2011 ... will be my bitch!

As I type I still have absolutely no idea how I will be celebrating Hogmanay tonight. New Year is always a bit of an anti climax, no matter whether it's planned or last minute it never quite seems to live up to expectation. Maybe we just put too much emphasis on it having to be the party of the year?

As long as I am with friends I know it will be fun , so here's to 2011!

Whatever your plans are, have a good one!

x

Illamasqua NOTD: Shades of grey ...

Sales shopping has been a bit of a fail for me this year. I got into town, went to roughly 4 shops and just gave up. It was far too busy, the shops were full of strewn clothes in odd sizes and I decided I had better things to be getting on with.

However, thats not to say I didn't manage to pick up a few things, one of which was this lovely nail polish duo from Illamasqua.

Illamasqua nail polishes are one of my favourites, they are always super pigmented, usually only require one coat ... and no chipping for days.

This duo set was marked down to £20 from £26 ... still pricey but I knew from experience the quality would be great. Unusually, I went for a grey shade called DWS and a silver glitter called Harsh.

Neither colour particularly suit me and in the past I would never have considered grey nails but I was looking for something a bit different and thought I would give it a go while they were down in price.

I am pleasantly surprised at how pretty it looks on my nails. Grey is a sophisticated shade for the winter and the sparkle gives a festive finish.

I am especially impressed with the glitter polish which is just FULL ON glitter for the nails, it is amazing. One coat and your nails are a sparkly delight, 2 coats complete the bling. I wear it over the grey base which comes up lovely. I can tell it's gonna be a bitch to remove though.

What do you think of grey for the nails?

x

You can leave your hat on ...

I have become a bit of a hat fiend of late. We even own a 'hat box' in our home used mostly for fancy dress and drunken antics but it's nevertheless a legit millinery delight.

Summer and winter are the main seasons I find a use for my hats and while last winter I had my furry trapper hat glued to my head, this year I decided to change it up a bit.

Panda hats or beanies with fluffy ears attached are just not for me as cute as they can look on others. This year I went a little bit sophisticated. Think of Angelina Jolie in Changeling ... yes, it's the cloche hat. It's chic, ladylike and retro.

I take my inspiration from Twiggy to get a modern retro twist on it. I picked my cloche hat up from Marks & Spencers, it even has a gem clad bow detailing. Very pretty.

Then there is the floppy hat which I don't actually know the proper name for. Maybe it's just the 'floppy hat'. Answers on a postcard.

Again, this is very retro but more of a seventies vibe which I love. This one is actually a vintage ... well, I bought it over 10 years ago so in my eyes it's vintage. Nuff said. I usually wear with a fur jacket for an uber glam, Studio 54 vibe ... just imagine a sparkly jumpsuit underneath and a pair of platform heels. Last days of Disco, eat your heart out!
This Gucci watch ad sums up my floppy hat lust. Tres chic, non?

Most practical of this years winter hat choices is the furry cossack hat. I got this from H&M along with a multitude of other faux fur purchases a few months ago. Leaving the trapper hat behind this year, the cossack hat provided a feminine, glam touch to a practical hat with just a hint of James Bond girl. Super cosy and stylish at the same time.

Winter doesn't seem to be slipping by quickly or unnoticed so looks like I will be alternating my hats for a few months yet - can't say I am not secretly pleased about it ;)

What have been your choices in this hat weather?

x

Clinique Strawberry Fudge

Cliniques latest LE holiday collection, I have to say is pretty sweet.

Almost quite literally.

Strawberrry Fudge palette described as strawberry dipped in chocolate is super pretty with a dusky pink blush and a mixture of pinky shades for the eye including a dark chocolate berry shade for depth and contouring. The palette has a good pigment and is long lasting. The blush is particularly lovely and easy to wear giving a natural looking flush to the cheeks.
This is also a great palette to take your from day to night. Add a bit of depth with the deepest shade and create a soft pink smokey eye.

