emmasblog.co.uk

Go Shawty it's your Birthday: Haul & FOTD

2013-05-20T09:59:00.001+01:00

Eyes:

- Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette

- False eye lashes (cut in half and placed on outer section of my eye)

- GOSH black eyeliner

- Clinique Gel liner 01 Black Honey

- No 7 Lash Adapt Mascara

- Sleek Brow Kit

Face:

- GOSH primer

- Covergirl Clean Makeup shade 505

- Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer

- Collection 2000 loose powder
- Body Shop blusher in Soft Red

Lips: MUA lippy shade 16

Face of the Day

2013-05-09T20:00:00.002+01:00

A cheeky little face of the day post to break up the masses of university work which has taken over my life at the moment. I can't wait until June when I can reclaim my life...Today was a last minute on-the-bus kind of makeup job, I like to keep things classy. The vast majority of these products are my most loved go-to products and well worth checking out if you haven't already!

Face:

- Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Foundation

Ultimate raved about product, see here for a more in depth review.

- Stila illuminating concealer

Medium coverage concealer great for under the eyes.

- Body Shop Blush in Soft Red

My heart bled to see this is discontinued. Such a highly pigmented matte red you only need a tiny bit, it lasts forever!

Eyes:

- MUA eyeshadow in shade 17

A matte light brown used in the crease, fairly chalky and low pigmentation but for £1 I hardly feel robbed.

- GOSH Black Ink eyeliner

Smooth application and glides on easily.

- No7 Lash Adapt Mascara

Really love this mascara, even better than the No7 Exquisite mascara I reviewed

Lips:

- 17 Sheer Shine lip gloss in Fruit Smoothie

Be warned, this is really sticky and for that reason probably something I wouldn't buy again after I use it up

Hope everyone who is also suffering with deadlines is trooping along.. Not long now!

Shop my Stash: SBC Lipsticks

2013-04-24T23:30:00.000+01:00

In a toss up between reining in my spending habits or resorting to prostitution, after some difficult self-evaluation I decided that selling myself to buy more beauty products probably wasn't the best decision in the world.

Deprived of my "new product" high, I have resorted to rediscovering some old neglected items which have been hidden at the back of makeup drawer. That's right girls, I've stopped my floozy ways and I'm dedicating myself exclusively to the products that are already in my life... there's hope for everyone.

After numerous days in the library I was after a new lipstick to reward me for my noble efforts. Cue four SBC lipsticks and liners making their way into my makeup bag for a bit of a test run...

This first one is called '05N Pink Fudge' with the matching colour lip liner which turned out to

be my favourite combo for a daytime look. This one could be the start of a beautiful love affair, I'm sorry Max Factor I'm unsure if I can stay faithful, but can you blame me?

This colour in '06S English Rose' is something I'd grab on a night time when I want to make my daytime look a bit more dramatic without looking like I'm in drag. I think I have succeeded (but only just).

When I whip out a dark colour I like to think I'm channelling some Olsen twin chic (a girl can dream...). Sadly I think I'm too pale to pull off such an intense colour, and have accepted that this shade in '05S Plum Punch' is probably better left to a different skin tone.

I'm sorry '06n Bronze Blush', but I can't see us working out long term. It's not you, it's me.... Okay, it's you. Your coral finish makes me look like I have a long term illness, and I just can't take this abuse anymore. We're obviously not right for each other, but you will make someone with a tan very happy one day.

Pros

- Long lasting

- Great pigmentation

- Affordable (I've seen them as cheap as £2. HOLLA)

Cons

- The liners are drying (nothing some lip balm can't sort though)

- They can stain your lips (I don't mind this, but I know this would put others off).

Overall I'm really happy I rediscovered these lippy's and gave them another chance. I'll find homes for the ones that I won't wear (I wouldn't want to be accused of neglect) and will hopefully have a long and fulfilling life with the ones who made it into my makeup bag.

Em x

Youtube: emma0m

2013-04-13T20:43:00.003+01:00

Just a quick post to let you know you know that you will now to be able to find me on Youtube at this link here. I have also recently created a LinkedIn Profile, a twitter account, an instagram account (username: emmamountain), and I'm contributing to a graduate blog which you can check out here. Feel free to add me on any of these links and drop me a message!

Shopping the Sales: River Island, Oasis, Primark, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge.

2013-03-31T13:25:00.001+01:00

My logic: 'wow a half price sale, I can buy twice as much!'

Before you know it I'm left considering a life of prostitution to fund my buying habits, and I start to think there's a small possibility that maybe it wasn't necessary to buy so much. Maybe.

To do my bit for the community I thought someone may as well take advantage of my sales binge and get some great bargains for themselves (Mother Teresa ain't got nothing on me). So here are a select few favourite picks from a disgusting amount of shopping that I managed to do, enjoy!

River Island shirt, from £28 to £15, available here.

I love this shirt; the material and cut is quite formal, but the collar detailing and the buttons give it a bit of edge.

River Island, £22 to £12.

