Dressed Up Nails| NOTD

Just a little quick post today to share some of my new nail polishes with you. As I mentioned earlier this month, as my new job is office based, as opposed to hospitality based, I now have the luxury of being bale to wear nail varnish! I know it’s only a small thing, but after working in hospitality for 7 years and only being able to paint my nails for nights out, to be able to take time and effort to create pretty nails is great.

Nail varnishes 3,4 and 5 are from a pack I bought this past weekend from TKMaxx. I’m not the biggest fan of this shop, as I don’t like the jumble sale atmosphere it has, however every now and again I take a look it to try and find some gems, and found a variety of 3 pack Nail Inc selections for only £11. Considering a single Nail Inc varnish can cost £11 I essentially got two free varnishes. Sometime soon I aim to buy some nail art pens and nails stamps so I can create more complex nail art looks. So keep your eyes pealed for more nail of the day posts.

Which on of my new polishes is your favourite? Do you have any recommendations for nail art pens and tools?

P.S Don’t forget to vote for me for the Best Newcomer at the Cosmo Blog Awards. Its would mean so much to me!

Just click the link and select my blog-Vote for Me :D

A Glimmer of Sunshine| OOTD

Dress- H&M

Shirt- Primark

Bag-Zara

Shoes- Stylist Pick

Well as many of my fellow bloggers are talking and twittering none stop about the wonderful sunny days they are having, I am sat very sourly in the rainy and cloudy Lake District where we have only had one day of sun this week, and that was last Saturday. So firstly, it you would like to send the sun up here, then please do so. Secondly my post is from that one sunny day, when I actually managed to sport my new wedges which were bought six weeks ago and not been worn since!

So last Saturday was spent in Newcastle, and it was my last day in my last ever student house! End of an era! I spent the weekend moving my boyfriends stuff to his new house and cleaning our old flat. So obviously wasn’t sporting anything special during the day, more like sweats and rubber gloves. However in the evening we went to go see Batman at the MetroCentre (best film ever) and went for burgers afterwards, and I wore the above outfit.

The dress you will have seen recently from my holiday pictures from Finland, as I wore it often then as its very versatile, however it creases really easily, which is quite annoying. The shirt I wear as a cardigan, it doesn’t actually provide any warmth but I think it adds something extra to an outfit. I paired it all with my new wedges from Stylist Pick, which are very high, but surprisingly comfortable, and my once trusty Zara bag. I say once trusty as it is now falling apart. I am hugely disappointed as the straps on my Zara bag are now snapping slowly but surely, but I suppose after spending only £20 on a bag I can’t expect it to last. Has anyone else had this problem with theirs? As know at the time there was an abundance of bloggers purchasing this bag. 

I hope you have enjoyed the sunshine where ever you are, and for however little it has stuck around. Did anyone else go see Batman over this past week?

Heavenly Heels| Bridesmaid shoes

Firstly I apologise, I actually bought these shoes last weekend, but have been too busy to post about my weekend shopping. Yet I am still going to share it with you as I am in love with my new shoes! More shoes I hear you say… these ones, like my Graduation ones are essential as they are my bridesmaid shoes.

Last weekend, I visited Manchester with my Mum (the Bride) and the other 3 bridesmaids, of which I am the youngest. My mum has the most random bunch of bridesmaids in the world; her daughter, her mum, and her two friends. Not only do our ages vary, so does our body shape and fashion sense, so buying our outfits has been difficult. We have managed to settle for the same dress, however for shoes we decided that we would each have a different pair of shoes so we could reflect our our style. The only necessary being that they had to be sparkly.

Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of everyone else shoes, but of course I have plenty of pictures of mine. I must of looked for a pair in every shop in Manchester, and the only pair I loved were a pair of £400 Jimmy Choos, which my budget did not stretch to! Finally I stumbled into Moda in Pelle and found the pair pictured; despite them not being a silver sparkle, more a grey shade, my mum approved. Although I think she just wanted me to settle upon a pair and not leave Manchester empty handed. They are very high, but I love them, I just prey I can last all day in them at the wedding.

While we were at Manchester we had afternoon tea in Marks and Spencers, which was an absolute bargain and very yummy. While in Marks and Spencer we found this display of DIY bra’s by their staff. They had been asked to decorate a bra for Breast Cancer, and the Bra with the highest votes wins; voting was done by putting money into a collection box. I voted fro the Percy Pug bra, as I think its simply amazing, but the whole idea was a great effort by the store to help raise money.

