Saskia the Style Fairy

Swing, Sing and Shine with Swarovski

2012-01-29T11:05:00.002Z

The Swarovski lookbook landed on my doorstep this week and for a magpie like me, turning each page was met with 'ahhhs', 'oohs' and 'want that one!'.

Swarovski's spring/summer 2012 collection "Swing, Sing and Shine' is a tribute to vintage styling and an ode to the lights, camera and action of the entertainment world. Creative Director Nathalie Colin uses the collection to tell the story of a young woman as she evolves from a student to that of a starlet becoming accustomed to fame and the limelight. The collection takes us through themes using pastel colours and shapes associated with the swinging 'sweet sixties' and the glamour of 'in the spotlight'.

I adore the the mix of colour, texture and material used in this collection from the bright gems of the Rainbow Earrings, the pearl and fabric mix of the Ribbon Necklace and the masculinity of the Motaigne chain necklace.

Rainbow Earrings

Ribbon Necklace

Monochrome: Montaigne Necklace (Want this!!)

Monochrome: Remix Bracelet

Vintage Glamour: Reception Bracelet - perfect for a Bride!

So many stunning item. I feel like this collection is bigger and better than ever before. There is something to suit all tastes, whether you are preparing for a school prom, your perfect wedding day or simply looking for some gorgeous statement pieces for everyday wear.

What I also didn't realise is that Swarovski also have Hello Kitty and Disney collections. I know how many of you love a little bit of kitsch in your life so thought I would includes some examples of the fun yet glamorous and chic offering from Swarovski.

Hello Kitty Chic Earrings

Hello Kitty Glamour Necklace

Disney Thorn Rose Ring

Asides the stunning jewellery and sparkly bits and bobs, I was quite taken by the imagery used in the 'Swing, Sing and Shine' in particular the make up (naturally). Graphic Fluoro pink liner accentuated the shape of the models eye on an otherwise neutral lips and cheek.

Front cover of lookbook

Does anything take your fancy then? I love a good old browse round a Swarovski store in all it's sparkling glory. Think I will go in and take a look at some of these items in the flesh, after all my birthday is only a few months away ;)

x

Interiors Inspiration: Handira

2012-01-23T12:00:00.001Z

While I was in Morocco, I scoured the souks for potential interior inspiration. I love to fill my home with stories which usually means subtle pieces and sometimes statement pieces come home with me from my travels to fill my abode with pretty things.

In Marrakech I stumbled across and cheeky chap selling some of the most wonderful rugs I had ever seen. Loomed from sheeps wool and covered in sequin, one of them caught my eye and after a half hour of haggling, I got my price and bagged my rug :)

It was only after returning home that I learned more about my purchase. It turns out my new rug is traditionally a Moroccan Wedding Blanket or Handira. Apparently, Brides and their relatives painstakingly create these blankets in time for the big day where the Bride wears it on her journey to her groom. It is said to have talismanic power and protects its wearer from evil.

Nowadays, they have become a bit of a showpiece in peoples homes as rugs, beadspreads, wall hangings and more.

I plan on using mine on my bed. Here is my inspiration ...

This is exactly like mine

Those of you with an eagle eye might have spotted a Handira in that ghastly Sex and the City 2 movie. After being such a fan of the show, I cannot tell you how much I hated this film!!

I think they are beautiful works of craft and I can't wait to use it in my new home. I think it will make a real statement in my room should I decide to use it on my bed.

What statement pieces do you love in your home?

x

Royal Raspberry

2012-01-21T23:01:00.000Z

I've had an emotional rollercoaster of a week, I've experienced death, births and new beginnings ... a poignant week in my life that won't be forgotten for a long time but thankfully for all the right reasons.

One constant in my week which has been my lipstick. Sad but true. I found a stash of Barry M lipsticks hidden away in a drawer which meant I was able to reacquaint myself with some old favourites.

Barry M's lip paint in 141 Royal Raspberry is a gorgeous deep raspberry shade erring on the gothic side of blackened red. It has a slight shimmer to it, almost appearing metallic in its tube. I have worn every day this week and haven't found it drying at all. It's pigment is lovely and quite long lasting. When it does begin to fade their is still enough stain on the lips to maintain colour but I still love to reapply to make sure I keep that shade of deep glistening raspberry.

Barry M Lip Paints are £4.49 from Superdrug or online at the Barry M website.

It was a long time coming but yesterday I eventually got round to sorting out my barnet. I had it re-dyed and trimmed which really gave it a little boost of shine and bounce again (no, I didn't go for multicolour unfortunately :( ). Instead of my usual blow dry finish, Stacie, my hair fairy, tried out a conical wand on my hair to give me some voluminous waves.

The result had a bit of a 70's feel to it which I loved. Stacie used the Diva Conical Wand from Sally's. It has quite a thick barrel which is perfect for big waves. It's priced at around the £40 unless you have a Sally's membership which will get you a bit of a discount.

So far I've never invested in my own conical wand but after seeing my hair like this, I think I might buy one for myself.

Are conical wands still making an impact on you? Share your wavy hair tips?

x

Hairspiraton: Mermaid Hair

2012-01-15T21:20:00.000Z

You may remember, although it was ages ago, I blogged about my fascination over dip dye hair.

At the time I was looking to find a good spray colour for the ends of my hair as there is no chance my work would let me through the door with anything less than 'normal' hair. Lucky for me I was kindly sent a whole 7 cans worth of different colour sprays from Colour Extreme Hair Art.

I never got round to trying out dip dye even though I was dying to try out these colours. That's until I read Claire's post here which then directed me to the talented Lou Clavé blog who created the amazing looks.

As you can imagine, dip dye just wasn't enough anymore, I wanted a full head of turquoise, purple, pink - basically full on rainbow mermaid hair! So out came the Colour Extreme Hair Art sprays which had lay unloved for far too long.

I had 7 colours to experiment with: white; black; purple; blue; green; orange and pink.

I started off slowly and gently with a recreation of dip dye using the blue spray. The blue worked quite well on my auburn hair making a noticeable difference.

I then began to layer some colour and moved onto the purple spray. The purple spray looked fantastic on my hair which surprised me as I wasn't sure if it would show up. When layered with the blue it created a lighter pink shade which gave a great effect of graduated colour.

I then applied the pink spray to some naked hair but it didn't really show up. It would have been lovely if it had as a really vibrant pink would have been wicked thrown into the mix. I then tried some of the green which apparently has a UV glow to it but again this didn't show at all.

I decided to try some orange at the top and fringe of my hair, this did show up but for a redhead like me, orange isn't really a colour I want my hair to be! ;) I then decided to try some white, mostly for the layering purposes. If I applied white to naked hair, I hoped that blue or pink layered on top would create some pastel shades. The white was very obvious when applied and rightly so, pastel shades appeared when I layered the more vibrant colours with it.

with flash

The only colour I didn't try was the black, only because I was going for a full on rainbow fusion of colour.

Once the spray dries on your hair, you can touch it without any colour transfer so no need to worry about getting it on your skin and hopefully this translates the same with clothes, it certainly didn't cause any problems with what I was wearing although I would probably steer clear of white tops.

Because I used so many colours, layer over layer, my hair ended up quite hard to touch but I am sure had I applied a normal amount, i.e, enough to create the coloured look you desire rather than an experimental session, then this wouldn't be the case.

However, I can guarantee this will dry your hair out so be sure to give your locks a nice treatment afterwards for a bit of TLC.

It washes off easily, although I recommend shampoo-ing twice to be sure you are rid of all colour.

I can't tell you how much I loved having coloured hair and will be using these sprays again for a night out. This time I will stick to the white, blue and purple to create graduated colour and pastel shades all over my hair.

You can buy Colour Extreme Hair Art Sprays from Boots for around £4.

What do you think of rainbow hair? Do you dare?

Deborah Lippmann: The Stripper to go ...

2012-01-15T19:52:00.000Z

... for go go girls apparently.

I received this little sample in the Christmas Glossybox and to be honest, I didn't really notice it until yesterday until it came time for me to sort my tootsies out for a party I was going to.

This ingenious little finger mit is doused in lavender nail polish remover and is a quick alternative to removing nail polish with cotton pads and remover, relieving you of the mess and awkward bits of fluff that gets left behind on nails. Each mit is supposed to remove polish from all 10 nails.

Before

In all honesty, I thought this was a bit gimmicky until it did everything it said it would and at super speed time too.

Now I really put it to the test as I used a glitter Deborah Lippmann polish on my nails over Christmas and this is what I was getting rid of. We all know what a chore it is to remove glitter polish!

Well, this little mit managed to remove a whole foot worth of glitter in under a minute! It was so quick. With my normal routine of cotton pad and remover it takes a good bit of scrubbing before my nail is clean of lacquer. Don't get me wrong, it still needed a good rub with the mit but once it was gone, it was gone.

I apologise profusely!!!!

This is definitely a product for girls on the go, it's quick, easy and mess free. With no fluffy bits of cottons stuck to the nail afterwards it means you can go right ahead painting a new colour on. I think these are especially beneficial if you do a lot of travelling but otherwise it may not be a worthwhile
investment.

After

Six of these mits are available for £14 from House of Fraser or even better, £6.17 from Amazon

Has anyone else tried these mits?

x

Doing it like Dot ...

2012-01-12T19:03:00.002Z

I didn't end up going for the Biba beauty I posted about in my nod to Dot Cottons sartorial efforts, instead I found a cheaper alternative with a little bit of a twist to it.

Instead of the subtle, 'goes with everything' camel shade I had originally admired, I found this colourful option in New Look. Similar in shape and style to Dot's coat, it differed in its bright jade/turquoise glory. I love bright furs but I hadn't found very many in the shops so this was a pleasant find for me. It also came in a gorgeous maroon shade but sadly they didn't have my size.

I managed to get this coat in the sale for around £25, believe me if the other colour had been available I would have bought both!

I think this satiates my desire for Dot's coat despite the fact it's a completely different colour. I have already moved on to my next challenge, finding the perfect trench.

Any recommendations, let me know!

x

Vintage Tea Party Hen Night at Hidden-Lane Tea Rooms

2012-01-11T12:00:00.001Z

Not long back, I had an exciting opportunity to work with Kirsty at her gorgeous tea rooms in the West End of Glasgow. The Hidden-Lane Tea Rooms regularly plays host to exclusive vintage tea party hen dos and I was asked if I would be interested in creating some vintage make up looks for the gaggle of hens.

It sounded like a fun evening so I signed up straight away. On the evening around 15-20 girls turned up and were treated to a tea party of cakes and scones and tea cups filled with their poison of choice, probably not tea. While 2 hair sylists tended to the locks of the hen party, it was up to me to give the girls vintage makeovers. It was impossible to get round everyone in a short space of time but I was able to makeover most of the hen party and a few touch ups for the other girls. Most of the girls wanted a vintage pin up look with red lips and big lashes.

Louise Bichan, a fabulous photographer based in Glasgow was on hand to document the evening in her unique style. Here are some of the images she sent me this week.

If you would like to find out more about Vintage Tea Party hen nights, contact Kirsty at the Hidden-Lane Tea Rooms on 0141 433 1240.

x

BY TERRY LIGNE BLACKSTAR

2012-01-10T21:51:00.000Z

I rarely leave the house without eyeliner, preferably of the black kind. I sometimes venture into navy or deep browns but most days black is my friend.

My eye seems to look naked without liner but my problem with black is that it doesn't do the 'natural' look very well. And sometimes, just sometimes, I would like a less made up look.

This brings me to By Terry's liquid liner Ligne Blackstar. I was sent this to review and although excited by the fact I was getting to try out some By Terry for the first time, the fact I was sent a liner in the shade 'GREY MOTION' severely disappointed.

When was I ever going to wear grey eyeliner, I thought to myself. This product lay for weeks and weeks before I even picked it up to try out. I was convinced it wasn't for me but then I put my colour reservations aside and decided to go ahead and review anyway. Of course, I would still be able to critique it's pigmentation, application and lasting abilities despite my hatred of how it might look on me.

Using fountain pen technology, with a slim brush shaped like a felt tip and housed in a sleek silver packaging, By Terry Ligne Blackstar doesn't necessarily stand out from other liquid tip liners. Where it differs is not in it's smooth and easy application made so by it's design or that it lasts the full day (that's 8 hours of a work day to you and me) without requiring a touch up but it's the fact that after daily use of it in the last 2 weeks, it still hasn't dried out. Every day I expect to have to apply a little more pressure to see the end result but no, it's going strong. I realise it's only a couple of weeks but I literally expected it to dry up within days.

Now lets discuss 'Grey Motion'. Applied to the eye this shade of grey gives a subtle definition that maintains the glam factor without looking too 'done'. It's the type of liner I could apply to go to the gym, climb a hill or catch the red eye without looking like I had spent hours in front of the mirror. There really is nothing worse when people give disapproving looks at your made up face will slogging out a 5k round the block 10 times with a MAC Fluidline Winehouse flick!

Still visible and creating definition to the eye after 8+hours of wear

So too, I have found this a perfect option for work. I still look polished and presentable without having my eyes appear heavily made up with black liner. This means I can save my dark liner for occasions where I like my make up to pack a real punch! In fact, this liner is so easy to use, I think I will probably ending up buying it in black too.

It looks like I am convert, grey is definitely a winner for a natural, sophisticated look without always having to look like the make up junkie I actually am! By Terry Ligne Blackstar is available in 5 shades, including black, at Space NK. RRP £25.

Could grey be the new black?

x

My hair ...

2012-01-05T12:00:00.000Z

My most frequently asked question on my blog and in 'real life' is 'What colour do you dye your hair?'

In fear of repeating myself over and over again, I am going to fill you all in unanimously.