"Hey this looks like it would be lovely on!"... said no one ever. I understand why this went into the sale as it looks pretty naff on the hanger, but you will have to trust me that this is the ultimate dinner top. It makes the waist look tiny and the peplum style accommodates for food babies, what more could a girl ask for?

River Island top, £25 to £12, available here.

I love this top because the material and cutesy bow is so girly, but the leopard print and sheerness of the top also gives it the perfect amount of trash.

Oasis top, £35 to £20, available here.

If you live in England and you don't want any vital body parts to fall off from the cold, a thick wool jumper will always have a place in your wardrobe. This slouchy one from Oasis feels like amazing quality.

Oasis top, £30 to £18.

This is a great top for night and day, as the neckline avoids being overpowering due to the neutral muted green of the top and the relaxed cut.

Primark top, £8.

There are no need for sales in Primarni, even at full price this top was only £8! It's quite a baggy shape so I like it tucked into high waisted skirts for a bit of shape.

Primark dress, £10.

Since I'm going to be in the big bad world of work soon I've been looking for clothing which is work appropriate. This dress high necked dress is perfect and the material is surprisingly thick for a Primark number.

Billie and Blossom @ Dorothy Perkins, £30 to £17.

A cute little floral number which I plan to wear during the day when the sun comes out!

Miss Selfridge skirt, £14, available here.

These skirts look like nothing to call home about, but this is an absolute staple in my wardrobe and a necessary addition to every girl's wardrobe. I literally wear these to death as they go with everything and are really flattering, I'm now onto my fifth skirt and I can't see the love affair ending soon. They come in a petite if you like your skirts shorter, but I also have a few in the normal length for daytime too.

As I'm supposed to be saving money, I'm going to be avoiding shops with every fibre of my being. I feel like I need to join the equivalent of an AA meeting for people who cannot stop spending money on clothes. In the meantime, I have listed some clothes on eBay, check it out here!

eBay Sale

2013-03-31T11:23:00.000+01:00

Since I'm moving out I'm being absolutely ruthless and selling things on eBay I don't need, mainly women's clothing size 6-12, including a Karen Millen fur shrug starting at only £3.99! Will be adding more throughout the next day so keep checking back for some bargains.

Check it out here.

Bikini Body Series: 30 Day Shred Review

2013-03-24T14:47:00.003Z

Cacooned up in fifty layers of clothing, sipping a steaming cup of tea and attempting to retain feeling in my fingers from the cold, the thought of summer couldn't be further away. I feel like my hibernation period will never end, but then the sun eventually comes out and I suddenly regret my total lack of commitment to anything that looks remotely like a workout, and I start to think maybe, just maybe, cheese-covered-everything wasn't such a great idea after all. After now losing 20lbs, which you can read about here, fitness seemed like the next natural thing on the agenda to get me toned and ready to bare all in the summer.

We all want that quick fix; something that won't be time consuming, appears to offer amazing results, is low cost and gym-free... The Jillian Michaels '30 Day Shred' promises just this, and after reading so many rave reviews I was sold. If you've never heard of it before, its a workout DVD with three levels, each thirty minutes long and all available on youtube for free here (how naughty!). You're supposed to move up a level every ten days, then after a month you will 'get that lean, shredded body you've always wanted', so the only thing to do was of course put it to the test.

Results I usually weigh between 8.7-9st, and for the entire duration of the shred my weight stayed within these boundaries. I did eat like a total machine though and more than once my usual healthy eating habits went out the window, and where usually I would see my indulgences on the scales, they didn't seem to show. I think the reason I fell off the waggon a bit with my eating habits is because the workout made me a lot more hungry, but if I had turned to eating more healthy foods I think I would have seen some weight loss too. In terms of fitness, I have seen a massive difference, and my body feels a lot more strong, flexible and toned. It's also worked as a good stress release and I feel so much better overall for sticking to the plan.

Difficulty I won't lie, the first day I completed this workout my thoughts were: 'I might actually die', 'nothing is worth this', and 'maybe I have undiagnosed asthma' (nope, I'm just massively unfit). The cardio made me feel sick and similarly the muscle exercises were brutal. Each level pushes you that little bit further and it never really seemed to get any easier throughout the whole shred. However, after finishing level three I returned to level one and I could really tell that my fitness levels had improved dramatically. Now that I am doing the workout again (alternating everyday between level 1, 2 & 3), six days in all the levels still push me, but I feel a lot more comfortable and I can work my way through relatively easily, so if you're slightly losing hope, just remember it gets easier the more you do it!

Sustainability Only being thirty minutes long this workout fitted easily into schedule. Even in my most rushed of days I had little excuse but to turn on youtube, crack out my weights (aka two tins of smart price potatoes) and get down and sweaty. I even did this at a friends house much to their amusement, and they were happy to sit with a cup of tea for half an hour and just generally laugh at failed attempts to keep up. It takes an extremely dedicated person to spend an hour and half of life every day pushing themselves to the extreme like some workouts are structured, to me that is just not going to happen on a long term basis so this is a great realistic long term plan. My only drawback is if you're after a very ripped body I'm not sure this could really deliver those results, but in a few months I will give you my verdict (and some more saucy photos... don't say I don't give you anything).

