WHAT I PICKED UP ON BLACK FRIDAY

Hello everyone! So as you will all probably know last Friday was Black Friday, in fact all of last week was pretty much Cyber Week and there were so many deals going on online. I was hoping to make it through Black Friday without making any purchases but of course, i caved and couldn't resist taking advantage of some of the amazing deals on offer. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share what i picked up on Black Friday...

I posted a Black Friday deals and discount codes post, which you can catch up on here. All offers/discount codes were valid at time of purchase, some of the discounts might still be valid or slightly different currently.

1. noisy may leather jacket | 20% off at ASOS |

So on ASOS they had 20% off everything all weekend using the code HELLO20 and there wasn't really anything that i needed but i did decide to add a couple of staple pieces to my wardrobe. I picked up this leather jacket from the brand Noisy May, which i already have a few items in my wardrobe by them and the quality of their clothes are really good. Sizing's run in XS, S, M, L, XL but they are labelled in brackets with UK sizing, i went for an S which is an 8-10 and it fits perfectly (even with jumpers layered underneath).

2. cold shoulder ruffle detail jumper | 25% off at Boohoo |

I actually placed an order on Boohoo at the start of last week when they had a 25% off everything code, which of course i had to take advantage of that. My favourite piece from the entire order that i picked up was this black cold shoulder ruffle detail jumper, as i just thought it would be the perfect more dressy type of jumper because of the detailing. This jumper is actually by the brand Brave Soul, which they also stock on ASOS. Sizing's run in XS, S, M, L, i went for a small and it fits perfectly.

3. black cropped denim jacket | 30% off at PRETTYLITTLETHING |

Another outerwear wardrobe staple i decided to pick up is a new black denim jacket, as i wanted one that was more cropped than the one i had picked up in the summer. As there was 30% off everything using the code EARLY30 discount, i just couldn't not pick the one up that i had previously had my eye on. The sizing runs in regular UK sizing from 4-16, i went for a size 10 for layering but i definitely think i could of got away with a size 8 for just wearing with a tee underneath.

4. black coated denim button down skirt | 30% off at PRETTYLITTLETHING |

The only other item that i picked up on PLT is probably my favourite thing from everything i picked up this Black Friday. I had wanted to pick up a leather or leather look skirt for the festive period and once i saw this one in the site, it just had to go into my basket as it is just what i had in mind. What i like about this one is the silver button detailing down the front. Just like the denim jacket the sizing runs from 4-16 and i also went for a size 10 in this, which is true to size. 

5. white knitted jumper | 20% off everything at H&M |

H&M this autumn/winter has been the place for knitwear and i have picked up so many different ones, as they are super affordable and are great quality/wash nice. This white jumper is super soft/cosy and is a bargain on its own full price, for just £8.99 and then you can take 20% off of that also. Knitwear in H&M runs from size XS-XL and i always tend to opt for an XS, as they run slightly larger. I also picked up some Christmas presents from H&M (which i won't share just in case the people i am buying for are reading this). 

6. the slender blend 1.2K | 45% off everything at Protein World |

Finally something i couldn't say no to was to get another The Slender Blend in stock for when i run out of my current one, as they had 45% off everything using the code BLACKOUT but i actually received a 50% off VIP code via email. This made a 1.2K tub just £16 rather than the usual £31.99, which is such a bargain. The flavours to choose from were Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate, Banana, Salted Caramel, Chocolate Mint and White Chocolate/Raspberry. 

Catch up on my favourite nail polishes for autumn/winter: here

xo.

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS + DISCOUNT CODES

Hello everyone! As this Friday is in fact Black Friday and this year there is even more amazing deals going off all this week, from beauty, clothing, electrical, homeware and much more, i thought i would talk about all things Black Friday for today's instalment. I actually shared a similar style of post to this last Black Friday and so many people found it useful, so i thought why not do the same again this year also...

prettylittlething.com | 30% off everything using code: early30 |

boohoo.com | 25% off everything |

missguided | 25% off everything (or off register for first order) |

h&m | up-to 50% off denim and basics (ladies, mens + kids) |

GHD | up-to 30% off selected GHD's |

amazon | new deals added everyday |

 (oral b smart 5 5000 crossaction toothbrush deal of the day 71% off) here |

superdrug | 30% off protein world products + many more black friday deals |

yankee candle | buy one get one 50% off christmas candles |

debenhams | 15% off all beauty + up-to 50% new deals everyday |

argos | up-to 50% black friday even on technology |

dune | extra 5% off 20% off the black friday event using code: MVC24DLNOV18 |

gymshark | up-to 70% off site until 27th november |

joules | up-to 50% off black friday event (perfect for christmas shopping) |

m&s | 3 for 2 on christmas shop + sparks card offers |

wayfair | up-to 70% off + free delivery on all orders over £40 |

all beauty | up-to 60% off selected orders |

matalan | homeware black friday sale |

beautybay | up-to 50% off selected + up-to 30% off everything |

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.

