What I've Been Up To Lately...

Ah, long time no see! I'm seriously procrastinating this morning and putting off doing the mountain of washing up and the tidying I have to do, so I thought I'd do a blog post instead!
I am so glad that school has finished now for two weeks. They were all extremely excited and tired and it's just not a good mix! To be honest, I don't know how much longer I want to stay in my job for. As much as I love it at times I just don't think I can do it forever. The pay is peanuts and I have to say that I really don't like how the behaviour of the children is changing. Each year they seem to be getting ruder and more argumentative. Seems this generation don't understand what no means. That's not to say they're all like that but it really is putting me off. I don't know what else I'd do though considering school work is all I've ever done.
On a happier note, I've had some lovely days out and afternoons with friends. On the 30th November me and Stuart went to the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC in Birmingham,which was a different way to spend the day! I was lucky enough to win tickets but I do think it was very expensive. I don't think I'd go again if I had to pay for them! I did get to see the Hairy Bikers at their book signing though (as well as lots of other tv chefs) so that was good and I enjoyed going round all the stalls, even if it did get confusing at times- there was just so many! I wasn't feeling great, and was actually ill the next day, so that did put a bit of a dampener on it but overall I'm glad I got to go. Afterwards we went to Ikea which is always exciting, as sad as that is, and we stocked up on random tat and snacks. I do love their elderflower drinks! I loved their origami patterned wrapping paper too and just had to take a roll of the gold fox design home- hope they do it again next year. This has also reminded me that I need to dig out of the snowball candles we bought too!
Speaking of competitions, I want to say thank you again to those who voted for my mask. Sadly I didn't win but it was amazing just to be in the final considering there was over 600 entrants! Vanilla Chai won and in fairness I would have voted for this one too if I wasn't involved! Apologies also if you follow me on twitter for the constant competition retweets! I've gotten a tad addicted I have to say! I used to comp on and off a while back but this is the first time I've kept at it to see what happens. I've had a fair few wins now and it's been lovely to treat Stuart to meals out and to share them.
Onto Christmas prep, I'm pretty impressed that I've managed to get nearly all my presents sorted, as in previous years I've left it pretty late and it's all been very stressful! I've tried not to over spend by getting things on offer and using codes and whatnot but I do think I've gone a bit over, especially considering all my car stuff is due in in Jan/Feb! Presents are lovely to give and receive but I wouldn't be opposed if they were all banned one year! The Christmas food definitely couldn't be though. I think I'd cry if I couldn't have a chocolate orange!
Along with tidying, finishing the decorating is also on my to-do list. My mum kindly helped decorate our tree, which used to be in the conservatory at home but has now been passed to us. That leaves her with just the one tree now as she did have 3 at one point! She did a really good job of it, as always, and it's a big improvement on last years 'Christmas bush'! Now that was such a bugger to decorate and it was nearly bald by the 25th! Now I just need to clean the room and decorate the mantelpiece. Do love it when it's all done and I can relax and cosy up in the evening with the tree lights on.
I normally get quite stressed around Christmas due to travelling a lot between my mums house and my dads, but in the grand scheme of things I've got nothing to complain about and I shouldn't grumble. Instead I'll enjoy spending time with both parents as well as my boyfriend and his family.

Sorry this post is so long! Also I started writing it earlier in the day and then I had to go out hence the morning procrastination. And no I still haven't washed up!

Everything's Rosy!

Well it was a surprise this afternoon to see my face on the Montagne Jeunesse site I have to say! I was sort of hoping they had decided not to use photos! Least they didn't use the ones taken on the day. I really wasn't prepared and not looking my best after hours on a train and a long walk through the drizzle! My little spiel is a bit cringe- I had to think of it on the spot and my mind just went blank!
I'd be ever so grateful if you could vote for me, if you already haven't, or indeed want to! I've been pestering all my friends and fam so I thought I might as well do it on here too! You just need to go on their page on Facebook.  A trip away would be amazing though, it's definitely that time of year when I start dreaming of holidays abroad to get me through the dreary days.
Big thanks to those of you who have already voted for me, it means a lot! :)

Vote For Me!

So a while back I found out I was a finalist in the Montagne Jeunesse Make Your Mask Competition and I was invited down to London to make my mask and to meet some of the other finalists. I had a great time though it was a bit scary going down there by myself! I was really pleased with how my lychee, rose water and raspberry mask turned out though. It smelt amazing and looked so girly and pink! I got to take a big pot of it away with me to try and I have to say it wasn't half bad! It felt very soothing and my skin felt really soft afterwards. It would be amazing if they actually made my mask for real- there's just not enough lychee scented products out there! Such a sucker for the delicate rose scent!
Anyways, it would mean so much to me if you could vote for my 'Everything's Rosy' mask. The finalist who receives the most votes will win a trip to Paris! I've never been to France so this would be awesome!

