Pink Haired Princess

Tumblr Me!

2012-02-13T20:45:00.000Z

Just a little update to let you know you can find me on tumblr now. I kinda umm'd and ahh'd about whether or not to open an account as Tumblr isn't something I often browse (Flickr or Weheartit are usually where I can be found), but I decided to take the plunge. Sadly it means an end to Inspiretty here. I know I loved it too. It's just going to be too difficult to juggle posts there and here and I feel I would be repeating myself often, especially in the case of Inspiretty which was a picture and very little words. Good news is though I'll be posting anything that's inspiring me, what I've been up to or buying...or eating, anything that wouldn't be enough to write a full blog post here on it's own. So I am theshoegirldiaries.tumblr.com on there and I'll get the knack of it soon enough and get more stuff posted. Some Irregular Choice shoes I got last week are up there currently.

Hit the 'contact me' page above this post to find my Facebook, email, YouTube (haven't done anything there for a while I know) and anything else. I still haven't ruled out joining Twitter, but again I'd probably be repeating my Tumblr posts and in a few months there will likely be another social networking site that'll be the 'bees knees' and any more variations may make me explode (I am only one person after all!).

This week I'm looking forward to my Irregular Choice 'Pat's Picnic' arriving (like ridiculously excited). I bought some No7 Spring stuff last week which I need to photograph and also ordered some Lancome and Soap & Glory online from Boots. I have some new foundation swatches including the newer paler shades from Lancome which are a good match for me. I haven't had time to add anything to Tumblr today, but just spotted these amazing pics of Jesy from Little Mix on her hols. I hate that people call her fat-she looks bloomin' fabulous here! I hate any negative comments like that aimed at celebs or non-celebs and go all motherly and protective when it happens! Christina Aguilera is taking a lot of flack these days for her shape and again, she's not even fat (although I would agree she chooses clothes that are too small for her and she'd look a million times better in a bigger size). I also spotted Queen of Curves, Christina Hendricks at the Baftas last night rocking Vivienne Westwood, looking beautiful as usual and yet there are still morons that think these girls need to lose weight. I know I've complained about him before but Karl Lagerfeld declaring Adele is "a little too fat" was another comment that pissed me off last week. We need to stamp out this narrow-minded attitude and desire to mould every female into a size 0 or 6 or whatever. I'm hoping Jesy is finding ways to cope with negative comments, she's only young and it can hurt, no matter how much you try not to let it bother you. She looks pretty darn happy here though, so that's a good sign.

I will finally leave you with the news that Elle France have used a plus-size model on their cover this month. How do you feel about that? Is it a one-off, publicity stunt type thing? A small token to appease the critics of 'too skinny' models? And too little, too late? Or is it ground-breaking and/or a pleasant change? Plus, do you think UK magazines would follow suit? And will it happen again?

Haul & Comparison Swatches: MAC Naturally Lipsticks

2012-02-10T21:49:00.001Z

My MAC hauls have been much more sparse in recent months, because I've been trying to quell the obsession! I liked the idea of Daphne Guinness and Iris Apfel but in reality wasn't all that taken with them. Likewise 'Miss Piggy'-I felt a super cute limited edition packaging collection with lip colours and everything could have been lucrative, but a pink eyeshadow, some lashes and liner just didn't do it for me. 'Naturally' however, was a launch I'd been hotly anticipating, think the N-nude collection. A range of super wearable neutrals for the lips, eyes and face...for a nude lip worshipper, this was 'my' launch.

I ordered A Perfect Day, which seems to be the buzz-lip colour of this range (and promptly the sold out shade), which is an Amplified formula and MAC describes as 'light neutral pink'. It's similar to The Faerie Glen, Honeylove and Blankety in that group of 'not too light' neutrals. As it's Amplified, it has that thick, intense colour which I like.

The next one I got was Beach Sand. I'd say (and I haven't actually tried any of these on my lips yet-staying true to my lip challenge and all!) this maybe isn't quite as wearable as the others. It's got that yellowish-ness to the tan which can look a bit flat on some skintones. Although it doesn't look it in the comparison pics, it's probably most like Viva Glam Gaga 2 although that leans more toward peachy tones. Beach Sand is a Cremesheen though and we all know how much I love them.

Sweet Sunrise was my other purchase and I have to say I did debate this one. Is it one of those really light, sheer shades that I have dozens of? The fact I needed to purchase something else for free shipping (an extra £13.50 to save a couple of £'s, I know!) meant I got it. I'm sooo glad I did though. It is a lustre, but actually not as sheer as anticipated. MAC describe it as 'light neutral peach pink' and it definitely swatches more peach than the pink it looks in the tube. I'll wear this loads, it'll be great on it's own and fabulous with different glosses on top. I found a couple of pretty similar dupes which I'll explain at the end, but I have to say I've misplaced Creme D'Nude to compare (shitters, where is my gorgeous lippie?) and found another couple after swatching that possibly could've been included like Playing Koi (which I reckon would be much brighter).

I didn't buy any of the lipglasses as I rarely use the tonnes I own. I do already have Naked Space and possibly The Wee Coquette (can't quite recall), which of course I forgot to swatch. I do, as I mentioned, have some comparisons though which I thought you may be interested in if you can't locate the colours in this range.

A Perfect Day
Blankety (Amplified) is duller and more brown.
Jubilee (Lustre) is more tan.
The Faerie Glen (Lustre) is less peach and obviously more sheer regarding the colour/formula, but it's along the same lines.
Honeylove (Matte) is darker brown and more dull but has the same type of creamy colour finish.
Modesty (Cremesheen) is much darker with more red tones.

Sweet Sunrise
Natural Collection-Moisture Shine Lipstick in Apple Blossom is a little darker and more pinky coral than nude peach.
Goddess (Frost) I'm not sure why I chose this one because it's not a similar looking shade. It's got that strong metallic, frost finish and is much more copper than peach or nude.
Close To Real (Lustre) probably the closest, it's just slightly brighter.
Semi-Annual (Lustre) this is pretty close too, it's a little less peachy.
Naturally Eccentric (Lustre) is paler and doesn't have that peachy element, it's a neutral.
Barry M-Lip Paint in 154 Pale Nude again this is very close (and my lip colour of the week), it's a tad darker.
E.L.F.-Mineral Lipstick in Natural Nymph is less peach (more neutral) and a little more dull.

Beach Sand
Call My Bluff (Cremesheen) this is more brown rather than tan.
Siss (Satin) same type of tone although a little more yellow and intense in finish.
Freckletone (Lustre) is more orangey.
Viva Glam Gaga 2 (Amplified) most similar, but more peachy.
To Pamper (Lustre) not a very similar colour, it's more taupe/brown.

DOLLYgirl Felt Flowers*

2012-02-08T21:11:00.000Z

My, you readers are a talented lot! Leanne is a regular commenter on my blogs and she got in touch to let me know about her bespoke felt business that she was starting up. She very kindly sent me an item which I couldn't wait to blog about.

DOLLYgirl specialise in felt flowers which are handmade and finished off to your specifications. You can do exactly as I did and consult with Leanne for a unique product in exactly the colours and style you wish. I was 100% happy with the selection of colours in my design, they definitely suit me and work well together.

My flower came in a cute little pouch and has both a brooch and clasp back, so I can either wear it in my hair or on clothing (as requested). The flower is exquisitely made and has beautiful detailing, using french knots, chain and running stitch and finished off with a button from a vintage shirt (which is a very sweet touch I think).

I love the fact that nobody else has or ever will have an exact copy of my flower and this type of tailor-made approach to accessorising is a great way to add that unique touch to your outfit.

