VALENTINES DAY TREATS: QUICK + EASY

Hello everyone! With Valentine's Day fast approaching in just six days, i thought this would be the perfect way to share some quick and easy treat ideas for the themed holiday. For me when it comes to Valentine's day i straight away think of all things pink and red themed, as well as anything yummy and chocolatey. Creating something yourself doesn't have to require a lot of time/skill, as there are so many simple recipes and packaged up nicely can make the perfect gift for someone special (or simply to be eaten yourself of course)...

1. heart shaped cookies ( simple sugar cookie recipe )

Baking cookies doesn't have to be difficult, especially if you follow a simple sugar cookie recipe. You can create sugar cookies for pretty much any season/holiday, simply by switching up the cutter/style of topping you are using. For example for Valentine's opt for a heart shaped cutter to shape the cookie and use pink/red/white frosting/icing or sprinkles. 

2. chocolate covered oreo's 

Probably one of the quickest and coolest ideas for creating a Valentine's treat is simply by covering/dipping some Oreo's with melted Chocolate or Candy Melts, then finishing off with toppings of your choosing. Some of the perfect toppings for decorating the Oreo's with are pink or red coloured Sprinkles, M&M's, Love Hearts and you could even incorporate a lolly stick into the centre of the cookie to create an Oreo Cake Pop.

3. covered strawberries

Another idea similar to covered Oreo's is of course the classic Strawberries covered in Chocolate, that being said you don't just have to opt for a classic Milk Chocolate look. A great way to achieve that perfect Valentine's theme is to dip the strawberries in either Pink Candy Melts or White Chocolate that has had a small amount of Pink Food Colouring to it. Just like any other treat you can decorate as you wish with selection of different toppings, edible Glitter looks stunning on the Strawberries as do little white sprinkles.

4. valentine's movie night popcorn

I would be happy with this treat on any movie night not just for Valentine's, as who doesn't love popcorn and a movie? A way to give your regular cinema sweet popcorn a makeover is to simple incorporate some Valentine's themed sweets or chocolates to the popcorn mixed in a bowl. A personal favourite of mine is either M&M's or Malteasers. If you are making your own popcorn from scratch, you could also add a little food colouring to make the popcorn Pink.

5. valentine's themed bark

Another great no-bake dessert idea which can be decorated differently all depending on the holiday or occasion is of course bark or rocky road, which the only baking that is required is to simply melt some chocolate. If you do want to get a little more adventurous you could create a Valentine's Day appropriate Red Velvet bark, by following this recipe here or many more that are featured on Pinterest.

6. rice krispie valentine's hearts

 If you are a sucker for a Rice Krispie treat or you know someone else that is, then this is going to be the perfect no bake Valentine's treat and another one that is so easy to do. All you need to do is follow a simple Rice Krispie treats recipe using melted marshmallow, cut out into heart shapes with a heart shaped cutter and either leave them plain, add some food colouring to the mixture or top with coloured icing/chocolate to decorate.

Catch up on my previous post: here

xo.

TRAVEL WISHLIST #4 | SUMMER EDITION

Hello everyone! So just under a year ago now i shared the third instalment in my travel wishlist series and since then i have added to the list some more, especially those perfect summer holiday destinations. I also feel like a bunch of the items i shared in my recent things i'm loving on prettylittlething right now post, would be perfect for some if not all of these destinations in part four...

I have been to Italy and several places in Italy but they were all "city break" type of holidays, like Rome, Florence and Pisa. There is obviously so much more to Italy than just those places, like Positano for example which is a beautiful looking cliff-side village on the Amalfi Coast. Positano looks like once of those places for perfect views out into the ocean, sight seeing and beautiful little streets and stores. 

Sticking with the whole town/village in Italy type destination, another place which i am itching to visit is Sorrento and another place which has a coastal view. Just like Positano, Sorrento has this super beautiful view looking out at the ocean for miles, yet it is a town full of culture, history and beautiful buildings. My parents have been to Sorrento and that made me so jealous, making me want to go even more.