MISSGUIDED AUTUMN/WINTER WARMER PICKS

Hello everyone! So the weather has definitely taken a turn for the worse and when i say worse, i mean it is freezing cold in the UK at the moment. Keeping that in mind i have noticed a wide range of new-in pieces on the Missguided site that are the perfect winter warmer pieces, to keep you looking/feeling toasty warm and i thought why not share my top picks with you all...

1. black faux leather biker jacket | £45 | - click to buy |

For me personally a black leather jacket is a wardrobe staple for all year round, especially for autumn/winter as you can either dress them up or down. I love this particular style with the faux fur collar and if i had seen this one before the new one i recently picked up on ASOS first, i definitely think i would of gone for this one. I love pairing them with a top/jumper, jeans and either boots or trainers, leather jackets also look great styled with scarves.

2. cream oversized boxy shaggy teddy jacket | £65 | - click to buy |

Something that is a huge trend for this autumn/winter season is faux fur/teddy jackets, which lets face it aren't they just so cosy and warm? I love this particular style as it isn't too long in length, which i am not a huge fan of as i am only 5ft2. This particular jacket also comes in a variety of different colours from cream to black and even a beautiful red colour.

3. petite black cropped boxy denim jacket | £25 | - click to buy |

I love denim jackets for more casual looks, especially this boxy style as you can layer with them easier during autumn/winter and look good paired with jumpers, unlike a regular fit denim jacket. This particular black boxy style is available in both regular fit and petite, for me personally as i am a little shorter petite fit always fits me a lot better than a regular fit. Another selling point for this jacket is how affordable it is at just £25, for such a well made/great quality jacket. I have had a few Missguided jackets over the years, that last/wear well.

4. grey cable knitted boyfriend jumper | £25 | - click to buy |

Something that is definitely a winter wardrobe staple is knitwear/jumpers and Missguided definitely have a huge selection to choose from, including this super cosy cable knit jumper that is available in six different colours but personally i love this grey colour. They also have different styles of knit jumpers from more fitted styles to off the shoulder style and super-oversized jumpers. The pricing of jumpers range from £10 to around £25/30 (all depending on the style) and they also wash really well.

5. black faux suede western ankle boots | £28 | - click to buy |

A style that i am personally enjoying wearing so far this autumn/winter season is ankle grazer style skinny jeans, paired with black suede ankle boots. I have a few pairs in my wardrobe including a couple of pairs i recently picked up similar to this style, one heeled and one more on the flat side. The thing i love about Missguided shoes is they are super comfy to wear/walk in for a long time without your feet aching.

6. black zig zag pattern scarf | £12 | - click to buy |

Finally, no autumn/winter wardrobe is complete without a staple scarf to layer up with when going out in the cold. The perfect thing about picking up a scarf that is either black or neutral, it is going to go with so many different outfits and whatever jacket/coat you decide to pair it with. I definitely think i am going to pick this particular scarf up, to style with a leather jacket, black jeans and heeled ankle boots for the perfect "shopping" look.

Catch up on my previous post: here

xo.

FIVE AFFORDABLE NOVEMBER FAVOURITES

Hello everyone! I swear this month has gone by with a blink and December is just a few days away now. With that in mind for today's post i thought why not do a spin on last months monthly favourites spin, which was five october favourites from superdrug. That being said this months affordable favourites products can all be purchased at Superdrug, except for one.

 brush techniques makeup brush cleansing spray

First of all i thought i would start with the only item that you can't get at Superdrug and it is this makeup brush cleanser that i randomly picked up from Home Bargains of all places. I didn't expect anything from this as it was only £1 (what a bargain) but that being said my trusty baby shampoo costs the same. It works in the exact same way as higher end/more expensive brush cleaners do, if not better than some i have tried and is great for those in-between brush cleaning days.

mua prism strobe cream in the shade golden ray

Next up is a product that i first featured in a huge mua highlighter haul and probably my favourite thing from that haul, as i have been reaching for it every single day pretty much since first trying it out. If you are a fan of MAC's strobe cream, then this is the perfect affordable dupe for it and to be honest i think i actually love this one more now. Ever since using this as a base underneath my makeup, i have had so many compliments on how healthy/glowing my makeup looks.