Vote here!
http://woobox.com/gcbm7b/c7hi99 

Thank you!!! :D

Bargain Berry Lips

Ah, I couldn't resist it. The ever popular berry lips for Autumn post! I seem to have gotten a bit mad for them lately and have somehow amassed 5 new lipsticks and glosses. None of these were over a fiver though so I don't feel too bad!

Lets start with the lipsticks. Starting from the left we have Essence's Longlasting lipstick in 04 On The Catwalk - a burgundy red. This was just £2,30 from Wilko. I'm really impressed with these considering how cheap they are. I already own and love the shade 'Natural Beauty' and I'm glad I've now got this one to join it. The pigmentation is amazing and the texture is really smooth.

Next we have an NYC Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm in Garnet Gala. I got this from Poundworld yesterday as I already own three of them and couldn't resist adding another one to my collection. As with all of them the colour is strong for a tinted balm and they have such a nice appley scent. This one is different from the others I've got as it contains golden red shimmer. It's not gritty though thankfully. I think this one will be great for Christmas time as it's so festive! 

Lastly we have The Body Shop Colourglide lipstick in Pinkette. I bought this at the weekend on sale for £5 (though I'm sure it was meant to be £4). This is still quite pricey for me but I've never tried a Body Shop lipstick and was intrigued! The label on the bottom is more purple than what it actually is but it's still a really pretty dark pink colour. On my lips it looks quite natural so I think it'll be one I can just slap on without much thought. It should go with quite a lot of looks too. Not that I experiment much but still! 

Onto glosses and here we have an NYC Liquid Lipshine in Wine n Dine and a Maybelline Color Sensational Cream Gloss in Stellar Berry. The former was from Poundworld and the latter from Xtras for £1.99 with a code. The NYC one is extremely pigmented and is almost like a liquid lipstick. The shade looks a bit dark in the tube but once on it's very wearable. It has a lovely texture and consistency but one thing I really don't like is the smell. It smells like those vanilla car air freshener trees. The scent does die down after a while but I really wish it was unscented! The Maybelline one also has a fruity-ish scent I don't like but it's less strong at least! This one is much more sheer and contains some fine shimmer. Great for a more subtle take on the trend! I also think this would be good layered over other plummy lipsticks- MAC Plumful for one!

L-R Garnet Gala, Pinkette, On The Catwalk, Stella Berry, Wine n Dine 

I think I'm sorted for A/W lip shades for now! 

A Few Faves

Just thought I'd share with you a few items that I have been particularly enjoying lately! First up is the Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude foundation. I bought this after trying a sample from a mag and really liking it. I was quite surprised about this as often foundation samples are beige/wotsit and completely unusable! I bought the shade Ivory which is the second palest. At the moment it's not too dark but I may switch to Porcelain as the months go on. The medium coverage is just what I want as it's not too sheer or too heavy. As much as I like my Seventeen Stay Time one with it's fab spot concealing abilities, it can make my skin look a little flat. This one though covers up the majority of my blemishes (concealer is still needed for more angry spots) whilst still looking natural. As with all my foundations I like to apply this with my Cosmopolitan beauty blender sponge. 

Secondly, my favourite mascara this month has been Essence's Maximum Definition Volume mascara. I've been favouring this over Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara as it's so much easier to work with and doesn't clump up like that one does. The brush isn't stupidly big and it lets me cover all my lashes without getting it everywhere. It's really good at separating them and you can build up the layers without it going clumpy. For the bargain price of £2.80 it's excellent! 

Lastly I've been using up my little sample pot of Benefit's It's Potent eye cream. I'm quite impressed with myself as I've been using it religiously every morning. It has a lovely thick texture that doesn't feel overly heavy or sticky and sinks in really well. I don't have dark circles so I can't really comment on the brightening properties but I like to think it's helping in some way! I'm fast approaching the wrong side of 25 so it's a welcome addition to my skincare routine. I'd be tempted to get the full size but it's so expensive I don't think I can justify it! Could be tempted to get another mini one though as you really don't need to use a lot. 

Have you tried any of these? What do you think? 

Book Review: Thirst by Kerry Hudson

As much as I enjoy reading it's been a long time since I've read one, so I felt quite accomplished when I finally managed to finish this! I got this out the library hoping the time limit would spur me on, but in the end I had to renew it and I was still late returning it. I really need to take more time to read instead of wasting time on the laptop! 

Anyways, I really enjoyed this book and found it different to what I usually go for. I thought it would be your usual romantic novel but it's much less fluffy and much more deep and poignant. It's about a Russian girl called Alena and a London boy called Dave, who meet when she gets caught shoplifting at the shop where he works as a security guard. Right from the start he is captivated by her, and though she initially sees him as a source of safety away from her life on the streets, they quickly fall in love. I feel like they were never just friends though. Their relationship isn't cliché or predictable, it is real and full of the ups and downs of genuine relationships. As much as they love, and indeed need each other, they both have secrets they don't want to share, for fear of ruining what they have though they know it's causing the opposite. 