Capri is probably one of those places that i would visit on a day trip (which i believe most people do when on holiday in Sorrento), Capri is a beautiful looking island located in the bay of Naples, filled with stunning views, beautiful little side streets and from what i have heard some yummy seafood dishes. Also talking of food a trip to anywhere in Italy is worth it, simply for their Gelato as it is honestly the best gelato ever.

Finally somewhere that isn't located in Italy, this time in Portugal and somewhere i have never really thought about going to until recently. I have noticed one or two people have uploaded vlogs from trips to Lisbon and it honestly looks so beautiful, kind of similar to Italy in some way with the beautiful old buildings and stunning views. The main reason i really want to go is to try a proper authentic Portuguese Custard Tart, because i love them whenever i have had them in this country, yet i have heard they are out of this world there and let's face it...don't we all want to visit certain places just for the food?  

Catch up on my previous travel wishlist post HERE...

xo.

BOOKS I WANT TO READ IN 2018 | PART TWO

Hello everyone! So i have mentioned the fact that last year i made it my mission to read more books and i have actually stuck to it for once, so much so i have constantly got a book on a go from new reads to re-reading old favourites. At the beginning of the year i shared part one to the "books i want to read in 2018" which you can catch up on here and since then the list has just kept on growing, even more so since i downloaded the goodreads app. With that in mind for today's post i thought i was share the next set of books i want to read in 2018...

1. the controversial princess by jodi ellen malpas

I know i mentioned this book in my part one post but seeing as we are almost in May, that means it is almost release date for one of my favourite authors new books. The controversial princess is book one in the new series called Smoke and Mirrors, which i believe is going to be a duology. The story line to this book is that she is the daughter of the King and he is a Hollywood actor, she doesn't usually bow down to anyone...until she meets him.

2. love in lingerie by alessandra torre

Ever since falling in love with the Hollywood Dirt movie on Passionflix i have fallen in love with a couple of books from Alessandra Torre, the author who wrote Hollywood Dirt. With that in mind the book from her that i want to read next isn't so much a new release but one i haven't read as of yet, called Love In Lingerie. The store line of the books is about two people who go from being hired for work, to best friends, tp falling in love and risking everything by breaking the rules.

3. driven by k bromberg

As i mentioned before how i had fallen in love with the Hollywood Dirt book turned movie on Passionflix, well the next movie to be filmed and released by Passionflix is a book called Driven. I am that person who likes to read the book before watching the movie, hence why this book has made its way onto the want to read list. The story line to this book is about two people who wouldn't of usually met, she hates him but wants him at the same time.

4. hitched by kendall ryan

Personally i am yet to read a book by the author Kendall Ryan, but ever since downloading the Good Reads app i have seen a large amount of her books pop up in the romance section. When i was talking all things books to one of my friends, ironically they mentioned this series to me called Hitched. The story line to this book series is that two people get married in a business arranged manor but then are faced with the challenge to get pregnant, the only catch is she can't stand him but he isn't walking away easily.

5. london affair series by rhyannon byrd

This book series also always seems to pop up in popular reads on both Amazon and Good Reads, both having a large amount of great reviews. The series is said to become a favourite of yours if you are fan of books by Jodi Ellen Malpas, Sylvia Day or J Kenner and i am a huge fan of all three authors, as i have read so many books by them all. The story line to this series is that of a typical girls lands her dream job but then meets someone (good if you love a billionaire romance). I tend to love this type of book series, so i am sure i will love as many people have!

6. dirty billionaire series by meghan march

Finally we have a book that i actually downloaded on my Kindle a little while ago, as i wanted to give it a read and thought i would download it at the time as it was on promotion. I actually think this is going to be the next book i pick up, as i am super intrigued after seeing a fair few people read this so recently considering it isn't even a new release. The story line to this book is also pretty much about a billionaire man with a huge ego, all until he meets her and everything gradually changes. Who doesn't look this type of read?

