HIGH-STREET HOMEWARE PICKS

Hello everyone! So it has been a hot minute since i last talked about all thing homeware/home decor. Seeing as at the moment i am seeing a bunch of beautiful different items available, on the high-street both in-store and online i thought today's post would be the perfect time to share with you a selection of my personal favourite homeware picks. At the moment i am loving very neutral toned pieces, with a little black added in there too and i feel like this is a very strong/beautiful decor trend this summer...

1. primark madagascan vanilla large kilner jar candle | £5 |

So first up is a favourite bargain candle of mine which i purchase over and over again, because not only is it only £5 for this large jar but also because the smell is absolutely incredible. The scent is actually really powerful unlike some other affordable candles, you get a really beautiful warm vanilla with a hint of freshness to it and it is perfect for all year round, not just summer.

2. h&m home 2-pack blush guest towels | £3.99 |

Fun fact these are actually my favourite bathroom towels, as they come in so many different colours, are super affordable and they wash so nice/stay soft. These towels comes in so many different sizes as well from this guest towel size, to bath towel, hand towel and also face clothes too i believe. 

3. h&m home storage basket with pom poms | £12.99 |

Sticking with the h&m home theme and if you have read some of my posts recently, then you will know i am loving the whole wicker/pom pom combination and this storage basket ticks both of those boxes. These type of storage baskets are not only good for storing washing, but also you can pot plants in them or even display your throws/blankets in them too.

4. graham & brown elle blush pink cushion | £23 |

When it comes to cushions, the high-street is pretty much the place to be and you can either pick up full cushions or just the covers to add your own insert in at home. That being said i am so in love with this particular cushion from Debenhams, which is a little more on the expensive side for a cushion but this shade of blush is stunning. 

5. new look home black floral painted wide mug | £6.99 |

New Look is always that place i forget stock homeware but when i remember and take a look, they always seem to have so many nice pieces and quite a wide variety of things too. I am such a sucker for a good mug, especially this particular vintage style wide mug style at the moment. New Look also have a bunch of different other patterns in this style as well as h&m.

6. primark etched mini faux plant pot | £2.50 |

Who doesn't love a good Primark find? Because i know i do! These mini faux plants in pots are perfect for if you want to add a little green/plant look to a room, without having the responsibility of remembering to keep it alive. Primark actually have a good few different styles of faux plants in different pots, which are only £2.50!

7. yankee candle a calm and quiet place large jar candle | £24 |

Finally would this be a home decor post from me without including something from Yankee Candle? Probably not ha ha! I actually haven't seen this candle on the site before, yet it did catch my eye in Debenhams. This candle has all of the notes which i love in a candle, from it's warming feel to it's amber musk scent with a hint of freshness.

Catch up on my spring/summer must-try candles post HERE...

xo.

CURRENT TOPSHOP LUST LIST | SPRING/SUMMER

Hello everyone! So the other day i found myself browsing the Topshop site, just because i thought it would be rude not to take a quick look and just like the other month i found myself lusting after quite a few things. A lot of the items on the site are perfect spring/summer pieces and as you will probably be able to tell, i am living for a lot of blush/nude tones with black because i just love the way they look together recently...

1. satin animal print pyjama style shirt | £34 |

I am loving the whole "pyjama" style shirts at the moment and i actually picked a couple up recently from missguided and also boohoo, with this type of shirt you can style it in so many different ways either dressed up or dressed down. This is also the style of shirt that looks good either tucked into a pair of jeans or a skirt, then you can also wear it normally without it being tucked in.

2. gold sheet mask by oh k! | £8 |

I have seen that a lot of sites/stores are now stocking this brand of sheet masks, including Topshop. I love a good sheet mask as they are super hydrating on the skin and this particular one really got my attention as it claims to help achieve beautiful glowing skin.

3. topshop beauty limited edition afterglow highlighter | £12 |

Sticking with the whole glowing theme, this time on the limited edition beauty section of the site this particular highlighter in the shade afterglow caught my eye. I have a couple of different highlighters in my collection from Topshop beauty and i love them both as they are easy to work with, also not to mention so pigmented that you will glow all the way to space.

4. happy two part nude slides | £22 |

As soon as the weather starts to improve and we actually get a little bit of nice weather in the UK, i will basically live in flat sandals and i have so many pairs but some are starting to need an upgrade. I am loving the whole slide sandal vibe at the moment, which they have a ton of great affordable ones in Primark at the moment but i have my eye on this particular nude pair!

