Lifestyle and Parenting blog based in Surrey.

Sunday 31 August 2014

Gillette Venus & Olay Goddess Legs Challenge

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen some leg selfies appear in my photos this week - which is down to the blogger challenge from Venus to celebrate the release of their latest Venus & Olay Sugarberry razor.

I am a massive fan of the Venus & Olay razors - they glide so smoothly over my legs that I don't always need shower gel and cause me zero irritation due to the Olay moisture-boost shave bars either side of the 5 blades. If you haven't tried - I seriously recommend! To be honest I can't really smell much of as difference between the Sugarberry and the original fragrance, but the handle is now a hot pink, rather than the gold of the the original Venus-Olay collaboration. The RRP of the Razor and one cartridge is £10.99 but it is currently half price at Boots.

So here are my leg selfies and some pics of the new razor too....

gillette venus goddess legs

gillette venus goddess legs


gillette venus goddess legs

gillette venus goddess legs
gillette venus goddess legs

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Friday 29 August 2014

No 7 Summer Makeup: Look 6 The Purple Collection


The penultimate look for my series of No7 Summer makeup looks - this one is very purple - see my thoughts on my video - YouTube link here.



No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Quad in Purple Haze £10.50 
No7 Extreme Length Mascara £12.50 
No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Blackcurrant £6

no 7 purple make up

No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Quad in Purple Haze
No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Blackcurrant

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Wednesday 27 August 2014

Clarins New Ladylike Collection

Clarins New LadyLike Collection

Although I am gutted that Summer is coming to a close, I do love a change in season, especially with all of the new makeup collections hitting counters. Clarins is one of my fave luxury cosmetic brand (here is my post on their Spring 14 collection) and I'm always excited to see what they have in store with their new launches. The LadyLike collection for Autumn doesn't disappoint and I've been trying out a few of their new treats in the hope I look like a lady!

The Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base (£22) is a bit like foundation for your eye lids, evening out any imperfections, brightening the eyelids and providing a smooth base for your eye makeup. Using this product, I have found that my eye shadow has lasted better and has been held in place. This is probably a product for the more mature skin, as I don't think teens and early twenties would need the brightening effect or have too much to worry about in eyelid imperfections. Rating ***

I have fallen in love with the two Ombre Matte Cream-to-Powder Eyeshadows (£19) that I have tried. the creamy-powder formula is easy to apply and blends like a dream. I've been using Nude Pink as a base, with sparkle fray in they creases of my eyelid for a light smoky eye. Rating ****

Finally I've tried out the new Perfect Eyes and Brows Palette (£35) which contains mini tweezers, eyebrow brush and applicators - cute. The in-set instructions talk you through how to apply the powders to shape your brows, add holding wax (which I'm a little unsure of) and the luminous beige-pink shadow under your brow to set off the loo. Rating ****

Clarins New LadyLike Collection

Clarins New LadyLike Collection

Clarins New LadyLike Collection

Clarins New LadyLike Collection

Clarins New LadyLike Collection
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Tuesday 26 August 2014

No 7 Summer Makeup: Look 5 Red & Gold


Sorry I didn't get round to making a video for today's #myno7feeling look - and this is one of my faves. I've been loving the No7 Stay Perfect Mascara that I used in look 2 which I've been using loads so I wasn't expecting to like the Lash Impact Mascara (£13.50) for this look as much, but I really do. Again, it adds great length and volume to my lashes but isn't the tubing formula of the Stay Perfect so washes off normally rather than being pulled off as I described in my video.

Next item is another for the eyes in the Stay Perfect Shade And Define in Glistening Ray (£8). This creamy eye pencil shade is easy to wear in a soft gold. I used it all over my eye lid, but you could use it along your lash line with other eyeshadows.

To finish, I have swept High Shine Lip Crayon in Statement (£9) across my lips. This is so much easier to apply than the Stay Perfect Lipstick in Love Red that I used in look 3 as it is sheer, so you don't need to be as accurate with your application and you can build layers to get a more intense colour. 