batiste naughty dry shampoo

Kind of a boring one that we all probably know everything about, as the majority of the time our hair is probably 75% dry shampoo am i right? That being said i recently picked up a different scent, which i think might be new and i really like the scent over all of the others that i have tried before. Batiste is probably one of the best dry shampoos i have used, which is probably why it is the UK's number one best selling dry shampoo as it never lets me down when i need some serious hair help.

maybelline x gigi west coast strobing liquid gold

The last couple of products are both from the Maybelline x Gigi Hadid collection, which first of all can we take a moment to appreciate how beautiful this packaging is! The first product i have been loving from the collection is this strobing liquid gold, which is kind of a similar product to the MUA one i shared above but this one is slightly deeper in colour but still equally as beautiful. This can be used either underneath foundation, mixed into foundation or simply applied to the highest points of the face and blended out.

maybelline x gigi east coast lip kit in the shade mccall

Just like the strobing liquid gold and the rest of the collection, the lip kits packaging is equally as beautiful with its pale nude-pink matte packaging with holographic writing. The formula of both the lip liner and lipstick in the lip kits are super creamy yet pigmented and not to mention hydrating on the lips. My favourite lip kit shade is McCall, which not only reminds me of Scott from Teen Wolf but also shock horror it is the pale nude-pink toned nude from the collection. 

Catch up on last weeks blog posts here:

six high-end products i probably couldn't live without | my favourite ways to find interior/decor inspo | black friday buys + discount codes | what i ate in a day 

xo. 

WHAT I ATE IN A DAY

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another "what i ate in a day" post and the second one i have done this month. I am so proud of myself for not forgetting to do updated versions of this type of post, also if you want to check out any of my other recent "what i ate in a day" posts i will link them at the end of this post.

So this particular day was definitely a breakfast on the go type of breakfast and i always opt for a similar type of thing to eat when i do. That being said rather than having some type of yogurt, i tried one of these new blueberry flavoured muller rice five grains pots and it was so yummy. I also had one of these graze protein bites, which i have had before but in the cocoa vanilla flavour and i actually ended up preferring this flavour over that one. Finally i also had a coffee from Starbucks, because i am completely obsessed with ordering either a soy toffee nut latte or a soy gingerbread latte.

Lunch time and i am still trying to switch things up now and again, instead of having the same thing every single day. This day i had one of my favourite flavoured soups, which is butternut squash soup and this one also had coriander, cumin and chilli. This type of lunch is definitely the perfect winter lunch.

Dinner time and for once on a "what i ate in a day" i am not having pasta. In fact i had veggie burger which i have featured in a what i ate post before, i love these particular ones as they have a bunch of different veggies inside like pepper, carrot, sweetcorn, onion, green beans and spices. This time as i had only had soup for lunch, i had some sweet potato fries baked in the oven and some garden peas on the side.

Catch up on my previous "what i ate in a day" posts here and here...

xo.

SIX HIGH-END PRODUCTS I PROBABLY COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT

Hello everyone! We all have those certain products in our makeup collections that we are always reaching for and re-purchasing over and over again, simply because we are that obsessed with that particular product. With that being said i thought i would share with you the products i probably couldn't live without in my collection, as part of a two part series and kicking things off with the six high-end products.

1. estée lauder double wear foundation

Out of all of the "high-end" foundations i have tried and loved over the years, this is the foundation that i always have to keep a bottle in stock (along side another foundation). I have reached for this foundation and loved for so many years now, as it honestly never lets me down and is great if you are really wanting a full coverage/bulletproof base. This always lasts all day long on me, in fact more often than not it still looks freshly applied when i come to remove it. It is definitely one of those sweat-proof, shine-proof and weather-proof foundations, which retails for £32.50GBP.

2. anastasia beverly hills dipbrow pomade

Ever since i first tried this product out years ago now, i have constantly reached for it on an everyday basis and nothing else. Even though recently i have been reaching for a fair few newer products, i still keeping going back to this. That being said even though you might think £19GBP for such a small brow product might seem a little steep, don't be fooled as a tiny amount goes a long way and it will last you for a really long time. As this is a pomade it is each to work with, pigmented and is another one of those bullet-proof products.