The characters are very well written. You feel like you really understand them and their background. What sets it apart from the standard chick lits is the fact that it deals with some difficult subjects such as sex trafficking, prostitution as well as illness. The grittiness isn't glossed over in any way and it can leave you feeling uncomfortable. It's a very 'emotional' story and the way their feelings have been portrayed is fantastic. It makes it so easy to empathise with the characters. The chapters alternate between Dave's story and Alena's,  which I feel it keeps it going at a good pace. I did feel a bit frustrated at times as I just wanted them to be honest with each other and open up fully. I suppose it did make me want to read on though, to see how things would develop. I also enjoyed that it was set in two countries. A culture shock on both parts to begin with, but it becomes apparent that there are similarities between Dave's impoverished upbringing in a London estate and Alena's small Siberian town. I don't want to give too much away, but suffice to say it's well worth a read and I highly recommend it. It's definitely not your average love story! 

Sunday in Shrewsbury

Me and Stu went to Shrewsbury today for a bit of a change-well really it was mostly because he wanted to got to CeX and trade in some games! I was also keen to go so I could check out the Makeup Revolution stand at Superdrug. More on that in a bit!

My first port of call, after CeX, of course that took priority, was H&M. I only went in to have a look at the bras, as it's one of the few places I can get ones that fit me (woe is me for having a boy chest) but I got tempted by a few other things too! I've been eyeing up the cable knit jumpers since they came in so I thought I may as well just get one. Purple was the obvious choice! I also got some of the plastic spiral hair ties as I'm quite intrigued by them. Whether they'll work on my mane is a different matter. They were only £1.99 though so worth a go. I also got 2 necklaces as I liked how simple they were. I'm not really a one for large statement pieces! Again these were £1.99 each. In the end I settled for a black and pink bra with pretty spotty lace detailing. I normally get them from Primark so £12.99 seemed a bit steep but it is very pretty. Finally I got a tiny 5ml nail polish in the shade 'Blue Me' as I thought it could be a good dupe for Nails Inc Baker Street, which I love but is quite pricey most times. 

Next up was Superdrug, and I headed straight to the Makeup Revolution stand to see if they had the Rebel With Cause lipstick. Sadly it was out of stock. It's always out of stock at my other 'local' store in Chester too! Ah well. I did get a blusher and an eyeshadow though, in the shades Now! and Good Life. The blusher looks pale in the photo but it's actually quite a dusky pink shade. It also contains shimmer but it isn't over the top. 'Good Life' is quite a hard shade to describe. It's a very cool toned pinky purple mink type shade. I think it'll look nice with my green eyes though, and it's is one of those easy to wear shimmery shades that are great to quickly swipe on. Again, the photo doesn't do it justice!

I also got two Miss Sporty nail polishes. A sparkly 'Oh My Gem' one in 'Be a Star' and a 'Clubbing Colours' mid toned purple one in 'Merry Go Round' (I think - they don't have the names on them!). I thought the latter could be a dupe for my beloved Models Own 'Purple Poppy' but alas it isn't. I found it needed 3 coats and even then it still looked a little patchy. It seems to be more of a jelly than a creme. The sparkly one also took 3 coats but you could probably get away with 2 if you were using it as a top coat. They're a bit disappointing really- I think I got suckered in to the 'buy 1 get the 2nd half price' offer! 

Apologies, the glitter refused to be captured!

However, 'Blue Me' is certainly not disappointing!  As you can see, it is really similar to Baker Street which is on my little finger. Not bad at all for 99p! Also, please excuse the scabby cuticles and nails. I just applied it really quickly to show you what they look like on. 

Apart from some face wipes (the Garnier Simply Essentials ones- we shall see how I fare with these!) that was end of my little spree. We had a mosey in Waterstones though and I fell in love with this hardback copy of 'Ballet Shoes', which is one of my favourite books from when I was younger. I've already got 2 copies of this at home but this one is just so pretty and special looking.

I also want to show you two pictures we got in The Range in Shrewsbury last Monday. It's rare that me and Stu both like a picture so he kindly got the pair! They are so cute and are currently hanging in the living room. 

Hope you've had a pleasant Sunday! 

Clean & Clear Truly Gentle 3 in 1 Facial Wipes

First things first. These are awful! Do not buy! I bought these ages ago when I was looking for some basic wipes that I could use all over my face, including eyes. I think I may have got these from Home Bargains, in which case they were probably there for a reason! They leave my skin feeling so slimy and slippery, almost greasy, which is baffling considering it's a Clean & Clear product. Yes they do remove makeup fairly well, but I just can't get on with the texture. I reluctantly used these last night, when I was tired and feeling unwell, hoping to clean my face quickly so I could go to bed, but in the end I had to wash my face properly. My skin just felt so disgusting. I've used these at night previously and I remember waking up looking so shiny. Not good.
All in all these are utter crap and will be going in the bin.