I thought pink was quite an unusual offering of colours but it works very well and I think Clinique have been really smart releasing it. At this time of year when every other cosmetic brand are showcasing shades of gold, berries and red, Clinique have provided us with a bit of variety.

Pinks for winter are so wearable, soft and pretty on the face. The palette is priced at £25 and I think it is a real winner.

The other stand out product for me is the Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Lip Colour in Strawberry Bliss. This is a gorgeously wearable shade that will probably suit most skin tones. It's just so pretty and feels smooth on the lips. The Lip Smoothie lip colour retails at £13.50.
Have you tried the Strawberry Fudge collection?

What are your thoughts on pink for winter?

x

Cherry Loco

I mentioned Cherry Loco in a blogpost a while back when I purchased a gorgeous vintage gold leaf chain from her stall at Sloans market but this week I eventually got round to going back for another visit.

Cherry Loco is the brainchild of Lauren Ridley and is best known for designing and creating 'Quirky bold unusual hand cut acrylic jewellery with an edge'.

Lauren's designs are fun, wearable and most certainly a statement. Very reasonable pricing and you get a unique purchase that can't always be found so easily on the High Street. I picked up the french moustache necklace for £10.

Lauren can also custom design pieces for you so I am thinking about asking her to make me a pair of geek glasses on a chain and I also love her 'show me your teeth' necklace. Can you see a theme here? Anything I can use as a facial prop is a winner!!
Of course, there are plenty of cute and quirky designs to pick from already on the site, it's hard not to go crazy picking lots of pieces brighten up and add a bit of cheer to your everyday jewellery.

Cherry Loco is available at Sloans Market every 3 weekends I believe but you can also find the website and online shop here.

x

An alternative Christmas message ...

Bring on the Boxing Day sales! :)

Have a very merry one folks!

x

Leather Up!

The last time I wore leather that didn't come in the form of a jacket, shoes or bag was about 10 years ago. I had a gorgeous knee length leather skirt that subsequently got kicked to the kerb one day when I felt it looked a little dated.

Truth is I wish I had kept it. Leather like denim is a classic and always comes back around every so many seasons.

With the recent re-popularity of leather, I decided to invest in a few pieces to keep me looking spruced up through the winter months. The thing about it this time round is that it can be worn casual giving a quirky edge to your look. Years ago daytime leather would have been left to Cher and ladies of the night but by todays standard it is tres chic!

In the last month, I have purchased short length leather trousers from River Island, An faux leather a-line mini skirt from Miss Selfridge and a gorgeous tan faux leather dress with cap sleeves from H&M. Next on my list is leather shorts - I have spied a great pair in Topshop but think I will wait for the January sales.

What better excuse for some stye inspiration photos - hopefully I can wear my it as well as some of these stylistas...

I like to wear my leather skirt with shoe boots and tights although as soon as the temperature becomes a bit more reasonable I will be going bare legged with my leather. I prefer stiletto style heels or a round toed platform with my leather trousers.

The best thing about leather that you may not have necessarily assumed is that it is so flattering ... as long as you purchase the correct and size and shape for your body.

Are you buying into the leather trend? Cher or Chic?

x

The Water Bobble

Every year I hear (and I also pledge to) the same old new years resolutions. Similar goals that haven't been achieved the year before are carried over to the next year and so on.

Most of these goals are usually to do with losing weight, saving money, starting a new hobby etc.

Instead of writing up resolutions that I won't stick to this year I want to gradually introduce all the new things/improvements to my life that I always talk about but never actually do. I don't really need a list to tell me to do it or the 1st January to be the motivator. Heck, I am always hungover on the 1st January anyway so it's never a good day to start a diet!

One of the first things to be introduced on my journey of self improvement otherwise known as a new years resolution is to ... drink more water.

A long time ago I used to drink nothing but water but more recently Diet Coke has become my fuel for life. Tut tut... I couldn't have chosen a worse drink really. When I am thirsty instead of reaching for l'eau de la vie ... i literally crave some of the brown bubbly stuff.

This is where I get to tell you about my new favourite thing. And it's not make up. Or clothes. Or shoes.

