Handbags and Pom poms! FT @riverisland

Admittedly, like many girls, I have a bit of a bag problem. 

I just love bags ..totes, satchels, shoppers you name it I love it! Which is why usually I tend not to post about my bag collection as I just buy so many and wouldn't want to clog up my blog with them! 

...but my most recent bag purchase is an exception..

I have always particularly loved River Island bags which their unique designs, bold patterns and on point style but on this occasion, in my eyes, they have really out done themselves!

I love every aspect of this nude structured Pom Pom bag - from the gorgeous nude shade used to the perfect size and shape. Oh and if you hadn't noticed ..the perfect pink Pom Pom!!

Admittedly this was what really sold it to me, it's always good to have something a little different and that stands out from the crowd and this bag certainly does that! 

I have had an unbelievable amount of comments about it, which goes to show I'm not the only crazy bag lady out there! 

Thanks for reading, dolls xxx

Bag - River Island, £42

My Bandage Dress Favs! | OOTD

Hello dolls!

Just a quick one today to share one of my new favourite brands with you all!

Sometimes I find it can be hard to find flattering, figure hugging dresses/outfits that don't accentuate all the wrong places. Even though I may not be the biggest girl I'm not the smallest either ..I was blessed (cursed?) with big boobs, hips and bum so tight clothing can sometimes look quite unflattering on me which makes me sad as I'm a sucker for bandage/bodycon dresses and co-ords.

After almost giving up hope in finding a bandage outfit I felt made me look good, I came across My Bandage Dress on Instagram. After reading good reviews from happy customers I paid their website a visit.

I found the My Bandage Dress website to have a wide variety of styles and colours so I felt spoiled for choice. I finally settled on a white Bianca skirt even though I could have happily ordered one of everything from the site!

When it arrived I couldn't get it on quick enough! And to my surprise it fit PERFECTLY! Of course then I had to purchase the matching Milly crop top to complete the outfit which also fit beautifully!

The sizing can be a tad confusing as it's in XS/S/M/L rather than numbers. Just for reference I ordered S in both the skirt and top as I'm normally an 8 and these both fit fine.

I really cannot recommend MBD enough. So much so I've already ordered a second Bianca skirt!

Bianca skirt in white S £24.99
Milly crop top in white S £21.99

Both from www.mybandagedress.com

xxx

Mermaid stencil nails

Recently I seem to have developed an uncontrollable love for all things mermaid!

Mermaid hair, mermaid nails ..literally everything!

I had seen some really pretty mermaid nails on Instagram and decided to have a go myself.

I chose to use stencils from a company called Nail Mail rather than try and paint on the scales myself with a metallic gold base coat and different shades of purples (including some glitter of course.

I painted my nails with one coat of the metallic gold (Barry M) the painted a clear coat over the top then left to dry for 15 minutes - this step is essential to stop the stencil pulling off the base coat later on.

I then applied the stencil to all nails on one hand (it helps if you have quite narrow nails to cute the stencil in half that way you have less waste meaning you have stencil left over for next time!) I decided to leave a feature nail plain gold.

I used 4 different purple shades over the stencils - Barry M purple glitter, China glaze in a dark pink shade and lilac shade and OPI in Significant Other Colour. I used a small sponge and tweezers to dab on each colour to give a slight mottled effect rather than just using on solid colour.

I found it is better to do one nail at a time then peel the stencil off straight away while the paint it is still wet to avoid the paint drying and the stencil pulling off some of the paint potentially ruining the effect.

Finish with a nice shiny clear top coat and voila ..perfect mermaid nails!

You can use literally any combination of colours to create this effect, the possibilities really are endless!

Stencils - £3.95 from Nail Mail
Midi rings - £3 for set of 3 Primark

Younique 3D fibre mascara - does it actually work?

Does the Younique 3D fibre mascara actually work? That is the question everyone is asking - I have shared my experience with the product to help answer this question and any other questions you may have....

Anyone that has read my Trich post from a few months back will know that getting amazingly long and thick lashes is a bit of a challenge for me.

I'm happy to say that over the past month or so my Trich has died down and allowed me to grow my eyelashes back but they are still short and a long way off the huge, fluttering eyelashes I would love.

So I did some research on different mascaras/serums that would give me the results I longed for but many of them were pricey with no proven results. I started wearing false eyelashes every day in hopes that my eyelashes would look normal again but let's be honest putting fake eyelashes on every morning for work when you're still half asleep is no easy task so one day when I was scrolling though twitter I had seen the Younique 3D fibrelash mascara and thought I would give it a go!

At first I found it hard to get find honest reviews of the product as everyone who was posting reviews turned out to be a Younique presenter! So I thought to help other girls out there like me or just anyone wanting to try the product in general I would write an honest review.