There are several ways to get in touch with DOLLYgirl; via Facebook, Twitter, Blog and Etsy. Leanne has also very kindly offered my readers 10% off their orders using code DOLLYLOVESYOU. I saw some pics on Facebook of stunning headbands she's been making and I'm sure you won't be disappointed with the service. Thanks to Leanne for sending me this beautiful item : )

Swatches: MAC Gareth Pugh 'Restrict' Lipstick

2012-02-07T20:37:00.000Z

Last night I decided I would be much more organised when it came to blogging and my life in general as I'm terrible for putting things off or running out of time. I have a (gorgeous) notebook and every night I'm going to write a to-do list for the next day and mark things off as I go along, then re-assess at night and see what I've done/not done and prepare for the next day. I know it's hardly earth-shattering news or a new concept, but I'm hoping it will help me manage my time better. In doing so, I'm hoping to get through all the posts I prepare then abandon (for something else). One such item is this lipstick which I purchased last year. I took these photos in December (I think) and forgot I'd ever done so!

So, the lippie is MAC and was part of the Gareth Pugh range which was priced higher than usual collections (as part of their annual luxury range). I could've gone crazy and bought more, but decided this was a must-have shade for me and with free shipping and the offer of a free mascara sample, it was my first purchase direct from MAC for a while (I've switched my allegiance to Debenhams!).

You ~~never~~ ahem rarely get anything free from MAC, so I think you have to jump on it when given the opportunity! I think I've only used this mascara once then forgotten about it, so will have to look it out.

The lipstick is a cremesheen finish (my favourite) and Restrict is a very pale nude, with an icy grey/pink tone. It was damn near impossible to photograph and this was probably my reason for never posting, because I was disappointed with my crappy pics. It comes across as much darker here than it really is.

I tried every light and background and these next pics are probably the closest to the real thing.

My swatches were much better than how it looks in the tube. It's not a heavy coverage lipstick, but although it's pale, you do get a considerable amount of colour from it. I've used it quite a lot since purchasing.

Can we also just take a minute to reflect on my fabulous nails in December. What the heck has happened to my hands since then? I don't have a single long nail currently and any time I get a bit of length, they break. It sucks, goodbye long pretty nail! I'm crying now....!

Paloma Rocks The Pom Pom

2012-02-06T17:41:00.000Z

I love Paloma Faith! I don't know all that much about her as a person, but I always look forward to seeing what she's wearing. She's fearless, gutsy, innovative with a retro twist and most of all, fun. She's in no way afraid of colour, print or textures and I just find her really inspiring.

Recently she was spotted wearing these fabulous shoes with huge fluffy pom poms, which I thought were absolutely adorable. They are in fact shoe clips, by Cleo B. Shoe clips are an old concept but one that I've seen re-emerging recently. They are easy to use, you literally just clip them on wherever you want them, on any shoe, much like a clip-on earring. It can completely transform tired footwear and add a splash of humour or glamour to your outfit.

Upon previously browsing the site, I had no idea these fluffy clips were quite so large; it's fantastic to see them in 'real life'. The large ones measure 12cm, medium are 7.5cm and small 5cm. The only set-back is they are quite pricey and in this instance (even in the sale) cost more than Paloma's Nitelife 'Chloe' patent heels! However they are hand-made in the UK, should last forever and given that they can breathe new life to all your shoes (does that count as doubling your shoe collection?), they could be worth the investment. There's lots of other clips to choose from, if fluff isn't really your thing, with crystals and even these art-deco inspired ones for a full-on vintage feel. Sale prices start from £24. Is this something you could see fitting into your shoe collection, do you like the idea of a removable/changeable feature? Or do you prefer your shoes to look exactly as you bought them? Personally I can't get these large balls of fluff out of my head, Paloma totally sold them to me-I think they are freakin' fabulous!

In Love Again

2012-02-06T12:14:00.000Z

LetsBuyShoes come to my rescue quite often; the latest with these Once In Love wedges by Irregular Choice. You may recall seeing them on The Shoe Girl Diaries back in September 2010. Unfortunately I sold that pair, as my regular size were far too small and unwearable. I've still kept on the look-out, as I loved them and figured a whole size up would be a better fit. So last week, LBS had one random pair; a size 6 (the size I required), total fate right? Obviously I wasted no time thinking about it and snapped them up right away and they arrived at the weekend.

They are just as lovely as I remembered and the perfect fit too. I've been quite naughty and purchased some more Irregular Choice this weekend. I need to rectify this whole 'get rid of loads of pairs, only to replace them with new ones' attitude! However, these three will be winging their way to me this week ; )

Purrfect Boots?

2012-02-01T21:52:00.000Z

I realise the majority of posts this year have been shoe hauls-sorry if it's boring you, or maybe you like to see new, pretty shoes? I've been super busy with 'eBay selling' over the past couple of weeks and it seems to have sapped my energy for doing anything else. Today I went out, shopping, because I was desperate to see something other than these same walls and see people and breathe (not so) fresh air! The shops were quiet (a good thing) and although I didn't come home with any spectacular goodies, I felt better for getting out. I've also been busying myself behind the scenes, starting up tumblr (haven't actually done anything to it yet) and adding new pages to the blog (just a little background info), but that's all taken time. Anyway, luckily my sister was off today and she took delivery of 3 pairs of shoes for me. Two don't fit (long story), but the other pair and I realise this is particularly ironic that it should follow the last post/rant (about Jeffrey Campbell shoes being overpriced in the UK), are my tapestry cat Lita's!

Yes I bit the bullet, or rather sold s***loads on eBay and finally had funds for these. I can recall the first time I saw them and initially I was rather perturbed by the scary looking moggies, then they grew on me as being quite kooky and cool, until they became my most wanted Lita pattern. They repeatedly sold out in the US, so I was really pleased to see them pop up in the UK (even if they were very expensive).

I have an odd relationship with animals where I'm pretty much terrified of every one in real life (seriously scared of dogs) and the thought of a cat sitting on me has me breathing into a brown paper-bag, but I seem to love animals at the same time. The animal jewellery obsession? Animals on clothing? Yes please! I detest any animal cruelty, it makes me sick, even if I would be last in line to stroke a kitty or hold a hamster. So anyway that round-about-story was to say I'm not a cat lover, but I love these boots!

There's a dog version as well, which I'm just not as enamoured with-it was definitely kitty's for me. Office delivered them quite quickly, I was expecting to wait longer given that they said it could be a week because they were particularly busy. I was so annoyed though because I forgot to use Treat Street, typical! I was remembering all last week, as I stalked the site, but then when I went to purchase I forgot. Although last time I spent £40 at Office, they cancelled my points with Boots and I hadn't even returned or cancelled my order. Annoying!! I did manage to find a 10% off code which helped the hefty £120 price-tag (just google and you should find it).

So what do you think? Super cute or super scary? They need to make a whimsical pair with unicorns on them, right? I'd be all over those!

JC-I Don't Think So!

2012-01-31T18:09:00.001Z

I'm sorry I've not been blogging much lately...I've been feeling really out of sorts. Anyhoo, I've been wanting to let rip about some shoe things that have been bugging me. Jeffrey Campbell, the fantabulous "affordable" shoe brand...that is, unless you live in the UK. Let me explain, Office have just received shipment of a fantastic new collection of JC. First thing that p'd me off; seeing my black suede Nightwalks cheaper than what I paid (even with free shipping from Solestruck) (grrr, I think £30+ is an excessive customs charge ParcelForce). The original Nightwalk aren't exactly 'new' now and at the time nobody in the UK had them and I figured wouldn't ever be getting them, so I had no choice but to order from America. I had no idea Office would be stocking them in 2012. Next thing, their Lita's are £120. They retail for just under $160 in the US which converted is around £100. It's annoying because I don't think a shoe costing £120 is 'affordable' which is a word often used to describe JC and although £20 is cheaper than a customs charge as I've experienced, it's still a lot extra to be asking for each shoe.

