WHAT'S ON MY BEAUTY CHRISTMAS WISHLIST

Hello everyone! It is that time of year again and with Christmas just being a little over a week away, i thought it was about time i share with you what is on my "Christmas Wishlist" beauty edition this year. Side note this year i feel like there are so many more great gift sets/products that are new-in for the holiday unlike usual, so it was a little difficult to resist and keep the lust list to a minimum...

1. nuxe luxury prodigieux set | click to shop | £37 worth £57 |

First of all can i just say that this year Look Fantastic have nailed their site/stock for Christmas this year, with so many different categories from hers/his to stocking fillers. Nuxe is the skincare brand that i reach for every single say, especially their huile prodigieuse, so naturally this gift set is going to be a winner with me. 

2. laura mercier stardust radiant glow palette | click to shop | £40 |

Next up as soon as my eyes locked in on this palette i knew i was going to want to put it on my wishlist, as let's face it who doesn't love a highlighter palette? I love every single thing about this palette from it's rose gold slim/compact packaging with star features, the three different molten metallic and beautifully pigmented highlight shades that will leave you glowing. 

3. sanctuary spa sumptuous selection gift set | click to shop | £18 |

Who doesn't love giving/receiving a spa-like gift set for Christmas? because i know i do and especially anything by Sanctuary Spa. Picking up gift sets from the drugstore is such a good way to save money at Christmas as gifts from both Superdrug and Boots are all always on a 3 for 2 offer. Another great tip especially if you are wanting to pick one up for yourself, is to hold off until Boxing Day and pick yourself up some sets for 1/2 off.

4. bareMinerals exclusive star signs lipstick duo | click to shop | £17.50 |

If you know me personally or have read my posts in the past, then you will know that you will be on to a winner straight away if you were to gift me something bareMinerals as it is in fact my favourite makeup brand. This set is perfect for not just any lip product lover but also nude lip product lovers, as it comes as a Gen Nude full sized lipstick duo for just £17.50 instead of £34.

5. bareMinerals BAREPRO glow liquid highlighter | click to shop | £23 |

Another bareMinerals product that is firmly placed on my wishlist this year is this new-in liquid highlighter in the shade fierce, from the bare-pro range. Fierce is this most beautiful copper/bronze shade that can be worn/used multiple ways, either simply on the high points of your face, mixed in with your foundation or simply in with your skincare.

6. dose of colors mickey mouse collection lip gloss | click to shop | £16 |

Another brand that i love and use often is Dose of Colors and this Christmas on BeautyBay they are stocking the brands Mickey Mouse collection, which i am first of all living for not only the packaging but also the three different shades from the lip gloss collection. 

7. too faced sugar cookie eyeshadow palette | click to shop too faced | £33 |

Finally is a palette that i think is going to be one of those "impossible to find" gifts, as it is literally sold out everywhere (including the gingerbread palette) which happens pretty much every time Too Faced launch a new cute designed palette. I love how compact yet versatile this palette is, from its different shades with both matte and shimmer finishes. Also if you know anything about Too Faced palettes, then you will already know that they smell amazing and i simply can't wait to get a sniff of this sugar cookie palette.

Catch up on my previous post: here

xo.

THE BAKES OF CHRISTMAS PAST

Hello everyone! In previous years by now i would already got at least two or three Christmas themed baking posts ready to go, oh how times have changed. Since changing the way i eat/lifestyle at the start of the year (which i have touched on in previous posts), i have obviously cut down the amount of unhealthier options by a lot. That being said i do plan on squeezing an all new baking post before the big day later on in the month, until then i am trying to hold off. Keeping in mind that not every one likes to resist the urge to indulge at this time of year, i thought i would share with you a round up of some of my personal favourite festive bakes...

carrot and gingerbread cupcakes | click to bake |

First up is a twist on a cake that Nigella Lawson did last year, but rather than one large cake i made the recipe into cupcake form. Personally for me carrot cake is hands down one of my favourite, along side gingerbread so combine the two together and you are in for a treat. Cupcakes are such an easy thing to make, as you basically have a classic base then all you can do to switch things up is add in any flavouring and decorate how you choose.

mincemeat, pecan and cinnamon crumble bars | click to bake |

Just looking back and remembering how yummy these crumble bars were, just makes me want to either lick the screen or cave and make them right now. I am such a mince pie fan when it comes to Christmas desserts and this is the perfect twist on a classic, which is just a little more modern with the added flavours and textures from the pecans and cinnamon. 

chocolate holly cupcakes | click to bake |

Next up is definitely one for any chocolate lovers out there and even more so if you love both cupcake and anything chocolatey. Yet again this is another cupcake recipe that you can use and decorate as you choose to do, but i personally love how with the added holly shaped icing on top makes the cupcakes look more like Christmas puddings. Another great decoration topping idea is to add some different coloured M&M's placed around and on-top of some black pen icing, for the appearance of fairy lights.