5. leopard print peplum camisole | £19 |

I have mentioned the plain black version of this top in a previous post and how much i love that, then i noticed they now do it in different patterned styles too. I love how this leopard print is still a super spring/summer piece but also has some black incorporated with it, these tops are so great to just simply throw on with a pair of jeans paired with a leather jacket.

6. washed black super ripped jamie jeans | £46 |

Talking of jeans, i have been looking for a pair of washed/faded black jeans but with rips in for a while now yet i completely didn't even think that Topshop would have some, but they do and i really like this particular pair as the rips aren't just at the knee area. If you are like me and have short legs then you will understand the struggle with ripped knee jeans ha ha!

7. crystal denim jacket | £95 |

Sticking with the denim theme but this time a denim jacket i am literally so in love with, since the moment i saw it. I saw this crystal embellished denim jacket on Hello October's instagram and thought how perfect this would look with a simple all black outfit, paired with this. I think so many people have the same thoughts as i do, as the jacket is currently almost sold out.

8. sade chain shopper bag | £26 |

I spotted this bag on a sponsored post for Topshop, which is actually what prompted me to take a look on the site in the first place and i thought how perfect this bag would be for spring/summer. I love the mix of the blush nude colour and the rose gold chain detailing, what i also love about this bag is even though it is a shopper bag it actually has a zipped area inside which is a lot safer for when you are out and about. I am also shook that this bag is only £26, such a bargain!

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.   

EARLY SPRING CLOTHING + ACCESSORIES LUST LIST

Hello everyone! I know Spring might seem a long way off, especially seeing as we are currently still shivering in the cold. That being said this past weekend whilst out shopping, i spotted a handful of new-in clothes/accessories on the high street that i instantly fell in love with and even more so because they are perfect for spring. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you a selection of the pieces that i have my eye on...

1. river island tie up block heel sandals | yellow | £42 |

So River Island is somewhere i haven't found anything i really liked for a while now, yet whilst visiting two different stores in town with my sister the other day i actually found so many items that i am completely in love with. First of all i am actually obsessed with anything this shade of yellow recently, i think it is stunning just like these block heel sandals are and i think they would be a really great wardrobe staple for spring/summer this year.

2. topshop pretty trim bardot top | coral | £22 |

When i first walked into Topshop this is actually the first thing that caught my eye, as it is not only beautiful but this style of top is what i love for spring/summer time and it is so great for throwing on with a pair of black jeans (or white in the summer).

3. silkfred san diego shirt | leopard | £37 |

This item is actually a recently online discovery from Silkfred and this blouse/shirt immediately caught my eye, because of the beautiful style of leopard print. I think this item is something you can easily dress up with a leather skirt or trousers, then down with a pair of black ripped jeans. I also have my eye on a black and white spotty blouse, which i would probably style in the exact same way as this print. 

4. topshop olive gem embellished cross body bag | pink | £29 |

Back to Topshop and this is bag one of two i love from there at the moment, in fact every single time i head into a Topshop i find myself looking at the bags and i always like multiple styles each time. I must say cross-body chain bags are always a favourite of mine, as they are easy to carry and perfect for both day and night.

5. river island black gold tone double ring belt | black | £12 |

There are actually a few different brands stocking "gucci belt" dupes such as Primark and H&M but i have to say this River Island one has to be my favourite, not to mention the one that is in-expensive but really good quality. I really love the way this looks with an all black outfit paired with a belt like this, i think this belt with black jeans, tee and the yellow block sandals would go great together.

6. topshop "peachy" motif t-shirt | black | £14 |

Whilst on the subject of black tee's, a t-shirt that caught my eye in Topshop is this black cropped tee with a sweet as a peach motif on it. I am such a sucker for anything peach designed for some reason, it just gives me serious spring/summer vibes. I would pair this super casual with some high-wasted jeans or leggings.

7. h&m polarised sunglasses | beige | £34.99 | 

Earlier this month i shared a pair of sunnies in my "february must-buys" post but since then i actually came across this luxuary h&m like premium brand sunnies, which i actually prefer. I like how they are still the style/design i would go for and what suits me best, but this pair is lighter in colour and i think they would make more of a statement paired with certain outfits.

8. silkfred faux suede jacket | blush | £45 |

Another item that happened to catch my eye whilst i was browsing on the Silkfred site, this time this faux suede jacket in this beautiful blush shade. I think this style of jacket is perfect for spring to just throw on when it is still too cold not to wear a jacket or something, this blush shade also fits in perfectly with a lot of my clothes already in my wardrobe therefor making it the perfect spring staple piece.