The product features two different tubes in a cute little case - one is the tiny black fibres used to add length to lashes and black glue used for sticking fibres to the lashes.
First of all can I just make it clear that at first creating amazingly long lashes is not as easy as it's made out to be, this really is a case of practice makes perfect but doesn't mean it can't be done!
The black glue applicator looks like and can be applied like a normal mascara then the little fluffy fibres are brushed onto the glued lashes - here are some useful tips for getting perfect luscious lashes:

- The glue dries extremely quickly so ensure you have the fibres tube already unscrewed and ready to use as soon as you have applied glue, this also helps avoid clumps.

- Trying to glue/brush on fibres to your all of your lashes on one eye can be messy and create clumpy lashes that are stuck together. Work on a few eyelashes at a time to keep lashes separated and looking longer.

- Once a row on lashes has been glued and the fibres added apply a layer of mascara, even if you're planning on adding another layer, to prevent rogue fibres falling into your eyes - they are extremely irritating and almost impossible to get out!

- When applying mascara wait at least 2 minutes to make sure the glue and fibres are dry to stop the mascara pulling the fibres back off. Apply mascara lightly to ensure fibres aren't pulled off or moved.

- Use tweezers to delicately separate any lashes stuck together. Do this while the glue is still relatively wet.

- When filling in areas with shorter lashes (I have to do this a lot) focus on those areas first until they reach the length of the normal lashes then start to apply the glue/fibres in sections as normal.

- To achieve the best results I personally use at least 2/3 coats of glue/fibres/mascara (in that order) for beautifully long lashes. I find any more that this can cause lashes to touch under my brows and cause the lashes to bend.

- Have patience! It may seem a tad difficult at first but it does get easier with every use!

Over all once I had practised the art if applying the 3D mascara I am happy to say it's not an over hyped product that fails to deliver and that it REALLY DOES WORK! I will definitely continue to use this product in the future and would recommend to any girl looking to achieve long, natural looking lashes.

I hope I have been able to answer your questions about the 3D mascara but if you have any other questions please don't hesitate to ask :)

Thanks for reading xx

OOTD | Weekend Chic

Weekends for most of us mean chilling, shopping and last minute plans with friends, but how do you plan an outfit for unknown plans?

Now that spring is making an appearance and those cold, dark days are a thing of the past us girls can finally break open our spring wardrobes with a mix of pastel and nude shades and a hint of monochrome.

For my spring weekend look I have chosen a casual monochrome look that can be dressed up or down – especially handy for last minute plans.

Jeans are a staple of any wardrobe, are versatile and can be dressed up or down to suit an occasion. I chose Miss Selfridge high waisted acid wash jeans for this look.

Cami tops are also extremely versatile and are perfect for a ‘last minute’ outfit. I actually own about 15 different cami’s in a range of colours because I just love how adaptable they are, whether wearing with jeans for an everyday look or with a pencil skirt and strappy heels for a sophisticated evening look.

Blazers are great for a slightly dressy everyday style or a day-to-night look. They make a great alternative to a coat or cardigan and are perfect for spring days and summer evenings when it gets a tad chilly.
As for shoes a may be a little biased here – I have a boots obsession so all I tend to wear is boots as I have so many pairs I can always find a pair to match my outfits. I would definitely recommend investing in some cute boots for spring.

Accessories can make or break an outfit. No accessories can make an outfit look plain and lacking personality and too many can make an outfit look like it’s been in a bitch fight with Claire’s Accessories (although don’t get me wrong Claire’s Accessories has some cute stuff!) I added a classic monochrome checked scarf to my outfit to compliment the black cami and white blazer as well as my fav Michael Kors rose gold watch and a large black handbag to keep my essentials (basically everything but the kitchen sink) in.

So there you have it – my take on a classic weekend ensemble!

Jeans: Miss Selfridge acid wash high waisted jeans £40
Cami Top: Boohoo £15
Blazer: Definitions for Very £35
Boots: Primark £18
Scarf: Primark £6
Bag: River Island £45

Have a great weekend dolls! <3

How to: Easy Mermaid Ombré Nails

First I must apologise for neglecting my blog and breaking my new years resolution to post more often! I have been super busy with everything including celebrating my 22nd birthday ..old I know!

Anyway, as you may know having pretty nails is a must for me and I'm always looking for new things to try out - this time I've braved ombre nails!

Ombre nails are easier than you may think, all you really need is a flat, small sponge, 2-3 different colour nail varnishes, a clear top coat and nail varnish remover for if things get messy. I chose to use a triangle make up sponge (the cheap ones you can get from Superdrug). The pink shade is China Glaze Something Sweet, the lilac shade is China Glaze In A Lily Bit and the blue is from Primark's P.S beauty range. I also added OPI Significant Other Colour mixed with a little bit of clear topcoat to give the nails a mermaid-y shimmer as I love anything mermaid related!