Case in point, Harvey Nichols who are very reasonably priced for their little selection of JC's. They charge £95 for their plain Lita's, which I think is excellent and at the same time ridiculous to see the exact same pair elsewhere for an extra £25. It's tough though, because you don't know which retailers will get which styles/colours and may have to buy the more expensive one because that's your only option. This leads onto my next point; Office have several 'exclusives' in this new line including the white crochet Lita and black Rockaway. By 'exclusive', I would expect them to be available elsewhere around the world, but within the UK, Office would be the only place to find this particular colourway. Wrong! Both styles can be found on the Harvey Nicks website for £100 each, when they are £120 and £135 respectively from Office. Exclusive my bum! This is particularly annoying, not only that they are sold elsewhere cheaper, but that this retailer is tricking the customer into thinking this is the only place you can get your hands on these. Don't be fooled, still look around-yes, I realise it takes time, as I've done it myself for their "exclusive" Cat Lita's! Haven't found them anywhere else btw.

It's not just Office though. Zalando have also got new stock including silver glitter, brown leather and butterfly Lita's at £164.95 each. What?! They retail for exactly the same price as 'regular' Lita's, why are they priced higher here? Even more ludicrous, the brown distressed leather sells for £120 on the same website! Are plain leather really worth an extra £45? Have they pushed their prices up due to the popularity of the brand? Zalando do offer free shipping on all orders (they'd need to at that price) and Office are currently providing free shipping with all JC's.

I think it's great to see Jeffrey Campbell being recognised in the UK, but I'm not fond of these prices as it makes it very difficult to buy multiple pairs and I grudge paying more than the brand recommended retail price. I would like to see somewhere like ASOS stocking JC because I reckon they would perhaps be more fair with their pricing. My advice is to still shop around, check this is definitely the best price you can get and look into buying from eBay and/or overseas. It doesn't always pay off, in the case of the Nightwalks, but it's still worth researching.

Shoe Spotting

2012-01-26T21:22:00.000Z

I was watching the National Television Awards last night, because I had nothing to do and it's always good for a laugh watching all the try-hards in their minging outfits, pouting and posing! The X-Factor lot won an award and the first thing I noticed, as they clomped (loudly) up the stage steps (seriously Tulisa shouldn't wear heels, because that girl has noooo grace walking in them), was Jesy from Little Mix in Jeffrey Campbell spike Lita's!! Good on the stylist for managing to snag them considering they sold out in 2 days on these shores!

Not only that, Jesy also popped into the Irregular Choice store recently and purchased the Bun In The Oven boots. One to watch in the shoe department methinks!

I also saw Lorraine Kelly teamed her tartan dress (well it was Burns Night) with some Vivienne Westwood/Anglomania & Melissa Skyscraper courts.

Lipstick Challenge

2012-01-24T20:55:00.000Z

I have shizzle-loads of lipsticks. Ok, I have shizzle loads of make-up in general and shoes and bags and dresses etc etc. However I'm trying so hard to clean and tidy just now. It's killing me though because in my head I'm all for getting stuck in, my body isn't quite in agreement and time is always an issue. There just aren't enough hours in the day or at least time I can dedicate to tidying without feeling guilty that I have tonnes of other things to be doing. I'm fed up of living in a mess though, so am trying to do a little bit at a time. Anyway, I'm clearing out my makeup, you may recall it started with the foundation drawer (easy enough), now I've moved onto one of my lipstick drawers (let's just say there are multiple and literally hundreds of lippies in there). I'm still working on it, but I came to the conclusion I reach for the same lipsticks over and over and ignore others-I need to start using them up and using a variety. I'm therefore going to start my own 'use up my lipstick' challenge and wear one lipstick for an entire week. There aren't any rules as such, it's just my own personal mission, but for instance yesterday I wore this with an ELF plumping gloss in Wink Pink, today I had Clinique Air Kiss over the top, some days I may just wear it alone. I'm not necessarily going to write a post on it each time-I think I'll do it in my sidebar and update the image every week (I don't have time to do it now). You're welcome to join in too if you wish, either on your blog or by commenting here and we can all spur each other on. I'm not saying I'll ever finish even one of the lipsticks and certainly not in a week, but I'm going to try and at least make an impression on my huge stash. So this week I'm wearing Clarins Illusion in 202 which is an ashy white-ish, pearly shade in a frost finish.

More Topshop Shoes

2012-01-22T20:29:00.000Z

I've been super busy with eBay this weekend, but have now given up to watch Dancing On Ice and Desperate Housewives! I just have time to show you yet more Topshop shoe purchases-what's my obsessions with Toppers shoes just now?

This first glitter pair (Gosford) were in my basket before Christmas and I decided I couldn't afford them as well as the others I bought. However when I saw them again in my size, I snapped them up. They are quite a classic mary-jane style with the strap and block heel, they do have a really low vamp though (I'm not totally sold on lots of toe cleavage), so I'll probably wear them with tights. I've already been out with the hairspray to hold the glitter in place as it was dropping everywhere as soon as I unboxed them!

The other pair (Slink) I saw instore in Dundee months and months ago (I think it was summer) and they were sitting in the 'last few, get them now' type stand (actually they were the only pair) and I really, really wanted them. I can't remember if I didn't have money at the time or if they weren't my size, but I didn't get them. They had that thing going on where had I seen them solely online I could've resisted them, but in person they just looked stunning and such good quality. Anyhow, again they were in the sale (half price) and I was pretty excited to get the opportunity to buy them again. I try to avoid wearing red as it clashes with whatever colour my hair is, but I'm becoming a little more relaxed in my thinking and these are more a subtle wine-shade anyway. They are super pretty, super super pretty.

Review-Yves Saint Laurent: Forever Youth Liberator

2012-01-20T21:18:00.001Z

Yves Saint Laurent have given their skincare line a shake-up this week, with the introduction of a new range called Forever Youth Liberator. I would say the focus with YSL is usually on their fragrances and cosmetics, so it will be interesting to see a shift with this collection. Inspired by Glycobiology (and 100 years of research into it), it's their first patented skincare which combines three glycans to help increase youthful activity in skin cells. Glycans are found naturally in the skin but with age decrease, therefore slowing down the youth process. To put it simply this skincare basically speeds up the regeneration of skin cells, plumping the skin and smoothing wrinkles etc for "forever youth"! Now I was lucky enough to be picked for the YSL testing panel (something I enjoyed immensely) and started using the serum (the star product of the new line) last year. Yes, before the shops even got any-how exciting! I threw myself into the role, using the serum religiously for the 4 week trial and have been completely honest (as always) with my findings.

So here is a little background on my skin before the review. I'll be 32 in a few months and my main skin concerns are adult acne (developed at the age of 25, but mostly under control for now) and ageing, although I credit being in the early stages of ageing on a good skincare routine since my teens. I have very fine lines around my eyes and on my forehead, otherwise my skin is normal. However I'm keen to step my anti-ageing routine up a notch as prevention is better than cure and all that! I don't always use a serum as part of my skincare routine (as I can't use too many different products at once); but have used both Lancome Genefique and No7 in the past year.