9. topshop seline cross body bag | yellow | £25 |

Finally we have the second bag of the bunch that i have my eye on from Topshop, this time in this beautiful yellow colour again. They actually have a similar style in River Island also, but if i am being honest i prefer this one as it has the beautiful gold detailing on the front and the River Island one is just plain. I also like how this is half "leather" half suede unlike the River Island one which is all suede effect, i just feel like the Topshop version would be a lot more practical and stay in a better condition longer.

Catch up on my recent "february must-buys" post HERE...

xo.

TESTING PRIMARK BEAUTY #2

Hello everyone! So last summer i first shared a testing primark beauty post and i mentioned how i had never really tried too many things from their beauty range. That being said just recently (over the last couple of months more specifically) i feel as if they have really upped their beauty/makeup game and they now have such a huge selection of things. With that in mind on Monday whilst i was near my local Primark i decided to see what looked good to try, which was a good selection of things. There was a few things i had seen other people talk about on social media that i wanted to pick up but my Primark didn't have some of them in-stock, so i will definitely have to pop into another store sometime soon.

| ps 3-in-1 brow in the shade tobacco | £2 |

So i have to start with probably my favourite item of everything i picked up and it is actually the item i thought i would like the least, as i am usually super fussy when it comes to brow pencils and more specifically the more affordable ones because they never tend to be the right tone for my brows. This one has completely thrown me at how good it is, not only is the shade Tobacco perfect for my brows this pencil is super easy to work with both the pencil, powder and the spoolie brush. I definitely think this is going to be my new everyday brow product!

| ps colour intensity lipstick in the shade nude | £1.50 |

I actually wanted to pick up one of the nude lip kits initially but my Primark was temporary out of all of the nude ones, so i actually decided to pick up one of these colour intensity lipsticks instead as i thought it could be a good dupe for the MAC liptensity lipsticks, how similar is the packaging and everything though? That being said i wasn't all that impressed, as i found the nude shade was way too pale once applied and looked like slightly concealer lips like, but the formula was really nice and felt hydrating on the lips. So maybe this will be one for mixing with another lip product to either lighten a darker shade slightly or darken this shade with another shade.

| ps my perfect colour mattifying powder in the shade caramel | £2 |

This is actually a product as i saw someone of YouTube using this particular shade as a bronzer, rather than as a face powder and it gave her the most beautiful bronzed look to the skin. Thankfully my Primark did have this shade of powder that i wanted to pick up, although they didn't have my shade i would of needed in the matching foundation as i wanted to give that a try as well. If you was to ask me the question of would i reach for this more than my ever so loved bareMinerals invisible bronze bronzer, then my answer would be probably not, although this is actually a really beautiful product and it looks stunning just blended out for an all over quick eyeshadow look. For £2 though this is a really great product, whether that be picking a deeper shade up for a bronzer or your correct shade as a setting powder.

| ps double dimension highlighter in the shade gold dust | £2.50 |

So in my Primark they actually had quite a few different products with this more "gun metal" style packaging including blushes, but it was this highlighting powder that caught my eye and even more so once i swatch-ed the tester on my hand. This product is one of those products that doesn't look much in the pan but once swatch-ed or applied you are like wow, as it is a simply stunning golden shade and surprisingly pigmented. These little hidden gems are the ones that blow my mind at the fact they are so little in cost, supposed to some more high end products that aren't as pigmented and retail for about ten times more.

| ps pure glow highlighter in the shade brunch club | £3 |

Finally i had to pick one of these highlighters up as it seems everyone else is and loving it, i also believe this comes in a few different shades but this is definitely the type of highlighter shade i would typically reach for. Just like the double dimension highlighter it amazes me how pigmented it is for the price and definitely gives you a "pure glow". The only thing that is really frustrating me is i have been trying to find of the pure glow highlighter palettes, which look similar to the Anastasia Beverly Hills ones as the swatches look absolutely beautiful and for £5 for four shades, you are getting an absolute bargain there.

So all in all i was super impressed with every single thing i picked up on my recent trip to Primark, apart from maybe the colour intensity lipstick but all i would probably change about that is i would make it a slightly darker nude shade.

xo.