Think I will be sticking to the Lacura ones from now on!

Karma

It's been a funny old weekend. 

Through my own fault my mind has been full of things I'd rather forget, but I've had to come to the conclusion that what goes around comes around and that I can take comfort from the fact that my conscience is clean and that they'll eventually get their comeuppance in one way or another. Shitty people will always be shitty people.  

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Ultra Light Spot Treatment Moisturiser

Excessive name aside, I bought this moisturiser a while ago from Home Bargains, for just £1.99, as I was looking for a light gel moisturiser for the summer. First things first, this is definitely ultra light! If you have normal to dry skin then this probably isn't for you. I've got quite oily skin for the most part and sometimes even I find that it isn't enough. When my skin is feeling all greasy and spotty though, this is great. It sinks in instantly and doesn't feel sticky at all. It also feels really cooling and refreshing and makes a good base for makeup. It does contain salicylic acid, which can make your skin more susceptible to sun burn, so you should probably make sure any make applied over it contains an SPF or just use it at night. I do tend to use it more at night, but I have worn it during the day when it's sunny, and not experienced any adverse effects. As a spot treatment, I don't think it contributes to any new spots, but I'm not sure if it really helps get rid of them any faster. In general I find it hard to judge skincare aimed at treating spots, as there are so many other factors that need to be taken into consideration. In any case I will continue to use it, as some days I just can't bear the feeling of having a cream on my face, especially after a long day at work where it's practically melted off!

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel

I bought this new from Ebay for around £7 as I had wanted to try it for years. Literally. I remember reading about this when when I was much younger and everyone seemed to poop rainbows over it! I've used it a few times now and whilst it definitely leaves my skin feeling much softer, I've not been as wowed as I thought I'd be. I like that it's not a mask that dries down, as they can sometimes feel a little stripping, and I love the scent, but I did expect my skin to look more brighter after use. Considering it's a peel I've also found it to be very gentle and it doesn't leave my skin looking red or feeling irritated. It's worth mentioning though that I don't have particularly sensitive skin.  I think that if I used it consistently once a week then I could see a better result, in terms of brightness, so I'll have to try that. Overall though, I'm glad I've got it in my skincare collection!

The Real World

'Having the perfect Sunday.'

Yeah, whatever. Back in the real world...

There's miscellaneous piles of crap on the sofa.

There's washing up to be done that I couldn't be fagged to do last night. 

There's a messy drawer top. And the drawers aren't white. 

There's no damn candle.  

I'm tired of contrived, superficial bullshit. 

My Hand Cream Collection

This post is inspired by a little Twitter chat I had with the lovely Jenny from Caramel and Cats! It got me thinking that I really do have so many products squirrelled away, particularly hand creams! I seem to have accumulated a fair few that have been stashed away in various locations in the flat. I think the problem is that I can always justify buying them as my hands can get in an awful lizard like state. I blame working in a school, They never feel clean when you're around 30 6/7 year olds whose hand washing routine is dubious at best!
I thought I would do a brief round up of all the ones I have found and share some thoughts on each.

Apologies, I got confused and they're not actually in order! I'm sure you can recognise each one though! 