3. bareMinerals invisible bronze bronzer

If you remember earlier on in the year i mentioned that i tried to get my hands on this particular bronzer in the shade medium, for the longest time but finally i managed to get one and ever since then i have barely put it down. It straight away went to the top of my favourite bronzer of all time list, as it is just simply stunning with its natural finish and effortlessness to blend. I honestly thought my much loved NARS laguna bronzer, would take some beating but how i was wrong. This bronzer retails for £25GBP and comes in four shades.

4. mac cosmetics extra dimension skinfinish in the shade oh darling

So this was probably the hardest decision to make, as i am a complete highlighter addict and i have so many favourites. That being said it would definitely be between this one by MAC and the topaz powder highlight by Jouer, which is currently broken up into a million pieces so i definitely need to pick up another soon. I love how fine-milled/lightweight the formula of the extra dimension skinfinishes are and the shade oh darling is simply the most beautiful metallic gold shade, which is my favourite tone of highlighter. The extra dimension skinfinishes retail for £24.50GBP and come in seven different shades.

5. mac cosmetics pro longwear lip pencil

There is no shock that the rest of the products in this post are all from MAC, because they are probably my favourite brand for lip products. I have so many different lip liners from the brand and if i could only keep a select few, they would definitely stay unlike ones from other brands. Out of the regular formula and the pro longwear formula, the pro longwear liners are by far my favourite as they are super pigmented, longer wearing and easier to apply. A particular favourite shade of mine is the shade oh honey! (warm nude shade), this particular formula of lip liner retails for £15.50GBP and the regular formula ones are £13.00GBP.

6. mac cosmetics lipstick

Finally if you know anything about me, then you will probably know that i am a complete nude lipstick/lip product hoarder in general and i actually always say if i was to completely get rid of all of my lip products but only keep one kind, it would be my MAC lipsticks. MAC lipsticks are just those cult classic favourite loved by many people, me especially as they are pigmented, come in so many different shades and they last for quite a long time on the lips. Just like any person i definitely have my favourite ones in my collection (shock horror the nudes), such as yash (deep neutral matte), honey love (light beige tone matte) and peachstock (creamy beige peach satin). The MAC lipsticks retail for £16.50RRP.

Catch my "three go-to lip liners" post HERE...

xo.

BOOKS I WANT TO READ THIS WINTER

Hello everyone! So at the beginning of 2017, i set myself a goal to actually read more books that i would usually do and it is safe to say i have read my fair share of books this year. I have also written a few posts this year talking about all things books, which i will link at the end of this post if you want to catch up. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would do an updated "books i want to read" but talking about the ones i want to read this coming winter, which is probably the best time to read a good romance book, especially snuggled up in bed with a hot chocolate, tea or a cheeky glass of wine or two.

1. darker (fifty shades darker) by EL James

Of course i was going to kick things off with the book, which i literally can't wait to get stuck into when it is released on the 28th of this month. If you are familiar with the Fifty Shades trilogy books/films by the amazing EL James (if not where have you been since 2012) then you will know that she already released grey which was the first book told from Christians point of view. Now she is releasing the second book from his point of view, i really enjoyed this because obviously usually with a book you only get one persons perspective of things and you don't know exactly what is going on in the second persons head but with this book you can! 

2. the trouble with mistletoe by Jill Shalvis
If you read my kindle books i have been reading in june/july post, then you will probably know that i mentioned a book by Sylvia Day that was being turned into a movie (on passionflix). That being said this particular book by Jill Shalvis is being released as a movie next month i believe, so i wouldn't mind reading the book before seeing the movie. I have never really read many Christmas themed novels, so i think that would be something different and i have also never read anything from this particular author either.

3. covent garden in the snow by Jules Wake
Sticking with the Christmas novel theme, this particular book actually caught my eye whilst browsing on amazon as it came up as the top best selling new release. I think this book would be good to read when you are wanting something a little more light-hearted, as well as probably another way to get you into the Christmas spirit.

4. wicked dirty and wicked torture by J Kenner
Another book from the kindle books i have been reading in june/july post, which was the first book in this series (which are stand alone stories) called wicked grind and i really enjoyed it, as it was such a different kind of read for me in the style it was written. That being said i really want to read the next two books in the series, wicked dirty which was released a couple of months ago and wicked torture which was released this week. If you have read my previous book related posts, then you will already know i am a fan of Julie Kenner's stark series.

5. misadventures of a city girl by Meredith Wild and Chelle Bliss
This series of books is definitely ones that are to be read, when you have some time to spare as there is going to be a total of 13 books and 7 of them have already been released. That being said i have a feeling they are all going to be good reads especially the ones co-written by Meredith Wild, as i loved her hacker series books.