FOUR SIMPLE WAYS TO SWITCH UP YOUR HOME FOR AUTUMN

Hello everyone! So in Friday's post i shared with you my makeup switch up for autumn and it got me thinking about all the other things we tend to switch up like the decor in our homes, once the seasons change. If you are not one for making drastic changes and would sooner add in a slight hint of something here and there (just like me) then i think these four simple ways to switch up your home for autumn, would come in handy. Also there are so many stunning pieces available already on the high street both online and in-store, which means you don't have to completely break the bank for these changes.

cushions:

H&M home patterned cushion cover (available in grey/white and dark orange/white)

M&S velvet textured cushion (available in teal, silver grey, amethyst and gold) 

ZARA Home knit cushion cover (also available in different knit textures)

H&M home beige faux fur cushion cover (also available in old rose)

Switching out your cushions/cushion covers for something with a more cosy texture such as a velvet effect, faux fur or knitted texture is a super simple touch and quite effective. Another great way to use cushions is to pair a plain textured cushion, with a slightly more patterned or autumnal toned cushion. I think there is something super inviting and cosy about pairing the two types of cushions, that look great on either sofas, chairs or on the bed. 

metal accessories: 

H&M home gold metal candle plate (could be paired with the tall metal vase also)

H&M home gold metal trivet (also available in silver and black) 

George at ASDA copper leaf plate (perfect side table piece or key/jewellery tray) 

Oliver Bonas gold metal hexagon wine rack (also available in copper metal) 

Adding something simple as a metal accessory can transfer your home to an autumnal wonderland in an instant, especially because on the high street at the moment there are so many cool leaf/acorn designed decor pieces. Adding something with a warm gold or copper metal finish, will help warm up the room to add towards the whole "cosy vibe" especially a candle plate stocked with your favourite autumn scents. 

candles/scents:

Yankee Candle warm cashmere scent large jar (village candles also do great jar scents)

The White Company autumn signature candle (perfect autumn candle to splurge on)

Neom tranquillity scent to sleep candle (another splurge worthy candle)

M&S patchouli and clove potpourri (great way to add a decorative colour and scent)

Talking of scents, autumn scented candles are probably my favourite accessory and there is nothing cosier than snuggling up watching some tv, with a candle or two lit. When it comes to candles you can either save or splurge, all depending on how often you are going to use them. Yankee Candle and Village Candles are great for a slightly more budget candle, ranging from sweet autumnal scents to fresh/musk-y autumn scents. Another great touch to add both scent and colour to a room is potpourri, yes potpourri quite a traditional homeware piece but still one that looks great mixed together with a slightly more modern piece for some edge.

wall decor:

ETSY hello fall autumn printable quote (great to add a little autumnal colour)

ETSY black hello fall print quote (perfect print to pair with a metal frame)

George at ASDA copper wall clock (the copper metal adds a slight autumnal vibe)

H&M Home gold round wall mirror (both metal/wall decor perfect for a slight change)

Finally we have wall decor and adding a simple print with a more autumn inspired quote couldn't be easier, in fact you could even do this without leaving the house. Pairing the simple wall print with a metal frame which could match other metal decorative pieces you already have in your room, would really help tie the whole theme/vibe of the specific room together. If wall art isn't for you then adding a couple of different wall pieces, such as a simple copper clock to add warmth and a mirror for some dimension and light.

BEAUTY WISHLIST

Hey guys, i hope you are all having an amazing day whatever you are up to! All of us beauty addicts pretty much always have this "beauty wishlist" either written down in our notes or imprinted in our brains. So for today's post i thought i would share with you my current "beauty wishlist" that i have taking from being written down in a note to an actual picture board...

Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Series Contour Kit

Dior DiorSkin Rosy Glow Blusher

NARS NARSissist Dual Intensity Eyeshadow Palette

NARS Kabuki Ita Brush

Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush-On Glow

Chanel Vitalumiére Aqua Foundation

MAC Mineralize Warm Soul Blush

MAC Cinderella Collection

(I am super excited for this collection to be launched next month, as it is literary two of my favourite things rolled into one... makeup and disney. Such beautiful colours and packaging too!)

♥ 

FACE OF THE DAY: GLOWING SKIN AND DARK LIPSTICK

Hey guys, i hope you are all having an amazing day whatever you are up to and happy monday! For today's post i thought i would share with you this makeup look i created which i am in love with, mainly for how glowing my skin looks (toots own horn) ha ha! A huge part of my skin looking really glowing is not only for the products i have been using but also my skin is the best it has been in ages, i think that is mainly down to me finally nailing my skincare routine and not being lazy with it...