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.

EIGHT FILMS TO WATCH THIS VALENTINES DAY NIGHT

Hello everyone and Happy Valentines! So i have never been one of those people to go all out and do something spectacular on Valentines day, i would rather stay in and watch a film of two where it is warm. Saying that last night i was out in the freezing cold at the football, so tonight i will definitely be staying warm. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would do something slightly Valentines related non the less and share with you eight must watch films this Valentines night, whether that be with your loved one, friends or by yourself...

1. fifty shades movie marathon (nowtv fifty shades darker linked)

I have spoken so many times now how much of a fifty shades fan i am and of course this last weekend i was at the cinema watching the last instalment, which was so so so so good just like the other two movies and the books! Valentine's day is the perfect time to have a fifty shades marathon, especially with your girlfriends! (About the film: FSOG - Literature student Anastasia Steele's life changes forever when she meets handsome, yet tormented, billionaire Christian Grey. FSD - While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her.)

2. afterburn aftershock (amazon video linked)

Sticking with the whole romance book turned movie, this time one from an amazing new service called PassionFlix (a little like a Netflix service) or you can watch on Amazon Video. This is a film from a book by one of my favourite authors Sylvia Day, called Afterburn Aftershock and it was everything as good if not more than the book so much so i watched it twice in one week. (About the film:Businesswoman Gia Rossi is determined to be successful in her new job, but when her ex lover Jax Rutledge waltzes back into her life, their passionate connection ignites not only in the boardroom, but the bedroom.)

3. hollywood dirt (amazon video linked)

Another film by the same PassionFlix service, also on Amazon Video and one i had never actually read the book before hand, but i love love loved the film! About the film: Based on the novel by Best Selling author Alessandra Torre, abandoned by his superstar wife, Cole Masten is Hollywood's Sexiest Bachelor. Arriving in small town, Georgia, to film a passion project, he meets Summer Jenkins. Sassy and strong willed, he casts her in his movie, resulting in an entertaining enemies-to-lovers scenario.)

4. the lucky one (amazon video linked)
If you are in the mood for a classic romantic love story, then The Lucky One is definitely one to watch and even more so if you are a fan of Nicholas Sparks books turned films in general. Definitely one needed to be watched with a tissue or two. (About the film: A Marine travels to Louisiana after serving three tours in Iraq and searches for the unknown woman he believes was his good luck charm during the war.)

5. the age of adaline (netflix linked)
This is a film i only watched for the first time recently and i felt like i went into watching it not expecting much, but i absolutely loved every minute of it and i might of cried a little bit ha. (About the film: A young woman, born at the turn of the 20th century, is rendered ageless after an accident. After many solitary years, she meets a man who complicates the eternal life she has settled into.)

6. the best of me (netflix linked)
Another film also taken from a novel by Nicholas Sparks and another tear filled love story, which has a bitter sweet ending. Definitely one to watch, if you loved The Notebook, then you will love this. (About the film: A pair of former high school sweethearts reunite after many years when they return to visit their small hometown.)

7. the wedding planner (amazon video linked)
Next up is a throwback to the early 00's and a film that i just have to watch whenever it is on the TV (which in the uk that is a lot) but it is a favourite of mine. This film is perfect in every single way and one of my favourite quotes of all time is in this film, just listen for the reference about brown m&m's. (About the film: Mary Fiore is San Francisco's most successful supplier of romance and glamour. She knows all the tricks. She knows all the rules. But then she breaks the most important rule of all: she falls in love with the groom.)

8. pretty woman (amazon video linked)
Finally we have another throwback film but this time from the 90's and one that will forever be the most iconic romantic comedy. Every time i watch Pretty Woman it's like the first time, yet you repeat the lines from the film as it goes ha ha! (About the film: A man in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events, and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets... only to fall in love.)

