Nails of the week

This weeks nails are very glittery and were perfect for christmas! I used a new polish I received in my December Birchbox. Its from the new Velvet Goth collection by the Models Own brand and is called Absinthe. Its a really nice glittery teal colour and has a really opaque coverage in 1 coat, I was very impressed with it. They retail for £5 which is average for a nail polish but I was very happy as obviously I got other things in my Birchbox so it was great value for money.

The December Birchbox and nail varnishes

 are available to buy here.

                         

Christmas Tag

I have seen this tag on quite a few blogs recently and I really wanted to do it myself so here it is...

What's your favourite Christmas movie?

This is such an easy question, my favourite is Elf! I have seen it so many times but I still love it but I also really like The Polar Express and The Holiday.

What are your favourite Christmas colours?

I love the traditional red and green but this year I wrapped present with red and gold paper and then red and white ribbons and bows.

Do you like to stay in your PJ's or dress up for Christmas?

I usually stay in my Pjs until near dinner time and then I like to wear a chrsitmas jumper and comfy leggings.

Do you open your presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

I always open them christmas morning with my Mum, Dad and brother and then the rest of my family come round later.

Have you ever built a gingerbread house?

Yes, I built one with my university flatmates for the first time last year. 

What do you like to do during your Christmas holidays?

Just chill out and do nothing much really apart from seeing friends and famliy seen as I'm not at home most of the year.

Any Christmas wishes?

I wish that next year I create more happy memories  and that I continue to be successful in my course at university. 

Favourite Christmas meal or treat?

The best thing about christmas dinner for me is pigs in blankets! I love them and wish I could have them all year round.

I'm back to blogging! (plus nails of the week post)

I can't believe I haven't posted on my blog since October! I have been so busy with university especially because I am now in my second year and I have so much more work. I have been enjoying it but now I am so glad to back home with my family.

Today's post is going to be a nails of the week using 2 nail varnishes I got in my No7 beauty advent calendar. If you haven't heard of the No7 advent calendar it includes 25 products from the No7 range at Boots. It was £35 which I know sounds alot for an advent calendar but the contents is worth over £100! I have really been liking what is in it and it perfect for me who loves new beauty products.

I used the Sally Hansen Double Duty top and base coat and then I used the two No7 nail varnishes in the colours Highland Mist and Disco Ball. The ones that come in the calendar are the mini version but I like that because you never use a full nail varnish before it dries up so the mini ones are perfect as you don't waste any.

I used the pinky coloured one (highland mist) on every nail except the ring finger and thumb nail as I painted them with the silver glitter one (disco ball). I really like the No7 nail varnishes as they do last a while and the colours are always really nice.

Hope you like this post and expect to see a few more over the holidays now I have more free time. 

My Little Shopping Spree

So maybe I lied a bit in the title of the post as I bought quite a bit, some of the things were essentials while others were just things I decided to treat myself to so here is everything I bought when I went shopping in Leeds a few weeks ago ...

The main reason I went to Leeds was because there was a vintage fair on with £15 per kilo which was really good. I love vintage as it means no one else will have the same thing and I like to be different. It was £3 to get in and if you didn't have kilo of clothes it was £5 per item which was also really good. The only thing I found was this long cardigan so it was £5 which is a bargain for something vintage and it will be perfect for Autumn/Winter.

These were the most exciting purchases of the day as I have always wanted to go to the Kiko Cosmetics store and one recently opened in Leeds Trinity Centre so I had to go. I bought a long lasting eye shadow stick in the shade 05 rosy brown, a smart lipstick in the shade 914 which is a deep purpley red and a lip liner to go with it in the shade 709 which was the closest to lipstick colour. Altogether I spent £13.30 which I think is really good and all the pricing in the store is very reasonable and I will definitely go back next time I'm there! 