Enjoyment Be warned, it has some extremely naff workout music, but I found the key is to play an epic workout over the top and it will be enough to keep you going as you pretend you're in Ibiza (just me then?). One negative for me is Jillian tends to opt out alot of the workout, and sometimes you can see the background girls having a cheeky little cheat when they think the camera isn't on them. I want to see everyone suffering as much as me obviously ;).I much prefer workouts where the instructor can both instruct and workout at the same time, which is so inspiring it helps to get me through and push myself even further. These are only tiny little niggles though!

Overall rating: 9/10. Overall the workout is well structured, easy to follow and challenging enough to offer great results if you committed yourself to it long term.

Upcoming review: The 30 Day Squat Challenge.

Stepping it Up

2013-02-15T08:45:00.001Z

Now that I'm in my final year of University, what to do post grad is looming on the horizon. I'll be sharing my experiences on the blog Careering Ahead as I try to work out where to take my life next, alongside another seven final year/post graduates. We are all pursuing a range of different job fields and further study options, so its a great way to gain a bit of insight!

Click here to view my first post!

Date Night

2013-02-13T20:27:00.000Z

Bag: Calvin Klein, Ring: Zara Simon, T-Shirt: Felder Felder, Jeans: J Brand, Bra: Myla, Earrings:

Gillian Steinhardt, Shoes: Calvin Klein.

If you managed to bag yourself a date for Valentines, you'll most likely be going through the panic 'what on earth do I wear?!' phase right now. What to wear on a date is always a mind-field; too much effort can look overly keen, whereas too little effort hardly creates the intended wow factor.

I find the above outfit perfect for most dates to feel comfortable but sexy. These stretch jeans will show off your figure without being too revealing, and a pair of heels adds glamour and slims the figure (accommodation for the inevitable food babies). A slouchy top keeps the look modern and relaxed, and some quirky accessories show a bit of personality. A bag in the same colour tone to the shoes will make you look put together, and a sexy lacy bra screams sexy, even if you're the only one who will see it...

Style Inspiration: Caggie Dunlop

2013-01-26T14:24:00.001Z

One of my ultimate girl crushes has to be Caggie Dunlop from Made In Chelsea; she always looks so understated, sophisticated and chic. Here's how to achieve her effortless look...

Hair: Every photo I've ever seen of Caggie, she has her hair styled in loose curls or waves. This makes her overall look more relaxed whilst still looking groomed and stylish.

Makeup: Caggie tends to stick to peaches and golds, and teamed with a tan make her look really healthy and glowy. She tends to prefer natural hues which bring out her lovely features but keep her overall look toned down.

Clothes: Her clothing features a lot of classic shapes in neutral colours when she's dressed up. Her jewelry is fairly simplistic if worn at all, although she accessorises with some killer shoes and an amazing array of designer handbags. Whilst a girl can only dream of owning her arm candy, the rest of her look could be achieved in the likes of shops such as Zara. I'm so in love with her wardrobe, especially her gorgeous coat which would come in handy in this snowy weather!

How to Keep Long Hair Healthy

2013-01-21T18:54:00.001Z

Once upon a time I thought it would be a great idea to cut off all my hair and dye it blonde. Photographic evidence proves that this look did not suit me. Not suprisingly it wasn't long before I was on a quest for long tresses. Hair extensions just didn't cut the mustard for me, but my own hair would only grow to a certain length before it was full of split ends and would need a chop. Obviously my hair needed a little bit more encouragement that what it was getting, so I thought I'd share a few tips that I swear by to help you along if you are in a similar hair rut!

Aussie shampoos, a tangle teezer and my current heat protectant.

- Avoid heat. Not really a shocker to anyone, but this is a HUGE factor in keeping hair in good condition as it grows. I let my hair air dry at every opportunity that I can get, and can usually manage this five/six times out of a week. I also only style my hair once a week too with straighteners or a curling tong and have found this has helped me so much. It's a hard habit to get into, especially as noone likes damp hair for hours, but even if you just let it air dry occasionally it will help. Also if you are going to use heat, use a protectant. They can leave a strange film in the hair, so just apply a few sprays if you have this problem!

- Massage your scalp. A strange one, but massage brings the blood flow to the surface of your scalp and brings all those lovely nutrients in your blood cells with it. Indian head massage is a fantastic and very relaxing treatment if you want to treat yourself, but trust me it is easy to recreate at home. You can either use an oil of your choice (my favourite is almond), or you can just perform a massage as you apply your shampoo.

- Invest in a good brush. It's not really ideal if every time you brush your tatted mane you rip out half your hair and snap the rest. I swear by my Tangle Teezer as my hair gets knotty so easily and this is so gentle on the hair. I've had it since October 2011 and use it every single time I brush my hair so it's a fantastic investment. If your hair is fairly manageable then a wide toothed comb would be totally fine though! Make sure every time that you brush your hair you start from the bottom and work your up, so if it is going to snag it's not going to do it right at the top leaving you with little tufts!