Want another Christmas themed read? Catch up on my previous post for more:

winter scents: the christmas candle edit

xo.

WINTER SCENTS: THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE EDIT

Hello everyone and Happy December! First of all, how is it December already? The months since summer, have just some how flown by! That being said here we are just a couple of days into the final month of the year, as well as on the countdown to Christmas. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you some of my favourite Christmas candles this winter season, that might help you get into the Christmas spirit...

1. bath & body works spiced gingerbread swirl | click to buy |

First up we have such a classic scent when it comes to Christmas, which is of course Gingerbread. I feel like Gingerbread is a love or loath scent but i personally love that balance of both sweet and spice combined. If you are from the UK and you think you can't get your hands on Bath & Body Works candles, think again as you can simply pick them up on eBay new and the pricing is around the same as a Yankee Candle would. I also absolutely love the designs on their Christmas products this year and they would make for the perfect gift, for a friend, loved one or simply yourself.

2. yankee candle all is bright | click to buy |

Next up is a favourite of mine from then new-in Christmas candles last year by Yankee Candle. For me when it comes to candles in winter you really want a scent that is fresh yet gives off that cosy and warm feel to the room, which that does just that. All Is Bright has that perfect mixture of fresh citrus-y notes and warm musk.

3. yankee candle winter wonder | click to buy |

Bringing things back to new-in for this Christmas by Yankee Candle (which fyi i think they have some really great scents this time around), especially with this beautiful Winter Wonder candle. Winter Wonder is similar in a way to All Is Bright has it has a balance of fruity citrus notes with the lemon/champagne and then also the warmth of vanilla musk and then you also get the subtle hint of fresh silver balsam.

4. yankee candle winter glow | click to buy |

Over the past few years this scent has been another Christmas/Winter favourite of mine, as you could say again that this is similar to All Is Bright but this candle has more of a cooling freshness to it rather than the warmth of vanilla notes. This candle all round is very fresh, cooling with that subtle hint of warmth from the amber undertones.

5. neom christmas wish candle | click to buy |

Neom candles are definitely more on the luxury side of things when it comes to candles but if you are looking to pick up more of a "luxury" style candle, then i highly recommend Neom. Neom candles always have that perfect spa-like feel to them that instantly fills a room, whether lit or not. This years Christmas Wish candle is packed full of essential oils all fruity, fresh and warming. 

6. m&s frankincense and myrrh candles | click to buy |

When it comes to high-street finds for me personally it is a toss up between H&M and M&S, that being said i am slightly disappointed with H&M's Christmas candles this year. That being said M&S are stocking a range of different shape/sized candles in their classic Frankincense and Myrrh scent, which i love as it is fresh, warming, very traditional and the packaging is always great to re-use for something else afterwards.

7. yankee candle christmas magic | click to buy |

Next up we have another new-in this season to Yankee Candle and probably not something i would usually opt for visually, as the packaging is red and i am more of a neutral/gold toned fan. That being said Christmas Magic smells like real Christmas Tree as it is infused with fir balsam, pine needle sap and cedarwood birch.

8. yankee candle frosty gingerbread | click to buy |

Ok this is the last Yankee Candle scent for this post, i promise. That being said Frosty Gingerbread is yet another new-in scent from the brand this year and is literally a sweet/baking scented candle lovers dream in a jar. Frosty Gingerbread obviously has that gingerbread scent to it but it also has more of a sweetness to it with the vanilla added in, to allow your room to smell like a fresh batch of homemade Christmas desserts.

9. bath & body works twisted peppermint | click to buy |

Finally we have a candle that really minds me of Candy Cane Lane by Yankee Candle, as it has that beautiful minty/sweet scent that smells just like candy canes do. Just like the Spiced Gingerbread Swirl candle, this would make the perfect gift as the packaging is simply beautiful and can also be picked up on eBay. Bath and Body Works also stock different products with the same scents, from body lotions to hand gels and shower gels, which is great if you wanted to pick up a scent for someone who isn't necessarily a candle lover. 

Catch up on my previous post: here 

xo.

MY FOUR NAIL POLISH FAVOURITES FOR AUTUMN/WINTER

Hello everyone! If you have read my posts previously or you know me, then you will know already that i am such a neutrals girl at heart from anything neutral toned to nude lip products and of course when it comes to nail colours also. For me there is just something about autumn/winter time that always makes me want to bring out the darker nail polish shades, whether that be red tones or berry tones. That being said for today's instalment i thought i would share four of my personal favourite nail polishes for autumn/winter this year...

essie nail lacquer in the shade russian roulette | click to buy |

First up we have two of my favourite non-nude nail polishes by Essie, starting with the shade Russian Roulette which is the most beautiful bright red with almost a creamy orange under-tone to do and a glossy finish. This nail polish is that perfect Christmas party or even Christmas day shade of red, as it is such a classic and easy to wear colour. The thing i always have to say about Essie nail polishes is even though they are the "more expensive" side when it comes to drugstore nail polishes, they are definitely worth spending that little bit more on.