I started using Forever Youth Liberator 4 weeks ago, morning and night. Firstly I loved the packaging, the dropper distributes the perfect amount of product and the bottle reflects the luxury of the brand whilst remaining practical and easy to use. I liked that the bottle had this ombre effect in pink, silver and black-it's different to other brands in terms of colour and style and would look pretty on any dressing table! The scent is soft, subtle, inoffensive and in no way overpowering. That came as a pleasant surprise to me because YSL can be known for being very fragrant whether it's eye makeup remover or lipgloss! The serum itself felt lightweight, non-sticky and was easily absorbed into the skin, providing a good base for moisturiser or makeup. I noted that it didn't have that slippy, silicone-ish feel that some other serums have. After using the serum for a week-I was happy to report that it hadn't caused any breakouts. As I said, I do have to be very careful with the products I put on my skin, but this serum has not caused me any trouble. I started to notice my skin felt firmer after application and looked a little more radiant in general. I didn't notice any change to my wrinkles.

Two weeks into the routine and my skin was definitely brighter, more radiant and the skintone seemed more even. On some days I even felt the fine lines around my eyes didn't seem so prominent. My skin has remained firmer throughout the month and I definitely notice a little radiance. I can't say it's erased my wrinkles but on some days I have thought they weren't quite as noticeable (especially around the eyes). I'm most pleased that it didn't cause breakouts and if anything my skin seemed more clear over the month. It's been no bother at all to add this serum into my routine as it works so well with the products I already use and sinks into the skin quickly. While I can't say it has radically changed my appearance that others would notice, I've been happy with the firmer and more glowy complexion and for that reason I'd consider using it again.

The serum comes in a 30ml bottle, priced £60 which obviously reflects the technology (and 7 Nobel prizes), plus the serum contains a higher concentration of glycans than the other products. My bottle was half that size and just lasted the 4 weeks, so you're looking at buying a new one every 2 months. Six bottles a year...that's £360. Pricey but cheaper than a face-lift if it works for you! There's also moisturisers, cleanser and eye cream, prices start at £35.

The Shoe Girl Diaries 2011

2012-01-19T18:22:00.001Z

A lot of bloggers have been doing round-ups of their blogging year and I have to admit, I haven't had time for that. However, I was browsing old posts on The Shoe Girl Diaries and felt it was worth doing, even if we are getting towards the end of January. So for the past couple of days, I've been gathering together old pics and trying to remember all that happened in 2011 (pretty uneventful year for me). I've highlighted my favourite outfits, hairstyles and obviously shoes of the year. I felt like The Shoe Girl Diaries really came into it's own last year and I'm enjoying posting there a little more than here, which is a first! The blog is constantly evolving, which is great-remember the days of the challenge to wear a different pair every day (with no repetitions) and when each post consisted solely of a shoe-image? It can be more than a little challenging finding time to manage posts on both blogs every day, but as long as I enjoy writing on both, I'll continue ; )

January: 2010 saw the winter that crippled the entire country. January is usually the time we get a lot of snow in Scotland, but we'd had more than our fair share in the months before. I had basically been housebound for months (there had been no posts since November and very few then), so it was nice to be able to get out again.

I wish I could remember which nail polish this is, because it's gorgeous. I had a quick look for it the other day, but couldn't find anything. Can you believe my hair was still bright pink this time last year? Seems like a lifetime ago now.

February: I mostly wore boots and shoe-boots. Towards the end of the month it got a little warmer and I could finally swap the scarf and gloves for sunglasses. My hair was still bright pink but then lilac, then pale pink, both of which were pretty but washed out almost immediately. It's strange to see it straight here as it's been curly ever since.

March: Blogger had layout issues with extra spaces all over the show. It annoyed me immensely until I converted to Google Chrome and got it to work perfectly (a ploy by Blogger I'm sure), not that I care, so long as it works. I seemed to permanently wear headscarves or hats, because my hair colour was such a mess (in preparation for the 'big change' next month). I managed to find the perfect pairing for my Primark (Prada inspired) beach dress with these Kandee Bubbly Gum platforms, which I was very excited about considering I'd been on 'the beach dress diet' in order to fit into the dress.

April: I broke out a more spring-like wardrobe. Wore lots of maxi-dresses and even (gasp) a jumpsuit! I played around with frilled socks and shoes and was (and still am) completely in awe of my Bertie 'Superstar' strappy wedges each time I wear them. Judging from the pics it was quite a good month. I also wore my Kandee Diamonds outdoors for the very first time!

I decided to go mega bold with a new hair colour, it was like an epiphany and the result was fantabulous. It was supposed to be turquoise with pink ends, but where the two colours met it unexpectedly turned purple. It was the best surprise in the world, I loved it. Like the shoes and outfits, it was a good month for hair and makeup. It seemed to be the 'month of the cool lip colours'! For anyone that wonders (I remember a few of you asking at the time), the deep glossy taupe is Dior Lipliner Pencil '883 Magenta Brown' (a deep plum), MAC 'Our Pick' lipstick (satin, dark taupe brown) and MAC Dazzleglass 'Comet Blue' (sparkling blue) on top!

May: My birthday month! The day itself was the worst b'day I've ever had, it was very stressful. My parents were supposed to be back from their holidays and flights were cancelled due to...now was it the ash cloud or strong winds? A bit of both if I recall. They couldn't get back-were led from pillar to post all day long and I was constantly trying to keep them updated with info, as they were me, so the entire 2 days were filled with non-stop texting. So much so that my sis and I had a very rushed birthday lunch in town. My Auntie also chose my birthday as the day to announce that her husband was dying (more quickly than we'd expected) and they'd been in the hospital along the road the entire week...which made me feel extremely guilty, but then again I'm not a mind reader and she's also very twisted, so the less said about that the better! The final straw came when my sister and I couldn't find candles for my cake...SADness! I did however debut my Bordello Teeze 20 that I'd searched for years for, on my birthday. I also wore a lovely girly outfit (Red Herring floral prom dress and Topshop Unique metallic heels) for a pre-birthday lunch with my mate. Sadly I had to sell these (and a million more) Kandee 'Glace Cherry' peep toes as they were just too tight for me....they are quite possibly the most gorgeous shoes ever!

I was in love with bright green nail polish, if I remember correctly-Topshop 'Green Room'. I seemed to live in sunglasses and it was quite a good month for jewellery. My hair desperately needed re-coloured but my Mummy wasn't there to help, however I managed to do it myself (very well, I might add) minus the bleaching and it was good enough to tide me over for another few weeks.

June: We had some boiling hot days and I can't stand the heat. My hair grew quite long. I had a backlog of posts to catch up on, then my computer broke (see July), so I struggled to blog on my sisters laptop and lost my backdrop for photos to a pile of new shoes! It wasn't a good month, I liked this one outfit though. Whether it was from May or June I'm not sure!

July: Or was it June or maybe even May? Remember my computer broke and we hassled the computer shop for weeks and months and they kept giving us excuses? They destroyed my hard-drive for 'security reasons', even although that wasn't the problem-so I lost everything (for nothing). They were clueless as to what the issue was and we vowed never to use them again. Karma kicked their butt and they shut down last year (haha), then re-opened under a new name (whether it is the same people I don't know). There were therefore very few posts and I had no idea when these pics were taken...my hair was very pretty in this one though ; )

August: I was a little more adventurous with my photo-taking, snapping away in Topshop, Primark, outdoors, on the bus and in coffee shops! I wore my Lady Dragon skull shoes a lot and was beside myself waiting for ASOS to get in the tapestry Ablaze wedges (which I bought immediately). Heels and platforms went sky-high with these bright yellow New Look wedges designed by London College of Fashion. I also made my first TSGD video, to prove I really do wear, what I say I do each day! New midi-length dresses meant I got my legs out a lot (well it was summer) and I fell in love with this coral lace dress-actually it was possibly my favourite look of the year. I had a massive clear-out selling lots of shoes (well really that happened a lot last year). It also saw the start of a lot of changes to the blog layout. I began using effects on my images and uploaded them via Photobucket so they appeared larger on the blog without the need to click to enlarge. I was finally content with the set-up, it felt more uniform and had better flow.