Catch up on a similar post HERE...

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. 

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.

CHRISTMAS BAKING #1: CHOCOLATE HOLLY CUPCAKES

Hello everyone and welcome to the first baking instalment of December! I wanted to kick Christmas baking off with something simple, yet obviously yummy and chocolate cupcakes tick both of those boxes. This recipe could of course be used at any time of year, all you would have to do is switch up the decoration on top and you would be good to go. Also this particular chocolate "frosting" topping is a new recipe and it is literally heavenly.

to make the cupcakes you will need:

| 12 cupcake cases | 125g self raising flour | 50g cocoa powder | 175g softened unsalted butter | 

| 175g caster sugar | 3 eggs | 1tsp 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 sugar, butter and eggs and place them all in your mixer or bowl whichever way you prefer to make your mixture up. Then you are going to want to start mixing the ingredients on a low speed and gradually add the sifted flour, cocoa powder and baking powder, then slowly start to speed up the mixer. Mix all together until combined and smooth. Next you are going to want to take your mixture and spoon them 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:

| 75g dark chocolate | 35g unsalted butter | 100g mascarpone | 165g icing sugar |

method:

First things first you are going to want to melt the dark chocolate in a bowl, over simmering water and leave to cool. Then to make the frosting/topping you are going to want to beat the butter and the mascarpone together before adding half of the sifted icing sugar, then beat until well combined before adding in the other half of the sifted icing sugar. Add in the cooled melted dark chocolate and mix again until well combined, by adding the dark chocolate it makes the frosting this beautiful moose-like topping that honestly tastes so delicious. All that is left to do then is decorate using some red and green ready roll icing cut into holly shapes and dust with a light sprinkling of icing sugar for a Christmas-y/Snowy effect.

See you tomorrow for an all new post at 5PM GMT...

xo.

MUA HIGHLIGHTER HAUL

Hello everyone! So if you have read my posts in the past or you read them regular, then you will probably already know how obsessed/baffled at how good the mua undress your skin highlighting powders are for only £3 and so much so, i pretty much have every single shade now. Keeping that in mind, last week i was just browsing through social media and i saw a post from MUA with a picture of one of their new loose highlighters. So you know how it is you go on the site, put one thing in the basket and then a few other things, next thing you know you have eight new highlighting products through your door and i am not even sorry.

prism loose powder highlighter in the shade star illusion | £5 |

First up we have the highlighter that i was talking about, which i had seen swatched online and i thought how beautiful/different it looked, as it definitely has that "holographic" tone to it. I already love the loose gold highlighting powder from the brands luxe collection, so i am hoping that this just as beautiful as that one. I do have a feeling that this is going to be a very "extra" highlight, rather than your everyday natural looking glow that i would usually go for but sometimes it is good to step out of that comfort zone.

prism strobe cream in the shade golden ray | £4 |

Talking of comfort zones, this year i really came out of mine and became obsessed with more cream/liquid based highlighters/contour products, so i obviously had to pick up one of the two new strobe creams from the prism range. The shade i picked up is called golden ray, as i do prefer a more of a golden/bronze toned product over pinks. I am assuming that as this is called "strobe cream" that it is going to work in a similar way to the one from MAC, which i love and have gone through so many of. 

prism highlighter powder in the shade solar flare | £4 |

So i know i said above that i prefer golden/bronze toned highlighters over pink tones, but i really wanted to give this particular one a try because i think it would be really nice for a more subtle glow and this shade was definitely the most wearable one out of the five. I have a feeling looking at this that it is going to be quite similar to the LA Girl strobelite powders, which i love because they are super finely milled.

prism jelly highlight trio in the shade light spark | £5 |

Next up we have the final product i picked up from the new prism range and is one i am so intrigued by as it is a jelly formula, rather than a powder or a cream. It said in the description that this jelly formula is great for a dewy looking finish, which had me instantly sold and the face you get three highlighting shades for only £5 is such a bargain. I also think that the packaging on this one is my favourite out of all of the prism range.