I get my hair professionally coloured using L'Oreal Richesse in Saffron Mahogany 6.5. It's a deep auburn shade and I find that after a few washes it's the closest that comes to my natural colour. When I say natural colour, I mean my purest state of hair that existed from the ages of 4 to 20 before I started dying it and stripped it of any goodness and rich colour. It helps to start with that I am a natural redhead so it really enhances those tones, if you are lighter or darker haired, this shade will appear a lot different, I've seen it on some brunettes as very plummy.

Now for the bad news. This is a discontinued colour and up until now I have been buying surplus tubes of it on eBay. However, my dear hair fairy Stacie (who is the best in Glasgow) tells me that all of the products in her salon are changing so as of the not too distant future I WILL have to switch to another shade. Of course she will try and match to this colour as best possible but I have grown a bit of a sentimental attachment to this one :(

I try and change up my shampoo every couple of months but the products that consistently re-appear in my hair care regime is Kerastase. I use their Nutritive range (in the orange bottles), I find it works well at moisturising my often dry hair and gives a gorgeous shine. When I am stuck in a rut with my shampoo and conditioner, I always know I can rely on Kerastase Nutritive. I use Bain Satin 2 (shampoo) with Lait Vital (conditioner). Every once in a while I also use a treatement from the same range, Masquintense. Kerastase can be a little pricey but I think they are worth it.

Whether I am styling my hair up and down, I like to add a bit of volume and I usually do this using mousse. Hair mousse used to be the devil in my eyes and I would avoid it at all cost but now I find it gives an extra boost of volume and keeps my hair in shape. I am currently using Charles Worthington Volume Boosting Mousse which does the job well but sometimes makes my hair feel a bit heavy so I am still on the search for a fabulous volumising mousse.

I have avoided using straighteners on my hair for a while to see if it makes a positive improvement on my hair but to be honest I have noticed no difference at all other than frizz! To avoid frizz I now use Macadamia Oil. It smells lovely and smoothed over your hair it leaves it silky and glossy and never gives you that greasy appearance that most serums do if you use too much. Even when I am using heat tools I will still use the oil before hand to help protect my locks from the heat.

Once I have dried and styled my hair, I usually like to give it a final boost of volume and have found a brilliant product. For longer hair this is supposed to add a bit of wave and give that candyfloss hair effect which I love. It's Tigi BedHead Sugar Shock... I spray it into the roots and give it a bit of a scrunch and it gives that extra bit of va-va-voom and texture to my hair.

Finally, I always like to 'set' my hair, just like Granny used to ;) For day to day I avoid a heavy hairspray and the best one I've found for a light fix is Trevor Sorbie Beautifull Moisturise Hairspray. It smells lush and is so light but gives enough hold to keep your hair in shape and in place all day. I have just run out of this which is disappointing and explains the stock photo. I will need to restock soon as I seriously love this hairspray.

That sounds like a heap of products lumped on my hair and I guess it is but I do try and rest my hair as much as I can and usually all of these products combined is reserved for nights out or a particularly dressy day.

What products do you swear by?

Tempting

2012-01-04T12:00:00.002Z

The make up I chose to wear in yesterdays post was a little bit inspired by the Olsen twins smokey look that they have been rocking for ions. I toned it down for day wear so it wasn't as deep and intense as some of their more recent dramatic looks.

-Insert ancient but gorgeous photo of Olsen Twins-

- Insert posey in the manky bathroom mirror photo of moi-

I STILL haven't cleaned the mirror! minger.

I used 2 of my very favourite MAC shadows to create the look, Tempting and Twinks. Tempting is a lovely shade which is very similar to Woodwinked (another favourite) but slightly less intense. It's a golden bronze with a slight shimmer, super pigmented and is fabulous to use as there is little to no fall out from it!

I started layering products starting with MAC Patina then applied and blended Tempting at the outer corner. To add some depth I used Twinks, a rusty brown, in the outer v which also really helped 'lift' the look and avoided a flat bronze appearance.

Face: Chanel Pro Lumiere
Cheeks: Benefit Hoola, MAC Sun&Moon
Eyes: MAC Patina, Tempting, Twinks; MAC Smouler liner; Urban Decay Bourbon 24/7 liner; Rimmel Scandaleyes mascara
Lips: No7 Nude lipliner; Tom Ford Lip colour in Blush Nude; Estee Lauder gloss in Twilight Petal

I really love wearing this kind of smokey eye and it was a welcome return of the nude lip for me. I was never truly sold on a nude lip but I think having a break from constant images of nude lips on other blogs has made it a nice change to try on myself.

Lots of you have been asking questions about my hair colour so I am just compiling a post to tell you more about it and to show off some of the products I use most on my hair!

x

Leather and Lace

2012-01-03T18:39:00.000Z

It's nearly the end of my holiday so I didn't want to waste my last few precious days off work lazing around ... as I have done for nearly 2 weeks now!! It was time to leave the couch and the dvd's behind and meet some friends for lunch and drinks.

Sweater Top with lace detail: Topshop
Faux leather skirt: H&M
Footless tights: Boots
Platform Boots: New Look

An action shot ... !

Everyone and their mother now owns this skirt but that's because it's such a brilliant find. It has an exposed zipper detail at the back and is so easy to dress up or down. If you are thinking about buying I would size up in it. H&M are always hit and miss with their clothing and this is one of those rubbish items you need to go a size bigger in :(

I actually bought the top because I loved the lace shoulder detail. I love any detailing on shoulders ... I seem to be drawn to anything like this. I picked it up in the Topshop sale and was paying for it before I realised it was from their Maternity range! Yikes, that's not an announcement by the way!! It actually makes the sweater really comfy as there is a bit more give in it without it looking baggy and mis-shaped.

As you can see I am still really struggling with posing! Try as hard as I can to lark about in front of the camera, I still look like a bit of a dork and can't really pull off the 'fashionista' look but hey, I'm only here to share my ideas and inspiration. I now have another issue besides posing and that's how to re-size my photos and present them better. One step at a time though.

Gold & silver link chain: Topshop
Silver diamante link chain: Primark
Watch: Vintage seiko
friendship bracelets: Topshop

I also stole my husbands vintage Seiko watch for the day. I have decided it suits me better ... wonder if he will let me keep it ;)

I go back to work tomorrow and the thought literally fills me with dread. Back to the grind so they say ... it's going to be a long 3 days until Friday!!

Who else is struggling with being back at work?

x

Mixing Metal

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000Z

Following on from my last post I said I would post what I was wearing since I had taken some photos. As always, nothing groundbreaking but was a cosy outfit for a day of doing not a lot.

My biggest problem with posting outfit photos is I just do not know how to pose and can't get over that whole stiff as cardboard look. I am literally scared to smile, move or breathe when someone is taking my photo. Of course, ply me with drink or get me among a group of friends and tensions ease but when it's just me and the Mr ... I just look a bit ... speshul!

Denim Shirt - H&M
Navy sweater - COS
Faux Leather/pvc jeans - New Look
Platform Boots - New Look
Chain Necklace - Topshop

Now, I know what you're thinking ... why is she wearing THOSE trousers?? Well, ya know, I just wanted to give them a go.

I have concluded my legs are definitely not skinny enough to pull them off stylishly but they have some 'give' which avoids me looking like an obese dominatrix/heavy metal enthusiast ... just! They work better with longer tops but I like wearing them juxtaposed with a casual sweater.

I have got into the habit of wearing gold and silver jewellery together. Something I have always done but I would usually mix them on a night out. Faux pas! ... many of you might say but they work together wonderfully and gets over the stress of having to go matchy matchy. That's why I loved this necklace, it's a ready made excuse to mix your metals. With a silver linked links adjoining two gold bars that fasten at the back.

What do you think about mixing your metals? Would you dare?

x

17 Wild Metallic Eyes

2012-01-01T21:29:00.001Z

I blogged about these creme shadows last week when I wore the wild nude shade for a natural look but today I tried out one of the deeper shades from the 17 Wild Metallic Eyes range.

Wild Midnight Blue is a gorgeous sparkly creme shadow with flecks of irridiscent navy, blues and turquoise greens, all blended beautifully to create a deep blue/navy shadow.

Of course, just like I mentioned in my last post, I immediately whipped out the iPhone to take some photos ...

Excuse my manky mirror!

Then I realised that this hardly represents the truth of the shadow. It can be applied as a sheer coat with just a sweep of colour or layered on which is the look I prefer. The sparkle is quite subtle to begin with and almost appears like a sheen across the eyes, however, a creme shadow being a creme shadow, it does begin to crease with time and if you like this kind of look (I do) then you might just love the results.

Foundation: Rimmel Lasting Perfection
Eyes: 17 Wild Metallic Eyes in Wild Midnight Blue
MAC Blacktrack liner, Rimmel Scandaleyes mascara
Cheeks: Benefit Hoola, Illamasqua Unrequited blush
Lips: MAC Dervish Lipliner, Estee Lauder gloss in Twilight Petal

As you can see Wild Midnight Blue creates quite a deep, sultry evening look. Once it begins to crease a wash of blue is left behind along with lashings of sparkle so if you are looking for a laid back but intense party look, this is the kind of effortless glitter eyes for you. I applied with a finger just buffing and blending the edges. It took all of 2 minutes.

creased after wear which I love but this photo doesn't capture the sparkle

Although I prefer to apply with my finger, it does get a bit messy and I find that of all the creme shadows I have tried, these really do work well with a brush, something I would normally find awkward with this kind of product.

On an aside note, the mascara I am wearing (and have been for the past month) is Rimmel Scandaleyes. While it has a lovely thick plush brush, I am not keen on the formula. Yes, the intensity and pigment is just right and it does create quite fluttery big lashes but I do feel my lashes look hard and a bit brittle once it fully dries. You might even notice this in the photo above.

You can buy Rimmel Scandaleyes for £6.99 and 17 Wild Metallic Eyes are available at £3.99 each at Boots stores.

I was going to post my outfit post from today but since this post is huge enough, I will do it separately. Oh, and before I forget, loads of you have been asking about my iPhone cover. It's a multi colour leopard print and I bought it for around £3.00 in TK Maxx :)

Does anyone else like a creased shadow? Have you tried 17 Metallic Eyes?

Instagramming

2012-01-01T14:00:00.003Z

After buying my super cool new Canon 600D a few months ago, all I have done is take random snaps out and about as I try to get to grips with navigating my way around a DSLR. However, lack of a good photographer or a decent spot to be photographed in, means I have neglected what I bought the camera for ... blogging!

Instead, I have stuck to my trusty iPhone camera to snap shots of blush, lipstick, brows and clothes. Like many of you, I am hooked on Instagram as my photo app of choice and now have an album full of random pics I have captured day to day.

Here are some instagram pics of an outfit I wore a couple of days ago.

Hat: TK Maxx
Vest: Topshop
Cardigan: COS (sale)
Belt: Vintage
Leggings: Stradivarius
Boots: Topshop via Ebay
Bracelets: ROX

Where's my head at??

My flat is an absolute tip at the moment as I am packing up to move so there is no pretty or tidy area to be photographed in so this is the best I could find... a rare gap in my dressing/spare room that is literally littered with clothes and shoes at the moment!!

I wore my new Topshop boots that I found on eBay unused. Originally £90 (they still had the pricetag on) I managed to snare them for £25. The style is called 'Damsel' and they are a vintage, kicked in style of biker boot. I really needed a new pair as my old biker boots had ripped at the zipper.

Jewellery wise I wore my ROX bracelets which are permanently attached to my wrist at the moment and my Ydeltuyt ring that resembles the YSL arty ring. It had become very discoloured after too much wear though and actually broke later in the evening. RIP.

I have lots of reviews and bits and bobs to blog about .... sales shopping, new make up brushes, lots and lots of new shoes!! .... I am hoping to fit in time to write about it all and do a bit of show & tell before I go back to work this week. Hopefully I can share some better photos from my Canon too!

Does anyone else always resort back to their phone for photos instead of using a real camera? I think I need to discipline myself in the ways of photography!

x

Here's to 2012!

2011-12-31T20:00:00.000Z

In many ways 2011 was my annus horribilis but became my annus mirabilis.

I have a lot to be thankful for and a lot that I am will continue to be reflective of to make sure that 2012 delivers everything I hope for. I guess it shows how we can turn things around even when we think nothing will be the same ever again or when we lose all faith in ourselves and those around us. You can always make the change and things can always get better.

With that I walk into 2012 with an open mind and a new found determination. With every trip, you've just got to dust yourself down and start again and maintain a positive outlook. Easier said than done but no better time to look forward with excitement to a new year of new experiences and opportunities!

See you on the other side :)

Sourced from We Heart It

Get the look: Dot Cotton

2011-12-30T13:00:00.000Z

My friends must have thought I was mental a couple of weeks ago when I took to Facebook to find out where Dot Cotton had bought her coat from.

The request was met with some cheeky comments and a couple of texts asking if I was okay! Yes I am okay... look at Dot's coat ... it's a belter!

Who'd have thought Dot Cotton was a style icon? Maybe it was the camel tones or the massive faux fur collar - you KNOW I love my fur ... but it just screamed out to me as I was watching Easties one night and found myself lusting after auld Cottons wares.

Anyway, it's taken a bit of searching but I eventually found the ultimate looky likey coat and what a bonus, it's on sale too :)

Meet Biba's take on the Dot Cotton coat.

Originally priced at £290 it's now on sale at £173. Maybe they will reduce it again, even at discount, I can't justify the spend just now. So I will wait patiently.

I've also taken a shine to Dot's blue eyeshadow and red nails. I'm going to recreate the look with Estee Lauders Enchanted Garnet on my nails and Laura Mercier Luster Eye Colour in Celestial. Clearly I will look smokin'!

Do you have a closet style icon?