essie nail lacquer in the shade bordeaux | click to buy |

The next nail polish also by Essie this time a shade called Bordeaux which is definitely more on the dark side when it comes to nail colour, as it is this dark wine/burgundy shade also with a glossy finish. Unlike Russian Roulette which is more on the fun side of things when it comes to choosing a nail colour, i always feel like Bordeaux definitely gives off more of a sexy vibe. Even though this shade is super dark in tone it is in no way hard to apply, as dark shades formula's can be fairly thick and harder to apply but with Essie's darker shades that is not the case at all. As this shade is dark, you definitely only need to apply two coats unlike when you were to apply a much light shade of polish.

barry m gelly high shine nail polish in the shade blackerry | click to buy |

Next up ironically we have two shades from Barry M's Gelly Hi-Shine collection, which is a selection of different shades with a gel-like finish. First up is the last dark nail polish of the post called Blackberry, Blackberry is a very dark purple shade with a blue tone to it. The thing i will say about the darker shades from the Gelly collection can have that thicker almost gloopy texture to them, so make sure you shade the bottle well and don't overload the brush with product. This is a polish that you could get away with just applying one coat, but i personally always like to opt for two.

barry m gelly high shine nail polish in the shade peanut butter | click to buy |
Finally i am finishing this post up with an all year round favourite of mine now, also from the Barry M Gelly collection and of course i had to sneak a nude in there somewhere. This particular shade is called Peanut Butter (which lets face it sells you just with it's name), Peanut Butter is the most beautiful caramel/peach-y nude shade of nail polish. Unlike some nudes this particular one is definitely slightly on the darker scale of nude, which is what makes is perfect to wear on your nails all year round.

Catch up on my neutral nail polishes i couldn't be without post: here

xo.

WHAT MAKEUP I WORE ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Hello everyone, i hope you all had a lovely Christmas! For today's post i thought i would do a little spin on a "face of the day" or an everyday monthly makeup post and share with you all the makeup that i wore on Christmas day. I don't know about you but i love to make an effort on Christmas day and i always tend to go with something sparkly/glowing yet still simple-ish. Don't forget you can click on the product name/shade to shop.

maybelline x gigi west coast strobing liquid gold

I have been loving using this along side an MUA luxe strobe cream as a primer.

milani conceal + perfect 2-in-1 foundation/concealer

Ever since picking this up again on Black Friday, i haven't been able to put it down.

maybelline fit me concealer

This is one of my all time favourite concealers and it never fails me, great coverage.

laura mercier translucent loose setting powder

Probably my favourite powder of the year, i just love how flawless it is.

anastasia beverly hills dipbrow pomade

Another product that never lets me down and is always a go to of mine.

mac x nutcracker loose pigment

Pigments are so quick yet they look like you have put a ton of effort in, this one from last years holiday collection is my favourite and looks stunning with a bit of bronzer through the crease too.

kiko 30 day lash treatment mascara + red cherry #523 lashes

Seeing as it was Christmas day i decided to opt with some lashes too, just for some extra drama and these red cherry lashes are simply beautiful and super in expensive.

zoeva graphic eyes rock n roll bride eyeliner pencil

I always opt for brown/bronze eyeliner pencils over black now, i like how it is subtle.

makeup revolution liquid highlighter

I love how natural looking these liquid highlighters look but they also make a great base.

mac x snowball happy go dazzling glare powder

Seeing as it is Christmas, i couldn't of not gone in with my limited edition highlight.

bareMinerals invisible bronze medium bronzer

This is my favourite bronzer of all day and i use it every single day anyway, obsessed.

ofra apricot blush

I go in and out of phases with using blush but this is a recent favourite that i picked up during Black Friday, which goes with every single makeup look you do.

maybelline x gigi east coast mccall lip liner pencil

This is one of my current favourite lip liners, as it is super creamy/hydrating.

anastasia beverly hills naked liquid lipstick

Choosing a lipstick was the hardest part but i decided to go with this one, as it went perfectly with the lip liner/look and it also lasts for such a long time, perfect for eating/drinking.

Stay tuned for Friday's blog post, talking all things 2017!

xo.