I got a new shorter bubble hair cut, which meant saying goodbye to the pink ends. It was hard at first, as the pink will always be "me", but the turquoise and purple together has definitely grown on me.

September: Saw my very first themed month. I had been growing a little tired of the same old thing and felt I needed another challenge and what better brand to shake things up than Irregular Choice? The largest part of my collection is IC, so a month wearing their fabulous shoes was fun to say the least. It definitely got me excited about blogging again and only enticed me to add to my ever-growing collection (naughty, naughty). I also featured you, my readers, wearing your IC's too, another first. I'm seriously considering another theme (very soon) or maybe going for Irregular Choice again as you and I loved it! I found the perfect partner for my Wing Invadors with this floral New Look dress and loved (another New Look dress) with my Prada stockings and wine Whitney's.

If I could have bottled my hair this month, I would've. It was pretty much perfect every day-I was completely in love with it. The colour was much more vibrant and it just sat beautifully day in, day out. Shame it didn't last! I had a shopping spree in Claire's where I got some pretty items including this fox brooch, glasses and a horse pendant.

it was also the start of my fascination with nail art

October: Was the month my camera broke (and I still haven't found a replacement). Images were taken with my phone or my sisters camera where possible. It was challenging but I found I could take 'outfit' shots in the mirror with my phone (my old camera either was too dark or flashed back), so you eventually got to see a little more of me! It had turned colder, I was into tights and boots and my nails seemed to feature some sort of nail art throughout the entire month. It was also my nephew's christening and as his Godmother I needed the perfect 'wow' outfit! I'd finally started to notice the weight I'd lost in the year and was ecstatic to find I could fit into the Pearl Lowe 'Peggy' lace prom dress. The perfect heels to match were Corso Como by Kurt Geiger Fashionistas, they took a lot of practise to walk in but were worth it. Speaking of 'breaking in' shoes, I tried to wear my So-Yeon Sarah/Irregular Choice pair, that I'd spent an obscene amount on in July, but never worn because I found them uncomfortable. Their current status is better, but I still need to try and wear them around the house more.

It was quite a good month for hair and makeup. I had days when I achieved the perfect eyeliner flicks (love days like that), see 2nd image below and I seemed to get very adventurous with hair scarves wearing them in all sort of guises. Was this the month I made the tutorial on how to do the turban roll?

November: I got my very first pair of Jeffrey Campbell (Lita's), after lusting after them for how long? I settled with a colourway I wasn't super excited about but got them for a decent enough price-turns out the black patent was the best buy ever because I can wear them with anything and love their shiny-ness. I will never part with these! The perfect partner for my Bertie wedges were these Myleene Klass leopard nail wraps-is there anything that wouldn't look right with these shoes?

November was a good hair and makeup month judging from the photos, even if it didn't particularly feel like that at the time. Even when my hair needed re-coloured it seemed to sit nicely and I just seemed very happy and comfortable in the pics.

December: I was pretty excited that it was December and we didn't have any white stuff on the ground, especially after the bad winter the year before. So I got to wear a lot of heels. I thought fleece lined tights were the bees knees and tights in general were my staple along with Pearl Lowe dresses (em, actually that's every month of the year). I finally bought Longer Lashes boots by Irregular Choice (for a bargain price) and my Jeffrey Campbell collection went from one to three with the addition of some heel-less Night Walks and floral Lita's this month. I found the perfect Christmas shoes which have the ability to cheer you up just by looking at them and stroking them!

Towards the end of the month, I added a super big purple stripe to the front of my hair and re-did the purple ends as I'd pretty much been purely turquoise after a haircut. It rejuvenated my zest for both of the colours after feeling a little tired of my hair. I was getting a lot of wear out of my new Primark hats.

So that's it, a mammoth post! Hopefully you've enjoyed looking back over the year and remembering old looks if you usually follow the blog. If you haven't visited TSGD before, then you're very welcome to browse and comment : )

Seeing Summer

2012-01-17T21:01:00.000Z

You may recall I was more than a little obsessed with sunglasses last year. I did get my wear out of them all (I actually bought more than was shown in that post) and considering the majority were cheap Primark purchases, I did pretty well! ASOS have been adding some amazing styles recently, I've been keeping a close eye on them. There's some fantastic shapes and styles and I'm seriously lusting after them...even if I could get 6 Primark pairs for the price of one!

This is my shortlist, my absolute favourites;

ASOS Cat Eye Sunglasses With Contrast Highbrow £12. I absolutely love the elegant shape of these frames. Gawgeous!

ASOS Tort Cat Eye Sunglasses £12 a slightly softer version of the Alexander Wang/Linda Farrow shades, also available in plain black.

Mango Barbados Sunglasses £23, this pair are quite pricey (by Primark standards), but they're a modern and classic all rolled into one-very simple and I love them.

ASOS Half Rim Sunglasses £10, I had slightly similar ones last year, although they weren't transparent, so these would be last on my list, but they're still very pretty.

ASOS Cat Eye with Cut Away Detail £15, these are my absolute must-haves. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? The car print Primark outfit I posted last week with these shades? It's complete Prada on the high-street and these are definitely top of my list.

ASOS Cat Eye with Extreme Highbrow £15, this pair are new in and I'm not convinced they would look good on me, I would have to try them first, but they're retro and quirky and I like.

Finally, I gasped out loud when I saw these hit ASOS, the gorgeous Prada Minima Baroque Sunglasses £215, I wanted last year!! They are glorious and now I have Prada glasses, I need Prada sunglasses, no? Loooove them! Need them. Can't afford them!

Cartoon Me

2012-01-16T20:46:00.000Z

I've been a member on Stardoll for years now. As a lover of fashion and dollies, it's a pretty fun place to be. It's progressed over the years where now you can create your own me-doll and make it look exactly like yourself (if you wish) by colouring the hair, selecting skin-tone, eye colour, facial expressions, makeup and obviously by dressing her. My doll is actually rather freakily like me albeit with a better wardrobe! In Stardoll land 'designer' items cost a lot less than in the real world and Topshop clothes fit everyone! I can occasionally get rather jealous of my dolly, who had Jeffrey Campbell 'Lita' before the real me, has oodles of quilted Chanel bags, got the Louis Vuitton boots I lusted after and is perfectly turned out in a mix of Topshop, Alexander McQueen, Dior and Betsey Johnson! It's fun to get to see how the cartoon world will interpret an item you've seen instore or on a catwalk (sometimes not for the better). Today I spotted for the first time, a pair of Irregular Choice shoes in their 'Antidote' limited edition collection. I was actually ridiculously excited about this, haha! It kinda freaks me out when my virtual me is dressed as the real me or has items that I really own-it's strange! Here are my real 'Wing Invador' below. Stardoll have used the wings on both sides of the shoe but otherwise the colours and style are spot on.

Irregular Choice Mega Haul

2012-01-14T20:33:00.000Z

A picture speaks a thousand words, so here's several thousand words! I never really understand why some bloggers apologise for image heavy posts-I love looking at pictures, especially if they are of new shoes, so here you go.

I've been desperate for several Irregular Choice styles this season, but patiently waited for the sales. IC sales don't usually start off very well-then you play this game of waiting for them to be further reduced and/or risk selling out or wait until they hit Letsbuyshoes. It's a game I've played several times and not always won and is definitely not for the faint hearted! I psyched myself to buy these shoes when I got paid this week, then bottled it, because they were still just too expensive. Should I just get one pair then? I decided to leave it altogether and then a couple of days later literally as I was browsing the site, I noticed some prices were changing (for the better). I managed to add the items I wanted and buy them before word got out that the stock had been further reduced. Thank goodness, because two of the styles only had one left in my size. They were dispatched the same day and I got them today-I am sooooo excited!

