Naomi Doddridge

A little trip to the Amalfi Coast

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 11:32:00 +0000

Over the next week I shall post in my detail about my trip to the beautiful Amalfi Coast but for now here is some pictures from my week in paradise.

Travel Post - Flying Alone

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 18:00:00 +0000

It has been a very long time since I last wrote a blog post & I am currently writing this while I’m up in the sky. Now that the summer is approaching us I thought it was time I wrote another travel post.

Now for a lot of us flying is a piece of cake and for me that is the same but I think that was because I was always flying with someone else however I write this while sat on the plane by myself. Travelling alone is probably one of the most scariest things I have ever done and I would class myself as an experienced flyer. So now that I have survived it I thought a few tips to survive travelling alone for the first time.

1. Get there early - I cannot express this one enough, I arrived at Bristol three hours before I was due to board and this is super important. The chances are that when you arrive at the airport you won’t be able to check in straight away therefore I would just advise to sit down near the boarding screens until something changes on them.

2. Checking the boarding screens - This is another one that I did so many times especially before you have checked it because your check in desk can change, this actually happened to me while I was in the queue. (obviously the wrong queue) Once you have gone through security and are into the departure lounge make sure you check the boarding screens because it will either tell you what gate you should be in or how long it will be till they announce the gate.

3. If you’re stuck or confused speak to someone - Honestly airports can be one hell of a scary place especially if you have never done it before, the airport workers are there to help and if you have any questions or enquires go to them. This could be the difference between you catching or missing your flight.

4. As soon as you seeing that the boarding gate is over go to it - I unfortunately had a scenario about 10 years ago where we didn’t realise the boarding gate was open and missed the plane! This time I checked the boarding screens because I knew the only person would be to blame if I missed the flight would be me. Also if you get to the boarding gate early you will one of the first in the queue and therefore the first on the plane.

5. Making friends is different to talking to strangers - For the first time in my life I had a few people that were on the same flight as me ask me questions, apparently if you are flying on your own you look as though you know what you are doing. Even ask them a couple of questions I’m sure they will be intrigued.

6. Stay Calm - So important!! So I couldn’t find my gate and I must have freaked out for about 10 seconds when I couldn’t see my gate however if you look around you will notice that it is all marked up and there is no need for all of the panicking.

7. Relax & enjoy the flight.
I hope you enjoyed this and that it gave you a little bit of an insight!

Liz Earle Daily Essentials Kit Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 18:00:00 +0000

A skin care brand that probably everyone has heard of is Liz Earle, especially their Cleanse and Polish which everyone and their mother seems to rave about. According to a lot of people their cleanser is one of the best out there and possibly one of the most popular products ever, I can understand why considering it contains Rosemary, Chamomile, Cocoa Butter and Eucalyptus Essential Oils; all amazing things for the skin.

Daily Essentials Kit

Last month I decided that I needed to get into a good skincare routine, in all honestly I have never been one of these people that has been super into taking care of the skin which is probably why my skin isn't in the best condition.

I had heard that Liz Earle products mainly focused on those that had normal to oily skin therefore I decided it was time to splash out, originally I had only planned on going into Boots and picking up the cleanse and polish however I spotted the Daily Essentials Kit which also had the Gentle Face Exfoliator, Instant Boost Skin Tonic and the Skin Repair for Normal/Combination skin considering it was only £45 for all I decided to bite the bullet and just pick it up much to the dismay of my bank balance.

In the evening the Cleanse & Polish is so good for removing makeup, even removing all of my Roller Lash mascara which is an absolute pain to get off. I apply the cleanser twice once to remove all of my makeup and then to make sure that the skin is thoroughly cleansed through I then take it off with the Liz Earle Hot Cloth (included) which is so soothing on the face, so much better than using a cotton wool pad. After that I apply a tiny bit off the exfoliator only focusing it on the areas that need it the most so mainly my chin and around the noise. I then wash that off with my hands. Once all of that is off I apply a small amount of the skin tonic onto a cotton wool pad and just put it around the face to remove any excess make up that I may have missed. Finally I apply the Skin Repair all over the face. The rose scent that runs through all of these products makes them so much easier to apply to the face

For the morning I will just apply the Cleanse and Polish to wash my face and then apply the Skin Tonic afterwards to brighten up the face. I don't use the skin repair because I find it's a bit too heavy in the morning and I prefer something lighter to go underneath my foundation. A major thing I have noticed since using all of these products is how much easier my foundation now goes onto my face because my face is now so much cleaner it means the foundation now just glides on.