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Monday 25 August 2014

Mani Monday: Butter London Full Steam Ahead

BUTTER LONDON FULL STEAM AHEAD

It's Bank Holiday Monday, therefore it is raining. To reflect the weather, I've chosen a dark grey for Mani Monday this week from Butter London (£12/11ml). The name Full Steam Ahead invokes images of plumes of smoke coming from a steam train, which the dark grey of this policy does remind me of. On a miserable weather day, this colour will go with anything, but I also think it would look stylish with pastels or bright clothing when the sun decides to return.

BUTTER LONDON FULL STEAM AHEAD

BUTTER LONDON FULL STEAM AHEAD


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Friday 22 August 2014

Fashion Friday: Mini Break Outfits


A couple of weeks ago I went to Cheltenham on a mini break (You can see my review of the spa hotel we stayed at here) and Phase Eight were kind enough to lend me a few outfits to wear on my mini-holiday.
I loved the loose fitting trousers I wore to mooch around Cheltenham and were perfect for travelling in too. I was worried I would look a bit like I was wearing my PJs but the cut helps the look more day-time.
I like getting dressed up for dinner, and the Clemmie dress was really flattering with side pleats over the stomach area and being just above the knees was an elegant length.
I'm enjoying combining pastels this summer and the pistachio floral top with my pink jeans looked fresh and summery for day two of our trip.





Shop the post:
Outfit One:

Outfit Two: 

Outfit Three: 
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Wednesday 20 August 2014

Lip Balm Lovelies

Lip balms

So this week summer has waved good by and the temperature has dropped. As well as reaching for my cashmere cardie and slippers (I'm such a granny) I've been piling on the lip balm as a change in temp always makes my lips dry. Being the spoilt blogger that I am, I've had a load of balms to try and so here are my thoughts on them.

Carmex Cherry (£2.69 Boots): Carmex is the lip balm of my teens and early twenties, I still love the tingle and super moisture boost it gives. Pop it on over night at the fist sign of dry lips to keep them at bay. Love the classic, but the cherry is a fun alternative too. 
Rating ****

Chapstick Cherry (£1.05 Boots): At just over a pound, this is a bargain stick, perfect to grab on the go and keeps lips smooth and soft The cherry stick also gives a hint of colour to the lips too. 
Rating ***

Oilily Girls Melon lip balm (£3 Childs Play Clothing): Who doesn't want a lip balm in a dancing watermelon tin? I can't really detect the melon fragrance but the tin is so cute with its sliding lid. 
Rating **

Tropic Lip Love (£5 Tropic Skincare): From 2010 Skincare Apprentice contestent Susan Ma, this lip balm smells amazing and tropical with orange and peppermint extract. The first time I used it, I was unimpressed - but you have to 'dig in' to the balm to get enough to apply properly. The peppermint makes your lips tingle slightly and the Rosehip, Shea and Cocoa butter hydrate your lips. 
Rating: ***

Happy Jackson Strawberry Queen of Awesomeness lip balm (£3.95 John Lewis): I LOVE THIS TIN! So cute and perfect for handbags or pencil cases. The strawberry flavour is a bit sweet and synthetic of my taste, but the beeswax and coconut oil make it a hard working balm. 
Rating: ***

