MAC 187 DUO FIBRE STIPPLING BRUSH...

Couldn't get a good enough photograph of the brush itself but you all know what it looks like!

The latest addition to my make-up bag is this MAC 187 brush. It's the first MAC product I own including make-up & brushes, I feel so behind the times! I noticed there's a lot of love for this brush so I thought I'd give it a go & see why it's so popular. What MAC say about this brush;

"A large full circle brush used for lightweight application and blending of face powder or pigments. Use to create soft layers or add textures. Made from a soft blend of goat and synthetic fibres."

At the moment I am using Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid foundation & using my new brush to 'stipple' it in. I  love how soft the bristles are, in my opinion there is nothing worse than a rough brush! In the past I have used the ELF Foundation Brush but I find the coverage too thick for everyday wear so usually just use my fingers. This brush claims to give the 'airbrushed' effect & I couldn't agree more! I did have to watch a few tutorials on YouTube to get the hang of the technique to get the best application but think I've mastered it now. The coverage produced is perfect & doesn't look caked on, leaving you with a smooth, streak free finish. I'm very happy with my purchase & think it'll produce an even better finish when I invest in a new foundation. I'm currently torn between MAC or Illamasqua, which would you recommend? The obvious downside to this brush is the price tag. I do want to invest in more make-up brushes but think I'll save for the Sigma 12 Brush Kit. It contains all the brushes on my wish list at a relatively cheaper price of around £75 with shipping. I thought higher end make-up brushes were just hyped up but after using this brush I have realised the difference it makes; what do you guys think...

HAIR ENVY: OLIVIA PALERMO...

Images via Google

Already one of my style crushes, Olivia Palermo is fast becoming my number one hair love. I've been growing out a bob for around a year now but because of the layered & feathered style I had, it's taking what feels like forever! I came across the first image whilst googling hair styles the other day & fell in love! I love everything; the cut, the colour, the styling! The longest of my hair is probably nearly the right length for this style, however my layers are well above my jaw line. I'd have to buy extensions for this look to work but I think only half a head would be needed, which you can get for as little as £15! I've been um-ing & ah-ing about going darker for a while now but Olivia having the same dark eyes & brows has me slightly convinced that wouldn't look that bad. I really love this long bob cut but what do you guys think?...

NOTW: BLOO BLUES...

Models Own BlooBoo

This is probably my most favourite nail varnish ever! I mentioned it loads of times on here but I think that's simply because I wear it so often! I am wearing false nail in the photograph above; I bought them on eBay, 600 nails for £3.60, bargain! I think people overlook eBay for cosmetic items but I buy all sorts on there including eyelashes & hair extensions for a fraction of the price you'd pay anywhere else. I may have to do a little post on my best eBay buys! The nail polish is such a gorgeous colour & definitely a summer shade. I'm rarely seen with out a layer of fake tan & love the way it looks on. I am wearing two coats which creates a really dense colour, literally have nothing but good things to say about this nail varnish! I've noticed Barry M have recently released a similar shade 'Blue Moon' so would like to get my hands on it to give it a go! Anyone else a lover of this colour?...

IT'S A BLACKED OUT BLUR BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IT RULED...

So as I mentioned in my previous post, last night me & my friends went to Cardiff for the Monday student night. £1 Sambuca shots & 2 for 1 fishbowls resulted in a very cheap night! As you can see from the photo's above I ended up wearing my River Island orange denim shorts with a bird print top which I picked up in Primark for just £6! It's kind of casual but I love the way the colours go together! My hair looks half decent in these pic's but I'm completely fed up with it. I haven't had any shape cut into it for months & it just feels a little blah at the moment. Going to have to find a new style me thinks! What hair styles are you guys loving at the moment? Love to hear what you think! I'm off to catch up with some much needed sleep now, zzz...

P.S. My friend in the picture with me on the left has just started blogging if you want to check her blog out..

SUNDAY CATCH UP #003...

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

001. Around this time last year I was located on the beach pictured above with the boyfriend, soaking in the gorgeous Egyptian sun. What I would do to be there right now. Damn you part-time, minimum wage job! Look how blue the sea is! (Almost as blue as I'm feeling looking at this photo' right now)..