1. Betty & Walter Elderflower and Lemon- I got this at Christmas in 2012 from Boots so it's getting on now! I really haven't used much of this and I don't know why as it's not bad at all. It smells lovely (elderflower is another fave of mine) and isn't overly greasy. It's a whopping 150ml tube too so I think I need to get cracking with this one! 
2. Derma V10 24/7 Dry Skin Cream- I think I got this from a pound shop. This is the one I tend to use when my hands are really sore and cut up, as it's basic and 'bland' enough not to irritate them further. It's a bit greasy but does the job when you desperately need something unscented.
3. Soap & Glory Hand Food- Now this is the one I can't really use when my hands are bad due to it being so highly scented. I actually really like the scent but it is strong. This works really well when my hands are just a little dry and I can see a difference quickly. I forgot I had this tube hidden away but I think I'll save it until I've used up some of the others!
4. Ted Baker- This one was of my birthday presents this year and I used it for the first time last night. It smells really good! It contains rose and sandalwood as well as shea butter with 'a twist of raspberry'. It's too soon to say much about the formula but it wasn't greasy and I like it so far. 
5. Soap & Glory Endless Glove Moisture Mask and Hand Cream- I think this has the 'Fruitigo' scent which makes a nice change from their trademark one which can get a bit much! This is a bit heavier than Hand Food and has more 'slip' if that makes sense. This is definitely more of a night cream but I have used it on the back of my hands during the day. This one is nearly finished but I'm not sure if I'd repurchase just yet. 
6. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5- I got this on clearance at Boots for something ridiculous like £3! Again this is a good 'bland' cream that won't further aggravate skin. It has a thick texture but it spreads out well and doesn't take too long to sink in. This is another one I prefer to put on at night. 
7. Aldi Lacura Hydro-Urea Hand Cream- Now I can't tell you much at all about this one as I've only used it once and can't really remember it. What I do know is that it's thick and contains urea, dexpanthenol and glycerine. Not one of the lightest ones I own! 
8. I love..Vanilla & Ice Cream- This was an impulse buy from Home Bargains as it was really cheap- less than 50p I think. As it turns out I'm not a big fan of the scent so it'll probably stay languishing in a draw until I'm desperate. 
9. Garnier Intensive 7 Days Nourishing Hand Cream -Another one that is nearly finished and has served me well. You've got to be really careful not to put too much of this on, as it'll never sink in, but it is effective and long lasting. It claims to last a hand wash which I think it does-handy when you wash your hands as much as I do. It has a strong scent which is possibly a bit too intense! 
10. Sweet Snuggles Chocolate Vanilla Hand Cream- I think this is from Superdrug and I recieved it last Christmas. This has a pleasant, though artificial, chocolately scent which reminds me of my Chocolate Moose soft toy I have at home. Anyone else have one of these? Where the nose smells? 
11. Burt's Bees Beeswax & Banana Hand Creme- Now I've had this for yonks! It's so dense though  it may well be immortal. It's definitely the richest cream I own. I used to apply this at night then put on cotton gloves, which works a treat. This doesn't work well as a day cream for me as it's just too greasy. I haven't used this for ages but I think I'll have to soon before it turns weird! It smells like foam banana sweets which I don't actually like to eat but like the smell of! 
12. The Body Shop Mango Hand Cream- Contains mango seed oil, sinks in quickly and is just a joy to use. 
13. L'Occitane Jasmine Hand Cream- I think this was a Glamour freebie and I'm sadly down to the last few dregs. Again this is rich and better suited for use before bed. I love the jasmine scent and it feels very luxurious. I hope Glamour bring these back again soon! 

So yes, as you can see I have a bit of a problem! 

What are your fave hand creams? Not that I need anymore for a while! 

Fruity Frivolity

This week I've really been enjoying using two new additions to my collection of stuffs. Introducing The Body Shop mango hand cream and Nivea Blueberry Blush lip butter.

 I think the main reason I love these is that they smell amazing! It's a bonus that they also happen to work well too! I got the hand cream during the latest code of temptation-ness, whilst the lip butter was acquired on a late night visit to Tesco and accompanied some rather disappointing duffins. Speaking of duffins, the lip butter reminds me of blueberry muffins and I always get a craving for them when I apply it! I like to put it on just before bed and it seems to last all night. My lips have been a tad sore lately but so far it seems to be helping.
The hand cream is also very gorgeous and I've been surprised at how fast it sinks in. I thought it might be like the L'Occitane hand creams due to the similar packaging, but it's much lighter and fresher. I obviously bought this in a rush as I was also surprised at how small it was when it arrived (even though they're called 'mini hand creams'!). I don't think it will last long but I don't mind if I actually use it all and it works. Tempted to get satsuma or shea next. I did try strawberry yesterday but it's a bit intense!


Have you tried any of these? Would love to read your opinions!

Wilko Fruits Blueberry & Grape Shower Gel

I bought this on a whim a while ago as the 'Fruits' range seems to be a big part of Wilko's toiletry range now, and you really can't miss the massive display! Everything is really cheap (£1.50 each or 3 for a £3) so I thought it was worth a try at least. I have to say they don't look the most appealing. Though the bottles look lovely and colourful all lined up, they are very basic and definitely look budget. Having said that, it's good that there are so many products in the range that you can get in the same scent. Great if you find one you love!
 I chose the blueberry and grape shower gel as I love both of the scents and find them quite hard to come by in products. It seemed to be the most unusual combination out of the bunch, and having used it for about a week now, I feel I can give a proper verdict. The scent is very strong,sweet and artificial. I actually quite like it but my boyfriend describes it as smelling like 'cheap dissolved sweets'. To me it smells like American grape flavoured sweets or drinks which I love so I don't mind. If you were expecting a more realistic fruity scent then you will be disappointed! Not much else to say really. It's a little runny but lathers up well and just does the job. I'll probably try more from the range, as although they're not amazing, they make a nice cheap treat.

Essence Maximum Volume Mascara

I bought this mascara quite a while ago now, when the stands first appeared at Wilko, but it's only now that I've been using it properly. I've got a bad habit of having too many mascaras on the go, so I thought it was about time I stuck with it. I just can't resist trying them as soon as I get a new one!