CHRISTMAS BAKING #4: THE BAKES OF CHRISTMAS PAST

Hello everyone and welcome back to the forth and final "Christmas Baking" post this December! If you haven't seen any of this years baking instalments so far, i will link them at the end of this post for you to catch up on. With that in mind for the final instalment i thought i would switch things up by doing something different, in the form of sharing a selection of the Christmas bakes from last years blogmas.

| gingerbread cupcakes two ways | click to bake |

First up we have probably one of the most traditional flavour when it comes to Christmas and that is gingerbread, last blogmas i shared this gingerbread cupcakes with two different ways in how to decorate/serve them. The first way was to simply bake/buy some little gingerbread men and place over top of the cinnamon flavoured frosting, the second way was to simply crush some gingerbread/gingerbread men up with a rolling pin before sprinkling over top of the same cinnamon flavoured frosting.

| frangipane mince pies | click to bake |

Next up is a twist on the ever so classic mince pie (which is a pretty big deal if you are from the UK at Christmas) and to me at Christmas i eat as many of them as possible, because they are simply so yummy. Usually the "lid" of the mince pie will either be a simple pastry lid or a pastry star, but i wanted to do something different so i added this yummy frangipane topping instead. If you aren't sure what frangipane is, it is basically an almond-like flavoured cake topping and i also share how to make that from start to finish too.

| hot chocolate cupcakes | click to bake |

Finally we have a cool spin with a classic drink that we all tend to indulge in during the Christmas/Winter months and that drink is a steaming cup of hot chocolate. So for last years blogmas post i shared this super simple hot chocolate cupcake recipe, complete with "whipped cream" style frosting, marshmallows and candy cane decorative straw, which really reminds me of the whole frozen hot chocolates you see in movies.

Catch up on this years "Christmas Baking" instalments...

| christmas baking #1: chocolate holly cupcakes | christmas baking #2: mincemeat, pecan and cinnamon crumble bars | christmas baking #3 carrot + gingerbread cupcakes |

Merry Christmas Everyone!

xo.

WHAT I ATE IN A DAY: FESTIVE EDITION

Hello everyone and welcome back to another "what i ate in a day" instalment! Since picking this type of post back up again in September, i have been so proud that i have remembered to do updated versions monthly and in fact last month i did not one but two (which i will link at the end). Before that i thought i would share with you a festive themed "what i ate in a day", which is not an all healthy food post but it is Christmas right?

So for breakfast this particular day i didn't have the most "winter-y" breakfast, like porridge as i usually would but i fancied something different and it is super quick to make. I had some mixed berries which were frozen and i warmed up in the microwave, with some homemade granola (cacao, almonds, oats, mixed nuts, dried fruits) and then also some Rachel's organic greek style honey yogurt and to top it off some more honey on top. As i had not had my coffee first thing when i got up, i had it with my breakfast instead.

Lunch time and i mentioned in a previous what i ate post that i had wanted to try smashed peas on toast for the longest time, then i finally did. Since then i have found another amazing recipe from Jamie Oliver, which is smashes peas and broad beans on toast with chilli the only thing different i did to his recipe is that i didn't add cheese as we didn't have any in ha ha. This is a great alternative to avocado on toast, especially if you are like me and aren't the biggest fan of avocado. 

Dinner time and i was actually at Meadowhall doing some last minute Christmas shopping, so we decided to get some dinner whilst we was there as it would be a little late to be eating dinner once we got back home. There is also finally a GBK (gormet burger kitchen) opened in Meadowhall, so of course we had to give it a go. I opted for burger, skinny fries and a sparkling elderflower drink, which was amazing!

Seeing as it is Christmas (which has been my excuse for the whole of December) i had dessert in the evening and i can never refuse anything mince pie related. With that in mind i had a options (low calorie) salted caramel hot chocolate and a viennese-mince pie, which was so yummy!

Catch up on some previous "what i ate in a day" posts...

| what i ate #1 | what i ate #2 | what i ate #3 | what i ate #4 |

xo.

WHAT'S ON MY BEAUTY CHRISTMAS WISHLIST

Hello everyone! With Christmas Day only being one week away, i thought it was about time that i shared what has been written on my beauty Christmas wishlist to Santa this year. Obviously now that i am older i don't post a letter off to the North Pole, instead i tend to drop "subtle" hints on what i would like instead.

1. | jouer cosmetics powder highlight trio gift set | £35 |

If you have read quite a few of my posts then first of all you will know how obsessed with highlighters i am, second of all you will know the shade Topaz from Jouer is one of my favourites. That being said mine is actually broken so it now proves difficult to use it, so i would love to get my hands on this trio of the highlighters this Christmas as i would not only have a new Topaz but also the other two shades from the range.

2. | bobbi brown luxe lip colour lipstick | £27 |

If anyone is stuck on what to get me for Christmas, the safe option is a lipstick and more specifically a nude lipstick and i am obsessed with how beautiful and perfect this new Bobbi Brown luxe lip colour lipstick is, from being the perfect nude/pink shade to its equally beautiful packaging.

3. | zoeva matte eyeshadow palette | £18 |

When it comes to eyeshadows i am all about the warm tones and the warm neutrals to be more specific. so when i spotted this new eyeshadow palette from Zoeva i instantly fell in love and it is perfect as recently i am obsessed with a warm matte eye look.

4. | zoeva aristo blush palette | £13 |

I have mentioned several of these little trio "blush" palettes from Zoeva, as they are some of my favourite things out of my whole collection. The quality/formula of the powders are simply beautiful and not to mention super easy to travel with, as they are so compact. The thing that attracts me to this new one the most, is the highlight shade as it looks stunning!