luxe light lustre highlight duo in the shade majesty | £5 |

This highlighting duo is from the luxe range, which i have actually tried and loved so many products from this range (like the loose highlighter i was talking about above). What makes these different to the other highlighters is that these ones have a baked finish, that apparently makes the product velvet-soft for the ultimate radiance. Both of these things sold me instantly and the fact that this duo called majesty are more golden shades.

f8 fan brush | £3 |

Finally i deciding to pick up some new highlighting brushes, i have tried so many brushes from the brand over the years and i have never had any problems with them. So if you are looking for some affordable brushes, these and the freedom london brushes are both really good. This is a particular fan brush that i already own but i thought i would pick a spare up, as you can never have too many brushes right? I love fan brushes for applying highlighter, as the product just glides right onto the area and i find it so much more precise.

f7 small fan brush | £1.95 |

So as i mentioned i really like the regular F8 fan brush from the brand, so i decided to pick up the F7 which is a smaller version of the F8 and i just thought with would be good for getting slightly more precision or even simply to apply highlighter to the bridge of the nose and the cupids bow more precisely as well. Also the fact that this brush is such great quality for under £2, honestly just baffles me so much.

f11 highlighting brush | £2.50 |

Last but not least we have another highlighting brush, but this time i picked up one that i haven't tried before and that is the F11 highlighting brush. My reason for picking this brush up is because i thought it would be good for applying the loose highlighter with, rather than dipping a fan brush into a loose powder. Also i believe this is the brush that the brand used on the video clip for the highlighter, which looked like it worked well.

Catch up on my previous mua highlighter posts:

the £3 highlighters you need in your collection / powder highlight: golden glow / liquid glow under £7: barry m liquid glow and powder highlight combination

xo.

TV SHOWS I WANT TO WATCH THIS AUTUMN

Hello everyone! So last month i shared a post talking about all the tv shows that i think are perfect for binge watching, which you can catch here if you haven't done so already. With that in mind for today's post i wanted to share with you another "tv talk" type of post but this time in the form of, the tv shows i want to watch/what i am going to be watching this autumn in the evenings or weekends.

1. fuller house

I thought i would kick things off with a show i have already started to watch the new season of as soon as it was added to Netflix last weekend, that being said i have stopped myself from binge watching all of the episodes in one go. That being said so far there is only nine episodes that have been added in season three, as the series is being split into two halves and the second half will be added in a couple of months. If you have not heard of Fuller house or the original series Full house, you are truly missing out as it is an hilarious sitcom.

2. will&grace 

Sticking with the theme of hilarious sitcoms, tomorrow one of my favourite tv shows of all time is back after eleven years and this makes me so happy. Will & Grace is another one of those shows just like Friends, where you can re-watch episodes over and over again without getting bored/still find it hilarious. I love every single character in this show equally as much as the other and i have a feeling once i sit down to watch the new season, i will be crying with laughter and happiness. Also if you follow me on twitter, you will probably know that there is pretty much a Will & Grace gif perfect for every situation/mood.

3. grey's anatomy

A show i just couldn't not add into the mix is Grey's Anatomy, you know it is truly autumn once the new season begins to air (usually september-may). I also can't believe that the show is on season fourteen yet it is not getting repetitive yet like some shows can, there is always a new drama/under story-line that has you hooked. So if you have never indulged into the world that is Grey's Anatomy, then i highly recommend you do so and especially if you are a lover of medical dramas.

4. scandal
Whilst on the subject of Grey's Anatomy, another TGIT show i literally can't wait for is Scandal even though this season is going to be its last. I mentioned in my "binge worth tv shows" post how i literally binge watched so hard on this show and watched five seasons in about a month. I always say this show brings exactly what it says and that is scandal. I am also super interested to see how things will come to an end and i low key think i will kick off throwing the remote at the tv, if this doesn't end with Olivia and Fitz walking into the sunset.