6. the bridge series by Meredith Wild
Sticking with Meredith Wild books, i really want to give this particular series a read by her also even though it has been out for a while now. Unlike the hacker series of books, i believe these 3 books are all different stories but are based around different brothers who have the surname Bridge. If you have never read the hacker series, i highly recommend that you do, as i loved every single instalment of the 5 book series.

7. it started with a swipe by Shelly Smith
This is another book that i first spotted on the new-release section on amazon and as soon as i read the title/about the book, i was sold because of how relatable this book seems to be to current day dating/trying to date and i find stories like that hilarious. I have a feeling it is going to be a quick yet enjoyable read, as it is only 160 pages.

8. with this man (this man book 4) by Jodi Ellen Malpas
Technically this book isn't a winter read, as it isn't released until the end of March next year but i couldn't not mention it as i am so excited for this read. The this man series by Jodi Ellen Malpas is probably my favourite series of books i have ever read, as i mean lets face it if you are familiar with the stories then you will know Jesse is pretty much the definition of the word Alpha male! Even though this book seems like it has a tragic accident in the story, i am really excited for a whole book from Jesse's point of view, rather than what we are used to which is from Ava's perspective.

Catch up on my other "book related" posts here:
books i want to read in 2017 #1
books i want to read in 2017 #2
kindle books i have been reading in june/july

xo.

SIX BEAUTY TRICKS THAT ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Hello everyone! The majority of us at some point along the journey from being a beginner at makeup/beauty to where you are now, we have all tried out some form of beauty hack/trick and we've probably figured out that some work, but some also don't make a difference. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you six beauty tricks that i have discovered and actually make a difference to your appearance.

1. always prep/prime your skin before applying makeup

First up is probably the most self-explanatory trick, but that is to prep/prime your skin before applying any form of makeup. The prep step before makeup being your skincare routine (making sure your skin is completely clean/moisturised before hand) and the prime step be to apply some form of primer cream or spray, by doing this your makeup will apply so much more smoothly, set better on the skin and last for a lot longer. 

2. faking glowing skin

If you are like me and have normal to dry skin, that can need a little help more often than not to look dewy and glowing. By using a strobe cream underneath your makeup, such a the mac cosmetics strobe cream or my new favourite the mua prism strobe cream, by doing this you are giving the appearance of a "glow from within" which looks a lot more natural. Also ever since i have been using the strobe cream by MUA in the shade golden ray, i have had a ton of compliments on how healthy and glowing my skin looks. Another trick is to add in a little liquid highlighter with your foundation of choice.

3. crease-proofing your concealer

If you have a concealer that you love the coverage of but you find it sits a little into any fine lines of appears to crease on your under-eye area. Apply a small amount of your eye-cream with your concealer and this will keep the area extra hydrated/crease-free. Also by avoiding adding too much product (foundation) to the under-eye area, you aren't applying product on top of product therefore your under-eye is less likely to crease. Another tip is to set the under-eye area/concealer as soon as possible.

4. cleaning up your eyebrows with concealer

Another concealer related hack/trick, which is super simple and makes a big difference to the way your brows look. Simply fill in your brows as you normally would, then taking a small amount of concealer and a concealer brush (the morphe Y21 flat definer brush is my favourite) to tidy up the edges of your brows. By doing this you are not only just tidying them up but you are highlighting the brow bone area too, also make sure you set it into place with some translucent powder as you would your normal concealer. 

5. how to get white teeth without using teeth whitening kits
Using a teeth whitening kit whether that be one with a light or strips, can be not only expensive but also you might not want to use anything too chemically based. A cheap and easy way i like to use is simply by brushing my teeth with my regular oral b 3d white luxe perfection toothpaste (which already keeps my teeth pretty white) but then i like to follow up with the oral b 3d white luxe whitening accelerator and by using this it just speeds the whitening process up, as well as protecting your teeth from new stains. It is literally as simple as that by brushing for 2 minutes with each toothpaste, twice a day!

6. even fake tan application
There is so many different hacks out there that claim to help you get "an even" fake tan application/finish and half of them do not work at all, all they do is complicate things and make it an even longer process. Keep things simple by exfoliating your body with either a body scrub, gloves or puff whilst in the shower to remove any left over tan from before and also any dead skin cells. Once out of the shower moisturise your body from head to toe, not forgetting your hands because that is where it tends to cling to dry areas the most. Finally make sure you apply your fake tan right before going to bed, this way you aren't going to need to wash your hands.

Catch my everyday "speedy" makeup for autumn post HERE...

xo.