5. | bareMinerals gold obsession chandelight glow illuminator | £32 |

Talking of highlighters and yet another one that i am lusting over, is one from bareMinerals which is a brand i have become obsessed with this year and i use their bronzer every single day. This is such an amazing gift to give/receive as it is not only boxed beautifully but it is also limited edition for Christmas time only.

6. | gucci bloom eau de parfum | £52-£99 |

Who doesn't love to receive perfume for Christmas/Birthday's? because i know i do, as perfume can be expensive and who wants to spend that themselves right? I actually have my eye on a couple of perfumes that i love the scent of, this new one by Gucci is one of them (i love the fresh scent and packaging) and i also love the lancome la vie est belle too.

7. | ghd white platinum styler | £165 |

Finally we have something on my wishlist that should probably be at the top, as it is the thing i am most desperate for and that is a new pair of straighteners. I have honestly had mine for so long now and i can tell they are on their way out now, so that makes me desperate as i can't live without one. I have always used GHD ones, as they just work the best with my hair. Even though it is the most expensive gift on the wishlist, it is the thing that would get the most use.

Catch up on last week's blog post instalments...

| current non-beauty favourites | christmas pinterest diy inspiration | my favourites picks from my beautybay (30% off black friday) order |

xo.

CHRISTMAS BAKING #3: CARROT AND GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES

Hello everyone and welcome back to another instalment of my "Sunday Christmas Baking" series this December! When it comes to Christmas is it honestly Christmas without something Gingerbread related, whether that be a Starbucks gingerbread latte, a gingerbread man/house or a delicious gingerbread scented candle. With that in mind i wanted a different type of cupcake rather than just gingerbread, then i saw Nigella make a carrot and ginger cake on TV and decided to go from there with an added twist.

to make the carrot and gingerbread cupcakes you will need:

| 165g grated carrot | 160g caster sugar | 150ml sunflower oil | 2 large eggs | 150g plain flour | 50g dried mixed fruit | 1tsp ground ginger | 1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda | 1/2 tsp baking powder |

method:

First things first, you are going to want to pre-heat your oven to gas mark 4/180c/350f and then line your baking trays with the cupcake cases. Then you are going to want to start on your cupcake mixture, take the caster sugar, sunflower oil and eggs and place them all in your mixer or bowl whichever way you prefer to mix your mixture. Then you are going to want to start mixing the ingredients on a low speed and gradually add the flour, ground ginger, bicarbonate soda and baking powder, then slowly start to speed up the mixer. Mix all together until combined and smooth. Once combined you are going to want to take your dried mixed fruit and grated carrot and fold the two ingredients into the mixture. Before baking you are going to want to take your mixture and spoon an amount into your cupcake cases and place in your pre-heated oven for 22-25 minutes, once out of the oven leave to cool completely.

to make the frosting you will need:

| 300g icing sugar | 50g softened butter | 125g mascapone | gingerbread men sprinkles |

method:

For the frosting you are going to want to take the softened butter and place it in a bowl/mixer, beat slightly before adding in the mascapone and beating the two together. Slowly add in the icing sugar (it is better to sift in the icing sugar) and continue to mix until combined. All that is left to do is spoon or pipe on the frosting onto your completely cooled cupcakes and decorate with some little gingerbread men sprinkles (or any sprinkle of choice) or you could simply lightly dust on some ground cinnamon.

Catch up on my previous "christmas baking" posts here...

christmas baking #1: chocolate holly cupcakes

christmas baking #2: mincmeat, pecan and cinnamon crumble bars

xo.

MY FAVOURITE PICKS FROM MY BEAUTYBAY (30% OFF BLACK FRIDAY) ORDER

Hello everyone! So if you cast your minds back to just over two weeks ago, when it was Black Friday i shared my black friday buys from h&m, boohoo, beautybay + discount codes post and in that post i shared the majority of the things i picked up from the 30% off everything on beautybay. Keeping that in mind for today's post i thought why not share with you my favourite picks, from the items that i had picked up and have now put to the test.

l.a girl PRO.coverage HD long wear illuminating foundation

I had been wanting to try this foundation out for so long now, seeing as i already love the concealer but i didn't know whether i would love the foundation or not (as it is very rare that i will like both the foundation and concealer in the same range). So seeing as there was 30% off i thought why not just pick one up to try and i am so glad that i did, as it is simply beautiful and does everything that it claims to do. The finish is illuminating but not overly shine-y, amazing coverage even if you only apply one layer yet it is build-able without being cake-y as it is a lightweight formula. I picked this foundation up in the shade Beige, but i really want to pick this up in a slightly lighter shade as this shade only works well when i am freshly tanned/darker.