5. riverdale
Season one of Riverdale is something i forgot to mention in my "binge worthy tv shows" post, this autumn the show returns for season two and i literally can't wait. Unlike season one, season two is going to be made up of twenty-two episodes starting on the 12th October with weekly episodes and it can't come soon enough especially after the season one finale cliffhanger ending!

6. alias grace
Alias Grace is a new tv show coming to Netflix on the 3rd November, which is a series based on another hit book from the amazing Margaret Atwood aka the women behind the ever so talked about The Handmaids Tale. This show looks equally as deep/thrilling as The Handmaids Tale, this time based on a true story about Grace Marks a young/poor Irish immigrant and domestic servant in upper Canada. If you have not seen the trailer already, you must check it out here.

7. ncis: los angeles 
The new season of NCIS: Los Angeles starts next month but i must admit, this show is one i like to save on series link because i love love love to binge watch this show. I have never been a fan of the other crime shows such as the original NCIS, CSI etc but this one i have loved every single season of. I love the mixture of serious, drama packed but also the comedy elements in the show and between the characters.

I would also love to know if you know of any great tv shows coming this Autumn? Tweet me @iamkatiee_ because who doesn't love discovering a new show?

xo.

END OF SUMMER BEAUTY FAVOURITES

Hello everyone! Seeing as the end of August is near and summer is already drawing to a close, i thought why not do a little summer recap of all the beauty related products i have been loving over the summer. I have mixed feelings about summer being over so soon, as on one hand i love summer but i also love autumn equally as much, so it is very bitter-sweet. That being said i am super excited to start buying all the fall scented candles ha.

bareMinerals gen nude lip gloss in the shade far out

Kicking things off with the lip gloss i have been obsessed with through-out the whole of summer, it is literally one of those glosses you can pair a little amount with pretty much any nude lip. The shade is the most beautiful pink/beige toned nude with gold shimmer throughout, the formula is also super hydrating non-sticky and long lasting on the lips. The gen nude range from bareMinerals comes fully stocked in a huge variety of shades/finishes retailing for around the £17 mark.

dose of colors baked browns eyeshadow palette

So i actually did a full first impression/review post on this particular palette, which you can catch up on here if you haven't done so already. Ever since i first tried this palette out, i have not been able to put it down and even though i finally got my hands on the Urban Decay Naked Heat palette, i still keep going back to this one and even more so the shade deserted (sandy caramel beige), as it is literally the most perfect crease/all over lid shade for everyday. The texture/pigmentation of these shadows are insanely beautiful, soft and like to dream to blend out. Even though this palette is slightly pricey at £28 for only five eyeshadows, i personally think it is worth every penny and you can create so many different types of matte looks from the diversity of the palette.

l'oréal paradise extatic mascara in the shade black
When it comes down to mascara i have made it no secret that i am all for drugstore mascaras, especially if we are talking L'Oréal or Maybelline and in this case for the majority of the summer it has been L'Oréal's latest mascara launch. The think i am most obsessed with about this mascara is how it lengthens and adds volume to your lashes at the same time, which is quite rare as you usually get one or the other. I also did a full first impression/review post on this mascara, if you didn't catch it first time round catch it here.

garnier ultimate blends coconut water shampoo and conditioner
I am that girl who's hair goes all Monica from Friends frizzy when they go to Barbados in summer/if i don't use hair products designed to keep frizz at bay. This particular shampoo and conditioner duo from Garnier has been such a hair saviour for me, as it not only keeps my hair frizz free but it also keeps it super hydrated without being weighed down. I also love how this combination seems to keep my hair looking fresher for longer, than many others have done in the past.

l'oréal sublime bronze medium gradual self-tan

Summer isn't summer without something than/bronze related and towards the end of summer i decided to switch up my self-tanner from the regular one i use. I love how golden yet natural this tan looks on my skin, as well as giving that healthy looking glow from within and how it gradually gets darker over the days, for a longer looking tan. I first talked about this product in a recent new drugstore favourites, where i also talked about the #insta range by Rimmel and how much i have been loving pretty much the whole range, especially the medium duo contour stick and the translucent pressed powder. The L'Oréal sublime bronzer gradual self-tan retails for £6.99 and the Rimmer #Insta range products start from £4.99.