002. Anyways after another quiet week in rainy, old Wales I cannot wait for a night out with my besties tomorrow! I'm planning on spending my Sunday evening apply fake tan & choosing an outfit. I'm hoping to wear one of my many new pairs of shorts but no idea which ones! I sometimes prefer going out for a student night instead of the weekend as you don't have to get overly dressed which can sometimes be a hassle. Also the alcohol is majorly cheap which is always a good thing!

003. On a sourer note, the news about Amy Winehouse is so shocking. Such a shame that her addiction got the better of her, she was a truly talented artist. Also not forgetting the poor people in Norway. Yesterday was filled with bad news. My thoughts are with all those who have suffered a loss...

WANT: BAND TEES...

Both band tee's H&M - £9.99

Today I went shopping to Cardiff with my friend Matthew to celebrate a long awaited payday. It seems like ages since I've dedicated a day to shopping; normally I just grab what I need after work which just isn't the same! My aim of the day was to come home with the two beauties pictured above & I'm pleased to say I managed to nab them both! I've been looking for a Guns N Roses top for ages so was determined to get this one after I seen it online for only £10! The Ramones tee was a bit of an impulse buy but I'm sure I'll get my wear out of it, just love the colour! Being the bargain hunter that I am I managed to find some sale items in Primark (yes Primark have a sale, madness I know!). I came out of there with a bag full of goodies including; 2 pairs of flip flops, a bag, a shirt top & two vests for just £14! It's safe to say I felt rather satisfied walking out! I also treated myself to a new concealer (Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer), a Simple Moisturiser & Face Wash and some coconut body butter! I'm pretty content with my wardrobe at the moment but my make up bag is looking pretty dire! I've made a little 'Wish List' in the right hand column of my blog which is made up of all the cosmetic products I'm hoping to get my hands on! If anyone has reviewed or use any of the products I'd love to hear what you think of them. I'm a bit of a loser when it comes to make up so need all the advice I can get, so share the love ladies(;...

RIVER ISLAND SUMMER SALE HAUL...

Sorry about the inconsistent photo's, the sun was in & out of the clouds!

So as promised here is the follow up post for the video I posted yesterday. I did intend to set this post out a little differently than I've done before but I'm feeling lazy so same old structure sorry! I feel a little out of the loop blogging about shorts & summery pieces when the rest of the world seem to be moving on to the A/W trends already. The stores are already filling with fur coats & bobble hats but it's still summer in my heart! I will hold on hope that we still have a few weeks of sunshine left while I stock up on summer essentials. Maybe I should cut down the amount of time I spend on tumblr; all those beach & bikini shots are making me lose all sense of reality! I'll probably regret not investing in boots & cardigans now when our eternal winter sets in in the near future, oh well summer FTW. Back to my sale bargains...

Orange Denim Shorts - £24.99 £10 - I GOT THEM! You might remember me blogging about these a few weeks ago in a want post. I did a sneaky online order the morning of the sale as I was up early ready for work & managed to bag a pair! They look amazing with a tan; can imagine wearing them on holidays with a white cut off tee & a perfect tan, ahh.

Floral Pattern Shorts - £19.99 £10 - These are my new babies! I've had nothing but positive comments about these shorts. They just make me think of the gorgeous Stella prints. The only problem with these is that I'm struggling with how to style them. There's so many colour options but stuck with what top to wear them with.

Daisy Print Culottes - £14.99 £7 - There's something about a daisy pattern that I just love! These are super flattering & sooo comfy! I wear them with a plain vest & throw my crochet waistcoat on top! Basic & smart! 

Crochet Jumper - £34.99 £15 - As soon as I saw this I had to have it! I was picturing it worn over a floral playsuit in the summer & worn with chino's as the seasons change. Definitely worth the investment.

Men's Rosary Necklace - £7.99 £2 - I couldn't really leave this for £2! It's my colours & will make a change to wearing silver & gold jewellery.

So that's my basic run down of my sale buys! This post has been on my mind for a while so now it's done & dusted hopefully I'll be able to think of some new & exciting thing to write about...

SUNDAY CATCH UP #002...

001. So I've had quite a mundane week consisting of mainly working. Today however is my daddy's birthday so we did celebrate by going for a few local drinks last night. It was nice to have a casual night out. We had a mini pub crawl across the mountain stopping in the pubs to test out the home made cider, lethal I tell you! We ended the night at home eating chilli & watching Dynamo the magician, so random!