Since using it I honestly think my skin has felt a lot cleaner, it has cleared up my skin quite considerably as well. I would definately recommend the Daily Essential Kit however if you are on a tight budget I would recommend Cleanse and Polish as its amazing and definitely one that is worth it especially if you have considerably oily skin.

Hope you enjoyed this, let me know your favourite skin care products?

The British Tag

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 18:00:00 +0000

I have been incredibly MIA recently so for that I do apologise. To start with I was working a lot more hours and I honestly couldn't find the time or motivation to write blog posts and for the past few days my MacBook hasn't been working properly... hopefully it will continue working while I write this blog post.

Anyway enough about me I saw Katy do this tag I thought I would get back into blogging with this. I'm honestly quite proud to be British however that doesn't mean I enjoy living here. I have mixed views over living in a country that really doesn't have much going for it.

How many cups of tea do you have a day? How many sugars?
The best thing about Britain has to be the tea and I am a massive tea person, I drink maybe two or three cups a day, I honestly can't survive without it. I have no sugars with it though.

Favourite part of the roast?
Now being a vegetarian and working every Sunday I don't honestly have a roast that often however when I do I love roast potatoes they are honestly the yummiest thing ever. My favourite roast dinners has to be my Gran's she literally does the most amazing one.
Favourite dunking biscuit?
There is only one dunking biscuit that I actually like and that is a custard cream. I could probably eat an entire packet of custard creams in one sitting oops.
Favourite quintessentially British past-time?
Living in Devon there were so many past times that I enjoyed when growing up and I have to say one of my favourite ones was going on the moors or out on day trips to small Devon towns and having afternoon tea, who knew I had an obsession with tea.
Favourite British word?
I think my favourite British words are all swear words but without a doubt it has to be 'bloody hell' the amount of times I say that in a day probably isn't considered normal.
Cockney rhyming slang?
I can honestly say I have no clue about any Cockney slag, I never knew it even existed until I was introduced to social media.
Favourite British sweet?
It has to be Mini Eggs which are of course part of the beloved Cadbury's.
What would your pub be called?
I honestly have no idea... maybe I'd name it after my grandparents I think that would be nice.
No. 1 British person?
THE QUEEN

Favourite shop/restaurant?
Shop would 100% be Topshop honestly that is the greatest shop in the world let alone Britain and for restaurant, I'm not entirely sure I eat at a lot of different places so I can't pick one.
What's the first British song that pops into your head?
I'm not even a big Take That fan but Greatest Day immediately came into my head, I think anything by Take That remind me of Britain.
Marmite- love or hate?
I have never tried it so I'm not really sure however I have smelt it and it doesn't smell all too appetising.
I hope this wasn't too boring, I would love to see other people answer this so tag me in it once you've done it.

My Favourite High Street Store - Topshop

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 19:00:00 +0000

My favourite Topshop outfits

It's been a long time since I have done a fashion post, so please bare with me. I have been thinking about doing a little series of my favourite shops. I have to start off with Topshop though considering they are my absolutely favourite store.

Topshop is the place where you can find all of your basics but you can also find some really nice pieces. I would say that probably 80% of my wardrobe is Topshop and while I'm aware that it isn't the most student friendly in terms of how much everything is. Although I believe it is nice to splash out once in a while. Topshop do also have 10% student discount all year round and on occasions they also do 20%.

My favourite items from Topshop have got to my jeans, I own five pairs of their jeans... four in black. I love the jeans so much because they are super comfy and so well fitted. The only real problem I have with Topshop jeans and especially the black pairs is the fact that they fade quite quickly so I wouldn't recommend washing them after every time you wear them unless you are after the faded look.

My favourite jeans and the ones I have...

Joni Jeans Black - Super high waisted and super comfy. These were the first ever jeans I ever bought from Topshop and they are ridiculously comfy although I probably recommend upping a size because they are an incredibly small fit.

Joni Jeans Pink - These are my summer Joni' they are exactly same as the black ones apart from the colour. They are a baby pink that almost look cream in the light. (pictured above)

Mom Jeans - When I bought these last year, they were so incredibly popular, everyone was wearing them however now the hype seems to have died down. I don't tend to wear these as much in the winter because I find it hard to find shoes to wear with these. Although now were getting into Spring i'm wearing them with my doc martens shoes and a pair of black socks for that grungy look.

Super Ripped Jamie Jeans - Jamie jeans are a lot of people's favourites because they don't tend to fade as much as the Joni jeans. Although these are again a pair where you will need to up a size especially if you have big thighs because these jeans are made for those of the petite legs... definitely not me. (pictured above)

Black Ripped Jamie Jeans - These are my newest Topshop jeans and quite possibly my favourite. Another pair of ripped ones, I am absolutely loving anything that is ripped right now and these are no exception. Being high waisted they are very similar to the Joni Jeans.