First up are my London College of Fashion 'Rosy' by Roseanna Gault in green stripe. I'm a little gutted my So-Yeon Sarah pair are half the price I paid for them (considering I haven't actually worn mine yet because they need broken in), but because I bought them a long time ago, the hurt isn't quite so bad! The Rosy are gorgeous too, the cuff is removable and they have this fabulous heart cut-out in the heel. Do I really need to say any more? Hotness!

Second pair I consider quite unusual for Irregular Choice. This concealed, exaggerated platform and curved, block heel aren't exactly IC classics, but I've loved the new shape for this season. Petrisha were one of my favourites in this style and the muted green especially. Sadly they were too small, even although I'd asked IC for advice prior to buying. The inner fabric is also quite scratchy, so it's not very easy to slip your foot into and I'd imagine it could snag tights. That said, I'm in love with them, they're absolutely stunning. So I've reordered the last pair of 39's this morning to replace them-I just couldn't be without them.

Finally, I can't believe I'm saying this...I got the Toad In The Hole boots!!!!! Gah, I'm just over the moon with them. The IC site had sold out of the 38's ages ago and then they got two pairs in this week (one went after a day), so I've been playing chicken with that last pair and finally they were at a price I was comfortable with paying. I wanted these so badly, I'd even considered purchasing them from a US site, which would've worked out slightly cheaper than buying them in the UK, when my size had gone. I knew I would need the 38 because they are quite generous sized and the same shape as The Beast that I own. Anyway, I just can't believe I finally got them. Inside is the softest, like teddy-bear type of fur and it's all over and under your foot, so cosy! They are I'd say the most sensible/practical shoes I own and join maybe 3 other pairs as my only rubber soled footwear! I even wore them today, which is unheard of for me to wear something new immediately. I'm just completely in love. What about you, did you get any IC for Christmas or in the sales? If I'm completely honest there's another couple of things I'd like, but I'm flat broke after this haul, so they'll have to wait-I am however happy that my IC wishlist has gone down considerably.

Little Beauty Haul (YSL, Estee Lauder, Harajuku Lovers)

2012-01-13T20:38:00.000Z

Last week I popped through to Debenhams because there were a couple of things I needed. I only have a tiny amount of Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation left and can't live without that, so that was a necessity! A couple of you had enquired about which shade I wear....I do use the lightest (1C1 Shell) and yes, it is a little too dark. Most days I can just about get away with it, but sometimes I think it looks way too dark. I wish they would make a lighter shade because the finish and formula are perfect for me, I just need a better colour match. Actually when I saw all the testers on the stand I couldn't pick out which was the lightest and thought they all looked far too dark (and very similar)-I think the frosted glass of the 'real' bottle helps trick me into thinking it's lighter than it actually is.

While we're on the subject, I don't like the design of the bottle. Now I'm near the bottom, it's a struggle every day to get some out and would be much easier in a pump or tube. However, as I say, I can't live without the flawless finish it gives me and for that reason, I'll buy it again and again. Whilst in Debenhams I was looking for some perfume (more about that later) which I didn't find, but did notice they were running an offer on their beauty card for 500 bonus points if you spent £30 (the foundation is annoyingly £26.50!) and I got sucked into looking for something else. Of course, there's nothing for around a fiver, but the YSL counter is my new weak point and they had their spring stuff out and I succumbed to purchasing one of their new lipsticks! I hadn't realised it was £23.50 though-I think I'd have thought twice about it if I'd known.

The colour is 116 Milky Pink which I don't think conjures up an accurate description. I struggled to photograph the lipstick accurately too which doesn't help, however the swatch is spot-on. In the tube it's a soft coral with gold micro-shimmer (not the bright pink it looks here-more like the band around the middle of the case) and comes out more pinky when swatched, but still with a little peach to it and the shimmer is practically unnoticeable unless you're looking really closely.

this is maybe the closest I got to the actual shade below

It's a Rouge Volupte Perle formula, so it's relatively sheer and I found if you build it up too much it leaves an uneven, streaky finish because it is supposed to be worn quite sheer. It's got a slippy sort of texture which I'm not 100% sold on, I do wish it were a little thicker, but then that's why it's a Perle finish. All in all, it's a nice enough shade and the packaging is adorable. I did have £15 on my beauty card which I used, so the price didn't seem quite so intimidating. I probably would've gone for a more standard nude, had I browsed their regular lipsticks, but as I said, I was caught up in the new spring stuff! Another shade I liked was a pretty grey-ish lilac, probably 108 Celestial Mauve (again a Rouge Volupte Perle), it was very light though, so I decided against it. I also got a sample of the new Forever Youth Liberator Serum which launches this month-although I've actually been using this particular product for the past few weeks for YSL (oooh! More on that once I can talk about it). I spend a fortune on cosmetics and it just brightens your day a little to get something extra in with your purchases doesn't it? No such item from the EL counter though-but the ladies there can be pretty crabbit to put it bluntly, I always feel like I'm hugely imposing on them by making a purchase, because you know that isn't their job or anything?!

Anyway onto more freebies. I was looking for Super G (Harajuku Lovers fragrance), which I posted about ages ago but never got round to buying. I'd been waiting for a gwp, they never did one and then Jingle G came out (which I've been wearing practically every day lately) and I realised Super G was becoming harder to find and it was likely I'd miss out on her altogether and we couldn't have that, considering I've bought every other scent! Soooo, I looked in Debenhams and they had no HL fragrances at all, I asked and she said they were sold out of everything (?). Next stop Superdrug, who had one or two bits, but no Super G, then I decided to look in this wee shop next to Primark, The Fragrance House I think it's called. They had Wicked Style reduced to £10 on the counter and behind the counter one box of Super G! She was full price but rather than risk losing out, I got her. The girl that served me was very pleasant and clued up and looked in her cupboard to see what she could give me : )

This may well be my fave dolly yet (I know I say that every time), I love that her little leggy's are finally out, rather than a perfume bottle shoved up them!

I already have this, but she had a spare 'make your own G' kit which came with 'G Of The Sea', (but they'd run out of her and still had the gift) plus she popped in a couple of samples too. As I said, it makes your day when people are kind like that. I'm now going to try scribbling on one of my dolls, as I didn't want to ruin the original, but now I have a back-up it doesn't seem so scary! I'll probably make a mess of it though.

Hello, New Shoes

2012-01-10T20:43:00.000Z

Yesterday I received my 12th pair of Melissa/Vivienne Westwood Anglomania shoes. It took me some time to come up with that number and I'm still convinced I'm forgetting a pair-shout out if you can name them. I think my current stash of Lady Dragons is: lemon/black heart, lilac/black heart, turquoise/coral heart, beige/cherry, mint/skull, black/skull, lilac/skull, black/red stamp, lilac/green globe. Then I have the pink Croco and blue glitter elevated 3-strap.

I've been waiting for the sales to buy this pair. I saw them on my trip to Edinburgh before Christmas and it took all my strength not to buy them there and then at a little more than half price. I'm glad I didn't as they were further reduced online a couple of weeks later, phew! The pom-pom pair have become one of my favourites already, they are really cool. I love the koosh ball and the shimmering blush colour is a little different from my others. Can't wait for warmer weather to wear them!

Tidying Up

2012-01-10T20:10:00.000Z

I've been in the mood for tidying up, which doesn't happen often I might add (love cleaning, hate tidying), however I've managed to throw out two very large bags of rubbish from my room and am starting on little things that have been niggling at me. My foundation drawer is one. I have these plastic towers with drawers for the majority of my makeup and although aesthetically, they're not very exciting to look at, they do the job of keeping everything stored neatly and out of the way. My foundation drawer is the only one that gets mucky really, from foundation covered fingertips and loose powder spillage, so I wanted to clean it and clear out the crap.