- Treat your hair. When I was younger I would think nothing of using Morrison's 20p own brand shampoo and conditioner on my hair. My hair always felt really stripped and dry afterwards, but I really didn't appreciate the difference a good quality shampoo and conditioner could make until I started using them. You don't have to break the piggy bank with expensive products, but just make sure that they are the correct products for your hair type and needs. Personally my ultimate favourite brand is Aussie - they are fantastic! Superdrug/Boots usually do good deals that you can take advantage of.

- Condition, condition, condition. Applying conditioner to your roots might make you look like you've dipped your hair in a frying pan, so I just tend to apply it liberally to the mid lengths and ends of my hair. I also use conditioning treatments which I put on the ends, wrapping the hair in a towel and leaving it to work its magic for ten minutes. I also tend to apply a conditioning balm in the ends when its wet as my hair is extremely frizzy at the ends. Maybe once or twice a month I will also slap on a lot of conditioner to the ends and will leave it on overnight if I have nothing major planned the next day!

- Avoid bobbles and clips. I once worked in a restaurant where I had to put my hair up in a croydon facelift style. After about two weeks I'd snapped loads of my hair and I was absolutely gutted! Now I tend to avoid putting my hair up, and if I do I'll usually pick a bun style so that the strain is distributed more evenly. I also never sleep with my hair up and have found that really helps too.

So these are all the changes that I made to my hair and I have seen such a massive difference. It took about two years to grow my hair long again but it was so worth the wait. Let me know if you have any tricks to keeping your hair healthy that I could add in! Thank you for reading x

Favourites Blog Post Reads #1

2013-01-06T10:03:00.003Z

I love everything about blogging, especially when I find some fantastic bloggers. I thought that I would occasionally share some favourite posts which I've really enjoyed for you to check out and share the love. So without further ado, here is a quick rundown of some great reads I've found recently...

Binky's end of season makeup

1) Corrie's work wardrobe part one & part two. I love Corrie's style, she always looks so well put together putting together and her wardrobe is full of high street finds (a girl after my own heart!)

2) Emma's tan review: I always enjoy reading Emma's reviews because they are always so in depth and I really trust her opinion. You can tell that she thoroughly tests products out before she writes about them, so if I'm thinking of buying a new product and I know she's written a post on it in the past, I will always go check it out first!

3) Zoe's post on her year over 2012: One of the biggest appeals of reading blogs over magazines is the personal aspect that comes alongside it. I respect that Zoe talks about issues that are personal such as relationship breakups, her anxiety etc. and how far she has come, letting people who are going through similar issues to be confident that things will get better!

4) MIC makeup: I love the makeup the girls in wear on Made In Chelsea. I spend 99% of the show perving on their clothing and memorising their hair/makeup looks so this is a great post for anyone who was interested in recreating some of that MIC understated glamorous look. Binky especially looked amazing in the end of season party, I have such a girl crush on her atm.

5) An interesting perspective on the cast of Made In Chelsea. Whether you agree or not with this interpretation, it makes for a good read!

Please leave favourite blog posts below, I love finding new reads! Or to see my ultimate favourite blogs click here.

2013 New Years Resolutions

2013-01-04T12:08:00.003Z

Source

1) Get a job. I graduate this summer, so I'll be aiming to try and find a job by the end of the year so I can finally move out. After seeing what most of my friends are up to after graduating, there's barely any jobs and it's pretty bleak, but I'm hoping if I apply to enough positions I'll find something. I'm considering persuing beauty therapy at college and working as many hours as I can, which I think will work out as I wont have to keep as much time free for writing essays like I do for my degree!

2) Get a 2:1 for my degree. I'm well on my way to getting a 2:1 if all goes well in third year, and I've been working my ass off so hopefully it will pay out!

3) Move out. I'll be 23 this year, so this one is a long time coming. I love my family to bits but having bills etc. to pay will force me into working and starting my life independently. I'm sure it will be a total shock to the system but if it all goes tits up worst case scenerio I can always move back until I get on my feet again.

4) Revisit London. Both times I visited London I loved it, and I can't wait to go again! I always come back totally broke but it's worth it.

Create your own travel map.

5) Go travelling to Europe/or a new country. I'm frightened of flying since watching too many disaster documentaries, so I've only been to Amsterdam (via ferry) and numerous places in Spain (my parents always chill me out), but I'm going to force myself to get over it this year!

6) Read 25 books. I love reading and want to keep it up after I leave education.

7) Start going to bed before twelve and getting up before eight. I have got in the habit of going to bed at 2/3am and then don't get up until around diner which makes me feel like the day is over before it's even begun!

What are your resolutions? I love having goals to aim for so I'm happy to add more if I can.
Em x

Revisiting my 2012 Resolutions

2013-01-03T11:31:00.000Z

This time last year I set myself 5 resolutions (see here), but here comes the moment of truth as to whether I achieved my goals, or they were forgotten before the remains of the Christmas turkey went into the bin.