MUSIC AT THE MOMENT

Hello everyone! If you saw a recent post of mine, talking all about my favourite pick-me-ups then you will probably know how i mentioned doing an updated "music at the moment" post and how i hadn't done one in a little while. With that in mind for today's post i thought it would be the perfect time to share, the music that i have been loving at the moment. This time i thought i would do things a little different and talk a little bit about each artist/album/track, rather than just listing the spotify link.

the space between - majid jordon

You might of heard of Majid Jordon before if you didn't know who they were initially but if you are familiar with the much loved "hold on, we're going home" by Drake, then you will have already heard of them because the duo featured on the track. That being said i just had to kick things off with their second studio album that was released a couple of weeks ago, as it has fast become one of my favourite albums of the year. I love every single track on the album but like any other album i do have my ultimate favourites, which are "gave your love away", "OG heartthrob", "body talk", "one i want feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR" and "not ashamed".

the thrill of it all - sam smith

Of course this album was going to be next on the list because let's face it we all new it was going to be amazing, after hearing "too good at goodbyes" and it has definitely been an album well worth the wait. This album is so easy listening and will definitely make you feel all of the feels, my favourite tracks from the album are obviously "too good at goodbyes", "say it first", "burning", "one last song" and "baby, you make me crazy".

heartbreak on a full moon - chris brown

After waiting two years for a new album from breezy himself, finally there is one and i was so shocked because it is not your usual 12+ track album, it in fact has 45 tracks and i have listened to all 45. I have love love loved Chris Brown's music ever since he first jumped on the scene with "run it" way back when and i have one been disappointed with a couple of albums, but this one i love! My favourite tracks so far on the album are obviously "privacy", "juicy booty", "questions", "too my bed", "party", "no exit", "high end" and "only 4 me". 

covers playlist - william singe

Finally we have a playlist that i am still obsessing over months later, i had never heard of William Singe until he collaborated on a track with Jonas Blue called "mama" and then i saw a cover on my Spotify release radar playlist which was "wild thoughts". To cut a long story short i am now obsessed with so many of his covers, in fact a lot of them i have ended up loving more than the originals. My favourites are "come and see me", "wild thoughts", "again", "say it", "controlla", "ooouuu" and "flex (ooh, ooh, ooh)". 

other tracks that are current favourites on my spotify playlist:

all the time - ty dolla $ign / faking it - calvin harris / how long - charlie puth / dusk til dawn - zayn & sia / her - majid jordon (i always listen to this song as it is one that is close to my heart) / alone - jessie ware / if i'm lucky - jason derulo / love u better - ty dolla $ign (i actually love most of "beach house 3").

Catch up on my recent "favourite pick-me-ups" post HERE...

xo.

TIPS & TRICKS: HOW TO SAVE MONEY & GET ORGANISED FOR CHRISTMAS

Hello everyone! Now that we are almost a week into November, it is the time when the majority of us all start to think about Christmas shopping and what we are going to get, for who we are going to get gifts for (unless you are one of those extra organised people who do their shopping mid-year). That being said if you aren't one of those super organised people, yet you want to be this year then i thought i would share with you some tips and tricks on how to get organised for Christmas, as well as how to save yourself some money along the way.

1. always make a list(s).

Before you start absolutely anything, always make a list whether that be on your phone or in a notebook. By making a list of the people you need to buy for, it allows you a clear vision rather than just keeping it in your head and you are less likely to forget anyone. Also to be extra organised, write down next to the persons name a rough idea of what you want to get them and roughly how much you want to spend on that person.  

2. shop around online first.

So once you have an idea on what you are going to get someone, always type into google the item and shop around for the best deal. This doesn't mean you have to buy it online, you can still head into the store to buy it but just don't buy the first one you see from the first place, as you could be wasting money and you could be saving getting if from somewhere for a little or a lot cheaper.

3. pick up a Christmas catalogue.

A lot of stores from around September onwards, have free catalogues available to pick up and they are filled with both Christmas gifts/gift sets and also inspiration for things such as gift buying, food ideas or even homeware/decorations. If you see one pick one up (especially a Boots one), you can even mark in/fold pages on items you see that you think might interest you or be a great gift for someone.    

4. take advantage of discounts/store offers (such as 3for2).

So we all know when it comes to Christmas a lot of stores like Boots and Superdrug have 3 for 2 deals on Christmas gift sets, which is perfect when picking up either stocking fillers or a larger gift for those beauty lovers in your life. As they are on a 3 for 2 deal you are saving money on one gift, because you only ended up paying for two and you get the cheapest one free. Also if you have a present in mind for someone and the store has a discount offer on such as 10 or 20% off, don't hesitate pick it up whilst the deal is on and you'll save yourself some money.

