Bitter Sadist - FOTD

This was yesterday's face of the day and yes I did brave this in public.

I had purchased Mac Bitter quite a while ago but had never really used it. I had always planned on using it for a crazy night time look but was having fun playing around with it on Sunday morning so just rolled with it when I hit town later on. I teamed it with Illamasqua Sadist which is a gorgeous rich blue.
I lined the waterline with Illamasqua Debonair pencil which i just adore and I am wearing to death at the minute. To be honest I can't quite remember what I wore on the rest of my face other than Nars Laguna and a Lancome Juicy Tube in Fraise.

What do you think of this look? - was i mad to wear this as a daytime look?

x

Here come the girls ....

... name that tune!! ... yup, it's the theme tune to our very own Boots the Chemist.

On Friday, i was very kindly asked by the lovely Toni at Dada to attend the re-launch of Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street branch. The store has had a bit of a makeover and the new look was unveiled on Friday with a big in-store party!

When I arrived, the red carpet had been rolled out, music was booming and there was a bevvy of gorgeous girls all wrapped together in a big red bow! There was quite a buzz about the store, special offers and free samples were being handed out galore and beautiful models surprising customers with special goody bags. They were also promoting the new re-branded St Tropez which has had its own revamp, apparantly an ingredient was taken out here and another added there and voila! apparantly no more biscuit smell - instead vanilla, and no more orange tone, simply a brown natural tan. I'm still sticking with St Moriz for now though.

The lovely Toni and Gail from Dada spoiled me with more goody bags as I left the store and here is a peek at what was inside.I actually don't know where to start with telling you what was inside as there was basically 3 or 4 seperate bags! I was pretty overwhelmed but the booty! Lots of samples from Clarins, Soltan and Estee Lauder. Goodies by The Sanctuary, Clinique and No7's infamous range Protect & Perfect which I am in love with. I also received Gucci Flora showergel, Diesel perfume and Lacoste 'Dream of Pink' perfume which I have worn since Friday! Love it. My absolute favourite from the booty has to be this gorgeous Chloe make up bag ... the pic isn't too great but you get the idea. Can't wait to start using it!


Thanks again to Toni and Gail at Dada and everyone at Boots Sauchiehall Street. It was such a pleasure to be asked along and thank you so much for your generosity!

x

St Moriz Self Tan

This week I got a phone call from my sister's daughter in law, Cherie .... she told me she had found her holy grail fake tan. This excited me a lot! Just to put you in the picture, Cherie has the palest skin and red hair so very similar colouring to myself. Obviously I had to go try what she was using.

It turns out it was St Moriz self tanning mousse which I have already heard a few people rave about. I bought it from Semi Chem for £2.99!!! wow! I would never buy a tan this cheap unless recommended ... the snob in me would assume it was rubbish. tut tut Sask!
Optimistically, I bought 4 of these as I trust Cherie's judgement on all things fake tan. I applied this 2 nights ago for the first time. I applied just before going to bed but I was in a bit of rush with it as I was so tired.

First off, I would say the application process is pretty easy ... it's a mousse with colour guide. Pretty much the same as St Tropez and Fake Bake mousse. I always think its best to work a mousse in quickly as the tanning process starts immediately. The smell of this tan is almost soap like which makes a change from the soggy biscuit aroma I usually go to bed sporting! I missed out on the buffing stage, I was too tired and couldn't be bothered. I think to achieve a smooth tan I would definitely recommend this if using a mousse but it's not always necessary. The whole performance was finished in about 5-10 minutes.

Next morning, I woke up to a slightly more biscuity smell but it wasn't overwhelming. The results of the tan were amazing though. I did have some streaks and missed areas but this was purely down to my rushed effort. The colour was brown. Not orangey-brown - just brown. It looked like a real tan. Impressive! I can't believe the quality of product versus price ratio.

Next time, I may apply some moisturiser before applying to see how the results differ. I never moisturise beforehand as it can affect the colour but this tan is quite dark so I am sure it would be fine. I will also buff next time and take much more care so to avoid missing bits and streaking. I have yet to judge the longevity of the product but I am sure it will stand up to it's more expensive counterparts. Will keep you posted though.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, you can buy this in Semi Chem for £2.99. So far in England, I only know of 2 places, Boyes and Home Bargains where you can purchase. They also sell on ebay for £7.99 so hold off until you find it cheaper. There is also a website I found called Sandy's cosmetics who sell it. If anyone tries this, let me know what you think or if you have tried it already - do you like it too?

xx

China Glaze 3 for 2 at Sallys!