I've been using this since I've been back at work and I'm pretty pleased with it. Especially considering it's only £2.80! It's quite a thick formula so it can clump if you're too heavy handed, however it does give my lashes lots more volume as well as more of a curl. It's ticking a lot of boxes for my short, fairly straight lashes! The innovative 'reservoir brush' is different to what I've seen before, but I do think this contributes to the occasional clumping. It's a good size for me though and I don't find it too messy to use. I really don't get with jumbo brushes!Thankfully with this one I can get to all my lashes without smearing it all over my lids. Removal is standard. It's not ridiculously stubborn so all's well. 

For a budget mascara I've been impressed! It works much better than some mascaras four times the price!

Have you got any budget mascara recommendations? 

Popin' Cookin' Waffle DIY Candy Kit

Tonight, I finally set about doing this kit after buying it about 2 weeks ago at Cyber Candy in Birmingham. I love that shop and I spent an embarrassing amount of money on what is essentially just sugar! I have such a sweet tooth though and I love trying all the sweets I've read about on blogs and whatnot, especially the American and Japanese ones. I first heard of the Japanese DIY candy kits when I watched one of Shell's YouTube vids on them (I also love her blog Shell Senseless- take a look!) and I really wanted to have a go myself! They didn't have a lot of choice in Cyber Candy, I think there was only about two, but I had to have the waffles as they looked so damn cute! It was quite pricey at about £4 odd but it was a case of just having to have it! If you've tried these kits before I'd be interested in knowing where you get them from! Ebay or Amazon I'm guessing?
Anywho, tonight was the night I finally tackled it and overall I think they turned out ok! I watched a YouTube vid along the way but I still managed to fudge up a part of it-obviously wasn't listening well enough! I was a bit daunted initially as there is no English instructions on the packet but it's actually pretty simple once you watch a 'tutorial' as such. With this one I just had to cut the different pieces out then add 1 measure of water ( '5cc')  to half of the waffle powder (this was where I went wrong, I just dumped the whole sachet in then wondered why it was so dry and overflowing!) then repeat with the other half. You then put the two waffle blobs into the heart shaped waffle mould/ press thingy, coo at how cute they look when they come out, and then get started on making the berries, sauce and cream. For this part I just had to add one measure of water to each of the powders. There is a mould to use for the 'berries' but I found it really hard to get them out, so in the end I just put little blobs on using the stirrer-it was quite jelly like so worked fine! I then drizzled the strawberry sauce over them, placed a few berries on top and dolloped on some of the 'cream'. There was quite a lot of fiddling involved with the waffles thanks to my slight error. In the end I had to decant it into a normal bowl as it was spilling out all over the place and wasn't mixing up properly, and I did have to resort to using my hands to sort of squidge it up! My hands were very clean, but it's still probably best not to share! It got a tad messy but hey, it was fun, and they did look rather adorable when they were all finished. As for the taste? Well it was certainly different and unlike anything I've ever had! Don't expect them to taste like regular waffles. You will be disappointed! They were pleasant enough though, in a rather weird way! I shall definitely be on the look out for other kits to try- any recommendations are welcome!

Got a craving for some proper waffles now!

Perfect Perfumes!

Yeah, not the best title but I'm feeling a little tired!
So I had a bit of a tidy up yesterday and came across two perfumes that, sadly, have come to an end. The one that has been a real favourite this summer has definitely been The Body Shop's Early-Harvest Raspberry eau de toilette. I think initially I was intending to get the peach one but I wasn't very taken with it. I then took a whiff of this and was hooked! I didn't get it straight away though, instead choosing to lust after it for weeks and weeks, being lured into the shop every time I was in town and having a sneaky spritz. I finally caved as it seemed the perfect fragrance for the warmer months and it just smelt so damn delicious! It's gorgeously juicy, fresh and addictive. I found the peach one to smell a bit synthetic but this one smells quite authentic; jammy and sweet, without being cloying. I've found it really refreshing and easy to wear and it just really cheers me up when I spray it on! Hence why I'm so disappointed I've finished it! I don't think I've ever finished a perfume as quickly as this one. I can't find it online though so I'm getting a bit anxious! I need it back in my life, especially now the weather has turned miserable again!

The second perfume that has come to an end is the bottle of Madly Kenzo I got in the January sales. As you all know perfumes are hard to describe sometimes, so I'm going off the official description on the Kenzo site! 'Heliotrope flower fuses with Virginia Cedar, in a rare blend of two addictive essences. Orange blossom leads the way, followed by a Rose and Incense heart, enhanced by a light touch of vanilla.' It's described as a 'sensual oriental floral' and it's quite different from my usual fruity choices. It's warm and quite grown up, without being fuddy! I wear it all day but I think it's especially suited as an evening fragrance.

 I think I actually finished this a good while ago, I just hadn't noticed as it was at home for the most part. I really do love it though as it reminds me of the first time I met Stuart. If anyone is interested we had a coffee, saw Life of Pi then had tea at Pizza Express!  I think it also means a lot to me, well as much as a perfume can, because it was the first perfume I bought after my difficult break up. In a way it was sort of symbolising a new start in my life. That probably sounds a bit sappy but then scent is something evocative and very personal to an individual. In any case, this will always remind me of the early days with Stuart. All the butterflies, the excitement... and the Gremlin movies!