Overall we had a great girly day, and I am very happy with my purchase. I just can’t wait till September so I can finally wear them!

What do you think of my bridesmaid shoes? Do your prefer more traditional shoes for weddings of something fun?

Graduation OOTD and FOTD

Dress- Next

Bag- Ebay

Shoes-Christian Louboutin

I thought I would share a picture of my outfit from graduation day, seems it took for what seems like months to find a dress I was happy with. I don’t know about you, but as it was such a big day, and a day I knew would be remembered in pictures for the rest of my life I actually felt some pressure to make sure I had an outfit that was obviously stylish, but also timeless, formal and ladylike. I wanted a dress that was of colour, as opposed to just black, as I wanted it to pop from beneath my graduation gown, but I didn’t want anything too bright. I decided upon a cream colour, but then this white one from from Next was the winner for me, out all the dresses I tired on. It had built in underdress, so smoothed out any lumps and bumps, and was a perfect length for me. Looking back at it know, I think it makes me look a little top heavy, but that something I often suffer from due to my body shape.

For my shoes I originally planned to wear a bright blue pair from New Look, but once I received my gift from my Mum and her partner I was obviously going to wear the Louboutins. I am totally in love with them, and am ever so grateful. I think they go great with the outfit as they make it more fun than if they shoes were a more conservative nude or black pair.

I chose a brown bag as knew it was going to be difficult to find a bag to perfectly match the colour of my originally planned shoes. In hindsight I recommend to anyone who is graduating , wear a clutch bag as opposed to a shoulder bag, as it was difficult to wear it over my robe when wandering around, and ended up giving it to my boyfriend to carry.

What did you wear for your graduation day? Something formal or something fun?

What a Week| Cosmo Blog Awards

What a week I have had! Not even week, I have been quite lucky these past few months, with my degree, job and now this. As you probably can guess from this posts title and my cheery face in these pictures, I have had the huge honour of being shortlisted for this years Cosmopolitan and Next’s Best Newcomer Blog Award. I received the email on Monday night when I came home from work, and seriously thought it was a joke. It wasn’t until I checked the email on my desktop that it actually believed it was real. To say I was a surprised was an understatement, I was, and still am in complete shock, so much so I burst into tears when I found out… sad I know!

It really is such a huge compliment to me and my little blog, and I thank everyone of you who nominated me. I really just want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who reads my blog. In particular my lovely followers who have supported me and contributed to my blog over the past 9 months. As much as I blog for my own satisfaction, it really makes it more fun when I know that others have enjoyed my posts and pictures. I would also like to thank my followers on Twitter; I feel like I have made many friends on both sites.

However now the hard work begins. I was unsure to whether to beg for your votes, but it seems many others are, so I may as well. If you enjoy my blog, and my ramblings then please if you could click on the link below and vote for me it would mean the world.

Congratulations to all others who have been nominated, I look forward to meeting you all at the Award Ceremony… I’m already planning my outfit!

Click here to vote for me :D

And again, many thanks!

Mum and Me and the Deep Sea (Clay Mask)

I was contacted by Montagne Jeunesse the other day and asked if I would be willing to sample their new product. As it is a company who I love, and have been using since I was a little girl, I jumped at the chance (again). I was sent two of their new Clay Spa masks in a very large but lovely box, and as there was two masks I asked my mum to help review the products for me. So after briefing her on her task we had lots of fun; as the pictures show, trying these new masks.

These masks are said to be new and ground-breaking due to the specially sourced clays and natural bamboo fabric used. The biggest selling poitn being that they deliver the traditional deep cleaning experienced with clay mask,but you don’t have the mess.The masks are available to buy for £1.49 both online Here, from Boots (mid-August) and from Asda (September). These masks, as with all their products are vegetarian-approved, made from natural ingredients and paraben-free. It is one of the things that I admire about the company, that they have an ethos for (in the own words) ‘The Conservation of Energy, Protection of animals and the Environment.’

Now on to the fun bit, the review! I am going to review the Glacial Clay Spa, and my mum is going to review the Dead Sea Mud Spa.