I am having an uber busy and exhausting week this week but thought I would do a really quick post to let you know about this deal at Sally's.

I was just passing Sally's on the way home from work and of course was lured in by hair extensions and the smell of ammonia! I originally only picked up 2 of these polishes but when I went to pay the assistant told me to pick another for free - I had missed the humungous, slap right in front of you sign with the deal details on the display! duurgh! China Glaze are £5.49 each so just over £10 for 3 polishes with this deal.So here are the colours I chose, from left to right: purple panic (neon), pure torture and lavender lingo.

Purple panic is such an amazingly vibrant purplish pink - it is labelled as neon but it is a gorgeous shade on the nails that is still very wearable.
Pure torture is a vibrant tomato red. I usually avoid reds in the Summer, but this is a perfect Summer red for me.
Lavender Lingo - is a lovely pink shade with lilac undertone. I have yet to try this but think this may need a few coats before i see the true colour.

Hope you all get to enjoy this deal too

x

Dainty Doll - blush and contour

So, since my jelly pong pong post I decided to purchase make up from Nicola Roberts range, Dainty Doll.

I purchased the blush and contour in Blossom from ASOS. It was reduced to £6 which influenced my buy. One half is the contour - this is a taupey brown colour and the other half is the blush, an apricot shade.


I tried this out when I was minus fake tan ... I found the contour worked pretty well. It is quite light but it gives just enough colour to create definition. However, the apricot blush was just a little too light. I found it didn't really show up on my skin but it left a nice little highlight. In these photos I topped up the blush with Mac's Fun & Games and have a dusting of Nars Laguna - just can't live without bronzer i'm afraid. They are not great, looks a bit washed out with the flash.

Excuse the bad complexion in these photos .... I went for a facial at the weekend and my skin is looking much healthier!

As a contour I really like this product, as a blush it's not much use for me personally but I can imagine would be really good for someone who was happy enough embracing the pale. I'm not sure if I would repurchase from this range - it didn't bowl me over at all. Although, if it was expanded and more colours were added to the range then maybe I would change my mind as the quality isn't too bad.

x

Wedding guest style ...

So, this is the penultimate post of my wedding series ... and it's for wedding guests rather than the Bride.

Since a young age, I must have gone to an average of 3-4 weddings a year but it doesn't make choosing an outfit any easier. A lot of Brides advise a dress code with their invite but what if they don't? How do you know what to wear? I thought it might be helful to put together some ideas for guest attire for different styles of wedding - hope it helps.

Country Chic Wedding - for a country wedding it's best to keep it light and flirty, florals are always a winner but equally so a plain dress with some well chosen accessories looks great. Keep it feminine and fresh for that Summer feel. Hats and fascinators work well at country setting weddings too but if they are not your thing then perhaps a lovely hair accessory or just big voluminous waves would work a treat!

Country Chic Wedding by saskiathesalsafairy

City Chic Wedding - for a more urban setting you can be a little adventurous. Seperates work well, a tailored skirt and silk vest top perhaps with a statement hat - don't feel you always have to stick to a dress. Mixing fabrics and texture can give your outfit an edge befitting of an urban setting. You can also bring out the glitz as City weddings tend to be very chic and luxe - think Carrie's wedding in SATC.

City Chic wedding by saskiathesalsafairy featuring Roberto Cavalli shoes

Black Tie/Formal Wedding - Some black tie weddings insinuate very formal dress for the female guest which would normally suggest long evening gowns. However most formal weddings I have attended haven't been quite so strict on dress code. Darker colours are much more accepted at formal weddings if that is your preference. Your look should be sophisticated and where you can keep it classic. A lot of Brides can prefer if you wear a hat but this is purely down to comfort on the guests part, if you are not comfortable wearing something it will show so don't feel any pressure. With a formal wedding there is often a crossover with city or country style too so you can mix it up a little.

Formal Wedding


There are no hard and fast rules to dressing for a wedding but these are my ideas and perceptions. Other advice I would give is to try avoid wearing cream or white - some Brides feel you will upstage them - although this is impossible! It really does depend on the Bride though as I have seen guests carry off cream at weddings beautifully. Also if you are attending a Church wedding and have bare shoulders, take something to cover them through the ceremony as a mark of respect and because Churches do get cold. Also, maybe try and avoid skirts or dresses that are too short, unless you can carry it off with sophistication.

Hope this helps - now I just need to find an outfit for my friends wedding in a few weeks!

x

Confessions of a Shopaholic ....