Hopefully I'll get this again at some point, maybe as a Christmas present! (Shh! We're not mentioning that yet!).

Budapest Best Bits!

Yes, I'm still prattling on about Budapest! It was great though, and I'm not enjoying the thought of going back to work soon- so anything that keeps my mind elsewhere is very welcome!
Tonight I thought I would do a post on the bits I enjoyed most in Budapest, just to help keep that holiday feeling going that little bit longer!
*Warning- there may be a lot of food involved. What can I say? I'm a lardy grub :P

• The single duvets on the queen sized bed. Now this is a genius idea that I really need to implement at home! For once I wasn't being accused of being a duvet hog, and I slept really well. Better than I do usually! I like my own space in bed and apparently I swear at Stu quite frequently of a nighttime. I'm quite placid when I'm awake so I don't know why I'm such an aggressive sleeper! 
• Frozen yogurt at 'Jono Yogo' at the WestEnd shopping centre. I'd heard of this type of self-service 'parlour', as it were, previously but never experienced it myself, so it was quite the novelty! I chose chocolate and banana yoghurt and topped it with chocolate sauce, blueberries and sour cherries. Quite the combination but it was still really good! It wasn't quite as good as the frozen yoghurt we had last year in Mallorca though, I have to say. Also a special mention has to go to 'Bite' bakery/cafe close to the shopping centre. The pretzels and cinnamon rolls (which you can see them making fresh instore) gave us lots of energy for all the pavement pounding!
• So from frozen yoghurt to normal ice cream! We had so much on holiday and it was all yum! You can't really go too far wrong with ice cream though can you? My favourites has to be the hazelnut kinder flavour (total mouthgasm) and the ice cream at Gelarto Rosa, which they make into the shape of a rose- so clever! They're little works of art and I don't know how the staff do them so quickly! If you ever go to Budapest you have to visit this place. It's right near St Stephen's Basilica in the centre and there are so many flavours to choose from you'll definitely have a hard time choosing. I wish we could have gone back again! I chose a small one (should have gone large!) and had strawberry and elderflower with sour cherry. You can tell I like cherry! 
• The zoo! I  mentioned the zoo in my first Budapest post but it was a real holiday highlight. It was so cheap compared to the zoos here! It cost 2500 forints per adult which is about £6.37. Bargain! Especially compared to £20 at Chester Zoo during peak season! There was so much to see and the hours just flew by. It was far too hot though and I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was much cooler. I was literally dripping. Nice. As I've said before, seeing the sloths was amazing. Ever since I watched 'Meet the Sloths' that's exactly what I've wanted to do! 
• Parliament at night. We went for ice cream once after tea and decided to check out Parliament when it was all lit up. It looks fantastic in the day but at night it looks spectacular. There were birds or bats flying above, catching the light, and it really added to the scene (the building is in the Gothic Revival style, says Wikipedia)! I think if we ever go again we might go on a tour of the building. 
• La Perle Noire. The restaurant at our hotel was where we had our best meal (it was also the priciest but it was worth every penny!). We ate from the 'Chef Menu' which cost us about £19 each, not including drinks. The service was friendly and efficient and the outside area where we ate was gorgeous with all the white lanterns hanging up. For starters I had the 'Hen consommé 'Újházi' style with glass noodles' followed by Mangalitza cutlet ribs with lecsó millet. Now pudding was amazing! it was 'Cheesecake with almond sponge, strawberry ice-cream and fresh fruits'. Sounds quite simple but it was so much better than it sounded! It tasted like the best trifle ever, and I bloody love trifle. Go here for a treat, even if you're not staying at the Andrassy hotel. 
• I think I mentioned that I enjoyed visiting the Fisherman's Bastian but another shout out has to go to City Park (Városliget). I'm glad our hotel was super close to here as it was nice place to have a wander about and a chill out. Yes, there were quite a few tramps dossing about amongst the families and couples, but it was still a pleasant place! We enjoyed just sitting and watching the ducks as well as eating at 'BRGR', which is opposite the zoo. I don't normally go for burgers but the bacon burger was one of the best I've had, and Stu enjoyed his provolone philly cheese steak. Prices were reasonable too considering they were quite large! Vajdahunyad Castle was well worth a visit too for the interesting architectural styles. It looked really pretty next to the (murky) lakeside. This was also where we saw the random GPS dog. A little yorkie with a balloon fixed on him (or her) with 'GPS' written on it! Bizarre. But cute! 
• Lastly, a weird one, but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the air con in our room! Compared to last year in Spain, where all we had was a shitey fan that did nothing, it was heaven! 