Me- Glacial Clay Spa

Montagne Jeunesse claim that this mask rehydrates, clears pores and removes impurities. The skin will be soothed, protected and healed.

I didn’t really know what to expect with the mask, but it wasn’t these funny looking gimp masks that’s for sure. I think my mum and I ended up channelling Hannibal Lector in a few of these shots. But I suppose the mask isn’t designed to look good,but instead do good; which is what it did. I’m not completely sold on the fabric mask, as love to pile clay masked onto my skin and wait for them to dry and crack, but I can see the benefits, as cleaning it off was a breeze. I literally splashed my face with water a couple of times and it was clean. My skin was left incredibly soft and smooth, and my  pores looked cleaner and smaller. Overall it did as it claimed the product would.

Mum- Dead Sea Mud Spa

Motagne Jeunesse claim that this mask invigorates, deep cleans and draws out impurities, while unblocking pores and nourishing the skin. It leaves skin nourished, moisturised and looking youthful.

Cat asked me to try one of these masks so I picked the Dead Sea Mud one as its supposed to leave skin nourished, moisturised and youthful. I was looking forward to the youthful bit! The fabric style was easier to put on and to take off, not as much mess as the usual mud/clay masks you smear all aver the place but its obviously one size fits all and I found mine was rather on the large size for my face and took some manoeuvring to get it to fit properly. Apart from this it did leave my skin clean and fresh and beautifully soft and pores were clearer and less visible. Must say, pleasantly surprised and pleased with this product.

What do you think of the Motagne Jeunesse products? Have you tired this one?

Graduate Girl| My Graduation

Those of you who follow me on Twitter will know that I now have letters after my name and am a fully fledged graduate. I graduated from Northumbria University with an Upper Second Class degree in International Business Management; it took me long enough! I am very pleased to have graduated and have some very happy and sad memories from the years I spent studying both in Newcastle and France. I seem to have gone through it all with my studies, so am very relieved to be finished with this stage of my life.

I had a great day, and was a very lucky girl thanks to my ever so generous family. I received so many lovely things; seen above. I was never expecting such great gifts, but cherish every single one, and am happy that I can keep them all as mementos of my special day. I received various Pandora charms, vouchers, the biggest bunch of flowers ever, a Michael Kors rose gold watch, and my first ever pair of Louboutins! I am especially excited about my watch as I have wanted one ever since I first saw one; and obviously over the moon with my Louboutins. I had been joking for months saying I only wanted to graduate wearing a pair of Louboutins, but never in a million years expected to receive a pair.

The day of my graduation seems like such a whirl wind now, I don’t even remember certain things as there was so much to take in. It was a very stressful and overwhelming day, but I will run you through the general idea of my day.

My ceremony started in the morning at 10.30 am, so it was an early morning for me to make sure I was looking my best for it! After my ceremony I met various members of my family for photos, we then all had refreshments of Bucks Fizz and Cupcakes.  I then had professional pictures taken and made a quick stop back at my flat to have a cup of tea and rest; it was an extremely tiring day. I went for Lunch/Dinner in the afternoon at Gustos; one of my favourite restaurants on the Quayside in Newcastle. Dinner and drinks were gorgeous, as always, and it was great to sit down and take in the day as it went by vey quickly. After dinner my family left to travel back home, and my boyfriend took me to Malmasion to toast my achievement with some Champers. We spent some time there relaxing and celebrating then retired home.

Overall I had a lovely day, was lucky to celebrate it with family who spoilt me rotten; and both I and them are proud of my achievement.

I hope my followers and reader who have graduated this year enjoy their special day also.

What It That? Heart Attack or Stroke?

It’s a blood clot that lodges in arteries and blocks your oxygen to the heart or brain.

Yield this thanks to a actuality. Aging causes blood sludging. Righteous pronto, if you are ended age 35, your blood is birth to sludge or inspire thicker. Oh, you don’t touch part therefrom why misgiving about a blood clot from thick blood until you hold a heart assailing or stroke. Thence guess what? Your doctor puts you on a blood thinner drug. Veritable will move in addition damage than the blood clot.

You wouldn’t imagine of not understanding precaution continuation on your car. More it’s a actuality of physiology that your blood is sludging whence you urgency protection continuation. I’m not speech about an celebration, but preventing an function.