Go on, share you're secret style queens?

x

Morocco Styling

2011-12-30T09:00:00.002Z

As per my last post, I mentioned I would offer up some advice on what to wear in Morocco. This is mainly for us gals but there is a wee bit for the boys too. This will also feature some unflattering photos of me all glowing (read: sweaty) on holiday too! Be warned.

Before going to Morocco I found that different websites and even twitter friends had very contradicting opinions on what was acceptable to wear and what was not in Morocco. My advice is more based on what you are going to feel more comfortable in rather than strictly what is acceptable.

Morocco is an Islamic (mainly) nation but despite this is known for being more liberal than other Islamic countries. However there is still an element of respect that needs to be shown for the culture and faith despite the somewhat relaxed attitudes. I have been to Egypt which again frowns upon too much flesh being shown but on a beach resort like Sharm-El-Sheikh you can get away with anything so this was the first time I really had to think about what was going in my suitcase.

Playsuit with cover up tied round my waist

black maxi with cover up and flip flops

In the old town of Marrakech it is more traditional, you see both Moroccan men and women in traditional dress but equally many are dressed a little more western but covered up (especially females) or what could maybe be described as casual. If you wear hot pants, mini skirts, bikini tops, string vests etc in the old town, people will look at you. Some in disgust, others in disbelief, never in a good way, even other tourists. If you are comfortable with the stares then go ahead, knock yourself out.

In the new town, it's more of a free for all. Especially at night time, short skirts, hot pants, boob tubes ... anything goes. It was never a problem and no one stared other than other Moroccan women who are probably interested to see international fashions. The new town is where people party so it's very open minded.

There is a whole list of things that are apparently shunned upon clothes wise. Showing too much leg, showing too much foot, showing too much shoulder or showing too much collar bone. The list is endless and it's not realistic to stick fully to the 'rules'.

So smart things to pack to keep you right... It's very hot in Morocco so try to keep covered up or have the option to cover up without passing out with heat stroke. I packed maxi dresses and jumpsuits in light materials with flip flops, sandals and cover ups in the form of scarves and sheer tops. Heels are hard to wear in Morocco unless it's night time, even then, cobbled and uneven ground made it too much of a hassle for me.

Jumpsuit covering shoulders as well as legs

By wearing a normal summer maxi dress with a pashmina or scarf, it meant I could have my shoulders out when I wanted but had that option to cover up if I was in a built up area where it was frowned upon. T-shirts, long shorts, knee length skirts and playsuits would all be fine to wear. Even at night in the old town a strapless top would be okay as long a you could cover up if you felt uncomfortable at any point.

strapless dress suitable for the beach in Essaouira

But i could cover up at night

For men, longer shorts with t-shirts seem to be more acceptable for daytime. So no Joey Essex hot pants and vest for your boyfriends/husbands/dads!! Night time is easy for boys there is nothing that would be frowned upon.

Going back, I would pack a couple of glitzier things for night time in the new town but sticking to a similar wardrobe to what I packed for the old town. My trip also took in the beach resort of Essaouira where I wouldn't recommend showing too much skin apart from on the beach. In fact wearing the exact outfit below (without cover up) I was spat on by a group of men. Clearly too much shoulder/arm on display was offensive.

Despite being spat on in Essaouira it was also an amazing place to visit and may even deserve its own blogpost. But lets stop here before this turns into a very amateur attempt at a travel blog!

Hope this has been helpful for anyone packing for a trip to Morocco.

x

Marrakech - My top 10 things to see and do

2011-12-29T10:00:00.002Z

My trip to Marrakech is now but a distant memory (see some pics here) but I did promise to do a post about my visit with some tips for anyone else excited about visiting this magical city. It's such an amazing place I thought I would share a snippet of what there is to see and do. I was here for 2 full days only but managed to fit in quite a bit. I am already planning on going back for longer.

In terms of what you must see and do, here's my list, in no particular order:

1) Stay in a Riad

Morocco's own version of the boutique hotel, usually in the form of a traditional Moroccan townhouse with courtyard and sounds of running water. Once behind the doors of your Riad the chaos and noise of outdoors seem to disappear. If you get the right Riad, you will be treated to a more traditional Moroccan experience. We stayed at Riad Jonan in the Kasbah, I swear they make the best lamb tagine here. It was comfortable, cool and the service was second to none. Not the most modern of Riads we researched but this was part of its charm along with the reviews that were so good we had to see for ourselves. It certainly lived up to it's reputation.

Riad Jonan

2) Travel in a petite taxi

The taxi below is the grande version, they will charge you a hefty fare so look out for the smaller ones and be prepared for a white knuckle ride. I still don't know why there aren't more fatalities on the roads as the driving in Marrakesh is mental! A taxi was essential for us moving to and from the old and new town.

3) Shop in the Souks

One of the best bits about Marrakech is the shopping from spices to leather goods from the tanneries (also a must see) to jewellery and homeware, you don't want to go home empty handed after a good old haggle. The souks are a bit of a labyrinth to navigate through but it's a fantastic experience, just don't go after dark!!

Lighting stall in the souks

4) Jemaa El Fna

Probably one of the most chaotic and magical places I have ever been to, Jemaa El Fna is the central square in the old town of Marrakech. From storytellers to henna tattooists, there is something going on every which way you look. Boxing matches, dancing, street sellers, snake charmers, it's a true feast for the senses, filled with smells, sound and colour. It's truly amazing and despite it's intimidating nature, you quickly adapt and feel quite at home caught up in the thick of it all. For great views of the square, go for a drink or offer a tip to go on the top floor of one of the surrounding cafes. For anyone looking for a Henna tattoo - you might be better to wait on your journey home - they offer free henna in the airport :)

The buzz of the restaurants at Jemaa El Fna

Boxing Match

Games in the square

5) Street Eats

At night, part of Jemaa El Fna turns into a giant outdoor restaurant with countless stalls all competing for your business. Don't be afraid to take a seat and sample the food that is barbecued in front of you as you sit. The service is friendly with a bit of European banter thrown in for good measure and all the stalls have caught on to offering up chips with their kebabs!! The food is delicious and you can wash it all down with a fresh orange juice from the juice stalls on the periphery of the outdoor restaurant.

Also, make sure you indulge in a lamb/chicken/beef tagine in Morocco. I was already a tagine fan so to have it made for me in the traditional sense was just delicious - don't miss out on it!

6) Majorelle Gardens

Take a trip to the stunning Majorelle Gardens owned by the late Yves Saint Laurent. With it's own blend of Majorelle blue covering most of the buildings in this oasis of bamboo, cactus and floral delights, it is simply beautiful. A peaceful haven hidden away, there are ponds with beautiful goldfish, turtles and frogs. There is also a YSL exhibition and gift shop you can visit here too. Go and feel inspired by the colours and nature behind it's gates.

7) Visit the New Town/Old Town

Wherever you are staying, visit the opposite. The old town is a little more traditional and respect must be shown where possible for choice of dress and behaviour however the new town is a lot more liberal where you will see Moroccan women dressed in Western fashions. This is also where the party scene comes alive at night. We visited Comptoir in the new town at night which in hindsight is a bit of a tourist trap but was great for an experience of moroccan belly dancing. There are also some big clubs in Marrakech like Pacha but you can find much cooler, laid back places to party if you think outside the box.

8) Visit a Hammam

Something I didn't get to do which I regret and will definitely be top of my list when I return (I definitely will return one day soon i hope) ... was a Hammam. A Hammam is a kind of turkish bath/spa that lie within the streets and alleyways of the city. I have heard so many great things about the Hammam, I am disappointed not to have made it to one.

9) Take in the History

See the sites, walk the walls of the city and stumble upon the many palaces and tombs. I made it to El Badi Palace and Bahia Palace, probably contradictions of each other in terms of size and appearance. We also stayed close by to the Saadian tombs but didn't get to explore.

10) Buy some leather!

This kind of ties in with No.3 and it's something I kept deliberating over the whole time I was in Morocco and ended up not bothering. I was so busy buying rugs, pouffes and teapots for my new house, I kicked fashion to the kerb. Now I am back I am regretting leaving behind some killer leather bags for bargain prices. Don't make the same mistake as me!

Another thing I haven't really covered is choice of dress in Morocco but I will save this for another post as this has got a bit out of control. It's hard to find firm advice on respectful dress in Morocco so hopefully I can offer some advice from my own experience.

Hope this was helpful for anyone considering a trip to Marrakech.

Feeling a bit Pat Butcher!

2011-12-29T10:00:00.001Z

It isn't really a good time to be doing outfit posts. I have packed on a tonne of weight over the festive season and even at this moment in time, I can barely move from the sheer amount of food I have consumed today :(

I smugly went by the motto 'Retox before you Detox' but boy, do I regret that now. I think next year I will need to practise a little more restraint when it comes to the After Eights.

This should have been my Boxing Day outfit, if I hadn't been so hungover and had to spend the day in bed. My bad! Instead I wore it for a visit to the sales. It kept me snug, warm and pretty comfy. Not my most glamorous of get ups but I like to think that adding a touch of fur infuses a bit of razzle dazzle into any outfit.

Leopard Print wedges: Kurt Geiger (sale)

Burgundy Jeans: Warehouse

Black Vest: Topshop

Cableknit Sweater: Primark

Fur Jacket: Gharani Strok at TK Maxx

Satchel: Vintage

As you can see I did my best to emulate the great Pat Butcher (especially in photo 1). That's a hard faced b*tch if ever i've seen one.

Asides the not so interesting outfit, I was pretty impressed by my eyebrows. I have had a couple of threading let downs recently so while I let my brows grow out a bit before my next go at it, I have been keeping them groomed with an eyebrow pencil by Shu Uemura.

I have had this pencil a while but stopped using it for ages and have only just become reacquainted with it again. Not sure why we ever parted ways in the first place as it is such a fast product to use that always delivers.

It's the Shu Uemura Hard Formula pencil in Seal Brown. It works by only releasing colour pigment when the pencil interacts with the oils in the brow hairs which gives a defined yet natural brow. I can't remember how much I paid for this but think it was in the £20 region. Quite expensive but it does last a long time so I justify the cost that way.

Who else is suffering a post Christmas bulge? How do you plan to shift it?

Are you a Bubbble Betty?

2011-12-28T18:50:00.000Z

Now for something a l'il bit different ...

Meet Bubble Betty ...

Now before you burst out laughing and say 'No Way!', just think about it.

Picture the scene: a horrific downpour of rain, gusty gales, a now defunct umbrella and you've just had your hair done. What you gonna do?

This is where Bubble Betty can help. Although I have to say I am still trying to convince myself but here goes ...

Scottish brand Bubble Betty (they know rain only too well) is combining vintage style with weatherproof practicality in a bid to defeat the nasty elements of winter. Bubble Betty is a classic vintage rain proof bonnet brought up to date in a stylish print - they say it's guaranteed to make your granny proud!

My granny would be proud.

Once you get over the initial 'You cannot be serious ...?' it all starts to make sense. Why struggle through the sales with all your bags, a hood that won't stay up, a brolly thats blown inside out when you can keep your 'do in tip top shape underneath one of these?

I can just imagine some gorgeous red lipped lovely with pencil skirt and seamed stockings hot footing it through the elements to work perfectly preened under her Bubble Betty. It's definitely something that would suit the vintage/retro loving gal but I am not so sure I could get away with it in my parka.

You can buy them from the Bubble Betty site for just £6 and they come in their own little tins. At the moment they come in 4 different prints, leopard print, black and red lace and tattoo print with more to come apparently.

So what do you think? Are you a Bubble Betty?

x

Scottish Ballet - The Sleeping Beauty

2011-12-28T18:25:00.000Z

Christmas time is probably best known as the season of pantomime and while Sleeping Beauty - the panto has been ripping up a storm at the Kings Theatre in Glasgow, I let go of tradition this year, in favour of something a little more decadent and cultured in the form of Scottish Ballet's very own performance of The Sleeping Beauty.

Performed to Tchaikovsky's acclaimed and iconic score, Scottish Ballet presented a cutting edge and contemporary version of the original Sleeping Beauty adding in their own elements of comedy and the unconventional.

As usual the costumes were outstanding with quite a traditional tutu clad Princess Aurora to a stunning Red Riding Hood in her 1940's esque hooded dress in the final scenes. The sets themselves were not to be outdone by the fashion with stunning backdrops, a Victorian glasshouse, a Russian garden party and art deco bar/club. In every scene, there was something to capture your attention, not just the main characters but the acting from the ongoing scenes in the background but nothing was too much to divert your concentration from the story and the music that created the magical atmosphere in the theatre.

Photo taken from Scottish Ballet 100 days of sleeping beauty Blog

Somewhat scary the villainous witch Carabosse and her evil daughters brought an expected dark side to the performance juxtaposed perfectly with humour. With their pointed ears, egg heads, swirly tails, trotters and multiple nipples (yes, nipples!), they were the perfect picture of mischief makers. Their antics on stage were both hilarious and excitedly terrifying!

The Sleeping Beauty is the longest of any ballet performances I have been to see but I was so fascinated with the magic happening on stage, the time passes within the blink of an eye, quite literally in Aurora's case.

The tour is now very much in full swing and is travelling across Scotland and Newcastle, if you are interested in soaking up the enchantment of The Sleeping Beauty, you can book tickets at the following locations and dates:

Glasgow Theatre Royal (17-31 December)
Festival Theatre Edinburgh (11-14 January)
His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen (18-21 January)
Eden Court Inverness (25-28 January)
Theatre Royal Newcastle (1-4 February)

Next up for Scottish Ballet in spring 2012 is Streetcar Named Desire. I am so looking forward to it!

x

Fone Jacker

2011-12-18T19:17:00.001Z

There's something I am not quite comfortable with seeing fashion bloggers pose for photos in next to nothing in front of a backdrop of snow covered fields, mountains, park, delete as applicable.