In this drawer, I keep my foundation (obv), concealer, some bronzer (which if I'm totally honest I never use now), powder, primers and that's about it. I try to keep it relatively neat, but I've bought several new things that are chucked on top, so this is what it looked like.

Top 'layer' and below that...

these drawers are really deep, it's quite surprising all what you can fit inside...

as you can see here, when it's all set out. Ridiculous.

and close-ups

Below is the stuff for the bin...(well my Double Wear has a tiny bit left, that will see out another couple of applications then that's gone-I bought a replacement the other day because it's my must-have foundation and to be honest I could probably live with that alone).

Ta-dah! This is the new clean drawer. Foundations and primers are upright with my bronzing and compact foundations piled up at the back. The powders (pressed and loose) that I use everyday are on the top at the front and once they're finished I have others below that. My concealer sit in between the two and it's much easier to see everything I need and access it.

I possibly could have been a little more ruthless and got rid of more, but for now it's neat and I'm quite happy. It's funny how the smallest of things can keep me content! Next step is my mascara bag, then lipgloss and lipsticks, then eyeshadows and pencils....

Primark Does Prada, Thank You!

2012-01-09T21:08:00.001Z

Oh my freaking goodness, Primark have only gone and copied, ahem sorry 'been inspired' by Prada SS12 and produced a little kitsch car print outfit! Yipee for me because I loved this collection. I may actually cry if my local doesn't get this in.

It's a top (£8) and skirt (£12)-I usually only do dresses, but will make an exception for this fab-ness-ness! There is two colours, pale blue or pale lemon. They will be instore at the end of February and I'll race you to the checkout...get it? Haha.

New Kandee Shoes

2012-01-06T22:15:00.000Z

I've been feeling a bit sluggish and uninspired this week. I didn't start the year with any major resolutions, but I feel there's things in my head that I'd like to achieve that are difficult to write down as actual points or specific things, if that makes any sense? Then it gets me thinking and I can't concentrate for trying to pin down what I'm thinking about, vicious circle! Every year I want my blogs to be 'bigger' and better than the year before and I feel I've finally got the layout exactly as I'd like it but then other things are missing. I wish I had more time for the social media side of things for example, like commenting on other blogs, forums and facebook etc, but I struggle to find the time for full time blog posts never mind that. I've been doing this since 2008 and feel I haven't quite reached to where I want to be....*thinks*....it's a tough one, it's hard to strive for something that can basically be down to a whole lot of luck rather than hard work and the latter is all I can really do. Anyway, going totally off on a tangent as per usual, but I don't think it's good to blog when you're feeling a little 'off' because your lack of enthusiasm comes across. That said, it's a Friday and I thought you'd appreciate some shoe porn, yipee!

I'd been wanting the Kandee Caramel Kisses for a while; always had it in my mind to get them at some point when funds allowed. Then Nicola Roberts (Girls Aloud) went and wore them and I had a feeling they would sell out completely as she seems to have that power over everything she wears. I checked the other day and they only had two sizes left, one being a 39 (I always size up in Kandee heels). They were still more than I would've liked to pay for them, however it was "get or regret" time and I got them. Aren't they cute?

I also got the Bubble Gum pink suede platforms which I'd been keen on, even although they're a plain shoe. I love the shape and the platform and it's so nice to get a chunkier, more wearable heel from Kandee (more like this please).

You know I wanted the After8 sparklies and others like them but I'm coming to the realisation that as gorgeous as they are, they just aren't practical or wearable enough. They'll be extremely difficult to walk in and I just don't go to fancy events often enough to justify them. My two pairs arrived yesterday and are slightly too big (I would just go for your regular size), but I'm hoping an insole will fix that. They are still mega high, even with help from the platform and chunky heel, so they'll need some practise before wear. Another thing that's on my mind constantly is 'shoe sales'-I have my eye on so many things, but have no money just now. It's driving me nuts, because I have to stalk them every day and try to prioritise which will sell out first and have to be bought first! The stresses of a shoeaholic eh? Ebay are doing a free listing this weekend though, so I'm going to put up lots of things and hopefully make some cash ; )

Swatches: Too Faced 'Beautiful Dreamer' Collection

2012-01-04T21:17:00.000Z

I loved the Too Faced limited edition collection for winter; filled with pretty sets and palettes...well when is Too Faced not pretty? There were lots of items I was adding to my wishlist. I first spotted the range in Boots at one of the Christmas shopping events but there was little information on the actual products, no prices and the testers either didn't exist (for new items) or were disgusting (the main collection). It's good to know that they do get the newer products in, but a shame when you don't know anything about them or can't try them. Anyway, I ended up ordering the Beautiful Dreamer set from ASOS. I know that completely contradicts what I just said about being able to test things, but it gave a good description of what was inside and I knew the price (£36.50 reduced to £21 and I had an extra 10% off).

The products come in this lovely makeup bag, which portrays the collection's dreamy theme extremely well.

Inside you get two compacts (more about them later) again featuring the gorgeous images similar to the makeup bag. A full size Lashgasm mascara, full size limited edition Pink Swan lipgloss (pink crystal) - not at all pink to me and nothing like the swatch on the box-it's a soft orange, but very sheer. You also get a small tube of Shadow Insurance in Candlelight (sheer gold) which could be worn on it's own or underneath eyeshadow for some added shimmer. It's really great, I've used this loads over the past couple of weeks.

Candlelight straight out the tube.

and you can see the wonderful sheen and that's only from a tiny amount.

Here's the gloss, I'm not at all bothered that it isn't pink, it's still really pretty and I've worn it several times too, over a nude lipstick.

Now the compacts contain an eyeshadow collection and blush/bronzer duo, each comes with it's own mirror and you get a more than reasonable amount of product inside.

The eyeshadow palette contains Teddy Bear, Blonde Ambition, Totally Toasted and Satin Sheets. Satin Sheets has least pigment of the four and is a pale pearly pink, Blonde Ambition on the other hand is the most pigmented shadow I have ever seen, it's outstanding! It's sooo metallic and soooo dense in one sweep! It's an antique, dirty greeny gold. Teddy Bear is the one shade I'll probably never use. I'm not much of a brown shadow wearer and this one is matte and just nothing exciting for me. Totally Toasted is again metallic and a copper shade. I can see me reaching for this palette time and time again, it's a good little range of neutrals that can be worn many different ways.

Shadows below worn without primer.

I was extremely excited about the blush palette when I realised that it contained "Whos's Your Poppy?" Full Bloom blush, which I'd swatched in Boots and fell in love with. At first I got it muddled with the Brightening Blush in "Papa Don't Peach" which I already own (mixing my daddies!), but then when I realised it was the newer one that I'd been wanting, I was thrilled! It's a lovely warm shimmery peach-just the colour I love! The Sun Bunny bronzer, I think I may have in another palette or two so I'm not as likely to use that as often.

Overall I'd highly recommend this set, it's extremely good value for money and the majority of products are full size. Other than the brown eyeshadow, I'd use all of these products time and time again, so you can't really go wrong with that. Plus it's extremely pretty, did I mention that? I'm accumulating quite the collection of Too Faced items now and will continue to do so if they keep bringing out crackers like this.

Fearne Cotton for Very 'Seagull Dress'

2012-01-03T18:50:00.000Z

You may recall me mentioning I liked this dress months ago when it first appeared on the Very site. To be honest, I find their 'celebrity/designer' brands far too expensive to buy outside of the sales, so I've waited a long time for this one to be reduced! The Fearne Cotton yellow seagull dress is quite similar to my lilac pansy wrap-over dress (also by Fearne) that I wear a lot, so I knew how it would fit and what the quality is like.