002. Today has consisted of chilling out & adding millions of items to my eBay watch list ready for pay-day Friday! I've been eyeing up everything from new extensions & false eyelashes to a new sewing machine. I can't wait to get my hands on some spare cash after having to be good with my money for the past couple of months. A trip to Primark is definitely on the cards for Friday morning! I'm also thinking of really treating myself and losing my MAC virginity.. I need help from all you MAC experts; if you was to suggest me to buy one item what would it be?

003. I was quite shocked when catching up with a few blogs this morning to see a few people write about their bad reaction to Garnier's Summer Body gradual tanning lotion. I've used this product quite regularly over the past couple of years with no problems so it really surprised me to see the volume of people who have had such a bad reaction to it! If you haven't read about it yet check out Lauren's & Hannah's blog posts.

004. Time to continue on with my lazy Sunday! Finding Nemo, eBay browsing & munchies, ahh! Hope you've all had a lovely weekend(:...

WANT: COLOURED SKINNY JEANS...

All jeans - Dorothy Perkins - £30

It's depressing me slightly seeing the autumn/winter clothes slowly creeping their way in to the shops. I don't mind the odd chelsea boot or cardigan, but wooly hats & scarves, really?! These jeans on the other hand remind me that it is in fact July and actually the peak of our summer! You might have picked up on me banging on about the colour blocking trend lately, I apologise but I've fallen head over heels for it! I have had my eye on a pair of these for a while & with a pay packet full of over-time coming my way next Friday I think it may be time to invest! Dorothy Perkins have a crazy amount of coloured jeans on their website at the moment I counted at least twenty different colours! Some of the colours are quite out there too, I've stuck the the pastel colours as I'm not quite that brave! I do expect the colours will be less saturated IRL though so will have to check them out in store instead of ordering online. I do love the lilac & turquoise pairs though; I think they'd look amazing with a white silky vest, pop colour jewellery & chunky wedges. Ah roll on pay-day, what do you guys make of these jeans?...

NB. Blogger has wash the colour out of my attached image so for a truer colour of the jeans just click the Dorothy Perkins link(:

ATTIC FINDS...

Isn't it just lovely when you discover hidden treasures? My treasures are in the form of my mum's clothes which have been stowed away in our attic for around twenty years! I've lived in the same house all my life & our attic definitely proves that! There's everything up there from a rocking chair to Barbie rollerblades! I had to sort through a lot of rubbish to find these few gems but think they're worth it. This is just a little sneak peak of what I found. A few of the garments need altering to bring them up to date so will share them with you as I chop and change them. I just love the colours, prints & the fact that chances are I'll be the only person wearing these beauties! I've been wanting to go hunting around the local charity shops for a while but think this is a good start! Have you guys found any hidden gems lately?...

NOTW: BARBIE PINK...

Nail Varnish - Jessica Custom Nail Colour

This is the colour I painted my nails for the christening on the weekend. I love how pink and feminine this colour is; it makes me feel like a total Barbie and is a nice change to the blues I've been wearing lately. I was gonna spice them up with a bit of nail art but in the end I liked them as they were. I had this mini nail polish free with a manicure when I stayed at the Malmaison in Birmingham on Valentines Day & must say it's my favourite pink ever! I think the full sized bottles are around £10 which is a lot more than I'd usually spend on a nail varnish but you definitely get quality for your money! My miniture bottle is coming to the end now which upsets me greatly; I may have to stop being such a tight arse & treat myself to another bottle! Unless someone knows of a high street alternative?

I didn't really have chance to take a photo of my outfit for the Christening & I only had it on for the hour long service before having to change as someone had the same dress on as me! My typical bad luck again! Determined to take an outfit post before the week is out though! Need to get back into gear...

BETTER RUN, FASTER THAN MY BULLET...

Dress - ASOS . Clutch - Topshop . Earrings - Topshop . Rings - Topshop & New Look .

Evening lovelies! I'm treating myself to a pamper night as I'm I have my cousins daughters christening to attend tomorrow. Pedi' & tan done now just for the manicure! I've decided to be a good little saver and wear something from my bursting wardrobe but if I was being a little naughty I'd wear the outfit above! The dress was in the ASOS sale a few weeks ago but it's full priced now (maybe the petite version was in the sale actually?), I love it none the less! The colours are so summery and the cape detailing is just gorgeous! The Topshop bag wouldn't be something I'd actually buy as I think that £48 is a little excessive for a clutch, one can dream though! I think that the pastel corals & teals of the jewellery work beautifully with the colours in the dress. I'd finish it off with nude heels, a neat up-do & maybe a bit of baby pink lippie! After this post I think I need to invest in this dress; I think it'd look gorgeous with some killer pop colour heels on a night out. MUST.NOT.SPLUGE.NEED.TO.SAVE...