1) NHS recommendation for a healthy lifestyle which is:
"At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups"

I have to say yes and no to this one! I definitely achieved the moderate intensity aerobic activity, I literally walk everywhere and I also take my dogs out for long walks. However whilst I did some muscle strengthening it was only in phases and I never really stuck to it!

2) Improve my CV
I would like to complete either one work experience, one charity volunteering job or enrol on one college course which is outside of my degree.

This one was actually a total success, I completed a marketing placement over the summer, and I enrolled on numerous beauty therapy courses so I could achieve an NVQ2 alongside my degree.

3) Start Youtube-ing

This one is a big fat no. I did make videos the majority of the year, but I just don't think that youtubing is for me so I took nearly all of them down. I did enjoy filming videos but I think I enjoy writing a million times more so I'd rather put my effort into blogging for now.

4) Sort out my bedroom
* I'm going to finally sort through all my ebay bags and either give them to friends/family or force my Dad at gunpoint to drive me to a charity shop where I will drop everything off.

Not at all, in fact my room is probably worse now than it ever was. I only just got round to putting a few items up for a blog sale (click here), but I still have another 5 or 6 boxes to get through. My only redeeming factor on this one is that out of the one box I sorted through, I did give half to charity which makes me feel a little bit better. Hopefully after I've sorted through the other boxes I can up that amount from fifteen items to over a hundred items donated.

* I'm going to get rid of my "wrapping" box. This is a box I have which has about 600 envelopes I've accumulated through internet shopping and have not binned/recycled yet in case one day they are "handy". I kid you not.

Nope, I still have this! I know, I have a problem and I need help.

* I'm going to get some sort of storage device for my clothing as it is just strewn on the floor when I run out of hanging space

No again! Awful!

5) Improve my confidence

I definitely achieved this one! The main thing that helped with this one was surrounding myself with supportive people and forcing myself into things! My Beauty Therapy helped a lot as I made so many friends I decided to make the effort at uni too.

Oh well, 2.5/5, not bad! I'm going to have a really good think about my resolutions for 2013, watch this space!

Em x

Favourite Moments of 2012

2013-01-02T00:45:00.000Z

* Gaining a summer placement. I always wanted to gain some marketing experience but had always put it off. I applied for a few summer placements thinking as they are so competitive I probably wouldn't get one, but luckily enough I got a job after my second application. The job wasn't what I expected, but it made me realise that put to the test I was able to meet targets, I was self motivated and I could find a solution to any issues that come up along the way. It really gained my confidence in my own abilities and taught me to trust the right thing will come along when I graduate if I work hard.

* Beauty Therapy. This was another thing I'd always wanted to pursue, but hadn't because I'd only ever took academic courses, and the thought of something based on practical examination scared the hell out of me. I decided to bite the bullet and start beauty therapy part time with the idea if it really was that awful I didn't have to go back. I'm so glad I went for it! It's literally the most fun I've had learning ever, I've loved all the people who I've met and I've gained a few more skills along the way. I love doing the treatments and find the entire thing therapeutic. If you've fancied studying something new I totally recommend going for it, I wish I did ages ago!

*Brogan's 20th. I love my sister more than anyone in the world, so it was lovely to go for a meal at Frankie and Benny's and stuff ourselves with food and cocktails.

Jill, Brogan, myself and Mam

*Seeing the cheeky girls. I went to the gay parade in Newcastle excited to see some awful cheesy acts and was not left disappointed. The cheeky girls are a total guilty pleasure!

* Lake District. I went to the lake district for the first time ever, and it was absolutely gorgeous!

* Scarborough. Scarborough was another great getaway. We stayed in a hotel along the beach and did all the touristy things there which was so much fun. We even adopted some pet baby seagulls for the weekend at our window!

I also had some lovely days and nights out with my friends! Here are a few snaps....

A friend's engagement party

Drinking sessions with the girls

Jo and me sharing our love of seafood

Durham

*Benji & Charlie. This is the year that we got our two lovely puppies. They are such hard work but completely worth it! I love them to bits and couldn't imagine not having them now.

* London 1&2. I'd always wanted to go to London and finally did this year with my friend Becca. I really enjoyed myself as there's so much to do there and I love the atmosphere. We stayed in a lovely hotel, went out clubbing, seen a show and went to a festival. The second time was for a university history trip so I took advantage and stayed for the weekend at my friend Katies. We had a great time partying the entire weekend although I thought I was going to die from alcohol poisoning by the end! I was so ill I put my train tickets in the bin ten minutes before boarding (smooth) but I can't wait to do it all again!

London round 1

Kat and me round 2, looking very rough!

* University. I never thought I'd say I loved uni especially after I got myself in such a mess last year, but this year really has been great. I met some lovely people on my courses, did really well in all my exams and essays and even found a love for eighteenth-century consumerism. At first I was gutted with my module choices but I'm really glad I got them now because my lecturers have been fantastic and all the courses were really interesting. I am happy to admit I was totally wrong thinking that consumerism would be boring!