So to create these ombre mermaid nails make sure your nails are free of any other nail varnish and are clean and dry. Apply a clear base coat followed by a coat of Something Sweet over the whole nail to brighten the other colours when applied as it is the lightest colour.
Brush a small amount of each colour onto the sponge (as shown in the picture) and quickly dab across each nail until the paint will no longer transfer as it is dry, wait for this layer to partially dry and repeat the process of painting a strip of each colour onto the sponge and dab onto each nail until the desired colour is reached. Once you are totally happy with the colour add a little topcoat to give your nails a bit of protection and some extra shine! Alternatively you can also use a matte topcoat for a bold,chalky effect.

When dabbing the colour onto each nail ensure you don't put to much pressure on to the sponge, as if the paint is still wet it may remove paint that is already on the nail. Also make sure your not dabbing the same part of the sponge on to the same part of the nail each time as the nail may look more stripy than gradient . Obviously the ombre technique takes a bit of perfecting with trial and error to perfect, but experimenting is part of the fun.

Creating ombre nails can be a little messy when using a sponge, to get to the very edge of each nail you are bound to get some paint on your fingers, this can easily be removed with a cotton bud and nail varnish remover for a flawless finish.

There are so many colour combinations that can be used for ombre designs, the possibilities really are endless.

I hope this has given you guys a little help with creating your own ombre styles!

China Glaze Something Sweet & In A Lily Bit: Both £5.75 from eBay
PS Blue Nail Paint: £1 from Primark
OPI Significant Other Colour: £6 from a wholesaler but can be found on eBay and Amazon
  

PD Neon Pink Brandi Heels

PD Neon Pink Brandi Heels

I think by now it's pretty clear pink is my absolute favourite colour and what better way to bring in the spring season than with a beautiful pair of pink shoes!

A little eager I know as it's still freezing but as a wise women once said ..you can never have to many shoes!

As the bright spring tones have started gracing the high street and online stores the temptation to start building your spring/summer wardrobe can be all to much for us girls!

My first spring purchase has come from none other than my fav online shoe store Public Desire!

The 'Brandi' shoe is a versatile style that comes in almost every colour imaginable! I chose the noen pink shade to chase away the winter blues!

The heel height is 6 inches with a platform height of 2 inches - if heels are your thing this height should be a walk in the park! And for all you high heel nuns they really don't feel as high and uncomfortable as they may sound!

These gorj heels can be worn dressed up on a night out or with jeans for a more casual look. Team with pink accessories for a perfect spring look.

Brandi neon pink heels £27.99  from publicdesire.co.uk

My New Years Resolutions 2015

My New Years Resolutions 2015

So I never normally do the whole 'Resolutions' thing as all I ever seem to see is other people fail with theirs but after having not the best of years in 2014 I thought maybe it would give me some positivity and something to aim for!

After thinking about this for a good few days I have decided on 2 ..enough to keep me occupied but not too many that I lose the will to live!

My first resolution is to blog more! Having been an absolute fail on the amount of blog posts I've done in December (I only posted twice the whole month) and never posting as regularly as I would like to I have made this my number one resolution and I intend to stick to it as I have 10000 things to blog about! (Not literally but it feels that way)

My second resolution is to get fit. I know literally everyone says this every New Years and it gets very boring very quickly with 99% of these people are pigging out on McD's in front of the TV after two days as they have no motivation.
I have wanted to take up healthy eating and regular gym trips for over a month now but let's be honest ..Christmas is the worst time to do this! With constant parties, dinners and work do's it's near impossible to keep to a clean diet and find the time to exercise, so what better time to start than New Years! I will also be back on the Bootea weight loss teas as these were such a big success for me the first time! (Please see previous posts for details!)

I will post updates on my fitness challenge alongside my second Bootea experience and of course keep the blog posts on beauty and fashion coming too!

Wish me luck!

#PrimarkSpring15

The last few days have been freezing in England and there's only so many ways to cheer a girl up (that doesn't involve a small fortune) and one of those is looking at next years spring collections!

My favourite collection I have seen so far happens to be from Primark! Although 98% of people seem to have this perception that Primark is tacky and poor quality clothes I believe they have really upped their game for the 2015 spring range.

There's a mix of pastel, floral and bold prints that work in perfect harmony and will ensure there is never a dull day in your wardrobe!

And the shoes ..are just on a whole new level! The prints and shoe styles are bang on trend for the '15 spring season giving classic styles a new lease of life.

Of course any outfit needs an essential staple ..THE bag! Primark's new season bags certainly don't disappoint. From glamorous totes to fruity clutch bags they literally have every bag lover covered!

There is a huge hype on twitter and Instagram after the press day but there is not yet an office all date when all of these lovely goodies will be in stores! Get your bank cards ready girls...
For more pictures and info I would recommend Primark's Twitter, insta and blog pages. Feast your eyes on what spring 2015 has to offer!