5. do NOT over buy.
This is when sticking to the list(s) you made comes in handy, as you are less likely to over buy especially when it comes to gifts and the food shop (just remember they are only closed for one day) and there is just no need. Also when you have finished gift buying for someone, make sure you check them off of your list as you don't want to double buy, as this is just a waste of money.

6. do your shopping in November/the first week of December.
Rule number one when it comes to being organised, never leave your shopping until the last week or minute as more often than none shops will have increased their prices, they won't have anything you wanted left and most importantly you'll end up spending more time queuing up to pay than you will do shopping. If you are wanting to get someone a fairly expensive gift (such as something electrical) wait until Black Friday (27th November) as you could bag yourself a bargain or two. 

7. ask family/friends what they would like.
Another way to not waste your money and to give you an idea on what to get someone, it to always ask them a rough idea on what they would like to receive for Christmas (especially those hard to buy for people - every family has one). By doing this like i said you are not only not wasting your money on something they are never going to use or what they don't have an interest in. Sometimes this is also when giving them money or a gift card can come in handy and there are also some places where you can get money off on gift cards.

8. browse to find the cheapest way to get your gifts.
Another thing we don't always take into account is the money we spend actually getting the gifts to us, whether that be shopping in-stores or online. If something is free delivery online, always opt for that option because even going to buy something in-store sometimes costs you more in the long run, as you have had to spend money on transport like petrol or the trains/bus. Another tip is to sign up to 30 day free trials for delivery such as Amazon Prime, as once you have completed your gift shopping there is no need to sign up/pay for another month/yearly subscription (unless you want to that is).

Catch my "the best new-in beauty gift sets" post HERE...

xo.

WHAT I ATE IN A DAY

Hello everyone and welcome back to another "what i ate in a day" post! So i said that i was going to try my hardest to remember to keep up with documenting this type of post and so far i think i am doing well-ish, as i have done one a month now since September. Just like my previous "what i ate in a day" post, this is also very much so an at home day as i was basically just working for most of the day.

Usually when i first get up is when i will have my morning coffee, but this particular morning i didn't have it until i was having my breakfast as in place of the coffee i just finished off some green juice that was already in the fridge. For breakfast itself now that it is autumn and it is very much porridge weather, so that is what i had made with unsweetened almond milk and cinnamon. Then on-top i just had a handful of berries and flaked almonds, oh and of course my coffee.

I had been wanting to try smashed peas on toast for so long now, since seeing it all over Pinterest and now that i finally got round to trying it, i am obsessed. So as you can probably tell for lunch i had smashed peas on ciabatta toast, the smashed peas are flavoured with a little bit of garlic olive oil and topped with my fave chilli seeds for some heat. I definitely recommend trying this if you haven't before, it is so delicious and fresh tasting.  

So come mid-afternoon i was really craving something naughty, so i decided to have some chocolate. I love love love kitkat's, more specifically white kitkat's and now that they are available in the bites version it just makes it that bit better. I also had another coffee, which i am so proud of myself recently for limiting myself to two coffees a day rather than my usual three to four per day and honestly i have been sleeping so much better at night.

Finally it was dinner time, i was super hungry so i honestly couldn't wait to dig in and for the first what i ate post in a while, i actually had something on the day where i wasn't having some form of pasta dish ha ha. So for dinner i had coconut and chilli rice with king prawns and coriander, almost like a stir fry-ish and it was so yummy!

Catch my previous "what i ate in a day" post HERE...

xo.

NOVEMBER BEAUTY FAVOURITES

Hey guys, i hope you are all having a great day whatever you are up to! I literally can't believe we are at the end of another month yet again and it will be December in a couple of days. I have mentioned i a post that i will be doing "Blogmas" again this year and for those who might not know what that is, it is basically where you blog everyday up until Christmas. I have so many different types of posts planned from baking to craft/gift ideas and also some beauty things obviously thrown in there too. So back to today's post here it is my favourites for the month of November...

1. MAC Keepsakes Eyeshadow palette (Smoky eyes).

First things first i had to start off with the newest thing that i have been obsessed with since i purchased it during this month. The MAC holiday collection this year is so nice, from all the cute packaging and the detail that has gone into it. I have pretty much been using this palette everyday since i got it and you can create a wide range of different looks with it from an everyday natural look to a smoky/sexy eye look for an evening or special occasion.