Of course, they always look gorgeous and there are always style tips to be inspired by but realistically, it's not possible to spend a day out in the blistering cold and ice rinked pavements in a pair of hotpants, stilettos, vest top etc etc, you get what i'm saying, right?

I sometimes think it puts too much pressure on others to live up to this 'stylish' ideal which I would normally reserve for magazine editorials. In my mind, blogs represent reality and what 'normal/real' people with average incomes (i.e, not celebrity) showcase their own style, ideas and inspiration. Recently, I've noticed the crossover to 'blog editorial' with unrealistic images of girls prancing around in the snow with bare arms/legs. Wouldn't it be of more value to readers to present how to stay stylish and stay warm in winter?

Despite my thoughts on this, I must stress, it still captures my attention and most of the time looks pretty cute even if I do pray the subject doesn't come down with a bout of pneumonia.

With this in mind, I thought I would show you what I wore today, on a lazy cold Sunday, to go out for the day. Unless I am on a night out, or have the car with me, I tend to be sure I keep cosy and have a wardrobe choc full of coats, jackets and lashings of fur (faux) for all occasions.

Hat: H&M
Parka: Primark
Sweater: Warehouse
Aviators: Berlin

Two things I should mention about this outfit. The £5 wooly hat from H&M, it's so cosy and has that perfect slouch fit and of course a furry bobble on top. Next is the Primark Parka ... what a find. I had been looking for a parka for winter and every one I found was expensive and 'not all that' ... I had almost decided on a fairly expensive one when I stumbled upon this in Primark (after being nudged along by a work colleague). The quality, colour, shape and sizing was so similar to it's more expensive competition that I decided to save my pennies and opt for the Primark version - it literally was a steal at around £20-30. Down below I wore skinny jeans and my brown bear paw boots - cosy at it's best. Obviously I stuck the aviators on last minute in attempt to look a little bit cool ... it resulted in me looking like a female Fone Jacker but i kinda like that ;)

Face: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser
Cheeks: NARS Laguna and Orgasm
Eyes: 17 Wild Metallic Eyes in Wild Nude, MAC Blacktrack liner
Lips: MAC Vegas Volt mixed with Angel, Clinique fireberry gloss

As for make up I stuck with an easy Sunday routine of tinted moisturiser which does give a much softer look for daytime. Another product I love for ease of use and a natural effect is the 17 Wild Metallic creme shadow in Wild Nude. This was recommended to me by Amanda and I have to say they are a lovely consistency and create a nice natural sheen to the eyes. They also work great as a base but beware they do crease.

17 Wild Metallic Eyes in Wild Nude

So, in essence what I am trying to say is staying warm in winter IS stylish! How do you keep warm and stylish in winter?

Blingy Leather Nails

2011-12-15T21:55:00.000Z

Who can resist sparkle this time of year? Nails, make up, a dress... it never feels quite right without a bit of glitter or sequins, anything otherwise is positively bland and dare I say it a little scrooge-esque.

Or is that just me?

Probably.

Anyway, with this spangly obsession in mind, I present to you this weeks nails. I like deep, dark, intense colours in the winter so black ticks all those boxes. I used China Glaze Liquid Leather. They didn't scream 'FESTIVE' enough for me so I decided to add a bit of bling on the tips the simplest way I knew how, with a glitter polish. I used a Kiko sparkly polish - unsure of the name I'm afraid but dabbing it on helped the chunkier glitter particles stick to the nail tip better offering up a dazzling set of digits.

Speaking of Kiko, I am so pleased to hear it has hit the UK, in Westfield to be exact. Still a bit too far for me but hopefully it means it will start to spread through the country and up to Scottish lands before long! It's such a reasonably priced cosmetic brand with some fabulous blushers on offer among other things.

Hope you are all in full festive party swing by now!!

Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy!

Back Pain

2011-12-12T23:23:00.002Z

Ugh, it's hideous, I have suffered from back pain for quite a while now and it is only getting worse.

I have a lot of tension in my shoulders and neck which causes a lot of discomfort but in recent months the pain in my lower back has become unbearable. Most of my pain is caused from stress tension but my posture is also quite bad contributed mostly by the fact I am quite well endowed up top! Now, I can't stop the ageing process but I still feel far too young to be dealing with joint and muscular pain like this.

I go for the occasional massage but nothing gives me the sweet relief I am looking for and really the next option is to see a chiropractor. While I research the best ones to visit however, I needed something to ease my poor muscles and it seems I have found a brilliant solution.

I happened to mention my back pain to the girls at Aromatherapy Associates who quickly recommended their De-Stress range, in particular the Muscle Bath & Shower Oil and the Muscle Gel. The Gel contains essential oils with a mix of black pepper, ginger and rosemary.

RRP £37

RRP £20

In all honestly, I thought this would just be a case of having a nice, luxurious bath, relieving the ache for half an hour or so before going back to the same old moaning and whining and requiring a billion pillows to prop me up on the couch. I was so wrong. So wrong.

I had a lovely warm bath. No, it was a hot bath, really hot in fact with the De-stress bath oil which smells divine by the way. I felt no real difference in the bath, it was just relaxing and purifying for the soul to take half an hour out to float away all the stresses of the day. After my bath, I resisted the temptation to talc up (anyone else still do this? ... I am obsessed with talc - such an 80's child!) ... and instead used the muscle gel on my problem areas - my lower and upper back. You might need a bit of help doing this. It's a smooth gel, a little cold to apply but doesn't feel sticky at all, it's really just like applying your moisturiser.

Off to bed I went in nice snuggly jammies and fresh bed linen (ah, what a feeling!) ... next day I got up and my achey back was barely noticeable. My back is usually at its worst in the office around mid-day but again, I still felt comfortable - it was as if by magic. I kept waiting for a tinge of heaviness to kick in around my lower back but it never came.

That has been over a week now and I have only used the oil once and the gel a couple of times since but it seems to be doing the trick. I can't contribute the ease of pain to anything else other than the new products as this has been a constant problem for months now with no relief whatsoever. I have used various bath salts and massage bars in the past but nothing has made a difference until now.

I plan on keeping this little ritual up on a weekly basis to hopefully keep the pain at bay although for a longer term solution I will still continue my search for a fabulous chiropractor. I am not sure what it is in these products that have made them so effective, maybe it is just the natural wonders of essential oils like so many people keep telling me and I am forever a cynic?! One thing's for sure, this is working out for me.

Does anyone else have back cures they swear by? Any must have products that lifts the ache as if by magic?

x

All I want for Christmas is Shoes!

2011-12-12T22:55:00.000Z

I have to tell you about this twitter competition before it runs out.

Mainly because I have only just discovered the site Sarenza.co.uk and I am actually amazed at the amount of brands and number of shoes they have available in all shapes, styles and sizes.

Basically, Sarenza are running a twitter giveaway to win a pair of shoes from their site. All you have to do is follow SarenzaUK on twitter, tweet the link to the pair of shoes you are lusting after using the hashtag #AllIWantforChristmasisShoes

It's worth a shot, ain't it?

The competition closes on the 13th December - tomorrow!! .... and the winner picked on the 14th December. I will be tweeting my entry as soon as I can decide between this medley of tootsie delights ...

Carvela riding boots - I have yet to find the perfect winter boot

Dainty, vintage-esque but still practical, well, a little

Green, flashy and total inspired by ...

Kelly Rowlands gorgeous green heels on the XFactor final :)

Oh, and just to let you know - only 1 entry is allowed per person/twitter account ... Dayum! ;)

Good Luck!

x

Interior Inspiration: Chesterfield Sofa

2011-12-07T19:05:00.001Z

I am set to move house this month and words can't tell you just how excited I am!

We have been looking for a house, an actual house with upstairs, downstairs, garden, garage, the whole shebang for quite a long time! At last we have found the perfect place to go in and make our mark on. I am mostly looking forward to the extra space as my husband and I have built up quite a collection of 'things' over the years.

I could post photos here of potential dressing room layouts, boudoir ideas or shoe storage but instead I want to show you something I really am dying to get my hands on and is not purely for selfish purposes (make-up room, anyone?). In my head I have the house decorated but I know things may change once I move in and 'feel' and 'live' my space. One thing is for sure, I want a new sofa.

Our current couch is a huge L-shaped Designers Guild comfort zone which I have adored over the past few years but I am not sure it will fit with my new lounge with it's huge bay windows and fireplace. The house dates back to the 1920's/30's and althought there is a big crossover with design in that era to now, I still want to keep some subtle traditional touches.

That's where the Chesterfield comes in. Traditional, classic, iconic and masculine. The Chesterfield is a masculine piece of furniture that is versatile enough to suit a traditional setting as well as a feminine or modern, contemporary decor.

One of my favourite rooms - I imagine my lounge similar to this

The perfect juxtaposition, traditional chesterfield with modern Tom Dixon light

Another favourite room - love the chandelier

It's known as a gentleman's chair but you can see from these stylish homes that it is a perfect choice in a mixed household. Incredibly hardwearing, the Chesterfield is a couch with class and status.

If only I could fast forward time and have the keys to my house now!

I have yet to decide on colour, material or size for my new chesterfield and no doubt will need some complementary chairs. So many ideas milling about in my head, it will be great to put them all into action shortly. I will be posting more of my inspiration ideas and hopefully be able to show you some before and after pics of the new house once we get started on it.

Roll on moving day! :)

What is your favourite style of sofa?

Outfit of the Night - ROX Gold Moet Christmas Party

2011-12-06T19:00:00.000Z

Since I posted my ROX party face of the night , I have managed to get a hold of a photo taken on the night that shows my full 'outfit of the night' ... such a naff title for a post really, don't you think?

Anyway, the ROX photographer was working the room and as guided by Toni he ended up taking some pics of a very reluctant not so style fairy!

The photo surprised me as my higglety-pigglety outfit turned out better than I expected. Having had a complete dress dilemna before the party, I ended up just throwing something together last minute that was more comfort and practical than glam and dolled up although it did have elements of the latter.

I finally decided on my Christopher Kane for Topshop embellished dress which i have had for a while now with some thick black tights to keep me warm in the Scottish baltic weather conditions. New Look platform booties were still comfortable even after an evening of standing around schmoozing and sipping (read: knocking back) cocktails at the bar. I accessorised with a chunky silver/diamante chain necklace and bracelet, making sure to keep it as minimal as possible given the dress is heavily embellished. Finally, a French Connection clutch finished the outfit off ... simply because it was the only black bag I could find as my taxi sat beeping away outside!

I find I can't handle bare legs and shoulders in the cold weather unless I have at least 3 layers to wrap in on my way home, which isn't always easy on a night out.

How do you look glam in the cold weather or are you just braver than me? ;)

x

Bambootastic ... Panda-Mania!

2011-12-05T19:57:00.001Z

I hope it hasn't gone without notice that 2 adorable, black and white fluffy bears have arrived in Scotland from China this week to make their new home at Edinburgh Zoo.

Tian Tian and Yang Guang are giant pandas and are the first to live in the UK for 17 years. The hopes are for them to mate and produce lots of fur ball babies during their stay here.

They arrived in their own private personalised jet!

Edinburgh Zoo is a childhood favourite of mine, I remember many trips through to watch the penguin parade so hopefully the arrival of the pandas will be just as exciting for a new generation of visitors.

To contribute to the upkeep of the Pandas at the Zoo and raise awareness about conservation, eco fashion brand Rapanui have teamed up with the Zoo to make t-shirts to be sold to visitors as a panda memento. The white t-shirts with black and white panda motif are available for men and women.

Rapanui have built quite a reputation after winning the RSPCA Innovation for Fashion award so it's quite the collaboration of the animal/fashion kingdom. The t-sirts made from Bamboo are edible (if you are a Panda) and is being hailed as the fabric of the future.

Mart Drake- Knight, co-founder and designer explains: "Bamboo is an amazing fabric, it is as soft as silk but half the price, it grows fast without water, pesticides or fertilisers. Bamboo has a lot of potential as a sustainable textile, not to mention the softness and kind-to-skin properties that make them feel great"

The t-shirts retail at £24.95 and are available to buy at the Rapanui website or at the Edinburgh Zoo gift shop. I think they are super cute!

Who is planning to visit the Pandas? What do you think of their arrival in the UK?

ROX Face of the night featuring Barry M

2011-12-04T22:21:00.001Z

Last night I went to the ROX Christmas Party at their boutique store in Argyle Arcade, Glasgow. It was an exciting night as the amazing Emeli Sandé was going to be perfoming and of course, ROX always put on a fabulously sparkling event.

I had been doing some make up work through the day on a gorgeous party girl so it left me very little time to get myself ready for my own night out. After the usual 'what to wear' dilemna (I opted for my Topshop Christopher Kane embellished tee dress) and a fluffy hair disaster (it ended up in a ponytail circa 1988) it was time to work on the make up.

The photos don't quite capture the sparkle i'm afraid

Given the festive season is now in full swing and it was Christmas party after all, it was time to bring out the sparkle. Just this week I had ordered some MAC pigments but they hadn't arrived so I had a root around in my stash and re-discovered some old favourites in the form of Barry M fine glitter dusts which at £4.59 are a far cheaper alternative to MAC pigments but do the job very well indeed.

without flash above, with flash below

A silver grey smokey eye was order of the night with the Barry M glitter dust in Silver giving me an injection of festive bling.