Nuxe Reve de Miel (£9.50 M&S): Expensive, I know, but I love this lip balm. The classic, heavy glass pot is stylish and lives on my dressing table for morning and evening application - I couldn't bear to lose this beauty. Containing honey, plant oils, shea butter and grapefruit essence is is my lip balm luxury.
Rating*****

carmex cherry

chapstick cherry

nuxe lip balm

Tropic lip love

queen of awesomeness lip balm

oilily lip balm

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Tuesday 19 August 2014

No 7 Summer Makeup: Look 4 The Blue Collection

No 7 Summer makeup blue collection

I hope you've been enjoying my videos and posts on the No 7 Summer Makeup Looks (pink, bronze and red links here). I really have, but so far I hadn't felt pushed out of my makeup comfort zone, but this was about to change with look 4. I don't really do blue makeup, week not since I was about fourteen and it was not a good look. So I was feeling a little nervous when it was the turn of the turquoise bag. For my take on the look, I decided to use the Stay Precise Liquid Liner in Sky High (£7.50) on my lower lash line and sweep a little of the Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Turquoise Shine (£7) over my eyelids. The liner is super-highly pigmented and really bright and complemented the more subtle turquoise shadow. It won't as scary as I was anticipating, but I did get a little shock every time I cause a glimpse of myself! The Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Cruising (£6) is super shiny, like all of the No 7 polishes and really finished off the look. I personally think blonds look much better in blue makeup than brunettes, however, my teal-makeup-fear has been reduced somewhat by this look!

No 7 Summer makeup blue collection

No 7 Summer makeup blue collection

No 7 Summer makeup blue collection

No 7 Summer makeup blue collection

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Monday 18 August 2014

Mani Monday: Michael Kors Nails

Mani Monday: Michael Kors Nails

It's Mani Monday! Michael Kors fashion brand is huge and I am currently lusting after their watches and bag, however for an entry into the brand, the nail Lacquers at £15.50 (House of Fraser) are an affordable option. The bottles are super sleek and stylish with the studs and logo, although I was a little sad that these were only covers for the plastic brush toppers - but these do give a more precise application. I've been lucky enough to try out the taupe Intrigue which I wore on saturday for an all day BBQ and the pretty nude-pink Coquette that I donned on Sunday for a lazy day of watching 'Saving Mr Banks' in the afternoon and heading to the local pub quiz (which we won- whoop!) in the evening. Both are th sort of colours that go with every outfit but a little different and stylish. They go on really well, one coat would have been sufficient but I opted for a double coat for a complete opaque finish.

Michael Kors Nails intrigueMichael Kors Nails coquette

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Sunday 17 August 2014

No 7 Summer Makeup: Look 3 The Red Collection

No 7 Summer Makeup: Look 3 The Red Collection

So the last two looks (pink and bronze) have been reasonably subtle and now it was time to hit the glamorous red collection from No 7 for my friends daughter's 1st birthday party - my thoughts on  this look are here this new video.


No7 Natural Blush Tint Powder in Cool Pink £9.00
No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Devil's Delight £6.00
No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in Love Red £9.75


No 7 Summer Makeup: Look 3 The Red Collection

No 7 Summer Makeup: Look 3 The Red Collection

No 7 Summer Makeup: Look 3 The Red Collection

No 7 devils delight nails


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Saturday 16 August 2014

Blogger Cocktail Challenge


Recently Aldi challenged me to make a gin based cocktail using their award winning Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin (£10.95). This weekend with my pal Victoria seemed a perfect time to try a recipe. Lacking some inspiration, I googled some gin cocktail recipes and liked the sound of the Summer Mule I found on the Hendricks website. I collected my ingredients and set to work.

Ingredients
50ml Gin - you can always reduce this if you don't want it too strong!)
20ml Fresh Lime Juice - squeezed the juice from half a lime into each glass, but it could have done with more...)
10ml Elderflower Cordial - we added a little more!
8 Mint Leaves - look so pretty in the glass
1 Inch Cucumber - chop these up in to cubes
Topped with Ginger Beer

Steps
Chop up your cucumber into cubes and pop in the glass
Fill the glass half full with crushed ice
Add the rest of the ingredients and stir
decorate with a slice of cucumber and a sprig of mint
We added a straw later as it was a bit tricky to drink through all the crushed ice and meant we could keep stirring too.
Enjoy!

So which summer cocktails/mocktails have you been enjoying this summer?





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