Its the Water Bobble.

It's an attractively and ergonomically shaped water bottle with an attached filter. You pour your water from the tap, insert the filter and drink away. It even has a sports cap for no spills :)

The idea behind it is that we spend so much money on bottled water that this little gadget is here to save you some mula and give you safe clean water to drink. The filter itself lasts up to 300 bottles worth of water but can be replaced for only a fiver.

In Scotland we have pretty good tap water so you might wonder why the need? As much as the water is safe to drink, I sometimes notice a tinny taste, whether this be my imagination or not, it genuinely puts me off drinking straight from the tap. And of course, when it comes to going to the shop to purchase a bottle of mineral water, well the diet coke sitting beside it is just too tempting.

So the water bobble is ideal for me and since purchasing last weekend there's been a noticeable increase in the amount of water I drink. I take it everywhere with me and means I can fill up anywhere too.

The bottles come in various sizes but I purchased the 550ml. It cost around £9.99 from the Harvey Nichols pop up store in St Enochs centre, Glasgow. I am unsure if this is available to buy online as the website is American so you may have to check they ship to the UK.

I love it ... I think it would even be a cool stocking filler.

Aside that, is anyone else boycotting new years resolutions this year?

x

Top of the knots

At last!

My hair is long enough for the top knot.

It honestly feels like it has taken an age for my hair to get to a decent length to do anything with it. I had gone for a bobbed style about a year and a half ago (maybe more) which was nice at first but I assumed it would grow out in no time. I was wrong, at one point it even felt like my hair was getting shorter!! Frustration kicked in.

Through the summer, I managed to plait my hair which felt like a real accomplishment and meant I could do some cooler, interesting things with my hair.

I also managed to perfect candyfloss hair - basically backcombing all over and pinning up every which way.

It was a joyous day however, when I managed to lift my hair to the top of my head and pin in a loose bun.

Once the hairstyle of chavs, about a year or so ago it made a bit of a comeback in a more sophisticated guise. Both casual and chic, the top knot can be worn loose, messy, tight or slick. Even Nicole Ritchie opted for this style on her wedding day - which looked utterly stunning. That dress! :)

This is how I achieve the look.

• Wash and Condition hair


• Towel dry


• Add mousse (Charles Worthington) to the roots and an anti frizz serum(John Frieda or Sammi) to the ends of my hair.


• Blow dry and run through with straighteners if desired


• Brush hair through and pull up to the top of your head and secure with a band. You are probably best not to be too neat with this regardless of how you want the end result to look


• Twist the ends leftover into a bun/knot shape and secure with bobby pins


• Hair spray to keep in place.


• For a neat look, apply hairspray or extra bobby pins to any stray hairs, for a messy look, rough up the bun with your fingers or only loosely insert the bobby pins.


• Voila!
  

I mostly wear my hair in a top knot in a more casual setting as it keeps my hair out of the way while still looking a l'il bit glam and doesn't detract from clothes or make up but I also wear it for nights out when it helps to calm down a glam outfit adding a quirky touch to it. It creates a more laid back vibe when dressed up for a night out.

What hair trends do you like at the moment?

x

Beer, Bratwurst ... Berlin

I am having a sneaky pre-chrimbo long weekend in one of my favourite cities ...

Happy Friday everyone! :)

x

Cinderella Cinderella ...

Last night I had a delightful evening at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow for Scottish Ballet's opening night performance of Cinderella.

I was really excited for this performance mainly because the costumes had been described as Galliano meets Westwood meets Warhol ... eye candy for sure. And of course, Cinderella is the ultimate fairytale that all us girls grew up with ... it was a must see.

I met up with fellow bloggers Rani (http://www.cupcakecouture.co.uk/), Ayden (http://mydollface.blogspot.com/), Kirsty (http://fortyfoursunsets44.blogspot.com/) and of course Ann (http://www.girlinthecityglasgow.com/) who made the whole event possible. Thank you!