laura geller baked gelato swirl illuminator in the shade gilded honey

So i have lusted after this highlighter for quite a while now and every now and again when i go past a Laura Geller counter, i always swatch this. The only thing that has ever put me off buying this is the packaging, to say this is more of a "high end" type of product at £16.50 the packaging is pretty simple and cheap looking (some drugstore packaging is more upmarket). That being said seeing as it was 30% off i decided to finally pick one up, because i knew how beautifully it swatched and now packaging aside i just can't put it down it is that beautiful. I love how silky smooth the texture of the baked powder is, the way it applies/stays looking freshly applied all day long and most important of all how much of a stunning gold shade it is.

morphe plush liquid lip kit in the shade paint the town nude

This particular product is one i had wanted to pick up when i made my first order at the beginning of the 30% off week but it was actually out of stock, so when Black Friday itself beautybay did a full site re-stock and it became available again. Morphe have recently re-branded a lot of their products and as well as releasing new eye palettes etc, they have also released these limited edition holiday lip kits (one is paint the town red, the other paint the town nude). Of course i was going to pick up the nude lip kit, including the shades sweets, lulu and dainty. I wasn't sure whether i was going to love these or not but i have to say i was so surprised at how beautiful they are, as well as how moisturising/comfortable they are to wear. For £12 RRP, i think this would also make a really great gift for any makeup lover, as it comes packaged really nicely also.

jordana best length extreme lengthening mascara

Jordana is a brand that we have only just recently been able to get a hold of in the UK (thanks to beautybay) and this is a mascara i have seen many a beauty guru from other countries rave about, so i thought why not take advantage of the discount and pick one up. I am usually a KIKO 30 day lash treatment mascara or Maybelline/L'Oreal mascara kind of girl and nothing else really compares, but i must say i am really enjoying reaching for this one at the moment. I love how this mascara really separates your lashes and lengthens quite quickly without becoming clumpy in the slightest, this mascara also doesn't transfer at all as it isn't too much of a "wet-like" formula and this also comes in a volumizing formula for £6 RRP each.

Catch up on some recent beauty related posts here:
| six high-end products i probably couldn't live without | quick almost no makeup makeup in december | five affordable november favourites |

xo.

CHRISTMAS PINTEREST DIY INSPIRATION

Hello everyone! For today's instalment i am back with another Pinterest inspiration post but rather than being a spooky theme like last times, i am talking all things Christmas and more specifically DIY inspiration as there is so many great different little DIY/Hack ideas on there. Also if you want to check out some of my previous Pinterest related posts, then i will link them all at the bottom of this post.

| how to DIY your holiday mantel/fireplace | 

On Pinterest there are so many different great inspo posts for DIY'ing your fireplace/mantel area, so many of them are so simple to create/re-create and can be quite in-expensive to do. This year i am loving the whole, real foliage and some simple wire lights weaved throughout. 

| DIY Gift Tags |

By DIY'ing your own gift tags or gift wrapping is a great way to add your own personal touch to any gift you are giving away this Christmas, this can also be less costly than buying wrapping/tags as alot of items can be found in a garden or with some paper and a pen.

| DIY christmas gift wrapping ideas |

Sticking with the whole gift wrapping theme, on Pinterest there are so many different wrapping ideas and what different themes to go for, from adding baubles to foliage and homemade stamps. One of my personal favourites is a simple white paper, with ribbon or string.

| DIY snowy mason jars |

A lot of Christmas inspired DIY's on Pinterest are great homemade decor/gift ideas, that can be used in so many different ways and all starting off with a simple empty jar. These snowy mason jars are such a beautiful way to add a little touch of a festive feeling to your home, simply pop a tea light or led light inside to add a finishing touch.

| DIY hot chocolate bar/station |

If you are looking for inspiration for a Christmas party and something that is a little different, something that seems to be a huge trend right now is a hot chocolate bar/station. That being said on Pinterest there is so many different great ideas on how to decorate/set up your station. This is also great if you love hot chocolates in general.

| 30 DIY christmas gifts |

Finally there is one type of gift that always seems to be the most thoughtful type of gift and that is a homemade DIY'd gift. My personal favourite has to be either baking kits/hot chocolate kits, filled with the correct amount of ingredients for the person you are giving the kit to create and all from that one jar.

Catch up on my other Pinterest related posts...

| pinterest recipes i want to try | pinterest recipes i want to try: autumn breakfast edition | pinterest halloween treats inspiration | ways to find home decor/interior inspo |

xo.