♥

MUSIC AT THE MOMENT: AUGUST EDITION

Hello everyone! It has been a good few months now since i last shared with you all a "music at the moment" type of post and those type of posts seem to go down quite well, so i thought it was about time to give you an updated version. Every opportunity i get to listen to music, i will listen to it and i can never get enough. Just recently thought i have been loving listening to a mixture of stuff from some throwback music, along side some new stuff and a few cover versions of songs here and there also. (click song title for spotify link)

1. don't get to high - bryson tiller

2. teach me a lesson - bryson tiller

3. her - majid jordan

4. love u better - ty dolla $ign feat. lil wayne and the-dream

5. summer body - the-dream feat. fabolous

6. one i want - majid jordan feat. party next door

7. wild thoughts - william singe cover

8. all night - surfa solo feat. rayven justice

9. a lie - french montana feat. the weeknd and max b

10. never enough - mike x angel feat. trey songz

11. wild thoughts - dj khaled feat. rihanna and bryson tiller

12. anxious - mike x angel

13. holiday - calvin harris feat. snoop dogg and john legend

14. year round - eric bellinger

15. big body benz - ye ali feat. eric bellinger

16. come and see me - william singe cover

17. ooouuu - william singe

18. say it - tory lanez

19. drown in it - chris brown feat. r.kelly

20. is this love - chris brown

21. new rules - dua lipa

22. reminder remix - the weeknd feat. a$ap rocky and young thug

23. lying - jagged edge

24. sexpectations - jr castro

25. i'm down - malachiae warren feat. lloyd

♥

FREEDOM #PROARTIST PRO HD CUSTOM EYESHADOW PALETTE

Hello everyone! So when it comes down to eyeshadows i love a good palette, whether that be a quad or even a twelve or more shadow palette. To take things that bit further there is only one thing i love more and that is custom creating your own eyeshadow palette, which i have blogged about a couple of times in the past in a makeup obsession custom palette and custom creating my own perfect neutrals palette. With that in mind when one of my new favourite affordable brands Freedom, launched their #proartist refillable magnetic palettes i just had to make one of my own and once again the brand has shocked me at the quality of their products.

I have actually already tried eyeshadows from Freedom before, as i have the pro32 innocent palette and i was really impressed by them because of the buttery soft yet easy to blend texture. Putting that aside i had never tried any of the #proartist eyeshadows, blushes or contour/bronzing products except for the concealer. So when they launched these packs of five pan shadows for £5 (£1 a shadow) called the hd eye foils (they also stock the shadows loose for £2 each), i just had to make a palette up of my own. 

The palette i created is made up of three of the five pack shadows, with both matte and shimmer/foil shades costing a total of £15 and the empty magnetic palette was £5. This makes the total of the palette £20 for both the palette and fifteen shadows, how much of a bargain is that? Especially taking into consideration that Makeup Geek shadows are almost £5 each and MAC shadows are £10 each, the concept is completely identically for a lot less. Just like the other eyeshadows i had already tried, these #proartist shadows are also as pigmented, easy to blend, if not even better than some other shadows from MAC. Like i mentioned above this palette is made up of the freedom #proartist pro hd empty magnetic palette and the three #proartist pro hd eye foil five pack shadows, which are the hd burnt, hd matte bare and hd bare packs.

♥

SPRING '14 MAKEUP

So winter is over in a few weeks and it is nearly time to switch into spring mode. A massive trend for this spring is purples and pinky shades, which is right up my street as purples suit my eye colour the best and really makes them pop as well as it being one of my favourite colours.