I took along my husband who I was sure would fall asleep as he was a stand in for my friend who had worryingly been hospitalised with pneumonia (not to worry, she is doing well) but incredibly he absolutely loved the performance and raved about it througout it and after.

It was a colourful and humorous performance which was brought to life by an amazing cast of dancers, especially the Ugly Sisters who made the show for me. The set was also amazing with numerous backgrounds taking us from the slum kitchen where Cinderella scrubbed the floors, to the ballroom to the clock striking midnight.

It was truly a magical show which I am sure these images convey to you.

Something I found out today from Ann is that instead of having a make up artist for the dancers, a look is created and the dancers themselves copy it and apply their own make up at each performance. Some of the looks for this show were fabulous so I was very impressed to know it was all the dancers own hand.

If you are interested in seeing this wonderful performance of Cinderella ... you can get tickets for the following cities & dates;

Glasgow14th –31st December

Edinburgh 12th-15th January

Aberdeen 19th-22nd January

Inverness 26th-29th January

Belfast 2-5th February

x

OPI Katy Perry Collection

Just like many make up brands OPI have set the standard in the nail world by releasing new collections time and time again reflecting current trends and pop culture.

The next collection due in January is a collaboration with the gorgeous Katy Perry. Like her or not she is absolutely stunning and never afraid to take risks in the style department.

This collection reflects the fun, colourful image of the new Mrs Brand offering four shades and a crackling topcoat. Teenage Dream (a pink shade with holographic glitter), Not Like the Movies (a dirty silvery green color), Last Friday Night (a glittery purplish blue), The One That Got Away (a deep pink berry color), and Black Shatter (crackling topcoat creates a cracked-like pattern - Barry M seem to have got in there first).

I was sent some of the collection to review and the one that jumped out at me most was Teenage Dream. It's such a pretty shade but as I do with most glitter polishes, I apply over a complimentary opaque shade. In this case it was Barry M's Mushroom and I find that it works really well.

It's such a pretty look and the glitter is really effective, shimmering and sparkling in the light. Unlike other glitter polishes it retains it's sparkle rather than looking a bit tired and dull after a few days. As for chipping, I haven't noticed any after 3 days.
I haven't tried this polish on it's own so can't comment on it's true quality applied without a base shade but with another colour it is just lovely. I think this is a cute collection and will definitely appeal to Katy Perry fans.

x

Revitalash

The one thing I can't live without is mascara, closely followed by eyeliner, closely followed by false lashes.

My natural lashes are near invisible and at times appear quite sparse. They are a decent enough length but their uneven appearance and patchiness really does them no favours.

I had been considering for a while about trying lash extensions or a lash conditioner to improve the appearance of my natural lashes ... so it was fortunate I was sent revitalash for review purposes. It seems to have started me off on a journey of lash improvement experimentation!

Before: Without Mascara

Before: With Mascara

Revitalash is a lash conditioner that is applied daily (usually on clean skin before bedtime) to the upper lashline. Only one coat is needed. I was advised that after 6-8 weeks I would see noticeable results with my lashes appearing longer, thicker and fuller.

Well it only took about 2-3 weeks for me to notice an improvement. I have included photos of before and after results of up to 3 weeks use. I will continue to use this product for the time being as I would love to see what the maximum results will be.

My lashes feel and look longer although not necessarily thicker. They are definitely more even and less messy looking than before. I am actually happy to go out with just a coat of mascara on now as my lashes are enough to define my eye whereas previously I would still have insisted on eyeliner.

After: Without Mascara

After: With Mascara

My experience has been completely pain, irritation and side effect free, however, if you are interested in trying this product please have a look at the website and ensure you are fully aware of any negatives as well as the benefits to using this product.

Revitalash costs £95 so it is quite a hefty purchase but I can vouch that it does work. You can buy it at HQ Hair.

I also plan on trying out rapid lash and a full set of extensions at some point.

What lash products do you recommend?

x

Californian FOTD

This is might be better described as an Egyptian face of the day as it was the make up I wore on a night out on my recent holiday.