I eventually got round to watching this film at the weekend. I have to say I really enjoyed it, although I am not a fan of 'chick flicks'. However, what looks to be a light-hearted and fictional movie was actually earth shatteringly true for me, and I would be a fool to think I was the only one who thought this.

The story tells the tale of Rebecca Bloomwood who is addicted to shopping, has numerous credit cards all maxed out and is on the run from debt collectors ... . From the start of the movie where Rebecca Bloomwood describes how as a child she never had pretty things - I can relate. This isn't some 'Woe is me' tale I am about to tell, my Mother just isn't interested in pretty things or pampering. She is all about practicality and value for money. By the time I was 17 I had well and truly grown into a magpie and was a bit of a fashionista at heart so had aspirations of turning myself into a beautiful swan with all the trends of the day at my fingertips! (Did you catch the bit where I blame my mother?? ;) ).

It all started with a cream trouser suit from Kookai that I purchased with my first pay packet. It was the most expensive thing I had ever owned. I was on a tiny salary back then but I noticed the more I shopped, the more I wanted and therefore the more I was offered - in the way of store cards at least. Before I knew it I had about 7 or 8 store cards!! Then I moved onto credit and debit cards ... in total I think I had 9 and that was on top of the 8 store cards!! Then came Uni where I accrued debt with student loans and overdrafts.

Just like Rebecca Bloomwood, I lived for each new seasons collections but also in fear of anonymous callers on my mobile and unopen, unpaid debt notices. Watching the movie, I laughed at how she had to stop on the way to an interview to buy her infamous green scarf. The exact same scenario had happened to me ... probably tenfold. The amount of times I turned up at interviews with bags of shopping was ridiculous! But then there was the not so funny moments when you would purchase an item only for your card to be declined and like any addiction you would do all you could to get that product, even if it meant cashing in a cheque that was more than likely to bounce!

If I were to watch this film 8 years ago, I wouldn't have laughed, it's just far too real. I was frivolous, I lived in constant fear of debt collectors and the implications that could have on me and my family. In the end, my friends and family convinced me that I had to do something about the debt I was in. I won't fool you .. I was in a LOT of debt. I won't mention the exact figure but I am pretty sure you would be shocked. I put off dealing with the debt for years but eventually had to learn to live within my means, this doesn't mean no holidays, no life, no clothes, it just means managing your money and getting your priorities in place. I sought advice from professionals and put a plan in action.

I am happy to say 3 and half years after seeking advice - I am now debt free!! (I sound like a recovering alci!) 3 years passed in no time and never once in that time did I feel like I was at a loss. I did make sacrifices but they were all worth it and it taught me to make sensible decisions when it comes to spending.

I guess the reason I am writing this is to raise awareness of how quickly and easily you can fall into a pit of debt but there is also a way out. It can be difficult when we are reading each others blogs not to be sucked in by every product or every item of clothing that others are buying. Followers of some blogs want everything their favourite blogger has! I have often read certain blogs and wondered how some girls can afford so many high end items on such a regular basis. Of course, this is no-ones business but I do realise that some people will be getting into debt for the sake of writing something exciting about a haul or new product on their blogs.

So, please take the advice of a reformed Rebecca Bloomwood:

- Don't ignore debt. Admit it exists and manage it by creating a realistic budget plan
- Don't be bullied by debt collectores (Some people have been driven to suicide over their money worries)
- Get professional advice - Citizens Advice Bureau offers free advice
- Cut up your credit and debit cards, stick to a cashcard only
- Don't borrow more money
- Contact your creditors and arrange a payback plan
- Make sacrifices
- Get a job (ok, bit obvious)
- Don't believe in the hype. A product or material posession you want soooo badly will not make your life better ... you will have moved onto something new in a few weeks time!
- Resurrect old clothes, use up existing make up or just become a more savvy shopper in general
- Don't moan about it. You got yourself there, seek help and work hard to get yourself back in the black. One thing I learned was never to plead poverty - no one will have sympathy for you and nor should they.
- Don't worry yourself sick over it, as long as you deal you will be fine

Sorry for the long and serious post but in this economic climate I hope this may help someone or help us all understand that shopping isn't always the be all and end all.

(now i just have to make sure my next post isn't a haul post!! JOKE)

x

Fluffy Love....

So, last week I was catching up with blogs and noticed that Rowena at Cosmetic Candy had bagged herself a bargain from ASOS.

For the bargain price of a tenner Jelly Pong Pong offered these limited edition bag of goodies. When i say goodies, there are only 2 products in the bag - a bronzer (worth £18) and a cream blush (worth £21) - you do the math! I have been looking at Nicola Robert's line of cosmetics, Dainty Doll for a while and considering giving them a go, so as they are made by Jelly Pong Pong I thought this might be a nice introduction.