Face Items:

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm Primer

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Instant Radiance Enhancer

Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation in the shade Bone

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in the shade Light

MAC Prep+Prime Pen Highlighter in the shade Bright Forecast

Seventeen Define&Conquer Contour Kit in the shade Fair

NARS Bronzer in the shade Laguna 

Estée Lauder Pure Color Blush in the shade Sensuous Rose

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in the shade Soft&Gentle 

Eyes Items:

Urban Decay Primer Potion in the shade Original

Estée Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadows in the shades:

(Ivory Slipper, Hot Cinnamon, Wild Truffle and Chocolate Bliss)

MUA Luxe Felt Eyeliner Pen in the shade Black

Maybelline The Rocket Volume Mascara in the shade Black

Estée Lauder Pure Color Intense Kajal Eyeliner in the shade Blackened Black

Rimmel Brow This Way Kit in the shade Dark Brown

Benefit Gimme Brow in the shade Medium/Deep

Lip Items:

Essence Lip Liner in the shade Honey Berry

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in the shade Sangria 

 I hope you've all had a lovely weekend!

♥

BLOGMAS DAY TWO: GIFT IDEAS FOR FRIENDS

Hey guys and welcome to the second day of blogmas! I have been looking for so many different things i could put together for gift ideas to help you out whilst doing your Christmas shopping. I wanted to do my gift idea "series" so to speak at the beginning of blogmas, so it allows you plenty of time to plan if you think any of my ideas are useful. I also thought if you are like me and hate leaving things until the minute and hates busy shopping places, yikes anxiety central for me! In your close circle of friends you might have those that you always exchange gifts with, so here is a handful of things you could get for your friend this Christmas...

Mascara and Kohl Eyeliner Set - £12 Topshop.
Cheek and Lips Set - £12 Topshop.

Yankee Candle Simply Home set of 6 candles - £6 Asda.

Essie duo nail polish set - £13 Debenhams/Boots.

Hinged photo frame - £4.99 Dunelm Mill.

(Perfect for if you are on a budget or want to give a more personal gift, you can add your favourite pictures of you and your friend/s).

Little Snow Fairy gift set - £8.50 Lush.

Starbucks Festive Mug with Chocolate Coins set - £8 Boots.

L'Oreal Paris La Palette Nude eye shadow palette - £14.99 Boots.

♥

HALLOWEEN WEEK: CREEPY CUPCAKES

Hey guys, i hope you all had a great weekend and welcome to Halloween Week! For today's post i thought i would share with you these cool yet creepy cupcakes perfect for any Halloween party or just to recreate for fun. I also want to share with you a few cool ways you could decorate for this holiday in a very inexpensive way...

To make the cupcakes you will need:

175g Self Raising Flour (Sifted)

1 tsp Baking Powder (Sifted)

175g Caster Sugar

175g Soft Unsalted Butter or Light Baking Spread

3 Eggs (Whisked) 

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

12 Cupcake Cases

To make the frosting you will need:

250g Mascarpone Cheese

25g Icing Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Decorations of your choice 

Method:

First things first you are going to want to pre-heat your oven to Gas Mark 4/180c or 350f and then line your cupcake tin with your paper cases. You are going to want to take your sifted flour and baking powder and place them in your mixing bowl, next you are going to want to add the caster sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla and begin to mix them in your mixer. (Make sure you start your mixer on a slow speed and then gradually increase your speed) Mix until combined.

Next you are going to want to place your mixture into your pre lined cases allowing room to rise and then place them in the oven for 25 minutes. Once cooked and take them out of the oven and place on a cooling wrack to cool completely before decorating. Once cool you can begin decorating... 

So once the cupcakes have cooled you are going to want to make your topping. Take your mascarpone, caster sugar, vanilla extract and mix together until combined. Once the mixture is all combined you are going to either want to pipe the topping onto the cupcake or if you prefer just spoon on the topping and smooth with a knife. All that if left to do then is to decorate the cupcakes with a design of your choice.

Now here is a few cool yet inexpensive ways to decorate for Halloween...

Table Place Settings.

You can get hold of a lot of different items to dress your table for Halloween so easily like these ones i picked up from my local supermarket.  

Candles.

Candles are a great way to add to the whole Halloween/Spooky vibe, these Sampler candles from Yankee Candle are perfect as they come in their limited edition Halloween scents. These two scents are my particular favourites and they are so inexpensive at just over £1.

My mum got this ghost tea light holder which was just too cute not to show you all. 