CURRENT NON-BEAUTY FAVOURITES

Hello everyone! It came to my attention the other day that it has been a hot minute since i last did a non-beauty related favourites post, talking all things non beauty related obviously. Seeing as it is December i am loving a whole bunch of different festive related things like food, music and tv/movies, as well as a few fashion favourites. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share my current non-beauty favourites.

| fashion favourites | miss selfridge checked scarf (similar linked) |

During "Black Friday" week i picked up this scarf (shown in image) in House of Fraser, i was looking to stock up on a few different scarves for the winter months anyway but when i spotted this particular one, i just couldn't leave it in the shop. I love all the different shades of pinks, with the slight blue and yellow accents as i don't really have anything like this in my wardrobe. It was also such a bargain, as it was £8 down from £16.

| fashion favourites | prettylittlething + boohoo |

For clothing at the moment i have really been loving both pretty little thing and boohoo also, they both have so many great knitwear pieces, coats/jackets and especially this boohoo faux fur gilet. I love faux fur jackets/gilet's, as they can add a little something extra to a plain outfit during the cold months. I also have a similar black faux fur gilet that i have been wearing again, which i picked up last winter from pretty little thing.

| music favourites | mariah carey merry christmas (spotify link) |

So towards the end of November and during the whole of December, the majority of music that i have playing on my Spotify is Christmas music and of course the most played album the same as every year is Mariah Carey's classic Merry Christmas album. I also love all the classics pretty much the same as every year, Spotify have some really great festive playlists under the Seasons Greetings genre.

| movie favourites | christmas movies (netflix link) |

Just like with music, from November right up until January i am constantly watching Christmas movies as they are just the best aren't they? I love how feel good a lot of them are and the Christmas24 channel is constantly playing on the TV, as i love the tv Christmas movies the best and the classics of course. Netflix also have a bunch of new festive films which have been recently added, along side a few other channels. If you want to know a huge list of some of my favourite Christmas movies, then tweet me @iamkatiee_ and i will do a separate post.

| food + drink favourites |

Is it just me of does anyone else use the whole of December as an excuse to nibble on something naughty more than usual? by saying "ok seeing as it is Christmas" ha! With that in mind at the moment food-wise i am living for all of the sweet treat snacks, especially mince pies, terry's chocolate orange (these popping candy ones are amazing) and also white chocolate covered oreo's, which are the best thing in the whole world anyway. Drink-wise which i have mentioned in a different post, i am living for the Starbucks festive drinks made with soy milk.

Catch up on last weeks blog post instalments...

| winter wonderland | christmas homeware picks | quick no makeup, makeup |

xo. 

CHRISTMAS BAKING #2: MINCEMEAT, PECAN AND CINNAMON CRUMBLE BARS

Hello everyone and welcome to the second instalment of my "Sunday Christmas Baking" series in December! Mincemeat/Mince pie is such a cult classic when it comes to Christmas time and i swear if i am near a mince pie, i just can't seem to say no i love them that much (i mean i guess it is justifiable as calories don't count at Christmas right?). That being said for this instalment i wanted to do something a little different using mincemeat and i came across with this yummy take on a Christmas classic, including two other flavours i love nuts and cinnamon.

  

to make the mincemeat crumble bars you will need:

| 225g cold unsalted butter diced + extra for greasing | 225g plain flour | 100g semolina | 100g caster sugar | 75g chopped pecans | 450g mincemeat | 1/2 vanilla extract | icing sugar + cinnamon for dusting |

method:

First things first, you are going to want to pre-heat your oven to gas mark 3/136c/275f and grease a rectangular, shallow baking tin well with butter. Next you are going to want to put the plain flour, semolina and the 100g of sugar into a bowl/mixer then add the butter and vanilla then mixing until the mixture just begins to stick together into pea sized lumps to form a crumble mixture. Put half of the mixture into the well-buttered baking tin and press firmly over the base in an even layer using the back of a metal spoon. Next you are going to want to place your mincemeat over the crumble mixture in an even layer. The with the remaining crumble mixture, stir in the chopped pecans and remaining sugar before sprinkling evenly over the top of the mincemeat. All that is left to do then is bake in the oven for 50/60 minutes or until golden brown.

Catch up on last weeks Christmas baking instalment HERE...

xo. 

QUICK ALMOST "NO MAKEUP, MAKEUP" FOR DECEMBER

Hello everyone! So at the beginning of November i shared with you all an everyday autumn speedy makeup post, which explained how i do a put together look in around 20 minutes or so. Keeping that in mind and taking into consideration how busy we all tend to be during December and not to mention how we love to sleep in longer in the mornings, lets face it when the alarm goes off it still looks like night-time outside. That being said this month i have been loving going for the whole "no makeup, makeup" look and keeping things simple.

maybelline x gigi west coast strobing liquid gold

So once all of my skincare routine is complete, i go straight in with a base for my makeup and for that i love to use some form of strobe cream, as it not only preps the skin but also moisturises and gives the appearance of a healthy glow. I first mentioned this particular strobing liquid in my recent five affordable november favourites post, where i went into full detail about the different ways to use this product.

milani 2-in-1 conceal and perfect foundation + concealer

I used to reach for this particular foundation a lot last year/the beginning of this year and then i ran out and forgot to repurchase it. That being said during Black Friday i decided to pick one up again and i honestly forgot how much i loved this foundation/concealer duo, it has amazing coverage, is light-weight and long wearing, not to mention quick/easy to blend out. I always opt for the shade 05 warm beige, as it matches me perfectly.