The bronzer is called Hawaiian Sun and is in a bit of an oversized cardboard tub which comes with the most ridiculous powder puff - secretly I find this pretty cute but not very practical. So far I have only used this on my body - it doesn't look the best shade for my face but happy to dust it over my decolletage for a bit of a glow.
The real winner though is this gorgeous little cream blush. They call it a 'Cheek Puff - fluffy cheek stain' and the shade is Fluffy. I am not a cream blush fan, I often find them too creamy and they tend to rub my foundation away, however, I think I have now found one that works for me. Not only do I love this colour ... a rose pink with a hint of coral but the consistency is just right - not too creamy nor too dry. It doesn't remove my foundation on application and contributes to a healthy, dewy glow. I love it!
I have been wearing this everyday since it arrived. It lasts well but admittedly, by the end of my working day it did need a little touch up. Here it is in action today at work.
Anyone interested, take a look on the ASOS website. I also believe the Jelly Pong Pong website is selling for the same price. So, given my delight in this cream blush, I think it's time to give Dainty Doll a go.

p.s Thanks Rowena for the tip off ;)

xx

NOTD - China Glaze

Yesterday I popped out to Sallys for some hair care products and came back with 2 new China Glaze nail lacquers.
I picked a navy colour called 'Up all night' and a tropical pink shade in 'Mediterranean Charm'. I had forgotten how much I like China Glaze, the colour payoff is fantastic. Here I am wearing Mediterranean Charm. I have only had it on 24 hours and no chipping so far however I am yet to really judge the lifespan of it. This is with only one coat - perfect for a lazy self manicurist like myself.
To be honest, my nails are a big hot mess just now. Very weak, break constantly and with lots of ridges, hence why my nails are so short at the moment. If anyone has any advice on how to help keep them healthy and repair them, let me know

xx

Wedding Beauty

Here we go with part 3 of the wedding series ... the all important wedding beauty.

In the run up to your wedding I would suggest a bit of pampering. Not only does this help relieve any stress or tension from planning it will also rejuvinate your skin. If you don't want to go to a salon for a facial it's easy to do a d.i.y one at home. Essentially it is just a deep cleanse, tone and moisturise whilst massaging the face to help hydrate, exfoliate and moisturise. This helps prepare your skin for the day and if done regularly you will start to notice a natural luminous glow to your skin.

Whether or not you use a professional make up artist be sure to practise your make up application before the day. I have been to so many weddings where the make up has let the Bride and Bridesmaids down. One in particular had the bride looking like Brian May in drag!! Poor girl. Also, orange tide lines are something I see often. It seems that some MUA's believe that they need to pack inches of foundation on your skin so that it lasts all day and 'shows up' in photos!!

For anyone doing their own make up or wanting to make sure their MUA is giving the correct advice, check out some of these tips;

- Choose a foundation with a yellow undertone as this works well with flash photography
- Avoid any products that are too shimmery or have light reflective properties again this will not work well with flash photography
- Double blush. Without looking like Aunt Sally, apply more blush than you would normally - wears off fast on the day.
- Avoid YSL Touche eclat
- Line your lips to help lipstick stay put for longer. Remember to blend it well so to avoid the Pammie look
- Wear an eyeshadow primer to avoid your eyeshadow creasing and will also help it last longer
- Warm the skin with a light dusting of bronzer. This will also avoid a washed out look on camera
- If you want luscious lashes, why not get your own permed or have semi-permanent extensions added. Alternatively, wear false lashes or false single lashes. It can really make the difference.

If you do not want to go down the natural 'bridal' look and opt for something a little more dramatic, try to keep it as simple and clean as possible. For example, simple make up with red lips or alternatively nude lips with a smokey eye. Or you can even stick to a natural look but add some drama with bright red nails. Whatever happens, you want your make up to be beautiful but you don't want it to take over your gown, hair or accessories. Everything should compliment each other in a very organic style.

Take inspiration from pictures you see online or in magazines. Tear them out and keep them in a file so you can look back to them for reference or so you can show your MUA. If you are using a MUA, be sure that they do a trial a few months before the Big Day and also let them see swatches of your dress and colour scheme. This will help them determine the right colours to use to compliment your day. When you have your trial make sure you get someone to take photos of you so you can judge how you should look using flash photography.

celebrity make up inspiration by saskiathesalsafairy on Polyvore.com

I did my own make up for my Wedding. I had up to 6 make up trials and was not happy with any of them. I also had various consultations at beauty counters - some good some bad. In the end I chose a mixture of Bobbi Brown and Mac products and was very pleased with the result. Bobbi Brown can sometimes seem a bit of a safe option but I highly recommend their foundation stick, creamy concealer and blusher. I used Mac eyeshadows to give myself a soft smokey eye. Of course any look of mine would not be complete without my Nars Laguna and I wore lipliner blended into my lip with a Lancome juicy tube (this was before i wore lipstick!!).