Trained is a familiar, potent enzyme called nattokinase or natto. Natto is why the Japanese don’t keep heart attacks. They place their blood thin to avoid clots. Isn’t that about for uncomplicated since sincere gets?

Natto does indeed dissolve clots that have under consideration formed. Aye, those clots you silently own homestead up honorable nowadays.

So you sway twofold the benefits. You thin your blood hidden a drug and dissolve the clot that may contemporary impersonate efficient.

This is more desirable than science and drugs item tempo to deter that dread heart inroad or stroke. Natto competes with any expensive clot - busting drug.

So we can clean out the plaque in our arteries with oral chelation containing the nutrient EDTA and keep our blood thin to avoid a clot and a heart attack or stroke. Taking this supplement to prevent and fight heart disease is a no - brainer. Of course, it won’t help the heart disease industry.

Fuchsia Flowers| Easy Nail Art| NOTD

So as you may know, seems I don’t actually stop going on about it… I have a new job! Yes I am one of the lucky graduates that has managed to swindle herself a job. With my new job being office based I now am able to give a crap about my appearance… previously working in hospitality hindered my addiction to beauty products, as I was unable to wear lots of makeup or god forbid have painted nails!

As there exists no limits to my beauty regime, I am now completely addicted to nail varnish again! I have even attempted nail art for the first time, just to celebrate my new pretty nails. the inspiration came from Googling nail art, and after browsing some pictures, I picked an idea that I reckoned I could attempt with my limited resources.

My limited resources consisted of multiple colours of nail varnishes and Kirby grips. I am yet to buy nail art pens, but had read on someone’s blog that a similar effect can be done by dipping Kirby grips into nail varnish; and that's what I did.

To achieve this look I chose OPI Tickle My France-y as the base colour and applied two coats of this. To created the flowers I picked OPI Strawberry Margarita and simply dotted this in a round shape 5 times, then used OPI Alpine Snow for the centre of the flower, which I dotted in once. I then reversed the bright pink and white shade to create other flowers.

The final result is not the cleanest, some flowers are better than others, but I think for a first attempt I did well. Especially considering this look was created by using only one Kirby grip.

Has anyone else tried this technique at nail art? What tools would you recommend for a beginner?

Fun in Finland

Well this post is a little bit late, seems I went on holiday a month ago, but I wanted to share my trip with you lovely ladies anyways.

As many of you know, I was lucky enough to travel Finland and Lapland at the beginning of June. Many ask why Finland? We decided to go to Finland as we have friends there who we studied with while we were in France, so it was an opportunity to meet up with them. I went with my two friends from university, and had a great time.

We managed to travel and discover 1158 miles of Finland in 10 days, so we definitely got around a lot! The country itself is beautiful and different to what I expected, as at the time I was unaware that 85% of the country is covered with forests, and there are 187,888 lakes in the country! I’m not going to bore you with every detail of my trip but will just share my highlights in order of their occurrence;

• Realising upon arrival that we didn’t know a single word of Finnish (we picked it up on the way).
• Paying 36 euros for a bottle of wine, and 8 euros for a cider… expensive!
• Going on a boat trip around the Islands of Helsinki and a bird pooing on my friend… cruel but funny.
• Eating street food from a market in Helsinki, and not getting food poisoning.
• Taking lots of pictures of the famous Cathedral in Turku, to then realise it was just a church.
• Eating the best burger of my life on one of the many boat bars in Turku.
• Having a bbq with a Finnish family and eating smores.
• Sharing my sleeper cabin on the night train with an old Finnish lady who kept shouting at me in Finnish.
• Staying in a log cabin with its own private sauna.
• Whitewater rafting in the Midnight Sun… unbelievably beautiful and fun!
• Trecking in the Lapland hills, unfortunately not seeing a reindeer.
• Meeting the real life Santa Claus at the Arctic Circle! (He even ho ho’d)
• Having to bribe the conductor on the night train back to Helsinki so he wouldn’t kick us off the train. Then getting off a stop too early!
• Seeing Sting perform at a festival in Helsinki.
• My boy send a bottle of champers to our hotel room to celebrate our trip.

So as you can see, I had a very busy 10 days, am crammed a lot in, but it was a once in a lifetime trip!

Where has been the most unusual and interesting country you have visited?