laura mercier loose setting powder

Once i have gone in with the base, foundation and concealer i will set my face with a light dusting on powder, which to be honest i switch up all the time as i have so many favourites. At the moment i have living for using the Laura Mercier powder again, as it is just flawless looking on the skin and is totally worth the huge mess i tend to make using it. Please tell me i am not the only one that tends to get loose powder everywhere?

mua luxe 3-in-1 power brow definer in the shade dark brown

Next up i will go ahead and fill in my brows lightly, as at this moment in time i am so happy with how full my brows are looking (thanks to the Benefit brow conditioning primer). I really like this pencil as it is easy to use, matches the colour of my brows perfectly and is a complete dupe for the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow definer, which would cost you almost £20 more than this one. 

kiko 30 day lash treatment mascara

For eyes i will keep things super simple and just curl my lashes and then go in with mascara. This KIKO mascara as you might already know is such a favourite of mine, but even more so on those quick makeup days as you can get the desired long-lash effect instantly and effortlessly. 

laura geller baked gelato swirl illuminator in the shade gilded honey

I had my eye on this highlighter for the longest time (which i will explain in more detail in a post coming soon), but long story short i will never ever skip on highlighter and i am really loving this one at the moment, it is simply beautiful. I just apply a little to the highest points of my cheeks, tip of my nose and cupids bow for a natural yet healthy looking glow.

bareMinerals invisible bronze medium bronzing powder

Final step for the face and that is to add some colour and shape back into the face, no surprise that this is the bronzer i am still reaching for and if you have been reading my posts for some time, then you will know i just can't put this one from bareMinerals down. The formula/colour of this bronzer is honestly flawless and like nothing i have ever used before.

mac cosmetics stripdown lip liner + peachstock lipstick
Finally to complete the look we can't forget a good nude lip combo and this is my lip of choice this month so far. I love how the two lip products look together, as it creates the most perfect slightly brown/autumnal beige peachy nude lip. That being said some days i will switch the lip combination up but it will more than likely be a nude ha ha!

Catch up on this weeks instalments...
christmas baking #1: chocolate holly cupcakes
winter wonderland: christmas market 2017
christmas homeware picks from h&m + m&s

xo. 

CHRISTMAS HOMEWARE PICKS FROM H&M + M&S HOME

Hello everyone! So this year i am a little late on sharing my "homeware picks", as i would usually share this post at the end of November but other things got in the way. That being said i did pick up a few pieces during Black Friday and i have to say there is so many great decorations/decorative items again this year available on the high street and online especially from H&M and also M&S. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you my Christmas homeware picks, i will also link some previous homeware/interior related posts at the end.

| H&M Porcelain Cup | £3.99 |

Available in both black + white, great alternative to a traditional mug/glass cup. 

| H&M Christmas-Print Cushion Cover | £6.99 |

Subtle joy print cushion, this looks festive without being too much or over the top.

| H&M 2-Pack Christmas Tree Baubles | £3.99 |

Such a bargain for only £3.99 for 2, they would look great inside the glass dome.

| H&M Jacquard-Weave Cushion Cover | £8.99 |

This cushion would look perfect styled alone side the joy print cushion.

| H&M Star Christmas Decorations | £6.99 |

Not the cheapest of decorations but it adds a touch of luxuriousness to the tree. 

| H&M 2-Pack Gold Christmas Decorations | £6.99 |

Same with this 2-pack of decorations, can you tell i love me some gold?

| H&M Glass Dome | £17.99 |

The glass dome that would look beautiful, styled with baubles or fairy lights inside.

| H&M Scented Candle In Glitter Glass Jar | £3.99 |

I mentioned this in a recent winter candles: the best scents blog post.

| M&S Small Ceramic House Tea Light Holder | £12.50 |

This would love beautiful all lit up when it is dark, i love how it is available in 2 sizes.

| M&S White Nutcracker | £25 |

If you know me then you know i love nutcrackers, especially when white + gold.

| M&S A-Z Gold Alphabet Mugs | £8 Each |

These mugs would look great at Christmas + also year round.

| M&S Frankincense & Myrrh Scented Candle | £12.50 |

I loved this scent of candle last year + this year it is available in so many ways.

| M&S Mandarin, Clove & Cinnamon Diffuser | £22.50 |

I love how this comes in smaller + larger sizes, also great to inject a slight red touch.

| M&S Baubles | From £4 (3 for 2 decorations) |

M&S have some beautiful baubles, made even better that they are on a 3for2 promo.

| M&S Textured Faux Fur Cream Cushion | £25 |

Another cushion that would look great for Christmas + all winter too.

Catch up on my recent Homeware related posts...

| my favourite ways to find interior/decor inspiration | black friday buys: boohoo, h&m home, beautybay etc + discount codes | winter candles: the best scents |

xo.