However when my husband seen me he told me he thought I looked like a California girl because of the bronzed tan glow. It was quite a simple look which didn't require too many products and was of course aided by the fact I had a little bit of colour (read freckles) to my face thanks to the sunshine.

FACE
Foundation: Rituals Precious Foundation (my ultimate holiday foundation)
Concealer: MAC select cover up NW20
Bronzer: NARS Laguna
Blush: MAC mineralise blush in Sun & Moon
Highlight: NARS multiple in copacabana

EYES:
MAC fluidline in blacktrack
Lancome Hypnose mascara
Bronzer sweeped over the eyelids in place of shadow to contour

LIPS:
Nude pink lipliner
MAC Angel lipstick

And that was it.

Simples.

It's a nice look for a simple, quick fotd giving a healthy, fresh glow.

I think I will continue with this look in this cold winter to remind me of sunnier times ahead :)

x

Whoever said this woman was a style icon ...

... is seriously deranged!Cheryl, sack the stylist! pronto.

x

There's a shark in the water!!

I'm back ... and in one piece, just!

I've had a wonderful 10 days in Egypt ... we crammed as much chilling out into the holiday as we did activities and excursions - quad biking in the desert, a trip to Luxor to see the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple and the Temple of Hatshepsut, a boat ride down the Nile, snorkelling in the Red Sea but unfortunately that particular activity was short lived.

There were 5 shark attacks during my time in Egypt, one resulting in a fatality which meant our 2 day diving and snorkelling trip to Ras Mohammed had to be cancelled. Such a shame but as they say, better safe than sorry!

It literally felt like a scene from Jaws when the lifeguards had to whistle for all the snorkellers to come back to shore ...exciting and scary at the same time. Absolutely devastating for the tourists involved in the attacks ... my heart goes out to them all.

Still at least we managed to leave the chaos of the snow and cold weather behind us for a short time, it really is a huge shock to the system to come home to double layering and wearing socks again - i do miss my flip flops :(

I feel completely out of the blogging loop since my vacation so this weekend will be mostly spent indoors, all cosy and snug catching up on twitter and all my fave blogs ... until next weekend of course, when I jet off to Berlin for a long weekend of food, drink, christmas markets and good times! :)

x

Walk like an Egyptian

While most of the UK is probably now covered in snow ... (or so the weather forecast led me to believe) ... I am avoiding the cold and instead sunning myself in Egypt :)

A well deserved break that I have been waiting an age for ... I have taken plenty of trashy books to keep me occupied and hope to spot a camel or too .... and maybe even a pyramid.

Posts may be few and far between in my absence but I will be back shortly to share a snippet of the sunshine with you all.

x

Another year, another winter

I found this set of drawers lying outside my old flat just as I was moving out. It looked like it had been placed their deliberately as someones idea of an art installation.

Whatever the case, it almost seemed a little haunting and somewhat deep.
Winter has arrived.

x

Olay's Big British Beauty Poll - The Results!

Back in September I blogged about Olay's Big British Beauty Poll here ... and 20,000 female, beauty obsessed opinions later, we have the results!

Some of the opinions are quite an interesting read.

When it comes to skincare, 50% of women placed importance on youthful looking skin and less than 10% voted for toned body, bright eyes, shiny hair, good teeth etc. So good skin prevails.

Therefore it's not surprising that Botox no longer has the must have appeal it once had with the popularity of anti-ageing facials reigning supreme followed by microdermabrashion and facial peels.

And when it came to your all time beauty icon, hands down winner was everyones favourite classic beauty - Audrey Hepburn. She was followed by the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren and Grace Kelly. With Chery Cole, Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie featuring as the most popular new faces.

Jessica Rabbit didn't even feature in the top 10!! Tut ;)

To view the full results click on the link

http://www.olaybigbritishbeautypoll.co.uk/

And of the 13,000 women who tried and tested Olay Regenerist 3-point super serum, a whopping 98% would recommend to a friend. Now that's a result!

It's proven to firm skin and contains the highest levels of penta-peptides and vitamin B3 complex to deliver maximum firming and hydration benefits.