*Secret Santa. Since I want to do really well at Uni, from starting year 3 in September I've been studying so much! It was great to kick back with my friends and swap presents over a lovely meal and drinks. I'm so lucky to have had such great friends over the past ten years (feeling ancient now) and hopefully they will all continue to be a big part of my life!

* Christmas. I love Christmas more than anything! There's nothing better than spending time with my family, opening presents and eating lovely food. My Dad made the Christmas dinner this year and it was amazing! Then we popped off to my Nana and Grandas who I love to bits and finally I seen one of my closest friends.

Jill, my sister, me & Mam

Dad and Nana

* NYE. I also finished the year on a high, having a lovely meal with Steven and going on a good old seven hour pub session. I don't usually bother with NYE as it's so hard to get a taxi, but I've learnt staying local is the way to go and I had a really great time!

Overall I had a great 2012, I feel like I achieved a lot and had some lovely times, hopefully 2013 will be just as good!

I've been lazing around eating my weight in junk food all day and we've just had all the family over so it's been a really nice chilled day before I'm back to essays tomorrow! Hope you are all recovering well from your hangovers.

Christmas 2012

2012-12-26T17:28:00.004Z

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas!

I spent the day with my lovely family and had such a great day. We opened and gave out presents in the morning, then my Dad prepared a lovely dinner for us which tasted amazing. This was our first Christmas with Benji and Charlie who were their usual cheeky little selves wreaking havoc! Charlie naughtily stole Dad's place at the table and was sitting waiting for his dinner, but Benji spent the majority of the day in a Turkey coma lying in front of the fire. We then went to my Nanas and Grandas which was lovely, and then I hung out with a friend on the night. I was extremely spoiled this year, receiving Annie tickets and a tablet which was a great surprise. I'm already reading the Tulisa autobiography I also got which is really good so far, and makes me appreciate how fantastic and supportive my family are.

I wouldn't change my family for the world, we bicker all the time but we love eachother to bits and there's nothing that we wouldn't do for eachother. We're all so close and Christmas just makes me realise how lucky I am to have all these fantastic people around me. As I type Millie and Sweetie are enjoying all the turkey and salmon leftovers, and I've ate so much I feel slightly like a sloth, but that is what Christmas is all about!

Did anyone brave the Boxing day sales today? If you did, you're made of sterner stuff than me and I hope you got some great bargains!

Em x

Favourite Purchase of the Year Goes to...!

2012-12-23T20:39:00.001Z

If I could wish anything under the Christmas tree for a lot of girls, it would have to be the Michael Kors MK5384 watch, which I count as my favourite purchase ever made, having loved and worn it the majority of the year.

I was a little worried to take the plunge and buy something I regard as fairly extravagant, but as one of my favourite fashionistas Rachel Zoe says, a good watch is a total essential, and who I am to argue? This watch is fantastic quality, and I get so many compliments on it. I went for quite a classic design as I plan to wear this when I venture into the 'real world' and get a job but I still think it looks really modern. If you have small wrists such as myself, some of the designs are way too big and overwhelming, but this one is a bit daintier whilst still being chunky which I adore.

I paid £250 (inc insurance) for this bad boy, which made my eyes water to hand over, but I really do think that it is worth the extra spondoolas. I know some girls go crazy for designer bags/shoes but I like to carry around a kitchen sink and my shoes take a battering, so no dobut I would just ruin a purchase such as that!

What are you hoping for under the Christmas tree? This year I'm after Tulisa and Cheryl Cole's autobiographies and lovely warm coat to brave the weather!

Pretty in Pink

2012-12-21T19:40:00.001Z

There's always that little extra bit of added risk when purchasing online or from a catalogue when it comes to beauty products. Not being able to see it in person or able to swatch it, you can accidentally end up picking a shade you'd never use, or something such as stickiness or an odd smell can't be detected until it's too late.

I find Avon's products so hit and miss in their quality I'm rarely inclined to order anything, but this lipgloss in Pink Shine is a real winner. It's not sticky at all, it glides on really nicely, it doesn't dry out the lips and I love the natural colour. All these attributes are so hard to come by even in some of the more high end brands, so I'm really impressed with this gloss and find it the perfect daytime shade. It has influenced me to perhaps try out a few different Avon products (I've heard amazing things about their perfumes and mascaras) so watch this space, you never know I may become a convert!

P.S Save your pennies and check out my reviews on some Avon products that I would avoid. Click here to see my review of their tanner, and here for a review on one of their nail varnishes!

Sweet dreams are made of this

2012-12-21T00:17:00.000Z

The clinical definition of insomnia is the inability to obtain an adequate amount or quality of sleep. A condition that affects 10% of the population, side effects can include depression, illness and accidents.

So serious is the problem that the average worker loses around 11.3 days a year through lack of sleep, which in turn adds up to billions in lost productivity every year.