Most of you will know Pixiwoo from You Tube. Admittedly, they are my favourite guru's and at the moment they are doing a series of wedding turorials. If anyone is best to tell you about the do's and dont's of wedding make up, it is Sam and Nicola so I seriously advise you to go and have a look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvwRO8xY2-c

xx

Tag Mania!

There are so many tags around just now, I am finding it hard to keep up. I was tagged for this by Little Miss Beauty Junkie and as it was fairly straightforward I thought I would give it a go. I will catch up with all the other tags!

What's your favourite make up look?
Winged eyeliner. Probably my signature
make up look, usually with very bright lips or nude glossy lips.

Do you have a beauty vice?
Hmmmm probably lipgloss, it's what I seem to own most of but I have recently
become a sucker for blusher. I didn't
start wearing blusher everyday until about 8 or 9 months ago so maybe it's a
bit of a novelty just now.

What part of your body do you love?
My eyebrows. They have always been a
good shape and I can get away without threading for a long long time- though i try not to. Only issue is they are so light so I have to
pencil them in a little darker so they match my hair.

Who is your beauty icon?
Jessica Rabbit – it's a redhead thing!

What beauty product makes you feel instantly sexy?
Mascara and false lashes. Without it I
have pig eyes, my eyelashes are near invisible.

How do you look after your skin?
I was in the routine of going for regular facials up until a few months ago but
I have booked myself in for one next week, first in ages! I also cleanse, tone and moisturize every
night and apply a fortnightly facemask. I go between Dermalogica, Darphin, Estee Lauder and The Body Shop
products. I also use cult product
sudocream on spots and also tiger balm for any sore spots. I have also recently started using
anti-ageing products!! Fortunately, I've always had good skin but I have been
getting problems with it recently.

What is your signature scent?
Marc Jacobs Pear or Stella McCartney.

What are your hair care secrets?
I don't have any secrets as such. I dye
my hair a colour that is as close to my natural auburn (L'oreal Richesse –
Saffron Mahogoney) as I can find to infuse the shine and colourdepth back into
it. I usually use Kerastase shampoo but
try and switch it up every couple of months. I use volume products but still haven't found the perfect product to
give that voluminous lift I yearn for!

How do you pamper yourself?
Facials, spray tans, regular visits to the hair fairy. I rarely get my nails done these days but
used to be a bit of an addict.

What is your beauty pet peeve?
Hmmm quite a lot … badly applied lipliner, greasy foundation, brittle looking
eyelashes, eyeshadow fallout that has not been tidied, tidemarks, foundation
that is too dark for the skin, badly groomed eyebrows …

What would your desert island must haves be?
Mascara, a Sea Folly bikini, cowboy hat
and fake tan… yes, fake tan!!
Finally, do you have a beauty philosophy?
Regardless of my obsession with all things fashion and beauty I do believe that
beauty comes from within.

I tag anyone else who wants to join in!

x

P.S was given some Australian beauty products today by my lovely friend Gia, will hopefully post about these soon. x

Wedding Style

As promised, this is the second in my little series of wedding posts focussing on wedding style. Hopefully this may give you ideas of how you can tie in colour schemes, decor and flowers. There are also some ideas for hair. I get a little embarrassed doing posts like this. I like putting ideas together for any outfits (although i usually do my own drawings) but I really do not prophess to be a great stylist or a know it all about weddings at all - I am simply giving you an idea of the thought process I went through for my own wedding and hopefully it could help some other Brides.

The most important decision you will probably make is choosing a dress. I would stress to you not to get too caught up in finding 'the one'. Not every Bride finds 'the one'. I didn't. I did, however, find a dress that I really loved, was comfortable and flattering to wear and suited my personality and the style of my day. If I were to get married next week I would chose a completely different dress. Usually your dress will determine your jewellery and accessories so don't try to choose these items before you have chosen the dress.

I would suggest choosing a theme. Themes conjur up different ideas for everyone. Some people may want a Disney Princess theme others may want simply a Romantic theme ... regardless, try and make sure you base everything around this. For example, I had a Romantic Vintage theme - I carried this through from my wedding stationery to my hair comb. You don't have to be too strict with it but you will find it will benefit the overall aesthetic of the day and it will really help you stay focussed when it comes to choosing the cake, decor and any other special touches to your day.