PS. I've become addicted to tumblr again, share your url's guys! Mine's linked in the sidebar(:

SALE BUYS SNEAK PEAK...

Just a cheeky preview of the amount I bought at the RI sale. Seeing as I'm supposed to be saving I did feel quite guilty afterwards, whoops! My camera batteries arrived today and are currently charging; finallyyy! I'm hoping to record my debut into the YouTube world after work tomorrow. I'm actually feeling a little nervy about it now, need to man up! I have work this evening & really not feeling it; more cash for me to splash I suppose though! Hope you guys have a more exciting Friday night than me! I have a rather quiet weekend planned; my bank account may be thanking me but I may have gone insane come Monday...

WANT: BUBBLE GUM HEELS...

All from missguided.

I'm a big lover of super high heels. My obsession with shoes isn't quite as bad as my short fixation but I think it could be getting there! Most people have already noticed the major increase of gorgeous clothes on missguided.co.uk but I think the shoes are hugely over looked. It's fair to say that if I had the money to spare all of these shoes (and probably more!) would be mine! They have the majority of these styles in the traditional black & nude but I'm just loving bright, colourful everything at the moment! I know block colours aren't breaking news but I think the sunshine makes this trend so much more exciting. I'm thinking of treating myself next pay day but maybe choosing only one pair would be a little difficult? I think I'm probably swaying towards the pink or orange wedges, sooo pretty. Have any of you bought any shoes recently from missguided? Would love to hear your opinion on the quality, actual height & colour of these shoes before I do invest(:


I'm on a bit of a roll with bad luck at the moment. My most recent episode involved getting a lovely parking ticket after work yesterday! It's safe to say I was in a rather vile mood after that (hence not posting). I have managed to cheer myself up today though; as the wise Noah & The Whale sing 'LIFEGOESON'! I am really hopeful that that was the end of my unlucky streak, time for change and some good luck me thinks! Have any of you guys suffered from unfortunate luck lately?...

NB. This was scheduled to go up this evening but my bad luck struck again and it didn't actually post grr... 

HAIR "MARES...

Look at the state of my roots! I was supposed to have my hair done today but my hair dresser let me down at the last minute, annoying! But I'm having it done tomorrow morning instead so not all is bad, I suppose. I gave myself a little manicure to make myself feel a little better but my roots are too 'uge! My River Island sale order came today so just waiting for my amazon order to come & my video blog can go ahead! Just a quick little update for you guys...

SUNDAY CATCH UP #001...

Random photo' from me fooling around with the macro in my garden again eheh

001. Loving the weather this weekend again! It's amazing how a little bit of sunshine can improve your mood so much! I've had a quiet weekend to make up to a full week at work. I've worked 25 hours in the space of 4 days which is quite the shock to the system when you're used to working 8 hours a week like me! I suppose it will all be worth it come pay day(:

002. Friday after work I spend a hour on the phone to the tax office to try and sort out my rebate. I've been in my job for nearly a year now & they are still charging me emergency tax, so annoying! But after 40 minutes of hold music it's all sorted, woo! I have 10 months of tax coming back to me in a few weeks which means I get to treat myself! I'm going to use a fair bit of the money to buy myself a new sewing machine, (proud of myself for being so practical!) but the rest is mine to blow...

003. Lately I've been slightly addicted to bloggers YouTube channels/vlogs. I love reading blogs but I find the way that the person behind the blog comes across in the videos really entertaining & I seem to grow to love the blog more! So I've decided to have a little go myself one day next week to see if I have the knack.

004. I've had a little spending spree over the last couple of days in the River Island sale. I've decided this is what I'll talk about in my attempt at a vlog & will follow it up with a little post to share with you all my bargain goodies! I'll need to wait until my online order & new battery for my camera arrives before it goes ahead. Also It'll have to be after I have my roots done; they are 'ugeee at the moment & making me feel quite depressed! It's crazy how your hair can affect your mood so much! Hope you guys have all enjoyed the sunshine this weekend! It's BBQ time at the mol's now, omnomnom...