Products used: Illamasqua Skin Base Shade 7 (not sold on this although it's more of a shade problem); MAC select cover up concealer; Sleek Molten Metal in Silver as an eye base; Estee Lauder Platinum shadow over lid; MAC Carbon worked into crease; MAC Blacktrack; Ardell Demi lashes; Barry M Fine Glitter dust in Silver; Illamasqua blush in unrequited; NARS Laguna; Nude lipstick - not sure of brand; Clinique Fireberry lipgloss

Back to the ROX party. Just a few things to point out. First up the amazing Emeli Sandé who is currently supporting Coldplay on their UK tour, gave a flawless performance. It was a real treat to be a part of such an intimate and exclusive audience and I can guarantee Emeli is going to be MASSIVE. Emeli is also utterly gorgeous to add to her talents, you can catch a snippet of her performance in a shakey video I took here.

Next is a shout out to the cocktails on offer, all made using Pinky vodka which is a favourite of mine and I always make sure my vodka cupboard is never without it (yup, we have a space dedicated to vodka ... we don't have a problem, honest!). Pinky vodka is pink, funnily enough, is hand blended using rose petals among other things and is a fabulously sophisticated beverage that works best, in my opinion, in a cocktail. Vodka connoiseurs should give it a go for something a little bit different.

Thanks to ROX for kicking off my party season ... I will be suitably exhausted by the time 2012 gets here but I wouldn't have it any other way :)

Have you kicked off the party season yet? What are your party make up tips?

x

Holidays are coming ....

2011-12-04T20:56:00.000Z

It's only the blimmin' coca cola truck!!

This turned up outside the Rihanna concert I went to last week (more to come on that in another post) ... it made for a perfect photo opportunity so Jen and I swooped on in on the lovely attendant who was willing to snap away for all the eager fans wanting their moment with the now infamous truck.

It was a welcome reminder that the holidays are indeed on their way which means lots of chocolate, some much needed time off work, lots of parties and lots of recovering on the couch with a heap of Christmas movies (... Elf, anyone?!).

Thankfully, I did the organised (read: boring) thing this weekend and completed and wrapped my full Christmas shopping list! Smug, much?

Have you made a dent in your Christmas list yet?

x

Pure Spa ... A Shopping Sanctuary

2011-11-30T14:21:00.000Z

Shopping and pampering don’t always go hand in hand for me. As much as I love a bit of retail therapy, it stresses me out – a mixture of impulse buys and a race to the last size 4 leopard loafers has me breaking out into a cold sweat, not to mention my measly looking bank balance at the end of it.

It had never occurred to me to visit a spa at a shopping centre before and in all honesty before my experience with one, I would have questioned the quality. Location, location, location …. But maybe Pure Spa have hit the nail on the proverbial head with their shopping centre based salons.

I was invited along to try out Pure Spa at Silverburn Shopping Centre, just outside Glasgow. I was well aware of it’s whereabouts on the 2nd Floor of the centre as my 2 sisters-in-law visit regularly but I was still a bit of a cynic. Surely, it was hard to leave the noise and buzz of the crowds below, even in the confines of a spa…

I was wrong. The minute I entered the salon, I was met with friendly staff who made me feel comfortable and the sense of calm and tranquillity in the salon was immediately noticeable. The salon looks deceivably small and I wondered where I would having my facial with only some nail stations and pedicure thrones in my visibility. However, what seemed like secret rooms lie beyond the reception of the salon and it’s behind these doors that the pamper journey begins.

Behind the doors are ample changing rooms and a snoozy chill out room for some extra downtime between treatments. The treatment rooms were dotted around the chill out room so you could literally roll off the bed and onto a comfy lounger to relax a little longer after your pamper session. I was booked in for a facial and I was delighted to see Pure Spa use Elemis products. It has been a long time since I have used Elemis but it has always been one of my favourite brands for skincare products and everything smells divine! I was given a quick foot massage (which I squirmed the whole way through as I am so tickly) before going through a skin consultation with my therapist and settling on the Visible Brilliance Anti-Ageing Facial.

The next 40 minutes were sheer bliss. My skin was cleansed, massaged, oiled up and completely re-hydrated while I lay snoozing and hoping beyond all hope I wasn’t snoring!! My skin felt completely refreshed at the end with the oils left on to absorb throughout the rest of my evening.

Unlike my initial opinion, it didn’t feel weird at all being in a spa in the middle of a shopping centre, instead feeling like a sanctuary from the madness of spending too many pennies and stressing about the next party outfit to be had. The quality of the salon and the therapists were also certainly not scrimped on like my pre-conceived notion of a shoddy get up for ‘on the run’ females looking for a quick nail fix or a half leg wax. In fact, I look forward to when I can visit again with a friend for a day of what we love most, shopping and pampering!!

You can find Pure Spa's at Silverburn Glasgow, Ocean Terminal Edinburgh, Union Square Aberdeen and Lothian Road Edinburgh. They have lots of great packages available for Christmas which may act as a saviour after some hectic Christmas Shopping!

Treat yourself with Aromatherapy Associates

2011-11-27T20:45:00.001Z

It's always around this time of year I up the pampering game. The party season and cosy nights in always calls for an extra bit of TLC and one of the things I always look forward to are my long, lingering bath time rituals through the colder season.

Aromatherapy Associates is a bit of Christmas treat for me, I usually stock up on some products (my favourite is the Deep Relax bath oil) and it's a sure bet it will feature in a friends Christmas booty from me. This year they have these adorable stocking fillers which double up as tree decorations with mini versions of your favourite bath oils. At only £10, it's an affordable splurge on some gorgeous essential oils.

For an extra wee treat though, Aromatherapy Associates have just launched their new flagship boutique at Montpelier Street, London.

Bah, if only I lived closer! It's a stunning salon with not only the full range of products available for sale but also treatments in their relaxing 'bedroom feel' treatment rooms. From facials to 'stress buster' massages, the aromatherapy associates treatment menu offers a therapeutic experience using their famed essential oils. I can only imagine how amazing this boutique must smell.

There is even the chance to have a one to one consultation with Aromatherapy Associates co-founder, Geraldine Howard who will create a bespoke blend of essential oils especially for you.

To visit the boutique you can visit the website here. I know where I will be treating myself the next time i'm in LDN!

x

You've got to be in it to win it!

2011-11-23T13:00:00.000Z

A few weeks ago I posted about L'oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss competition. They are looking for 3 girls to star in the next advert alongside the nations darling, Cheryl Cole.

The competition is coming to an end so if you haven't entered, it's not too late!

All you have to do is click the application button on the left hand side, upload your photo then make sure you get everyone to vote for you between 28th November and 4th December 2011.
You still have until the 27th November to enter the competition by visiting the L'Oreal Paris Facebook page.

All you have to do is click the application button on the left hand side, upload your photo then make sure you get everyone to vote for you between 28th November and 4th December 2011.

The most votes wins the coveted position and their fifteen minutes of fame (or more). So go on, you've got to be in it to win it!

Dislcaimer: Opens to female UK and ROI residents aged 16+. Entrants must register with L’Oréal Insider, colour their hair using Casting Crème Gloss and upload a photo on facebook. No purchase necessary. Closing date 27/11/2011. For full Terms & Conditions and to enter visit this page

This time tomorrow ...

2011-11-22T21:38:00.000Z

... I will be singing my lungs out and bopping about to the one and only Rihanna!!

I cannot tell you how excited I am to go, not to mention the fact that I am going with my buddy Jen who I don't get to see too often as we live miles apart (our lass is a Geordie).

The tour is sponsored by Nivea who are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year and Rihanna just happens to be the voice of the centennial celebrations! Thanks to Nivea, I have been given the opportunity to go along and watch this utter goddess of pop perform! The Nivea tour bus will also be at the venue so hopefully I will get to pop on for a nosey.

Who knows, maybe I will bump into the lady herself *I die*

Now I need to go panic about what to wear ... ;)

Leighton Denny Baby Doll NOTD

2011-11-17T21:42:00.000Z

I recently posted about Octobers GlossyBox and one of the products inside I was really looking forward to trying was Leighton Denny's nail polish in Baby Doll.

Baby Doll is a gorgeous, milk candy pink, reminiscent of pepto bismal but in a nice way!

I was surprised at how opaque the shade was when applied. I expected it to be sheer but I loved it's thick coating of colour. One coat appears slightly streaky so a second coat was needed to even it out. The finish is glossy and quite bold as it is quite an in your face Barbie pink.

It definitely looks better with a tan which also helps the colour make an impact. I've only had it on 24 hours but so far no chipping.

I do really like the colour but I'm not sure if it's just too girly for me but it's a lovely change from my usual nail choices.

What do you think of Baby Doll?

Nails Inc Magnetic Range

2011-11-14T09:00:00.001Z

A couple of weeks ago I told you about my Nails Inc gel nails and harped on about my love and amazement of their new magnetic range.

A few nights ago while treating Ann from Girlinthecityg to her belated birthday treat by popping her Yo Sushi! cherry, we also got the chance to go into Nails Inc, right next door at House of Fraser. We were treated to some lovely manicures and naturally I went straight for the metallic range.

Magnetic nails guarantee the wow factor and since sporting them, everyone has been asking for a closer look and asking how exactly do they do it. Let me tell you ...

The polish formula has been specially developed with metallic particles which create a patter on the nails used magnetic forces. The magnet, housed in the lid of the polish is held over your nail after applying the shade and that's when the magic happens. The iron powder in the formulation gravitates toward the magnet forming a design to create a unique finish. The magnet can also be held in different directions to create slightly different looks.

There are 3 shades in the range, Houses of Parliament (a gorgeous heather purple - my fave), Trafalgar Square (silver) and Big Ben (a beautiful gold shade but the magnet doesn't really do much for it unfortunately and I have also noticed seems to be removed from the website!).

As I said, Houses of Parliament is my favourite of the 3 available shades so that's what I went for. I absolutely love it and everyone wants a closer look at my nails. The only downside however is that they seem to have chipped quite a bit since Thursday but not enough to merit a re-paint as yet.

Each polish is priced at £13 and a half hour heavenly hand manicure using magnetic polish is priced at £38. I honestly think they are a fab Christmas gift for manicure junkies out there.

What's your take on magnetic nails?

x

GlossyBox October

2011-11-13T14:19:00.000Z

Last month I got to try out the wonders of the beauty box concept courtesy of Boudoir Prive.

Glossybox, possibly the most popular and the first to start (I think - correct me if that's wrong) of the beauty box phenomenon have since been in touch asking if I would like to try out their 6th edition of luxe beauty samples as their 6th box promised to be a goody!

Much like other beauty boxes, the Glossybox arrives, beautifully presented which makes it's arrival feel all the more special and exciting.

Box Contents:

Dermalogica Age Smart: Multivitamin Thermafliant; Multivitamin Power Recover Masque; Renewal Lip Complex (with beauty Bag). 3 mini sized products and a cute little bag to house them all in. The bag is a bonus really but it goes without saying that Dermalogica are a fabulous brand who know their skincare inside out. I have used Dermalogica on and off for years and I am always more than happy with the results.

Leighton Denny Expert Nails Colour & Care Polish in BABYDOLL: Can you believe I have still never tried Leighton Denny nail colours despite hearing plenty of good reviews about them?! I haven't tried this one out yet but look out for it in an upcoming Nail of the Day post. I can tell already I am going to love this shade, girly, sweet and candy like.

STILA Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in MORAY: The Stila brand has recently been resurrected in the UK much to my pleasure and this sample just serves as a reminder that they are back and won't go unnoticed. The colour of this liner is beautiful and so unusual, a mossy, olive green with gold flecks, it applies smoothly and softly on the skin and is kind to the delicate eye area. The swatch you see here was still clearly visible after at least 5 hand washes ... A job well done for a waterproof product.

Robert Piguet Eau de Parfums: Hailed as the 'most Parisian of Fashion Designers' (what does that even me), three signature scents, Fracas, Calypso and Visa are the works of Robert Piguet. I wouldn't say they are everyones cup of tea but I like the darkness and muskiness of the scents, my favourite being Calypso.

Another lovely offering from the Beauty Box brigade.

To subscribe to Glossybox it's £10 per month plus p+p ... you can find out more about it at the Glossbox website here.

So who is signed up to Glossybox? How do other months boxes compare?

x

Glitter Heels

2011-11-10T09:37:00.000Z

Thanks to the likes of Miu Miu and Jeffrey Campbell, it seems this season everyone is going a little crazy for some ba-bling-ba-bling on their footwear.

I am definitely not exempt from this, as a natural magpie, anything with a little bit of sparkle usually ends up on my lust list.

There is no way I could justify a huge spend on something I see as a passing phase so it was a disco loving girls dream to find these bobby dazzlers in New Look of all places.

It's fair to say that New Look shoe department is an absolute gem of a shopping experience. Cheap, fashionable shoes, reasonable quality with most shoes I've bought from New Look having lasted the test of time. I should show you a pair of 8 year old purple platform stilettos - still in fantastic condition!

I digress...

A beautiful plum shade, perfect for autumn/winter, a concealed platform for a bit of extra leg slimming and height and the goldest glitter heels this side of the High Street.

You can't tell to look at them but they are also pretty comfortable for their height. A bargain at £35 but I was lucky enough to grab them in a 50% off deal.

One small problem however, I have no idea what to wear them with!

Suggestions on a postcard please :)

What do you think of New Look shoes? Would you wear glitter heels?

x

BM Beauty Mineral Blush

2011-11-09T19:34:00.000Z

BM Beauty is a relatively new brand of mineralised make up, co-founded by Laura McComiskie and Kimberly Wyatt of the Pussycat Dolls, their mineralised make up range is free from bismuth oxychloride, parabens, nano particles and synthetic dyes and fragrances.

Yes, I had to google some of those words too ;) From foundations to eyeshadow, the range is vast and all cruelty free with a stamp of approval from PETA and BUAV.

I was sent a sample of the mineral blush in colour, Velvet Dawn. Normally, I steer clear from mineralised products. There are a couple of things in my collection but to be honest I never use them but that didn't stop me putting this blush to the test.