When it comes to your hair (I will do make up in a later post) .... I would opt for something a little bit different from what you normally wear. You don't want to look like a different person on your wedding day but you do want to look special. If i wore my hair as I do everyday, it would have taken away from the look of my dress. I normally wear my hair down and straight so I always knew I would either have an updo or a volumised curly style to add that something special.

Anyway instead of me rambling on, here are some moodboards from Polyvore that might help inspire you. It is safe to say I am a Polyvore novice. It's soooo time consuming and I can never find what I want. I haven't yet mastered uploading my own photos but I am sure you get the jist.

Vintage chic - This is ever so slightly similar to what I based my own wedding on. Everything is soft and light and very romantic. It is classic without being overly traditional.

Sophisticated Instinct by saskiathesalsafairy featuring Christian Louboutin shoes



Inspiration has been taken from the zebra print here. The clean sharp black and white colour scheme is so sophisticated but has added depth when the apple green is added. Really you can add any colour to black and white. Adding pink usually gives a more modern and funky look, green for sophistication, yellow for a chic summer look or tiffany blue for some classic zing! Keeping the flowers light and simple gives a stunning affect.

Beach Chic by

Inspiration for this was taken from the 'Beach' sign. Incorporating the blue with the sand and brown tones. The invitation with its blue polka pattern adds a litle fun and offers a more laidback approach to the affair. Beach brides should dress appropriately ... anything too heavy or bustled will usually be too warm, so the lighter and floatier the dress, the better.

Fairytale Romance by saskiathesalsafairy featuring Christian Louboutin shoes

Inspired by Fairytale romance, the huge dress and traditionally romantic red roses make this the perfect chic princess look. Flowing locks keep it young and fresh. An unusual cake and birdcages for decor keep the fairytale vibe going.

Alternative Wedding Ideas by saskiathesalsafairy featuring David Yurman jewelry

Lets not forget though, not every Bride wants a big white dress, 4-tiered wedding cake and a big Church wedding. When I started planning I was positive I wanted something very alternative ... in the end I veered toward the traditional. You can add your own stamp on your weddingstyle in many ways, it can be as daring as a different coloured dress or as subtle as a pair of leopard print shoes under your gown.

Whatever the case, when it comes to your wedding, always be true to yourself.

Xx

Couture Cuisine

Since a lot of us are on diets just now ............
The best kind of junk food ;)

I am not doing quite as well as the other girls I follow on Twitter or Blogger but I am still trying my best to lose weight for all my Summer antics (even though I have had 2 kit kats tonight! Oh the shame)

I could have written a really deep and insightful post about the negative/positive connotation of these images and KL quote but I perceive it as being a little tongue and cheek so i'm gonna keep it lighthearted and let us all live vicariously through the eyes of Chanel, Hermes and Prada.

Well Done to all the inspirational ladies (you know who you are) who are motivating me to keep on going with my own personal weight loss challenge!!

xx

Face of the Day/Night

As I mentioned in a previous post my friend Gia returned from Australia this weekend. Last night I went to see her for the first time with our friend Lorraine and we ended up going out for a few drinks.

To be honest, it was getting late on by the time I started getting ready so everything was a bit rushed but despite this I think something went a bit wrong with the make up. Initially, I thought it clashed with my freshly dyed hair but I think it was maybe the base, the foundation doesn't seem quite right and I look really tired. If anyone can work it out please let me know!

This look is loosely based on Pixiwoo's Barry M tutorial - shameless copyright I know but I was dying to use the petrol blue dazzle dust but couldn't figure out the best way to wear it.

Because I was in a hurry I kept it as simple as possible:

FACE
Mac Strobe Cream (as primer, I have run out!!)
Mac Studio Fix Fluid in NC30 (have recently started using this again but still not sure it's right for me)
Barry M Natural Dazzle to contour and Nars Laguna to bronze
Mac Hello Kitty Blush in fun & games
Mac Redhead MSF to highlight

EYES
Illamasqua black medium pencil as base and to thinly line the eye
Barry M Dazzle Dust in Petrol Blue (think it's number 98)
Mac Solar Bits in Scatterrays in the corner of the eye (this was added after pics were taken - oops)
Illamasqua medium pencil in Debonair in the waterline
Chanel Exceptionelle Mascara

LIPS
Pink Zara lipliner
Mac Style warriors gloss in Fierce n Fabulous

So, there we have it. Oh, and does this constitute as an Outfit of the Day photo???
It was taken by accident as I tried to take a photo of Gia and I. I'm wearing my new topshop vest loosely tucked into bootleg jeans. I had black wedges on but i took them off for the photo so I would be the same height as Gia - she is just ickle!! Can you spot my weird feet - big toe smaller than the rest ... yup, I agree - revolting!!

xx

Wedding Season!