Have a look at all products on www.kikocosmetics.co.uk

Swatches of all products

These next purchases were from Boots:

Boots Own Cosmetic Oval Pads

Clean and Clear Deep Action Cream Wash 

Bastiste Dry Shampoo

Sally Hansen Double Duty Base and Top Coat

Nivea Sensitive 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water

Maybelline Colour Show Nail 

Varnish in Burberry Kiss

 My final purchase was this hat from Primark for £8. It took me ages to decide whether or not to buy it but in the end I got it because I love the colour and my friend said it suited me.

Fashion Bargains

Over the summer I volunteered in one of my local charity shops. I did it as I needed something to put on my CV and thought that it would be good to do as there is so much you can write about. I did two days a week and most of the time I enjoyed it. One of the great things about working in a charity shop is the discount you get. I love charity shop shopping anyway so it was great bonus. I never really understood why they give discount in a charity shop because obviously the money goes to charity and its not exactly expensive anyway but I wasn't complaining I got 20% off anything I bought. 

The first two things I bought were a dress and a play suit. I got them for £3.99 each with my discount  which was really good because neither of them look like they had been worn before. They both have River Island labels in them and I got them for a bargains as I bet these were both around £20 when they were originally bought.

The top is from a different charity shop near where I live and I got this for £2! It was actually in the sale and had been priced before at about £4.50. It has a Marks and Spencers label in and also looks like it hasn't been worn. I really love the lace detail on the cap sleeves.

The jumper is from the charity shop I volunteered in and again I got it for £3.99 with my discount. It still had the tag on which obviously showed it hadn't been worn before. I can't remember what it said on the tag but its feels good quality and the knit is thick so it will be perfect for winter.

This bag I got from the same charity shop as the top above. It was only £4! I really love brown bags as they go with any outfit. The shape and size also caught my eye because I like quite big bags and I really love the embossed pattern on it. I looked inside and found that it has a Primark label. Although I have bought bags from Primark before and haven't lasted long for £4 it doesn't matter as its so cheap and the inside it looked like it hadn't been used as there was no marks on the lining so it was a bargain.

I was very happy with my little haul form charity shops over the summer and for £17.97 altogether I have saved so much!

What I got in My September Birchbox - Happy Days!

This month's Birchbox theme was 'Happy Days'. It celebrates capturing moments and making new ones and I think this is the best Birchbox I have received so far. One of the best bits is the box itself as not only is it some really nice colours both the bottom and top are also frames. The inside of the box is coloured and patterned and there is a space for a 6x4 photo so it creates a 3D frame. I love having photos up and these were perfect for my new uni room.

(How the box is supposed to be used this month)

The other products I got in my box this month were:

Agave Healing Oil

Benefit It's Potent  Eye Cream

Korres Citrus Shower Gel

ModelCo Power Lash Mascara

Beauty Blender and Blender Cleanser Solid

Urban Fruit - Mango

Birchbox Happy Days Photo Clip

I also got a card with some discounts from the Photobox website.

I am really enjoying my box this month and so far I would say my favourite thing would me the ModelCo Power Lash Mascara. It really lifts lashes and gives volume. I actually picked it as a few weeks before the box was delivered there was a chance to pick a ModelCo product, it was between that and two different colours of lip gloss. I also really like the Agave Healing Oil. It makes my hair feel really soft and so much better. Overall I am really impressed with what I got and like every month I really can't wait to see what I get in my next box!

To find out more about Birchbox or subscribe click here

Nails of the Week - Shellac

This weeks nails I actually didn't do myself I had them done professionally for a change. I love having somebody else do them for me as I am always painting nails for family and friends and no one ever does mine so I decided to treat myself to having shellac put on them. If you don't know shellac is a gel based polish set under UV light which lasts for around 2-3 weeks. I have had them done with shellac a few times for special occasions and holiday and I love it as it means you don't have to worry about painting your nails for a while. I paid £18 for mine but it depends where you go as some places I know charge around £25 - £30 which I think is ridiculous! So anyway here are the photos of my nails...

This is a CND shellac in a colour called Masquerade. I really love the colour, its a great colour for autumn and I really love how they shine!

(Also this is my 50th post can't believe I have done that many in about 3 months. I tried to do around 3 a week but as I am going back to university tomorrow this will go down when I start to get busy with work)