Stress is one of the root causes of insomnia, so it’s no surprise that several famous figures have claimed to be sufferers. FormerEmmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett claims she has been blighted by insomnia since childhood, admitting “I have had to live with being constantly tired all my life and I walk around in a constant daze.” Meanwhile Simon Cowell, who has often confessed to staying up working until 4.30am, reportedly turned to his hypnotist friend Paul McKenna for help.

Luckily, there are a number of easy-to-follow tips that can help aid restful sleep.

First and foremost, try and relax before hitting the pillow. Turn off the computer or TV and run a warm bath or listen to some soothing Michael Bublé. At the same time, avoid stimulants such as non-herbal teas, coffee and alcohol.

L-tryptophan is an amino acid and natural sleep aid. Supplements can be bought from health stores, while there are a number of food stuffs – warm milk, eggs, cashews and turkey included – where it can be found in its natural state.

Research has also shown that even 15 minutes of exercise a day gives the body the oxygen it needs to aid relaxation and help sleep. Just be careful not to do so within an hour of bedtime, though, as exercise produces stimulants.

Setting and keeping to a regular bedtime routine has also proved to be effective. “A bedtime ritual teaches the brain to become familiar with sleep times and wake times,” says Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council. “It programmes the brain and internal body clock to get used to a set routine.”

If problems persist, massage, aromatherapy or acupuncture have all proved to be very effective in combating insomnia.

Having learned to welcome bedtime rather than dread it, celebrate with some fabulous new nightwear. Very makes it easy to shop for pyjamas that will guarantee sweet dreams.

This is a guest post.

A Magpie's Haven

2012-12-20T12:24:00.000Z

A few gems that I bought yesterday in Dorothy Perkins. I'm such a magpie and love finding some lovely pieces to give my outfit a new kick, or to dress up something quite casual. If you are stuck for last minute ideas then you cannot go wrong with a little bit of bling!

3 Day Straightening Treatment

2012-12-14T16:46:00.001Z

As I have long, wavy, knotty, unmanageable hair, getting it to behave when I straighten it can be quite a challenge, que the appeal of John Frieda's Frizz-Ease range. I've been testing out the Hydrating Shampoo and the 3-day Straight Semi Permanent Styling Spray and thought I would share experiences with these products.

John Frieda Hydrating Shampoo
Starting with the Hydrating shampoo, it claims to moisturise and block frizz, and I have to say it did a pretty good job. The smell is fairly neutral, neither fruity nor flowery, and I think it's quite a good choice if you aren't keen on powerful scents. It definitely reduced the amount of frizz I usually have directly after washing my hair, and it left my hair refreshed and feeling really soft. It doesn't give the volume that products such as Aussie do, but it is perfect for making my hair sleek and manageable.

3-Day Straight Semi-Permanent Styling Spray
This product essentially acts as a heat protectant and contains polymers with keratin protein in order to keep hair straight for three days (or until you next wash it). On day 1, my hair wasn't knotty at all, it looked sleek and I avoided the usual frizz I usually have when I straighten my hair. You can top up with the straighteners everyday if you want to of course, but that's not particularly great for your hair so I wanted to see how it would fare if I styled it only on day one, and just brushed it the rest of the time. On day 2 as you can see from the photos, I did notice that my hair had became kinky again, especially at the back, and it was a little frizzier. Day 3 stayed at pretty much the same level as day 2, but I still found my hair easier to manage and a lot less knotty than it usually is.

Tip: Less is more! It says used between 7-15, so as my hair is fairly long I went for 14. This turned out to be a major mistake, making my hair feel thick with product, weighed down and flat at the top. I think a few sprays on each side works a lot better and is still effective without being too much.

I think this product goes way beyond any other heat protectors I've used, and think the results I achieved on day 1 make this product worth the money for me. Personally I would never leave my hair more than a day before washing anyway, so for me this product works perfectly for the longevity that I am aiming for. If you wanted something that was going to keep frizz and waves at bay a whole three days though, I think you would have to resign yourself to the fact that you will have to top it up everyday.

I think I will get both products again, and would probably use this shampoo specifically for when I straighten my hair, as I prefer volume shampoos when my hair is wavy, and ones like this Hydrating Shampoo for when it's straight. I also really liked the spray too as it protected my hair from heat, and kept my hair looking sleekier than it usually would when straightened.

Have you tried these products? Let me know what you thought of them!
To see the whole John Frieda Frizz Ease range click here.

Em x

T'is the season to wear purple

2012-12-09T16:02:00.002Z

Whenever we're in the Christmas period, I'm instantly drawn towards purples, greens and golds for my nails. This Barry M polish in 'Vivid Purple' looked perfect and I couldn't wait to put it on. I love the colour so much, I think it looks even better on and love how the colour looks depending upon the light. The coverage is fairly opaque and it dried quickly which I was quite impressed by. I did find that the polish chipped really quickly though, which I don't tend to get with other brands such as O.P.I, but I think you sometimes get what you pay for with cheaper polishes. Overall I really like this polish as the colour is so pretty, but if you are seeking something fairly longlasting I would give this one a miss.