Earlier on this week Lottie of Pretty Geeky (check out her blog - she creates amazing looks and also does requests - ace!) ... asked me if I would do some posts on Wedding planning and style. I got married last year and I don't claim to know everything about weddings but I did take to the planning & creative side of it like a duck to water and have since thought about looking into a career in event planning - although I don't see this happening anytime soon.

So, this will be a little series of posts focussing on elements of the Wedding day and the planning process, hopefully it will give some helpful hints and tips and some ideas on styling - hair/make-up and even some inspiration for wedding guests and the dreaded 'what should I wear?' dilemna!

• First up, for all you brides to be ... stay organised - even if it means keeping a checklist/spreadsheet. Also keep a wedding folder or scrapbook where you can jot down ideas or rip out pictures from magazine and file them. When i was planning I would very often draw what the ceremony room would look like or draw key features of my day, like my table centrepieces, candy station, room decor, cake etc. Being able to visualise your thoughts makes it all the easier.

• Don't feel pressurised. Family and friends can try and make demands on you when it comes to your Big Day. Remember, it is YOUR day not theirs. Sometimes this can be difficult when parents are paying for the day or even just certain aspects so it can be useful to politely lay down some ground rules at the very beginning.
  

• Don't get caught up in the concept that your wedding day will be the best day of your life. This can be a particularly daunting thought for a Bride and Groom ... there is always a worry of an anti-climax at the end of it all. Don't fret. Your wedding will be a fantastic day regardless, the commitment you are making and what it symbolises to you is what is important. It should be one of many brilliant days in your life. Would you really want your wedding day to happen at all if it was going to be the best day of your whole life not to be superceded by any other? I know I wouldn't. I viewed it as the start of a whole new amazing life worth of fabulous days with my husband.

• Bargain Hunt! Weddings are an expensive business with the average wedding in the UK costing £21,000. However, just because that is the average cost, it doesn't mean you need to spend that much to have a gorgeous wedding. Businesses with charge through the roof for anything wedding related but guaranteed you can always get the same thing or similar for cheaper, you just need to use some savvy. For example, for my wedding I managed to find 12 candelabras for my centrepieces for £20 - amazing value. I then draped them in reams of pearls which I bought from various stores like Primark/Claires for only £1 a pop. I bought some votives, candles and mirrors from Ikea then added a few flowers. Also, get creative, design your own stationery or create your own favours. Don't be afraid to negotiate with suppliers either. They are all fighting off competition so you can barter with them. Sift out what you want from what you need. I wanted blue swarovski crystals on the soles of my shoes in the shape of mine and my husbands initials - a company was charging £80 for this, I couldn't justify the cost - so i decided to do it myself at the cost of £3! Fantastic.

• Do your research. Not only research about Weddings but also wedding suppliers. Don't sign on the dotted line or pay a deposit until you are comfortable with your supplier and you are happy with what they are offering you. Most importantly, make sure that there is no one else who offers the same for cheaper. Once you have chosen a supplier, keep in touch and communicate all your requirements to them. They are not mind readers and every couple want something different from their day so make sure you talk to them.
  

• Don't sweat the small stuff. Most Brides experience sleepless nights in the run up to their wedding, stressing that something may go wrong. Do you know what? It might, it often does but either no one else will know except you or you might not even know! Also, by the time your day is here, you are so excited and so happy that nothing really matters, you won't really care if the bar runs out of ice or the band arrives late .. you will be on cloud 9. Obviously, you can deal with any supplier shortcomings afterwards but on the day - don't sweat it!
  

• Look after your guests. This is a biggy for me. Of course, you spend a lot of money on your wedding but so do your guests. Think about the costs for a guest - they spend money on hen/stag do's, shell out for a new outfit, buy you a fantastic gift, sometimes they pay for hotel and often transport can be pricey, then on the day of the wedding bar prices can be pretty expensive in some venues. This is why I feel it is important to make sure your guests are comfortable, fed, watered and happy. It can be something simple, for example, one of the things I did was make sure that the toilets at my venue were fully stocked with lovely toiletries for guests. The venue wasn't a hotel so guests had nowhere to go to freshen up so I made sure they had all the essentials - hairspray, deodorant, gel foot pads for over enthusiastic dancers, even clear nail polish for any laddered tights!
  