Wow, this post has ended up much bigger than I was planning on! Nothing else to say really (well I'm sure that's a lie!) other than go! 

Budapest Buys!

Now I have to admit my 'Budapest Buys' are quite pitiful! They have a huge shopping centre there (WestEnd) but there was so many stores that it was a bit overwhelming! Plus I wanted to save most of my money for food and attractions. If I ever go again though I'd definitely have a better look. They have a chain of 'drugstore' there or 'drogeriemarkt' as their website says, called Rossmann, and this is where I bought my items from. There was another Superdrug type of store called 'dm', and I really wish I'd gotten a few things from there. Ah well, always next time. A lot of things were German, I don't think I saw many Hungarian brands. They had a massive choice though and I bored my boyfriend to tears looking at it all!

Firstly I bought a micellar water, just because I like trying different ones out and they're always handy to have. Especially when you're lazy like me. This is a Polish brand I believe and claims to remove makeup, cleanse and tone. Well so it should. I've looked at a few reviews of this, and it seems to be an ok product. I can't remember how many forints it was, but it wasn't expensive. 

Next I bought some face wipes as, shamefully, I had a real hankering for them! I'd been using a micellar water to remove my makeup on hol, but I'd ran out of cotton pads, so instead of just buying more cotton pads, I just bought wipes. Say what you will but they are convenient! With the help of Google translate I think these are for dehydrated skin and are just your general 3 in 1 cleansing wipes. They smell really fruity, surprisingly, and are a good size. They also have a good 'wetness' to them and don't feel stripping or leave my skin with a greasy film. These were really cheap- I think they're a budget brand. 

Finally I bought a polish from Essence. Now I know you can buy it here now, but I don't think I've seen this shade available, from the Brazil collection. I could be wrong. But I'm a sucker for purple so it had to be done! I can't wait to try this out. I sort of wish I'd gotten more makeup, but in reality, I do have plenty! I was tempted by the Manhattan stand though as well as Catrice and Astor.

Not a very exciting haul but at least it's stuff I'll use!

Summer Bargains!

Another chilled out day for me today, with not a lot to do, so I thought I would share with you what I have bought lately. As is always the case, I probably didn't need a lot of this, but hey, least it was cheap!

Firstly, I bought this floral snood style scarf from Peacocks for £2.50. I love scarfs, and wear them all the time at work when it gets a little colder. This floral design should go with a lot of outfits too. In Primark I found this brown waist belt for a quid. I was sort of annoyed I'd found it, as I was looking for something like this to wear with my dress last Saturday, for the wedding. I got it anyway as the occasion may arise again when I need a belt like this. Though sods law I'll need a black one next time! It's probably a good job I didn't get it in time for the wedding though, as it's a bit of the snug side! A sign I need to lay off the sweets soon perhaps?! Yesterday I had a look at the sale items in New Look, and came away with this aqua tshirt for £3. Basic but it'll do with jeans. I'm not very trendy!

In TK Maxx the other day, I tried to be good and not buy the Nails Inc set I saw, containing my beloved Baker Street. But I was weak and went back the next day to get it. I love Baker Street and get loads of compliments when I where it. The other shades are St James (red), Cambridge Terrace (silver) and Donmar (gold flake topcoat). All these for £7.99 is a steal in my opinion! 

In Poundland I spotted this lone Rimmel Apocalips. I don't need another lip product. I already have an Apocalips in another shade that I haven't worn in ages. But such is life. Especially when it's still being sold for £6 odd in Boots. I think this shade is 'Apocoliptic'. It's a bright hot pink, which I like, but will have to be brave to wear out!
Not very exciting, but I also bought a little tin containing a tape dispenser, a tip ex pen and a glue stick. I just thought it would be handy to have at work!

Also from Primark (sorry these aren't in better order!) I got these cute flower rings. I wore the daisy, which was a quid, to the wedding, and I thought it really complimented my floral dress. The silver one was a mere 50p and is simple but pretty. 

At Debenhams, a load of the Jon Richards jewellery was on sale, so as well as picking up a gift for the bride to be, I bought some earrings to wear with my dress. I didn't actually wear them in the end, but I'm sure I will at some point. I sort of wish I'd gotten a silver pair, as I'd get more wear out of them, but I was too focused on finding accessories for the wedding! I think these were £3 down from £10.  I've never really looked at this range of jewellery before but I definitely will from now on, they had some really pretty pieces. 

From Home Bargains I bought this cute tin carry case for £1.99. I thought it would be good for storing some of my nail polish in, as I'm quickly running out of space to store them! They had 2 other designs, but I thought this was the sweetest. 

I think my favourite purchase of late though, has to be the super adorable plushy I got from Paperchase. Introducing François! How stinkin' cute is he?! I can't believe he was only £2 too! I found him on a visit to the outlet shop in Cheshire Oaks, and could not leave without him! 

Found any good bargains lately?