♥

AW14 OUTFIT OPTIONS

Hey guys, i hope you all had a great weekend whatever you were up to! So as August is drawing to close now and summer is almost over, i thought i would share with you a couple of outfit options which would be perfect for the change in season but will also see you through winter. I don't know about you but one of my favourite things about seasons changing is all the new clothes/trends that are available on the high street and is a good excuse to go shopping! There is so many cool new items in stores and online already. As a side note as well you don't have to crazy buying everything, there is so many items available which you can mix and match with so many different outfits...

Outfit One:

Jumper (Available in 5 colours) - £14.99 H&M

Print Scarf - £16 Topshop

Real Jean Look Jeggings - £19.99 New Look

Black Satchel Bag - £28 ASOS

Chelsea Heel Ankle Boots - £24.99 H&M

Outfit Two:

Faux Leather Jacket - £40 Boohoo

Floral Playsuit - £28 Topshop

Thermal Thick Tights - £5 Boohoo

Gold Rings Pack - £8 River Island

Black Satchel Bag - £28 ASOS

Chelsea Heel Ankle Boots - £24.99 H&M

♥

WILD ARGAN OIL BY THE BODY SHOP

Hey guys, i hope you all had a great weekend! I apologize for no new blog post on Friday as there was a slight glitch therefore i will post Friday's tomorrow. So a lot of you might know about my obsession with The Body Shop but as of late i have banned myself so i could try out new things until now. I saw a while back they were going to be selling an argan oil range and i got super excited as argan oil products not only smell amazing they are so good for you. Stating the obvious here when in the store i just couldn't resist but picking up a few things, here is what i got...

Wild Argan Oil Body Lotion 250ml - £8

Wild Argan Oil The Radiant Oil 125ml - £14

Wild Argan Oil Miracle Solid Oil 50g - £8

Wild Argan Oil Shower Gel 250ml - £4

I am so excited to try all of these items as they smell so good and The Body Shop products rarely fail with their products. I will be back very soon with a review on the range.

View the full range here:

  http://www.thebodyshop.com/by-line/wild-argan-oil.aspx

♥

FESTIVAL FASHION

Hey guys, i hope you are all having a great day! So summer doesn't just mean warm weather and holiday's, it also means the start of festival season. There are so many great pieces on the high street and online this season which would be perfect to wear to a festival. I have put together a few different items which would be essential for attending a festival whether it is Glastonbury at the weekend, V Festival or any other...

1. Woven Vest Top - £15 Boohoo.

Plain colored vest tops are perfect for festivals as they will go with pretty much anything you pair it with, as well as being light weight and easy to wear.

2. 2 Pack Marshmallow and Plain Headscarves - £10 ASOS.

I think these headscarves are super cute to wear any time of the year but even more so to a festival, as they give off that bohemian vibe. You can pretty much get these in any colour or pattern you wanted at most shops on the high street or online.

3. Crop Drop Arm Vest Top - £6 Boohoo.

Like i explained with the vest top above they are super easy to wear and pretty much go with anything you pair it with. Crop top's are great if you don't mind flashing a bit of stomach area. 

4. Cross Body Bag - £25 ASOS.

I am obsessed with everything about this bag, the colour, everything! Cross body bags are probably the most practical style of bag to take to a festival as they are easy wearing and you have both free hands rather than holding a bag.

5. OPI Nail Polishes - From £11 BeautyBay.

It's all about them bright summer nails at a festival, OPI is a great brand to wear as it is long wearing and they have some gorgeous summer colours this season.

6. Denim Shorts - £28 Miss Selfridge.

Denim shorts is probably the most popular item worn at festivals, same as the vest tops they are very versatile and would go with pretty much anything you paired them with.

7. Palm Tree Shorts - £7.99 H&M.

If denim isn't for you and you want something a litter cooler or loose fitting, this style of shorts would be perfect for you paired with a plain tee or vest top. (If shorts aren't your style at all you could opt for leggings as they are also cool and comfortable to wear).

8. Jasmyna Fringe Booties - £35 Just Fab.

Fringe boots are perfect festival to keep up that bohemian vibe and the wedged heel isn't too high so they would still be comfortable to wear all day.

9. Tropical Print Kimono - £19.99 New Look.

As some of you may know i am obsessed with kimono's they are the perfect summer piece to pair with plain outfits and they would be perfect as a cover up from the sun at festivals, nobody want's sunburn.