• Catch it all on camera. Whether or not you can afford a professional photographer and videographer make sure that someone captures your day on camera. There is nothing quite like the feeling of receiving your photographs and excitedly looking through them - the memories all come rushing back! Likewise with a DVD. I was sceptical on getting a DVD for my wedding but I am so glad I did. It is lovely to look back on. I don't watch it everyday like some Brides but knowing it is there and we can show it to family is great. We were lucky as we paid for a videographer but my sister also made her own video which we just love. I would recommend if you are on a budget, ask a friend with a camcorder to capture it all, it really is a fabulous thing to have.
  

• Keep it personal. The best weddings I have been to are the weddings where a lot of thought or personal touches have been added by the Bride and Groom. Weddings can become a bit bog standard so if you can inject your own personality into the day it makes it more interesting for yourself and the guests. This can be making your own stationery, devising your own personalised menu, using table names that are personal to the couple or even just in your music or styling choice. Some of our personal touches: We were engaged in Italy, so we used this as inspiration for our food and drink, we had an Italian menu and served Bellini's as well as Champagne, we also had a cocktail menu where we had created our own cocktails for the day, also our music choices throughout the day was very personal to us and I had made all of the stationery for the day, including love quotes, personalised monogram sweetie bags and favours. You don't have to go that far, the simple things often make the biggest impact.
  

• Enjoy yourself! It is a truly wonderful day ... it is the one day that all your family and friends will be gathered in the one place at the same time so make the most of it!

I hope this information is of some use to Brides-to-be. I could go on and on but I am sure by now most of you will have picked up these tips and will already have your planning in full swing! If by chance, anybody does want to ask any questions about planning their day just leave a comment or send me an email.

Happy Planning!

xx

another little fashion haul

I thought I would do the quickest post tonight and let you see some goodies I picked up recently for Summertime.

First up Topshop, I bought this little playsuit for the Summer. When i tried on i actually thought it was a top at first, so it was lucky I put it on from the feet up as that was when i discovered it had legs - lol!! I absolutely love it, it is perfect for warm weather and can be dressed down with gladiator sandals and a belt - like the one pictured or with wedges or heels. It is also so flattering which to be honest, really surprised me.
I also picked up this loose and baggy blue leopard print vest ... I think I will wear this tucked in but looking a little baggy with skinny jeans or high waisted jeans, again with flats or heels to change up the look. Lots of bangles too...
These 2 vests are the same but I picked one up in a coral colour and another in neon pink - don't ask why!! They have lace detailing at the back which I love.Finally, here are a couple of bargains I picked up half price in Matallan. Thought these would be good for work through the Summer.
I still have a lot more Summer shopping to do. It is the one season where I never seem to find anything suitable to wear according to the weather so this year I am making sure I am stocked up on plenty of options!!

What will your Summer staples be? I am going to devise a little list I think :)

xx

Gia and the Return from Oz!!

Our Gia *waves* with her 'strong hand'

I am going off on a bit of a tangent tonight as I am dedicating this post to my fabulous friend Gia. Gia has been living in Australia for the past couple of years and I miss her terribly ... however this month, in fact in just a few days time she will be gracing us all with her presence once again .. but only for a short time! We really need to make the most of the visit and soak up every bit of our gorgeous friend again and catch up on all the gossip as well as chat about old times and all the funny and ridiculous memories we share.

Gia and FiFi

Gia is actually the sole reasong for my alter ego name of Saskia, it's a bit of a long, daft story so I won't go into it but since that meeting of minds all those years ago we really have shared a bond like no other ... huh, twin??! (same teeth, you know?! ;) )

Gia and Lorri - remember the smell??

Gia is unlike any other friend or girl I know. She oozes foxiness and is so glam it hurts! It just comes so naturally. She has a charisma that would charm the pants off you ... she is just impossible to dislike! Gia is a friend I know will always be there and I likewise will always be here for her. She is full of passion and zest for life, she is her own person, a true individual - for this I admire her.

Jen, Sask and Gia - Vegas

Saskia & Gia - back in the good old days!!

I cannot wait to see you this weekend, the BBQ will be in full swing and the Pimms and Cocktails will be flowing ... Of course Haggis will be there to help the proceedings! ;) ... maybe we will even find a naked troll hiding in the garden .... ??

Hopefully, you get the chance to see this before you leave the land of Oz .... we are all SOOOOO excited - luv ya!!

See you at the weekend, Darl!! MWAH xxxxx