I wore the blush every day for near enough a fortnight. The first thing I noticed was how soft the formulation is, however, it wasn't as finely milled as I would have hoped, although this is not necessarily a bad thing. The shade Velvet Dawn is a bright dusky pink with shimmer. Not glitter, there are no chunks in this, simply a little sheen that provides the teensiest of sparkle when the light hits it.

To apply to the cheek, it appears pigmented and creates a beautiful glow to the skin. The shimmer isn't too much to be worn through the day and retains a natural freshness that seems to come hand in hand with mineral make up products. It doesn't feel like a powder sitting on top of your skin which I really liked as well as it feeling extremely lightweight. However, after a couple of hours it fades quite a bit and I definitely feel the need to re-apply.

For 4g of blush, it's £8 which I think is fairly reasonable as that is quite a bit of mineral for your buck. You can buy from here.

Has anyone else tried BM Beauty?

What is your take on mineral make up?

x

Cover FX

2011-11-08T20:46:00.000Z

It's the ultimate mission, to create the perfect make-up base. Made all the more harder if we suffer from skin conditions or problem areas such as acne, pigmentation, under eye darkness or rosacea.

Cosmetic brand, Cover FX looks to provide a solution for all such skin types in order to create that flawless finish for everyone. Created by Lee Graff, a corrective make up specialist and cosmetic engineer (yes there is such a profession) Jenny Frankel, Cover FX is a range that promotes self esteem and confidence by taking control of your appearance.

Don't be mistaken, this is not just a range for those with skin imperfections, anyone can use Cover FX to create a perfect base. In fact, it is used by many celebrities and apparently a favourite of Beyonce. If it's good enough for Sasha Fierce ....

The range consists mostly of base products such as primers, foundation, concealers, setting powder but they have branched out to colour products like lipgloss and blush.

Wanda, Me and Lee

Cover FX has recently launched at Harvey Nichols, Edinburgh where it is exclusively stocked in Scotland and I was asked if I would like to come in and meet with Lee Graff and Cover FX make up artist Wanda Longo to try out the range for myself and be made over using their products.

It was fantastic to meet Lee and Wanda, hear the story behind their extensive careers which eventually led to the Cover FX brand and of course to be made over by Wanda using Cover FX products.

My Wanda make-over. Wearing Cover FX Primer, Liquid Natural Foundation, Concealer, Blush and Lipgloss

Now there are things I really like about the brand and some things I am not such a fan of. I particularly love the anti-ageing skin prime fx which feels so silky on the skin and the natural fx foundation. The blush collection is also extremely pigmented with amazing longevity although may be a little shimmery for some.

My skin looks good for such a close encounter with the camera!

The extensive range of shades really appeals to me - there is a shade for everyone regardless of skin tone or shade. It really does try to cater for all. Also dependant on skin condition there are different recommendations of products which you can find on their website. For instance, they recommend acne sufferers prime the skin, blot it with a matte powder then use a pressed mineral foundation to create a flawless finish.

I am not so much in love with their setting powders as I find them a little on the cakey side and creates a little flashback when taking photos. However, it's a great range, brilliant concept and I will continue to experiment with the brand.

You can find Cover FX stocked at Harvey Nichols.

x

YSL Shocking Mascara

2011-11-02T18:31:00.000Z

I love big lashes, black lashes, in your face lashes. I pile on the mascara like there is no tomorrow to achieve the thickest, bushiest of lashes. You see, I just feel naked without it.

I was a fan of YSL Faux Cils and Singulier mascara so when I was asked if I would like to try their new false lash effect offering, YSL Shocking, I obviously jumped all over that bad boy.

My first attempt at this mascara wasn't great. It is very very wet which made it blob - I hated this, however, I loved how dark it is (I have shade 'Deep Black') it is almost like black ink. The brush is long, slim and a little bit messy looking with it's multi direction bristles. Instead of dismiss it immediately, past experience has taught me to stick with a product a while before making a final call, and i'm glad I did.

After a week or so, the formula starts to dry out a little. Just enough to have more control of the wand and application and that's when you start to get the best results. While it is still wet, blobbing occurs, a lot. However, after it settles in its tube, I found I could layer it on my lashes, flaring them out where desired and really getting into the roots which was too hard to do beforehand without getting mascara all over my eyelids.

Excuse my early morning tired and red eyes!

Now the result isn't going to be everyones cup of tea. It is prone to clumping although this can easily be combed through but I quite like when it clumps especially with a smokey eye. It really lengthens and thickens the lashes making them appear big and almost baby doll like.

I tend not to have to curl my lashes with YSL Shocking but if I do, it holds the curl well. The best thing is I never feel the need to give my lashes the once over with the wand throughout the day or if I was freshening up my make up before leaving work for the day. It looks exactly as it does in the morning as it does at night.

However, do I think it's worth it's 'Shocking' title and £22 price tag. Yes and No. Yes, as I love the mascara, it's great to work with (after those first few days), it gives a pigmented and voluminous finish and lasts the entire day and then some. No, because it's not that different from the YSL faux cils formula however, if you like faux cils then i'm sure you would also love YSL Shocking.

Have you tried YSL Shocking? What's your verdict?

x

Are you worth it?

2011-11-01T22:17:00.000Z

Getting your hair swish on is a girls prerogative, right?

Well, now you can do something with that swish thanks to a new campaign from L'Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss.

L'Oreal Paris are looking for 3 girls to star in the next Casting Creme Gloss advert alongside spokesmodel, Cheryl Cole. Whether you are a deep brunette, honey blonde, or my favourite, fiery redhead ... you could be the next colour crush!

From 31 October to 27th November you will be able to enter the competition by visiting the L'Oreal Paris Facebook page and click on the application button on the left hand side. Upload a photo of yourself and after that it's down to the vote so make sure your friends and family get clicking for your win from the 28th November to 4th December 2011.

The most popular brunettes, blondes and redheads will be shortlisted for a casting day where you will be preened to perfection in preparation for a live audition in front of a panel of judges. The winners will be chosen to appear in an exclusive new L'Oreal Paris advert alongside Cheryl.

So go on, prove you're worth it!

Dislcaimer: Opens to female UK and ROI residents aged 16+. Entrants must register with L’Oréal Insider, colour their hair using Casting Crème Gloss and upload a photo on facebook. No purchase necessary. Closing date 27/11/2011. For full Terms & Conditions and to enter visit this page

x

Christmassy Nail of the Day

2011-10-31T21:27:00.002Z

The Christmas season is around the corner, only 8 weeks away!! Yikes!

Soon we will all be panic buying last minute gifts and squeezing ourselves into our party dresses after one too many Quality Street!

Tonight, a bit by accident I created a 'Christmassy' nail effect. I had been gifted this gorgeous classic red 'Enchanted Garnet' by Estee Lauder a while ago and this is my first time trying it out. It just so happened to be sitting next to Nails Inc Westminster Abbey so I thought I would mix them up together.

Rather shoddily applied I admit but you get the general effect. In fact on reflection, I've recreated the Estee lauder bottle design on my nails!!

This is the first time I have painted my nails in months after a succession of gel nails. It felt good to delve back into the collection. I do love the ease, glossiness and polished finish of gel nails but as hard as I try I always end up biting them off around the 2 week mark! (I don't advise this as a safe, hygienic or comfortable method of removing gel nails).

I'm sure I will resort back to gels in a matter of weeks, especially in the run up to the party season. Watch this space!

x

Hotel Maison Moschino, Milan

2011-10-30T23:26:00.002Z

I was having a quick browse for weekend breaks, pricing flights, accommodation and what not when I came across the Hotel Maison Moschino in Milan.

I have to be honest, I am a big fan of themed hotels. I love the quirkiness, the fun and the downright tackiness that gives this hotel a whole lot of personality.

Inspired by fairytales, they say it is like falling down the rabbit's hole where the norm is to expect the unexpected.

'Alice's Room'

'Sleeping in a Ballgown'

'Sweet Room'

'Little Red Riding Hood'

Needless to say, I was enjoying the entertainment value of the Hotel Maison Moschino so much that I was too busy to book my weekend away so that will have to wait for another day.

x

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-29T19:00:00.001+01:00

It's the spooking season again and unfortunately this year there will be no dress up for me :(

A busy schedule has called for a well needed/earned rest this weekend - can't say i'm not extremely jealous of everyone getting to dress up though ... love indulging in a bit of creative alter ego madness!

This is what I wore for the ITCOW event on Wednesday night. There was a tedious link to Horror B Movies in there with the cat mask (Catpeople, Eye of the Cat) but it was mostly just because I liked it!

I tried to make my lips look blood drenched by wearing MAC Russian Red with Nars Amazon lip pencil roughly penciled on the middle of my lips. I went for full graphic eyeliner to add to the horror chic! Lace dress is the one that everyone and their mother is wearing at the moment, from trusty H&M.

Whatever you are dressing up as tonight, have fun and stay safe! Looking forward to seeing lots of blog updates of halloween outfits so hope you have all been creative :)

x

ITCOW Highlights (picture heavy)

2011-10-29T18:15:00.002+01:00

I thought I would show you some photos from the recent In The Company of Wolves (ITCOW) event I mentioned I would be attending on Wednesday.

You can hear more about it from Claire who along with her friend Ally is the genius behind ITCOW.

A 70's B Movie horrorfest inspired evening of fashion, music and art did not fail to impress. It packed a real punch in it's overall aesthetic, mental stobe lighting not to mention music by Dirty Larry that nearly had us all raving by the side of the catwalk! I also have to make a special mention to Kaeleigh Wallace who was the make-up sensation of the evening, a super talented artist, the girls diva like make up looked amazing!

Highlights for me where Isolated Heroes (psychadelic navajo-esque with a show stopping sequinned skeleton dress), Sweet Danger (printed floaty maxi's), Fair Feathered Friend (Bespoke feather headwear - right up my street), Jeniveve Berlin Millinery (more bespoke headwear) and not to forget Athif Dean's horsehair dress and the delights from Bonnie Bling.

In summary, the whole show was a veritable feast for the senses.

Venue: Sub Club, Glasgow

Sweet Danger

LilyLoveLock

Jeniveve Berlin Millinery

Athif Dean

Isolated Heroes

Fair Feathered Friend

Bonnie Bling

IN THE COMPANY OF WOLVES

2011-10-26T17:59:00.001+01:00

Showcasing the best of Scottish talent in Fashion, Music and Art, the award winning multimedia event buffs, In the Company of Wolves are set to present yet another remarkable event this evening at their 'spiritual home' and my dancefloor of choice, Sub Club in Glasgow.

The evening is inspired by the creepiest of 70's B movie horrors, with a nod to Dario Argento, Will Castle, John Carpenter and Cannibal Girls. With visuals from Florence To, art from Claudia Nova & Rachel Sharpe, music by Dirty Larry not to mention the plethora of exclusive never seen before collections from some of the freshest talent, tonights event is set to be a unique blend of fashion, art and music in only a way ITCOW know how!

If you are looking for something to do tonight and you haven't already heard about what's going down at the subbie, why don't you tumble on down. It's £10 a ticket (all profits raised will be donated to Rape Crisis Scotland) and it all kicks off at 8pm.

x

ROX hosts an evening with Shaun Leane

2011-10-24T21:39:00.001+01:00

Last week I had a great time at an evening with the ever so talented designer Shaun Leane at Glasgow's most prestigious and glamorous of fine jewellery boutiques, ROX.

With bubbles and bling surrounding us, we were treated to displays of Shaun's work along with the main man there himself being interviewed by Michelle Haswell from the amazing Kingdom of Style.

We learned how Shaun worked closely with Alexander McQueen throughout his career and how he continues to influence a lot of his work. We also got to ogle at some of his bespoke designs including this brooch for Sarah Jessica Parker and Shaun also talked of one of his latest collaborations with Daphne Guinness - the Diamond Glove. It's stunning!

From his collection available online and at ROX, there are a few things I have pending on the 'ole Chrimbo list.

Gold Vermeil & Ivory Resin Bangle

Silver Blackthorn Ring with Black Pearls

A girl can wish can't she? Let's hope someone (wink, wink) takes the hint ... :)

There were a number of other bloggers also at the event, too many to name all of them here but it was brilliant to catch up with them all and hope to see them again soon! Obviously in true 'schleb' style, ROX were papping everyone as we entered the soiree ... here's Amanda and I doing our best awkward posing (we really need to get some practise in ;p)!

Has anyone else been admiring Shaun Leane and his incredible designs?

If you haven't, I urge you to check out his work here. You won't be disappointed!

x

Manicures and Bubbles

2011-10-23T17:02:00.002+01:00

I have been back and forth to Edinburgh loads recently, a trip I always love to make as Edinburgh is so gorgeous so it's never feels like chore despite the 50 minute journey.

My last trip was especially good as it involved a bit of pampering at Nails Inc's Champagne Bar at Harvey Nichols. Based on the ground floor beauty hall, the nail bar has been there for quite some time but has had bit of a makeover in recent months.

Sask enjoying some bubbly! Photo courtesy of Christina - The Daydreamer

The only Nails Inc Champagne bar in Scotland (there is a Nails Inc bar in Glasgow albeit sans the bubbly) ... it now boasts 10 nail stations where the fizz comes as standard. The manicurists are friendly and informative and you can tell they are passionate about their products which makes a visit all the more enjoyable.

I went for the gel 3-week manicure in a lush purple shade (sorry, I can't for the life of me remember the actual shade!) and on my index finger I tried out the latest Gossip Girl glitter collection. It wasn't just the Gossip Girl collection that caught my eye, I am now obsessed with their magnetic range which I HAVE to get my hands on! It's just so simple, easy and effective, the results look wicked so I do urge you to check it out.

Image from Nailsinc.com - Metallic Collection

I also found out the bar is available for parties and hen do's which I love the sound of. What's better than to have a bit of pampering and bubbly with your 10 favourite girlies before painting the town red?!