10. Sun Cream - Boots/Superdrug/Or a variety of drugstores.

Sun cream is a must when at a festival as like in everyday life with sun exposure you need to keep your skin protected from causing sun damage and sun burn.

11. Cat Eye Sunglasses - £16 Topshop.

As well as keeping your skin protected from the sun you also need to keep your eyes protected. Wearing sunglasses does this (plus you can wear them to hide them tired eyes in the morning haha).

12. Up The Amp Lipstick - £15 MAC.

As well as dressing for festivals, makeup is also a key piece with any outfit. MAC lipsticks are perfect as they have so many different/fun colours and also have great staying power.

13. Original Fuchsia Wellies - Was £85 now £69 Hunter.

Wellies are another really popular foot wear option when it comes to festivals as you don't want to get muddy feet from walking through fields and if it is wet by chance. Hunter wellies come in a wide variety of colours to choose from.

Hope you have found this type of blog post useful if you are heading to a festival this summer or you just wanted some items for summer fashion in general...

BEAUTY AND FASHION HAUL

Hey guys, hope you have all had a great week. This past week i have been buying a couple of things, some from when i went shopping on my birthday as well as a few online orders. So i thought i would show you a few of the items that i am super excited about having...

Beauty...

theBalm Nude 'Tude eyeshadow palette - £26.50 Feel Unique.

I am so late jumping on to theBalm bandwagon as for the longest time i have been seeing that almost every beauty guru on YouTube as well as Instagram beauty pages have this palette. So whilst i was browsing on Feel Unique i thought right that is it i am getting this palette so i did.

This palette has a really nice range of shimmer and matte shades. As soon as it arrived through the post i opened it and swatched a couple of the shadows and they are so pigmented, it makes me want to remove my makeup and do it all over again using the palette. I also love the details on the packaging, super cute.

Powder Blush in the shade Peony Petal - £18 MAC.

This blush has been on my wish list for a while now, so on my birthday me and mum had to go and do some damage in MAC and i finally got my hands on it. Whilst in MAC i also got a eyeshadow to complete my MAC Quad which i will be showing in another post coming soon.

L'Oreal True Match concealer in the shade Vanilla - £6.99 Boots.

Some of you may know if you have read several of my blog posts before that i am obsessed with the L'Oreal True Match foundation, so i decided to try out the concealer also. I have only used this once so far (this morning actually) and so far so good, it seems to be living up to the foundations standards.

Ribbon Hair Ties - £1.50 H&M.

I have been wanted to get my hands on some of these type of hair ties for the longest time now and every place i seemed to look didn't have any. So i have finally got my hands on some from H&M and they were so inexpensive at £1.50 for 5 hair ties (only 4 pictured here as i am wearing the 5th in my hair today). They are the most comfortable hair tie as some can give you a headache and this specific type are actually a lot better for your hair than regular hair ties.

Fashion...

The clothing items i am going to be showing in the next section are all from Boohoo online, which is one of my favourite places to get clothing from.

Fringe Trim Kimono - £20.

My name is Katie and i am addicted to Kimono's haha. Yet again another one, i actually ordered this particular one a few weeks ago and i wore it for my Dad's birthday party last weekend. I love the way Kimono's can just dress up the plainest of outfits either for daytime or evening wear.

Nude Kimono - £12.

Sorry another Kimono (this is the last one i promise), i already have this same styled Kimono but in black and i love it so much i had to get it in another colour. This style is super thin and light weight so perfect to wear in the warmer summer months or on holiday with swimwear.

White Woven Detailed Cami Top - £10.

I have been searching for this style of white cami for a while now and i have been so unsuccessful as i have either not been able to find one or when i do the store didn't have my size left. This cami was the number one thing on my boohoo order wishlist, so obviously i had to get it in two colours i was that excited.

Black Woven Detailed Cami Top - £10.

The same top as above but in Black. The quality of these cami's are so amazing and the fact they are only £10 is crazy i would pay more. These tops are going to be perfect for summer as they are super light weight and loose fitting to help you keep cool (there is nothing worse than when clothes stick to you).

Gold Lion Detailed Chain - £6.

This is the last item i got from Boohoo. I have been looking for a style of necklace just like this with the lion head detailing on the bottom after seeing so many images on Tumblr, so when i saw this on Boohoo i had to put it in my basket and £6 is such a bargain. It will look good paired with plain tee's.

Nude and Yellow Flat Sandals - £4 Primark.