This one features a dip hem, which I can't get enough of just now. I've been desperately seeking dip hem and half sheer (skirted) dresses for ages, but they can be hard to find in my size and often come with a very 'party' like top half, such as one shoulder or strapless. That or they're skirts and I'm always so uncomfortable with what to wear on my top half in that situation. Anyway, this one is slightly dipped, I'm still looking for one that dips to my ankles and is knee-ish length at it's shortest point. This sits above knee on me and is really quite short, I'm not sure I'd wear it without leggings...maybe very thick tights.

I didn't realise the dress had these huge gold buttons. Two on the front and another two at the back. I'm kind of indifferent about them, they don't bother me, but I wouldn't care if they weren't there. There's lots of lovely tucks as you can see, which all add to the good fit. The dress is also fully lined. I'm not entirely sure yellow is my colour, but I think it's nice to try something different. The print features seagulls though and you know I kinda like birds on things!

Shoe Haul (Topshop & Kurt Geiger)

2011-12-31T17:52:00.000Z

I never got the chance to show you my recent shoe buys. Remember I placed an order with Topshop before Christmas? I buckled and bought the Louboutin alike pair as a treat and by luck noticed the Lillie cherry platforms that I'd spoken about before had gone into the sale. At the time they were full price, they'd sold out in my size, so it was surprising to find the red velvet in a 38 and the black in a 39 available for me to buy. Just as well I got them when I did, as they disappeared in all sizes before the Topshop sale officially started. I used next day delivery so I'd get them in time for Christmas and got an email to say there was a "delay" but thankfully they arrived the next day, Christmas Eve and I wore them immediately! You can see me in the black pair here and on Christmas Day in the red. Both are extremely gorgeous although some might argue I didn't *need* them both, I certainly didn't plan on buying the red or either actually, but when they were there in front of me, in the sale and I had the funds it seemed like fate. I had a pair of Unique dalmatian shoes and glitter mary-janes in my basket that I also toyed with purchasing but thought that was an overindulgence!

First up the full price 'Supreme' extreme nude platform courts Topshop, £88. Ridiculously high, ridiculous. Make your pins look amazing though and I apologise in advance for the rather rushed photo-shoot in this post, with my jammie bottoms rolled up, strap marks and the like!

'Lillie' cherry black velvet and green perspex heel peep toes Topshop, sale price £40 (£65). A size bigger, the ankle strap probably fits me better, but they're a little large in the heel. I wore them with thick tights though and there wasn't any 'slipping' when walking.

I just love the cherry detail of large pearls covered in black net.

'Lillie' cherry red velvet peep toes Topshop, sale price £40 (£65) in my regular size, the ankle strap on these shoes in general is very small, but the last hole fits fine for me. The heel on this pair are gold metallic and I tend not to buy red shoes (although they always attract me) because of my pink or turquoise hair, but these were too beautiful to resist and were just the perfect shoes for Christmas.

This next pair I purchased when Mum and Dad took me to Edinburgh just before Christmas. When I was at Uni, I used to be in the capital almost every weekend, last time I was there though was for a bridesmaid dress fitting for my sisters wedding 7 1/2 years ago! I haven't been "proper shopping" there in 10 years though. The whole trip was just to see if I could manage it and to let me see the German markets (was raining and too busy to even attempt that actually) and all the pretty lights. It was a bit of a disaster, although exactly what I expected to be honest. Too busy and Edinburgh is a complete nightmare (as is my hometown) for anyone disabled. Wheelchairs do not go well with busy streets, cobbles, small shops and indeed there are many places you just can't get into with steps or rotating doors (Topshop, Jenners etc). It was nice to go though and I did enjoy browsing the designer goods at Harvey Nicks and the sale in Kurt Geiger which is where I got these shoes. 'Active' wine patent platform mary-jane's Carvela by Kurt Geiger, sale price £49 (£100). These shoes are the type I absolutely would never have purchased online. The online images didn't entice me at all and they are very plain and just not really the type of thing I would even look twice at. My Dad spotted these though and in my hand they were just so shiny and so metallic that I couldn't put them down. When I tried them on (convinced they have magic mirrors in there), they looked ahhhmazing, just really gorgeous and I had the money, so thought why not? I don't think they come across as quite so magical here, so if you ever get to see them in person, definitely give them a try.

My Christmas

2011-12-29T20:59:00.000Z

I hope you all had a wonderful time over Christmas-just the dreaded New Year to go (have a strange hatred of Hogmanay). I had a great time with my family, we went to my sisters house with all my nephews running around like mad things. I overdid it though as I ended up sick on Tuesday, literally. Well almost...if ever there were an award for the sickest person who manages not to throw up, I'd win! I think it's because I haven't been sick since I was a kid, so I just imagine it to be really horrid and will do anything to talk myself out of it (not that anyone actually enjoys being sick, but I really can't stand it). I had this friend though, who would get really drunk, feel sick, go to the bathroom, throw up then come out and get back into the party! I would feel like crap and be willing myself not to spew, in turn probably making things worse for myself, as I was the other night...sitting on the cold bathroom floor, head down the toilet, hand over my mouth refusing to vomit, not giving in then it would hit me in another wave, ohhh it was dreadful.

I'm still not feeling 100%, although I'm slowly getting my appetite back, drinking plenty of tea and water and strangely I only ever feel like eating shortbread and hula hoops! Anyway I won't bore you with the details. I've actually enjoyed the past couple of days, just lazing around with a big fluffy blanket and my little sister while we watched all sorts of movies on TV and I haven't forced myself to worry about what I wasn't getting done during that time. Aaaaanyway, some pics for you, all taken on my phone because I'm back to using that as my sister took her decent camera back and the lens is once again refusing to extend on mine. I can't afford a new one right now or anytime soon, but there's always money for new shoes right? Strange how that works! I have zero spending money right now though, so I'm trying to not even look at the sales, Irregular Choice I'm weeping : (

Here's some Christmas pressies I got, just some random things.

Cutest stickers from my sis, notebook and pen from my friend below

This is actually a storage tin with a mini sewing machine and dressmaking stuff on top, how cute?

Some Ddung pens from my sis

Another pen from my sis and it actually plays the Monster High theme tune, I love it!

Quite eager to try these sponge heart shaped curlers from my friend which I reckon are going to require at least 3 hands to do!

A Hello Kitty/Liberty purse from another friend, some bow and butterfly stickers, a surfing mermaid My Little Pony (as you do), dolly keyring and "blind bag" glow in the dark, sparkly horse and mermaid all from my little sis - a bit gutted about the mermaid, because I only have one other and it's the same one : (

A sewing machine necklace with little scissors!

Best gift ever from Santa, massive unicorn mug!!!

Nail art pens from a friend with little jewels and stuff.

Yes the mug is big and yes the diary is tiny, honey I did not shrink or blow up the kids!

I feel this next watch/necklace is very apt, given our new buddies at Edinburgh Zoo.

Some birdy print Floozie jammies which I picked out with Mum months ago!

A lovely pearlised cameo pendant.

This is to hang from my bag, a little leather birdcage mirror and I quote my Mother "because you look at yourself all the time".

These necklaces you'll have already seen on The Shoe Girl Diaries because I wore them at Christmas, my piggy and rocking horse.

Metallic leopard print nail wraps from my big sis, along with a magazine subscription.

This next one ties with the unicorn mug for best gift ever, again from my little sis (she insists on getting me loads of things because I'm so easy to buy for), a freaking Lady Gaga paper doll, dress-up book!! It's insane, it has the meat dress, the egg, loadsa different hairstyles and everything!

I have loads more phone pics, but this is all the energy I can muster up today, my blanket calls...! Let me know what you got, hope it was good x x x