have to wait for Christmas for that.
Hope everyone is well? As my friend Sarah would say "Any news? Gossip? Scandal?"