These sandals are definitely the best bargain of the haul hands down. When i saw these i fell in love as they are so different as well as being on trend right now, i expected them to be anything from £10-£12 but when i spotted the tag said £4 i was shocked (i would of paid £10-£12 to be honest). Super excited to wear them.

Tan Suede Flat Sandals - £6 Primark.

Another bargain pair of sandals. I have already worn these the other day and they are so comfortable to wear, the suede effect is super soft as well as being sturdy at the same time. I also love the jeweled detailing down the center of the sandal just to add something extra.

I hope you liked this type of post as i know i love a good haul whether it is a blog post or YouTube video. I hope you all have a great weekend whatever you are up to!

SPRING'14: FASHION PART TWO

In a previous blog post i talked about how on trend "orange" was for this spring, as well as the models hitting the catwalks sporting this bold colour they have also been wearing a lot of pastel colours which are defiantly spring appropriate. Here is a few of my favourite "pretty pastel" pieces available on the high street this spring...

My hot pick favourite: Birdie "mint coloured" platform strapped heels from JustFab for £35.

Check out my previous blog post "spring'14 fashion part one: orange is the new black" here.

http://katiebeautyshake.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/spring14-fashion-part-one.html

Hope you are all having an amazing week and i'll be back soon...

Katie♥

THE BODY SHOP HAUL

What self confessed beauty lover doesn't love The Body Shop? Cause i know i do and i am a complete sucker for not being able to go in without purchasing something. So yesterday whilst in town i thought i would pop in.
Some of the items i have purchased i haven't tried before and a couple are repurchases.
So here is what i have purchased...

The first thing i purchased and one of the main reasons i actually went into The Body Shop was to take a look at "Tea Tree skin essentials" as my sister had recommended this line to me as it has really helped to clear up her blemishes fairly quickly and i have been having a few more breakouts than usual just lately. I decided to go for this set of 4 mini items from the range just to try them out and for £10 you really can't go wrong with that. If you have ever smelt Tea Tree before it has quiet a strong scent to it but if the outcome of the product is effective it is worth the smell.

1. Skin Clearing Facial Wash - 60ml (2.0 US FL OZ)

2. Skin Clearing Toner - 60ml (2.0 US FL OZ)

3. Skin Clearing Lotion - 15ml (0.5 US FL OZ)

4. Tea Tree Oil - 10ml (0.33 US FL OZ)

1. Mini Pink Grapefruit Body Butter - 50ml/48g (1.69 US FL OZ) £5

2. Coconut Hand Cleansing Gel - 60ml (2.0 US FL OZ) £2.50 each

3. Chocolate Lip Butter - 10ml/8.5g (0.3 US FL OZ) £4

(Cleansing Gel and Lip Butters are all 3 for 2)

1. Brow and Lash Gel in 01 Clear - £10. 

I wanted to get a new brow gel for a few weeks now as my no7 one has all dried out fairly quickly, so i decided to go back to the trust The Body Shop one. 

2. Honey Bronzer in 03 Medium Matte - £13.

(I didn't purchase this on this particular shopping trip but have purchased it recently so i thought i would include it in the same haul). I have been wanting to try this bronzer out for some time and it has become my new favourite go to bronzer.

At the moment at The Body Shop they have this free gift set worth £22.50 when you spend £18 on makeup and skincare. As i spent over this amount i picked one up. 

The gift set includes:

1. Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask - 6ml (0.2 US FL OZ) usually £1.50

2. Vitamin E Cream Cleanser - 60ml (2.0 US FL OZ) usually £2.50

3. Big and Curvy Mascara in 01 Black (Full Size) usually £10

4. Eye Definer Crayon in 01 Black (Full Size) usually £8

So that is everything that i purchased from The Body Shop, i hope you enjoyed seeing what i have bought. What are your favourite The Body Shop items?

Katie♥

SPRING'14: FASHION PART ONE

If you loved the Netflix series "orange is the new black" then you are going to love this spring '14. Models have hit the catwalks of fashion week sporting bright orange shades. If you are not daring enough to go all out on a bright orange piece such as a dress you could just accessorize any outfit with a pop of orange. Here is a few of my favourite "orange" pieces available on the high street this spring...

My hot pick favourite: Limited edition aztec print skirt from River Island for a bargain £15.

http://www.riverisland.com/women/skirts/mini-skirts/Orange-aztec-print-mini-tube-skirt-647475

Hope you are all having an amazing day and i will be back very soon with:

"spring '14 fashion part two: pretty pastels".

Katie♥