2. Dashing Santa Lush Bath Bomb.

My last post was a Lush haul where i shown you all the Christmas items i bought and this has got to be my favourite one out of them haul as i am on my second one. The scent is what sells it for me which is hard to describe, on the website the description says orange but i don't particularly smell that myself. All i can say is if you go into a Lush store smell this!

3. NARS Highlighting Powder in Albatross.

This is a product that i had actually forgotten about for a little while as i tend to use my MAC Soft and Gentle highlight on a day to day basis, but whilst looking through my collection i realized that i hadn't used it in a while and now i have i keep thinking why did i stop? It gives you the most amazing golden glow when the light hits the highest points of your cheeks and a little goes a long way.

4. NYX Blush in Angel.

Yet again another product i had forgotten about but i wanted to switch my everyday blush up for pink to peach and this is the perfect peach shade for me. NYX blushes are super affordable yet they have that high end finish for me as they are so pigmented and sits so naturally on the skin.

5. Milani Color Statement Lipsticks in Sangria and Nude Créme.

I did a whole blog post dedicated to these particular lipsticks during this month as i am OBSESSED with them and have pretty much been swapping between them everyday. Sangria is that perfect berry winter shade if you want to go for a bolder lip look and Nude Créme is the most perfect pinky nude.

You can check my review on these lipsticks here:

http://katiebeautyshake.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/milani-color-statement-lipsticks.html

What has your favourite items been this month?

♥

THE "ME TIME" TAG

Hey guys, i hope you all had a great weekend whatever you got up to! So the other day whilst catching up on my YouTube subscriptions, i noticed that the beautiful Essie Button and Amelia Liana had created yet another great tag the "me time" tag and thought i would give it a go...

What do you watch or read during me-time?

I am obsessed with what it seems to be all comic book related tv shows right now like Gotham, Arrow and also Flash.

What do you wear during me-time? 

Something super comfy either a cosy jumper with leggings or pyjamas and obviously #nobra!

What are your me-time beauty products?

Obviously my trusty No7 Sauna face mask, i am yet to find a face mask that i love as much as this one.

Current favourite nail polish? 

I have recently started having my nails done professionally again with calgel on them. At the moment i have OPI Lady in Black on them with a glitter finish over the top and i am obsessed!

What do you eat/drink during me-time? 

It's all about a good hot chocolate and some sweet cinema popcorn for me!

Current favourite candle?

I am currently burning Yankee Candle's Merry Marshmallow (a little early i know but it was the only one i had left in my stash until i go shopping for more).

Do you ever have outdoor me-time? 

No particularly unless i go out shopping by myself but that's about it, i wouldn't ever fancy going for a walk in the woods by myself #scaredypants. 

Would you ever go see a movie alone? 

No i don't think i would because in the past when i have wanted to go see something at the cinema and no one else wanted to, i just waited until it was released on dvd haha.

Favourite online shop? 

This is a silly question for fashion, obviously Boohoo. Beauty though is probably Beauty Joint or Feel Unique.

Anything to add? What else do you do during me-time? 

For one to add on is listening to music with my headphones in. I am massively into music i just can't go a day without it!

NOVEMBER FAVOURITES

So another month has come and gone, i literally cannot believe that there is only one month left of 2013. Here is my favorites for the month of November..

Katie ♥

MUA have come out with a new collection of products called MUA LUXE and i have been loving these three products, the collection is super affordable, super pigmented and i absolutely love the packaging. As i love the L'oréal nude magique foundation i thought i would try out the bb powder and i did not think i would like it as much as my usual go to rimmel stay matte but i love, love, love it.

So for a while now i have been wanting to get my hands on the urban decay ammo palette but every store or online site i went to/on was out of stock until last week i finally managed to receive it and i was not disappointed and i have been using it everyday since. My favorite shadows in the palette are: polyester bride (perfect for the inner corner of the eye) sin (all over the lids) and chopper (blended in the crease) definitely perfect for a neutral make up look.

MUA LUXE COLLECTION

Velvet lip lacquer in criminal - £3

Precision felt eyeliner in black - £3

Powerbrow (shape and highlighter) in dark brown - £3

(ALL AVAILABLE AT SUPERDRUG AND MUA ONLINE)

http://www.muastore.co.uk/mua-luxe-london

http://www.superdrug.com/events-2013/mua-luxe/page/mualuxe

URBAN DECAY 

Ammo palette and primer potion (set) - £23

http://www.beautybay.com/cosmetics/urbandecay/ammo2palette/