So not only have Olay listened to and understand the views of the buyer they are also hosting their first live wavecast - an interactive q&a with a panel of leading beauty experts.

It takes place tomorrow (Thursday 25th November) at 4pm.

To take part all you need to do is go to http://www.olaybigbritishbeautypoll.co.uk/ at 4pm tomorrow and have all your beauty questions answered.

x

Guest blogging at Social Tailor

I was asked recently if I would do a little guest slot on fab fashion blog Social Tailor.

Find out what my ultimate festive party dress is ... You can view it here.

It was such a pleasure and honour to be asked to write for such a great site. Why don't you hop on over and check it out :)

... Enjoy!

x

The best way to spread christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear...

This Christmas, The Body Shop are looking to bring 'Joy to the World' through singing.

They are on the search to find the most joyous choir in the country to feature in a YouTube Christmas montage which will be released in December.

The competition is open to amateur and professional singers, school choirs or even just groups of 'Glee'ful friends whatever their age, ability or style may be. The winning group will not only feature in the YT film but also receive £200 of The Body Shop products with 5 runner up choirs winning £100 worth of The Body Shop products each.

All you need to do to feature in the montage, simply film your choir/friends/Glee Club singing the carol 'Joy to the World' and send (in mpeg format) to joytotheworld@thebodyshop.com with a contact name, address and phone number of your choir representative. Films should be no longer than 2.5 minutes duration. The contest closes on 29th November so not long left so make sure you get your groups together spreading that Christmas cheer on camera.

You can find more info on the competition T&C's here.

Good Luck!

x

Product Review Rewind - MUFE Smoky Lash

Way back near the start of 2010, I blogged about my disappointment at a recent mascara purchase. Make Up Forevers Smoky Lash. You can see that post here.

Boy, am I eating my words now. You see I have purchased this mascara 3 times since that review. 3 times!!

Let me explain. Each time I open a new Smoky Lash mascara I still feel exactly the same way I did when I wrote my first review. It's clumpy, wet, messy and doesn't give me that polished look I am eager to attain.
Fast forward a week or 2 later and suddenly the texture and consistency of this mascara is just perfect. It is still as pigmented as when freshly open but much less wet and much easier to define, lengthen and thicken my lashes.

Gone is the clumpiness and untidy finish and instead we have a clean but full set of lashes that have wow factor. The finish is so close to a false lash effect that I am often asked if my lashes are real! Result.

It just goes to show that opinions can be changed and that really a product has to be trialled much longer than just a couple of weeks before you can make an unbiased judgement on it. A lesson learned.

x

Lanvin Loser

Lanvin for H&M hits the UK stores tomorrow. There is chat of budding fashionistas camping out overnight and it is without doubt they are set for a stampede of stylish shoppers come 9am tomorrow morning.

Since my initial excitement at the Lanvin announcement I have avoided blogging about the Lanvin H&M collaboration. In fact, it depresses me ever so slightly to read about it.

Why you ask?
Well, tomorrow at 9am I will be stuck in a dreary office nestled on the River Clyde and my husband will no doubt be mid-air hovering over Europe somewhere. Neither of us anywhere near an H&M store, neither of us within reach of this gorgeous, to-die-for collection.

I could head into town after work but chances are all the good stuff will be gone and certainly all the sizes I require will be out the door in a flash. Hmmmph :(

So, I guess I couldn't put it off any longer. I did eye up the promo images, I did pick out my favourites and I might as well live a little bit of Lanvin through my blog even if I won't be able to bag one of my top picks.


From the faux fur jacket to the 1950's esque full skirted dress, everything in the collection is feminine, elegant, gorgeous and just a little bit edgy. Frills, puffs, nipped in waists and a gorgeous colour palette ... getting in on the action would be a little bit of Heaven but alas I will need to make do with living vicariously through the many bloggers who will manage to hot foot it down to H&M tomorrow.

So go on, tell me ... what are your top picks and what will you be racing through the aisles for?

x