Above is a few of my favourite items perfect for spring time.

1. The Body Shop baked-to-last blush in 01 petal.

I love this blush it is super pigmented and you only need a small amount, i just like to take my blush brush, swirl it around and tap off the excess but you could also use the two colours separate if you wanted.  

2. NYX diamond sparkle lipstick in DS sparkling satin.

This is a perfect pink shade lipstick for spring as it is not too bright or too pale and it has the right amount of sparkle to it, suitable for a wide range of different eye looks.

3. L'Oreal lumi magique highlighter pen in 1 light. 

I have talked about this highlighter pen in numerous blog posts. It is without a doubt one of my favourite highlighters, really brightening and fresh looking.

4. NYX eye shadow in ES35 platinum pink.

I am really unsure why they named this eye shadow platinum pink because to me platinum is a really luminous shade of colours and this is a really neutral light pink shade but it looks stunning and really brightens up the eyes, making you look really awake and fresh looking.

5. NYX liquid crystal liner in LCL103 crystal pink.

This glitter liner is perfect for spring time, to me this glitter liner is more on the purple/lilac side rather than pink. I like to wear this in place of a blank winged liner look.

Also perfect for this spring is without a doubt is the MAC a fantasy of flowers collection. I literally can not wait to get my hands on some of this collection because it all just looks stunning. This collection is launching Feb/March all depending which parts of the world you are in.

The items i have my eye on the most are:

1. MAC lipstick in rose lily.

2. MAC mineralize skinfinish in stereo rose.

3. MAC cremesheen glass lipgloss in pagoda.

4. MAC lipstick in snapdragon.

Hope you are all having a great weekend whatever you are doing...

Katie♥

BLOGMAS DAY TWENTY-FOUR: A THROWBACK CHRISTMAS

Yesterday i was looking through some old photos with my mum and quiet a few of them were from myself and my sisters when we were growing up. So for the final day of blogmas i thought i would share a few past Christmas photos of me with you...

Me probably opening my stocking in my mum and dad's bed, i look rather thrilled NOT haha. I am more than likely around 2/3 years old. On the bottom me and one of my sisters building a snowman.

Me about age 5 on Christmas morning with my huge Tigger toy, i also had a Winnie the Pooh to match. On the bottom me channeling my inner Spock clearly such a weird child, also i am pretty sure i am wearing clothes here which look more like pyjamas.

I am not too sure whether this is a picture from Christmas but it was definitely in the winter time. Feeding the ducks but apparently i used to just eat the bread instead.

So we have come to the end of blogmas, it's been quiet a challenge doing a post everyday but i have enjoyed it at the same time...

Katie ♥  

BLOGMAS DAY SIXTEEN: TOPSHOP WISH LIST

Just recently whilst browsing online and in-store at Topshop i have seen so many things that i love, so here is a selection of items on my wish list...

Lip cream in the shade Lotus Flower - £7

Rugrats pyjama tee and shorts - £20 (Rugrats was my favourite TV show ever when i was little)

Satin back strappy cami in Black - £28

Warrior clutch bag with strap - £28

Knitted mix rib jumper in Pale Grey - £38

Eye gleam in Bronze - £9

Hope you are all having a Happy Monday...

Katie ♥  

BLOGMAS DAY THIRTEEN: ALL HAIL FOR QUEEN B

Let's all take a moment to appreciate the "amazingness" that is Beyoncé, who decided to surprise us all with launching her 5th studio album exclusively on iTunes last night. If anybody knows anything about me knows that i am a huge Beyoncé fan so i was super excited when i saw the news on twitter and went straight to download it...

The album contains: 14 audio tracks and 18 videos - £12.99 iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/beyonce/id780330041

I just can't stop listening to this album today, i am so hooked.

Hope you are all having a happy Beyoncé Day...

Katie ♥