Meet my pets

2012-12-07T10:22:00.001Z

A quick post showing my lovely pets as I haven't featured them on here in a while. We now have two cats and two puppies so it's a pretty hectic household at the moment, but I love them so much I wouldn't change it for the world. It's crazy how quickly time passes; Millie and Sweetie (my two cats) are already two years old but I feel like I just got them yesterday. They did not take too kindly to the introduction of Benji, my naughty little brown terrier, and Charlie our floppy bambi-like spaniel (check his one ginger brow), but they get on quite well now. Sweetie (my grey cat), even extended to give Benji a reluctant bath the other day and sometimes Millie will let the dogs share the bed if she's in an especially good mood. Benji is now around 6 months even though he looks like an old man, and Charlie is just under 5 months so they pretty much treat each other like siblings. I love them all to bits but I think this is my limit of animals I can actually handle... at least whilst I'm uni so watch this space ;).

Nailing It: OPI vs. Nail Magic Review

2012-12-05T17:12:00.000Z

Starting a manicure and pedicure course, I couldn't help but be shamed by the shocking state of my own nails. The amount of nail sins I committed was huge: I would use them as tools, would never use a base or top coat and if I split a nail I would just bite off the breakage. No wonder then that my nails were brittle, discoloured and would never grow into the lovely talons that I wanted.

I decided to give them the TLC that they needed by indulging in some nail strengtheners to hopefully reverse some of the damage. I was torn between O.P.I's Natural Nail Strengthener and Nail Magic, both receiving rave reviews, and decided the only natural beauty blogger-eque thing to do would be to test one on each hand for several months to see which was the best.

They are £11.29 each in Salon Services, and you get 15ml in the O.P.I polish, and 7.4ml in the Nail Magic polish. Both are intended to be used as either base coats or by themselves, with Nail Magic requesting application twice a week for the first few months, then once a week thereafter, which I did with both polishes.

Obviously O.P.I is better value for money, but I found the Nail Magic polish far excelled in its results. It's hard to tell from the photos the difference in the condition and strength of my nails, but my nails with Nail Magic have never been better. The nails with O.P.I did improve a little bit, but the nails with Nail Magic felt so thick and healthy the difference was crazy. Nail magic also worked the best out of the two as a base coat and prevented polish from chipping as easily. They also did grow a little better than the nails with O.P.I, although not by a huge amount, so I am little sceptical in general about the nail growing capabilities of nail strengtheners.

However, there was some limitations with Nail Magic. Firstly, it does not work well as a topcoat as it tends to be leave polish really murky, so I tended to use a different topcoat. For that reason, now I've finished testing them, I would probably use the Nail Magic as a base as it is the most effective, and use the O.P.I as a topcoat because it leaves a lovely gloss on top of the nails.

My second negative to the Nail Magic is that it sometimes gave me a burning sensation and irritation in the nails. I didn't think too much of it as it wasn't consistent, but after checking the website it says that is a sign of an allergic reaction to the product which seriously puts me off. Personally if this happened I just didn't wear it on that specific nail since I was testing them, but I think there are limits to how much discomfort I'll put up with just for long nails.

Overall then, I'd say the O.P.I is great as a general top and base coat, rather than as a strengthener. I'd purchase it again for this purpose, but I wouldn't expect any great results with this. The Nail Magic definitely gave me the results I wanted, leaving me with lovely healthy nails, but the occasional reaction I had to this product is somewhere offputing, leaving me to seek nail strengthening options elsewhere. If you have any recommendations please leave them below!

Em x

Day Makeup

2012-12-03T13:31:00.000Z

I thought I would share my thoughts on a few beauty products that I have been using as part of my daily makeup routine.

Base:
- GOSH Primer. Fantastic for making makeup last if you have oily skin or are going on a night out!
- Covergirl Clean Makeup Foundation in 505 Ivory. A new addition to my my makeup routine, this is light coverage which is great for a natural look.
- Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer. A very high coverage concealer which I find is amazing for covering up nasty spots.
- Stila Illuminating Concealer. Another new addition, replacing my MAC moisture concealer. This is so much better at covering dark circles and isn't drying on the under eye area at all.
- SBC Loose Powder. A staple for girls with oily skin, it makes my makeup last ages.

Blush:
- Sleek Blush in Rose Gold 926. Great pigmentation, but a blush I rarely use due to its glitter content; personally it can look a bit too "disco" for my own taste.

Eyes:
- 88 Eyeshadow Palette, another good staple if you want to experiment with colour before indulging in more expensive better quality shadows.
- Maybelline Stiletto Mascara, I love this mascara. It's not the most long lasting, but I like the effect and it can usually last most of the day.
- Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer in 281 Aubergine. A purple eyeliner that I use every single day. I love this! It does wipe off easily but if you leave your eyes alone then it lasts quite a long time.

Lips:
- Avon Pink Shine lipgloss. I generally hate Avon, but this lipgloss is perfect for day time. It isn't sticky at all, I love the colour as it is quite natural and I think the glossy finish is lovely.

Em x