And talking of favourite girlies, it was brilliant to finally meet Christina from The Daydreamer blog who I have been twitter chatting with for a while now. Check out her take on the Nails Inc Champagne Bar and the amazing crystal pedicure she had done - it is stunning!! It was also a pleasure to meet up with another Scottish blogger and fellow redhead Merle from Beauty Bombshells who I have met a couple of times now and always fun to catch up with.

Who Invented Heels?

2011-10-15T12:00:00.000+01:00

From my Tumblr site

Jeffrey Campbell Glitter Lita at Doll Boutique

Topshop

Want!

x

Japonesque Lip Palette

2011-10-14T22:31:00.000+01:00

... Painstakingly decanting my kit lippies into my new Japonesque 36 lip palette.

It's just too much to carry around lots of individual lippies in my kit. It's heavy and takes up far too much space so this is a perfect solution.

The Japonesque palette is a handy and very lightweight item however it does feel a little bit flimsy for the price. I paid about £23 for it and I can imagine it won't be long before it breaks on me which is a little disappointing. BUT ... I could be wrong.

I have so many more lipsticks to decant and will probably need a few more palettes but I would like to see how I go with this one first before purchasing more.

I have tried to make this a multi choice palette ranging from reds, oranges, peaches, pinks and nudes. The brands also range from MAC, Estee Lauder, Shu Uemura to Barry M and Rimmel. Hopefully it works as a one stop shop until I can arrange all my other lipsticks.

Does anyone else use these palettes?

x

Shine a Light on Breast Cancer

2011-10-10T22:39:00.000+01:00

Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Month is well underway and while there are a sea of pink products are helping support the cause, Estee Lauder have introduced a social media program to help give a voice to the campaign.

'Shine a Light on Breast Cancer' is a social media program that invites individuals to share the all important message that early detection saves lives through a facebook application and the BCAcampaign.com website. The theme of the campaign is "Together. Connect. Communicate. Conquer. For a future Free of Breast Cancer".

The Shine a Light on Breast Cancer campaign encourages people to take virtual action in lighting the world pink through a global online dialogue sharing messages of hope and inspiration.

You can find out more at the BCA Facebook page, the BCACampaign website and of course on twitter @BCACampaign.

x

Hairspiration: The Top Sknot!

2011-10-09T09:00:00.000+01:00

My lazy hair style of choice is the top knot. I have become far too lazy to wash, style, straighten/curl my hair these days and find it easier to scrape up in a huge big bun on top of my head.

I have now stopped feeling normal unless my hair is sweeped up in some form of nonchalant bun. However, it gets a bit boring when people see you looking the same all the time, so to mix it up I have started wearing my bun to the side in a look that I like to call - the top sknot! A top knot to the side.

Hardly groundbreaking.

It adds a little variation to a style I love and gives it a bit of edge for nights out. Here is my inspiration.

Sourced from Stockholm Street Style

I am not sure I could brave a full on bun to the top, side and front of my head like Thandie Newton but I like to give these other styles a go once in a while.

What do you think of the top sknot?

x

BearPaw - the Ugg-a-likes ...

2011-10-08T11:13:00.000+01:00

Summer is over and the shopping for a winter wardrobe has officially begun.

A Scottish winter isn't just a cold one, we get pelted with extreme wind, rain and as we experienced last year, snow! North of the border we take quite a pride in our appearance but the practicalities of winter can make it difficult and usually through the colder months, a sea of Ugg boots pound the streets as they battle their way through the weather.

This was the year I promised to ditch the wag-a-licious Ugg boot. However, a shopping trip this week swayed me again. You just can't beat a soft, cosy, comfortable boot when going about daily menial tasks (even if i do look like a TOWIE reject).

I was damned if I was paying nearly £180 for a new pair of Ugg boots and promised not to go fake after seeing this article. When I stumbled across a pair of branded chocolate brown Ugg-a-likes in TK Maxx this week I chose to reconsider my decision to turn my back on uggly but practical footwear.

BearPaw are an American brand of Ugg-a-likes sold at a fraction of the price. Roughly around £60-£90. They are worn by the likes of Jennifer Anniston and J-Lo according to the press, not that this impacted my purchase at all. They are made of the same materials as Ugg and apparently the only difference is the sole. As far as i'm aware Ugg soles are made from a special kind of foam and BearPaw are made from rubber. This makes sense after comparing my new BearPaw with an old and battered pair of Uggs.

The sole and support seem pretty sturdy so hopefully I won't get the dreaded sloppy heel which even my old Uggs gave me despite guarantees of extra support. And the grips are, well, grippy! All I need to do now is waterproof the boots so I can splash about in the slushy scottish streets which no doubt will hit us soon :(

And why am I raving about such a bland purchase? Let me tell you... all I paid was £37! Which saves me more money to spend on a luxe pair of boots for some winter posing ;)

So, if you see me out and about in my BearPaws, please don't judge, my tootsies just want to stay cosy.

Oh yeah, and do you call all boots of this style Ugg regardless of their own brand? It's a bit like cellotape, hoover and tippex in my eyes. A name that will forever be associated with this style of boot.

Who else favours practical winter footwear?

x

The Beauty Store - 10% Discount off treatments

2011-10-05T14:53:00.000+01:00

The Beauty Store situated in the nooks and crannies of Glasgow's Royal Exchange Square is a tranquil haven in the middle of the city centre that has almost become Glasgow's best kept beauty secret until now.

I first visited the salon over 5 years ago and since then it has gone through an extensive and rather plus revamp. Decorated in shades of white and peaceful greys, it's a picture of elegant glamour.

They offer an extensive list of treatments from tanning to waxing to manicures. Last night I was invited to the salon to try out their Shellac.

I am becoming slightly obsessed with a gel nail these days. I went for a retro inspired deep red to match my go to Autumn/Winter lip colour - berry red!

For the month of October, The Beauty Store are offering all you guys and gals who read Saskia the Style Fairy to come along and receive your first treatment with a 10% discount code.

A friend who is a regular client at The Beauty Store has informed me they do the best and most pain-free (is this possible) bikini waxing so I have already booked up for that using my discount voucher :)

Enjoy, and do let me know what treatement you go for! I'd love to know what kind of pampering you all love!

x

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: OPI

2011-10-04T09:00:00.000+01:00

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month so in true style, the brands of the beauty community have 'pinked' up some of their products. I thought I would try and show you some of these products throughout the month and see what takes your fancy.

Today it's all about nail polish, shatter nail polish. OPI say 'let's shatter Breast Cancer' with their pink shatter topcoat. All bottles cost £10.50 with £1 going to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

You can purchase online at Lena White.

PIXIWOO Course August 2011

2011-10-03T09:00:00.001+01:00

Most of you may know by now that back in August I took part in the 5 day intensive make up training with Samantha and Nicola Chapman.

I have long wanted to pursue a career in make up, it's something I have debated doing since my university days but had so many other time consuming interests that it always got pushed to the back. However, over the years I have satiated the ambition with helping out friends, family and friends of friends with make up for events or simply the odd make up lesson here or there. My blog also came as a breath of fresh air 3 years ago when I started it mainly as a make up blog but since then it has grown arms and legs.

My destiny is in my own hands and it's up to me to do something about it and my first steps on that mission was the Pixiwoo course.

It all started with a gruelling journey to Norwich, who'd have thought it was so hard to get to from Bonnie Scotland but I made it in the end. I shouldn't forget to tell you what a beautiful and scenic place Norwich is ... it's absolutely lovely!

Meeting the Pixiwoo girls was a teeny bit of a starstruck moment, I was the first to arrive on day one and I'm not even sure I could find words to speak to them at first. If you know me, you will know this is totally out of character. I was struck instantly with how stunningly beautiful both Nic and Sam are in the flesh. They don't need a scrap of make up - lucky devils! Nic was also blooming in late pregnancy, giving us some R'n'B dance performances with her Harry bump, i've never seen such an agile preganant lady!

There were 9 girls on the course plus our gorgeous model Ashley and they were all a delight to learn with. I feel I have made some great friends which is a delightful bonus you don't necessarily expect.

So back to the course, we started off the week learning about hygiene, natural make-up, contouring and a classic smokey eye before moving onto creative/drag make up, period make up and then a bit of freestyling toward the end of the course. There wasn't a day that went by where we didn't leave the studio with a wild made up face as we experimented with products and looks on each other.

Examples of some of my coursework

The course definitely opened my eyes to areas I had previously ignored and helped me see where I needed extra coaching and practise. It has definitely set me in good stead for starting as a freelance make-up artist and I now have a qualification to prove I know what I'm doing, something I wouldn't dare start a business without.

It was a fantastic week and the girls on the course as well as Sam and Nic really made it all the more enjoyable. It was so sad to say goodbye to everyone but we are already in touch on a regular basis as we all pursue different routes in the world of make up artistry.

I have now set up as a freelance artist and I'm in the process of finalising my website and building my portfolio of work and already have a wedding and magazine shoot under my belt which I am over the moon about. I am still pursuing other interests especially within the realms of social media but who knows maybe one day this could be a full time career, here's hoping! :)

x

Scottish Ballet Autumn 2011

2011-10-02T19:31:00.000+01:00

So my obsession with ballet continues. On this occasion I went along to Scottish Ballets production of Kings 2 Ends by Jorma Elo and Pennies from Heaven by Ashley Page.

Rather than bore you with how amazing I thought it was, why not take a look for yourselves:

Scottish Ballet - Autumn 11 Part 2: Kings 2 Ends Trailer from Scottish Ballet on Vimeo.

Scottish Ballet: Autumn 11 Part 1 - Pennies from Heaven Trailer from Scottish Ballet on Vimeo.

If you have never been to the ballet before, I urge you to give it a try. There is nothing more moving than watching a story translated into dance and when you see the strength and ability of the dancers ... well, it just makes you want to get off the couch and get active!

x

Boudoir Prive

2011-10-02T11:58:00.000+01:00

Beauty boxes seem to be the latest trend for the beauty conscious, product obsessed gal. They work on a subscription basis, £10 a month gets you 5-6 deluxe samples (from reputable brands) for you to try out. Delivery is free and they arrive on your doorstep hassle free.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by the Boudoir Prive PR team asking if I would like to try out their September box. I thought it was a good way of trying before I buy so last week a pretty pink package arrived to my delight.

Beautifully packaged, the suspense of undressing the box to see what's inside is exciting enough never mind what the contents may be.

Box Contents:

Tropic Skincare Body Smooth: Founded by the Apprentice's Susan Ma (yup, this is her product line we all wondered about), this nourishing moisturiser is enriched with nourishing Sea Minerals, Jojoba and Macademia oil. It also smells like a zen like beauty spa - delightful.

Colbert MD Nourish Eye Cream: Apparently used my Kate Middleton and Sienna Miller, this cream rehydrates skin around the eyes and reduces puffiness and dark circles.

Cargo Cosmetics Boogie Nights Eye Pencil: A shimmery, glittery eye pencil perfect for nights out. I have yet to try this on my eyes but swatched on the back of my hand the colour (05 Aqua) is vibrant ant the shimmer is evident.

Zoya Nail Polish: I received the shade Marina from the new Smoke & Mirrors Collection for A/W 2011. I have never tried Zoya polishes so can't wait to try this one.

Agent Provocateur L'Agent: A seductive scent that will make you feel sexy, mysterious and captivating. Or so they claim. I have to say, I agree although I am a bit biased, I love all Agent Provocateurs boudoir like fragrances.

Macademia Hair Repair: An oil treatment, suitable for all hair types, ensures your hair is visibly smooth, frizz free and shiny. I was most excited to see this product as I am already a regular re-purchaser of this hair oil and have always intended to write a blog post about it. I actually spend around £4-5 just buying the sample size alone! I use it on my hair regularly to keep frizz at bay and keep it looking smooth. Only the tiniest amount of product is required so even this sample size will keep you going for months.

I love the idea of beauty boxes and for those with little time to research or hunt down samples themselves then it's a fairly inexpensive and effortless way to keep an eye on the latest products, trying before you buy.

If you are interested in a Boudoir Prive box you can find out more at www.boudoirprive.co.uk

x

Getting Inked!

2011-09-25T19:37:00.000+01:00

I make no secret of it that I would love a tattoo but can't decide where to get it or what to get.

On one hand I would like something quite bold in a very obvious place but on the other hand I worry about future employment prospects (a tattoo-ed face may not be the image a business wants to portray) and I do think it would be 'safer' to have it somewhere that could be hidden if needed (i.e, in front of Mummy & Daddy!!).

I got to dip my toe in the water so to speak while in Marrakech with a henna tattoo. Marrakech is awash with women offering henna designs with some of them even glittered and look absolutely stunning. I adore henna designs and it just happens to be one of the designs I had considered for a potential tat. I quite like the idea of having my hand done so asked the artist to create me something gorgeous. She initially tried me with red henna (original) but it didn't show up on my skin oddly enough, so she went with black.

I absolutely loved the result and after having it on for over a week now, I could definitely live with a hand tattoo so it's certainly food for thought.

x

Jessica GELeration at the Rainbow Rooms

2011-09-25T19:17:00.000+01:00

Before I jetted off to Morocco, I was in desperate need of a good manicure and pedicure, specifically gel. I knew I could rely on gel nails for my holiday as the finish is so groomed and the results last for up to 2 weeks.

I rather jammily ended up being sent to the Rainbow Rooms for their Jessica GELeration mani/pedi. I was looked after by Alison who kept me amused for the 2 hours as well as convincing me to have a wax at the end of the treatments but that's another story!!

Confident Coral

Jessica GELeration is applied exactly like Shellac as all gel nails are, it's just the branding and colour range that differs. I went with 'Confident Coral' on my hands and a dark wine shade on my toes, I'm afraid I can't remember the name.

I apologise profusely for this picture!!

Confident Coral is an utterly gorgeous, vibrant shade and was just perfect for a week in the sun. As much as I can't really tell any real difference between GELeration and Shellac, I did feel the quality of GELeration was slightly better and it seems to have lasted slightly longer but this could be down to a number of factors including not having to do any washing up or cleaning for a week while on vacation!

Prices start at £42 for Jessica GELeration at the Rainbow Rooms. Expensive but very pretty.

Do you have a preference in Gel nails?

x

Marrakech Outfit of the Night

2011-09-19T20:08:00.001+01:00

Here is an outfit of the night I took while on holiday. I managed to recycle this outfit and wore it twice, once in Marrakech then in Essaouira (something usually unheard of for me).

I wanted to make sure my shoulders were covered up and that I didn't expose too much skin. I rarely take heels on holiday but I threw a pair of wedges in last minute and I'm glad I did as this jumpsuit had super long legs.

Despite having invested in a super new camera, these photos still aren't very good - I can only blame my photographer ;)

Jumpsuit: Primark (last minute holiday buy but it is a LOVE purchase)

Belt: attached to jumpsuit

Wedges (Unseen): Topshop

Clutch: Warehouse

Ring: Primark (yup another cheapo)

Watch: Swatch

I love the wine shade of the jumpsuit, it looks so much richer than the actual price tag which is always a bonus when it comes to stores like Primark. I also really like the 70's feel to this outfit which went with a new style of wearing my hair.

I have been wearing my hair in a middle parting a lot recently since my fringe is growing out. It's a painful process and I am not convince a middle parting suits me but it helped to wear it like this on holiday as I managed to forget all my kirby grips and couldn't find any in Morocco to buy!

Tonight I finally managed to complete the upload of over 1000 photos I snapped in Marrakech and Essaouira so will try and share a few with you in some separate posts.

x

Social Media Week - Glasgow

2011-09-18T21:05:00.001+01:00

This week Social Media Week hits Glasgow with lots of fantastic events and seminars offering advice, assistance and insight into the world of social media whether from a business, voluntary or personal perspective.

You can find out more about the events taking place in Glasgow here.

I would especially love to go to the Fashion Blogging 101 event tomorrow evening but alas it is fully booked - being away on holiday during registration certainly has it's downside.

However, what will be keeping me awake tonight is the fact I am actually speaking at one of the events taking place tomorrow morning.

'Blog Off!' takes place tomorrow morning at Mansion House, Glasgow and is a session about starting your own blog or perhaps improving your existing blog. It will take you through the essentials you need to know to start up, how to drive traffic, create your own custom header or how to deal with brands and PR's.

It should be a pretty interesting topic to discuss with likeminded people and I just hope my 15 minute stint on the floor goes to plan. I am not sure how much I can say about my blog for 15 minutes but I guess I wouldn't be saying if it wasn't for all you little gems who still come back to read it time and time again and for that I am truly grateful!

x

I rocked the Kasbah!

2011-09-18T18:20:00.000+01:00

Well, Hello There!

Long time no see. I just arrived home from Morocco last night and already I am back to my busy as ever schedule. Before I left for my holiday, life took it's busiest turn yet and as much as it's exciting, it does get exhausting, so my break was very much needed.

My trip took in Marrakech and Essaouira in Morocco (thanks to @clairenelson for the Essaouira recommendation!). Both locations were amazing but I think my heart lies in the magic and madness of Marrakech. I have lots to fill you in on it and maybe some tips for anyone thinking of visiting but in the meantime here is a sneak peak of the my album wonderful sights of Morocco! :)

Enjoy

The iPhone Diaries ...

2011-09-03T15:35:00.001+01:00

It has been a struggle to dedicate time to blogging this week, I have been too busy setting up my business website, facebook, twitter, arranging and buying more goodies for my kit and taking on board all the advice from Sam and Nic after completing the Pixiwoo intensive training.

I am dying to tell you all about it and about my transition to working as a make up artist as it's been on the cards for a long time and something I have actively pursued over the last 10 years but simply hadn't had any formal training or the guts to actually pursue it as a career.

Anyway instead of yabbering on, here's a peek at what I have been getting up to recently through the eyes of my i-phone ...

A bit of chunky bling from Primarni ... I quite liked that it was tacky with a mix of feminine and masculine shapes and material. Sometimes you have to place tongue firmly in cheek when it comes to accessories.

Airport shopping, on my way home from Norwich I had a bit of a boring wait at Stansted Airport (that was until Danny Dyer ended up on my flight! Schwing!) . I amused myself at MAC, Mulberry and my favourite but overpriced All Saints. I was lucky, it was sale time, I picked up a maxi kaftan for my upcoming trip to Morocco :)

I tried these wedges on in All Saints. Loved them but didn't purchase. Regret.

Yoo Moo! Something else Stansted had me hooked on. I had never had this brand of frozen yoghurt where you fill your cup add some toppings, weigh then pay ... bit like pic'n'mix. It was delicious and I've been craving it ever since I got home. Is Yoo Moo available in Glasgow? If you know, inform me!

A somewhat shameful purchase. A 'fake' bag!!! I feel dirty to even admit it. But you know, the Celine Boston Tote is somewhere in the region of £2k and it would take me until 2020 to a) save up for it b) justify that gut wrenching cost on a bag. So, with the help of eBay I picked myself up a real leather version for £50. Feel free to judge.

Aaah Chanel D'Illusion Ombres. Everyone is raving about them, me included. The latest souffle like eye cream/shadow/mousse from Chanel come in an array of metallic shades and are part of their permanent line. I used some on the Pixiwoo course last week and loved them so picked up Epatant this week. I did a bit of midnight make up experimenting and I can safely say it is beautiful worn alone (bottom pic) but also does a wicked job of creating a dark, dramatic smokey eye when layered and blended with a darker shade (top pic). In this case I used MAC blackground. Think I may go for this smokey look tonight.

In other news, this time next week, I will be flying to Morocco so I need to get myself organised and packed. I am planning on taking minimal make up but not sure I can kid myself on by trying to downsize on the wardrobe. I also got my first DSLR this week - the Canon EOS 600D. I am still learning how to use it but hopefully you will see much better quality images here from now on.

Hope you are all having a fun weekend!!

x

Zen Lifestyle

2011-08-30T20:57:00.000+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I was invited along to gorgeous Zen Lifestyle at Teviot Place in the Edinburgh. Zen Lifestyle have a few salons around the city and have a wonderful reputation and numerous awards under their belt.

I went along to find out why ...

I was booked in for hot stone massage and shellac manicure, something I had been dying to try out. My therapist for the day was the gorgeous Katie (who has the most perfect skin ever!).

I have visited a lot of spa's recently and have tried various treatments but the hot stone massage is the one I keep coming back to. Let me tell you, the hot stone massage I received at Zen is one of the best I have experienced - it was absolute bliss!

This may all be thanks to Katie who used just the right amount of pressure and worked gently on my problem areas. What impressed me most was the after advice given. Usually I have my hour massage, I may get advised of some problem areas from the therapist but there is never really a solution. However, Katie made sure to let me know of certain exercises I could do to help ease pain and discomfort in my back as well as some yoga techniques to ease tight/stress areas. And the techniques she advised, really do help!

After my massage, I went upstairs to have my nails shellac'd and have a good gossip with Katie. A joy to chat too and she also did a fantastic job on my nails. Queue blurry photo ...

I also had to quiz Katie about her flawless skin. It seems she is one of the lucky ones who nature has been ever so kind to but she does owe some of it to the advice and products of Dr Murad, which is stocked at Zen Lifestyle.

Thanks to Zen Lifestyle and Katie for such a lovely, self indulgent day :)

x

This Week ...

2011-08-21T17:57:00.001+01:00

My niece, Pearl, started school ...

Some Colour Extreme coloured hair sprays arrived in the post ... wow! Can't wait to get experimenting with these.

I visited downtown Philadelphia. Glasgow's George Square has been completely madeover and styled as per the streets of Philadelphia ;) all for the sake of some guys new movie World War Z. Think the guys name is Brad Pitt ... Whatevs ... !!

My Lauren's Way tan arrived and I tried it for the first time on Friday night. It's now Sunday and as of this morning it was barely noticeable on my skin. I had such high hopes for this tan since hearing so many rave reviews. I am going to give it one more try (tonight) before I make my final judgement ... hopefully this application fares better.

This morning I made the lengthy trip to Norwich. It consists of a flight and 2 trains which doesn't sound like much but from getting up to getting to my hotel room it was a total of 9 hours ... exhausted.com! I am here to attend the Pixiwoo 5 day intensive make up course. It's something I haven't mentioned much of on my blog as I have debated for the last couple of years whether I should go down this route but I finally worked up the courage to grab the bull by the horns and now I am here. Norwich is a gorgeous little place so I am looking forward to exploring a bit more but for now, I am stuck in my hotel room, chilling out and watching a very snowy TV with only 2 channels. Ace.

I am pretty sure I am in for a hectic week of learning and meeting new friends but if I get a chance I will pop on and keep you posted on how I am getting on. Can't wait!

Getting my ROX on with David Coulthard

2011-08-16T10:00:00.000+01:00

Last Thursday I was invited along to a special event held in ROX Jewellers in Glasgow.

Scotland's very own David Coulthard was in town to launch his special edition watch for TW Steel. I let my husband tag along, a self titled watch connoiseur, he was in his element browsing the vast collection of watches and getting to see up close and personal the David Coulthard special edition watch.

Greeted by an F1 racing car parked outside the store, a glamorous evening awaited, set in the sumptuous Thrill Room of ROX, Argyle Arcade. We were treated to a DJ, F1 themed interactive games, F1 girls, overflowing Moet as well as French Martinis and platters of sushi.

David was interviewed on stage by Lee McKenzie, F1 commentator, another Scottish export. Their rapport with each other was fantastic which made for an enjoyable interview - probably one of the most endearing presentations of a celeb/sportsman I have seen or hear at any event. David came across very approachable as he later mingled with the crowd and words can't describe how beautiful his wife is.

While my husband ogled the watches, I was more interested in Rox own line of accessories, specifically their beaded charm bracelets which I am growing quite a collection of.

A sophisticated evening was topped off with pizza and beer on the way home. I'm all class!

x

Eazy Squeezy Sudocrem

2011-08-15T20:12:00.000+01:00

Sudocrem now comes in a tube!

Smaller, cuter, easier.

Pop it in your handbag and you're good to go.

Great for rashes, burns, bites, cuts and spots!!

Just a word of warning, be careful not to overuse on the face. Once in a while for a spot or 2 is fine but I've heard there are ingredients that can be potentially harmful to the sensitive skin on our faces. So take heed!

x

Inspired ....

2011-08-14T12:00:00.000+01:00

Earlier this week, I lusted over the House of Harlow jewellery collection over at ASOS.

Rings, earrings, cuffs, everything was tempting me but it was these little tribal-esque earrings that really caught my eye especially after my Navajo inspired post.

At £55 they aren't ridiculously priced given that they are gold plated and have Nicole Richie's name to them, however, that's £55 I just don't want to spend.

I needn't have worried though, an impromptu trip to Primark today found me a much cheaper alternative.

Certainly not identical and longer in length, these Primark earrings are certainly inspired by House of Harlow's offering.

Only £2 - what a bargain! I actually think these will suit me much better than HOH shorter style which may just highlight my round face. These seem to elongate and slim my face ... what's not to like?! ;)

I'm sure at some point they will turn my ears green or itch them like crazy given that a £2 price tag often means quality is lacking somewhere but you never know, it wouldn't be the first time that Primark has come up trumps!

x

Little Miss Sunshine - Nails Inc 40th Anniversary Collaboration

2011-08-13T22:13:00.000+01:00

Mr Men & Little Miss turn 40 this year and to celebrate Nails Inc have yet again collaborated to create a limited edition collection featuring Little Miss rather than the men. Sexist, much? ;)

You may have already have caught on to this collaboration a few months ago when the initial images were released but they are available to buy now. I was sent Little Miss Sunshine which is a lovely summery peachy shade.

Other shades in the collection are Little Miss Chatterbox - a murky mushroom, think Chanel Particuliere. Little Miss Naughty is a deep lilac/muted purple while Little Miss Splendid looks to be a bright mint green.

Nails Inc's Little Miss Sunshine is everything I wanted Barry M's Peach Melba today. The downside however is that at least 3 thick coats are needed to get a fully opaque, glossy finish. But it's a sweet, soft colour that looks so pretty on nails and is lovely for these final weeks left of Summer.

On another note in reference to Little Miss Sunshine... if you have never seen this movie before then it is a must see. It's quite a dark comedy but ultimately a feel good film ... in a very round about way. You'll know what I mean when you watch it.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and keeping safe.

x

Style Crush: Katie Shillingford

2011-08-10T10:00:00.001+01:00

I decided to feature Katie Shillingford, super talented stylist and Fashion Editor of Dazed & Confused for 2 reasons:

a) My previous post on dip dyed hair. It's quite possible that Katie was the real trendsetter for this having sported dipped ends for quite a few years it seems
b) She recently made headlines for her absolutely drop dead gorgeous Gareth Pugh wedding dress at her recent nuptials

Like so many editorial big wigs in the world of fashion she exudes that super cool exterior with a to-die-for wardrobe. I guess it comes with the territory.

And now for 'that' wedding dress...

Isn't it divine? Pale grey, gothically romantic with a 1930's deco vibe. It drapes over her shape perfectly and the sets of her pale pink locks perfectly. I love how she has styled her bridesmaids to beautifully complement her own dress without being overly similar or contrived.

It's obvious Katie loves to experiment with hair colour but pink hair on your wedding day, now that is brave.

x