For the past two years crop tops have been back in fashion and Topshop have been stocking them up in the hundreds I have a lot of crop tops and nearly all of them are from Topshop. For a plain crop top they cost about £8 which I think is super cheap especially for Topshop. I think that they are absolutely perfect for a night out to go with either a pair of high waisted jeans or high waisted skirt.

That staple night out piece

Another thing Topshop do better than everyone else is that one night out piece. I recently bought a high waisted midi laced skirt from one of the concessions in Topshop and I absolutely love it, I think the concessions are always great to look through because they have some real unique pieces that you won't find anywhere else. (pictured above)

Another stable piece I bought over 12 months ago is a green satin playsuit, I bought it to wear on my 18th and it is absolutely stunning although sadly I haven't worn it out since purely because its been way too cold. I am desperately trying to find an occasion perfect for it. (pictured above)

Do you love Topshop as much as I do, what are you favourite high street stores?

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 19:00:00 +0000

The Night Out Eyebrows

So about a week and a half ago I bought a new brow product... shocker I know. I had been using the Brow Wiz previous to buying this however I had just ran out. As much as I loved the Brow Wiz I went through it super quickly. I had heard so much about the Dipbrow and having been a massive lover of anything Anastasia Beverly Hills I decided to try it out.

Lets start with the packaging, the packaging is very similar to the mac paint pots, maybe a tiny bit smaller. The pot is made from glass so probably not ideal if you are travelling around a lot. To look at it's beautiful with the words 'Anastasia Beverly Hills' going around the clear glass. The lid is made from plastic with the Anastasia logo on the top. In all honesty I think the packaging really sells this product a lot more than the Brow Wiz.

The product itself... for such a small pot there is a lot of product. When I opened it up it looks exactly like a gel liner, pretty scary huh. I was a little terrified at how I was going to apply it especially considering I have the second darkest shade Ebony. The thing with this is that you need very little product, the smallest amount will go a long way so what I did was I got a little bit on my Zoeva 317 Wing Liner brush and put the product onto the back of my hand to make sure there wasn't any excess. Once I had the right amount of product on my brush I applied it to my eyebrows. I think the best way to use this product is to start with the back of your eyebrows and work forward because you need hardly any product at the front.

The dipbrow is perfect if you have nicely groomed brows however if you have unruly brows it problem isn't the best because it can make you look as though you have slugs on your face... as I figured out. Last week I got my brows waxed at Benefit and when I applied the product to my brows that evening I found it went on so much easier with less hair. This product is definitely the best if you want well defined brows.

As mentioned above I have shade Ebony as I have jet black hair, although I think that this colour maybe slightly too dark for me which is why I don't apply much product at all. I'm hoping it will last me till I go back to America in June when I can go into Sephora and check out all of the shade ranges first hand... so much easier than seeing it online.

Have you tried the Dipbrow I would love to hear your opinions on it?

20 Places I Would Love To Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 19:00:00 +0000

1. Japan
2. Australia
3. New Zealand
4. Iceland
5. California
6. Washington DC
7. Canada
8. Brazil
9. Mexico
10. Barbados
11. Italy
12. Germany
13. Hawaii
14. Ireland
15. Dubai
16. China
17. Cuba
18. The Philippines
19. Maldives
20. India

Hello all, it has been some time since I last did a travel post so I thought I would just include some of the places I would love to visit. I have been fortunate enough to go abroad every year since the age of about 3 therefore I caught the travelling bug very young.

Hopefully within the next 5 years I can cross a lot of these out and add new ones. These are probably the 20 places that I would love to visit at this moment for all different reasons. At the end of the summer the one I will be able to cross of is Italy and I'm super excited to go there as its the one place in Europe I have dreamt of going for so long.

I think out of all of these the two places I would love to visit the most are Japan and Australia. I have family in Australia and for so many years whist I was growing up it was always that one place I wanted to live. From what my family have told me Australia is an extraordinary country and I can't wait for the chance to visit. Alongside that Japan is also a place where I have wanted to go to for ages I have heard so many talk about how amazing it is and it has made me want to go so much more.

Where are some of the places you would love to visit? Let me know.

March Beauty Wishlist

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:00:00 +0000

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow - £49
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick - £23
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat - Pillowtalk - £16
Laura Mercier - Tinted Moisturer - £34
MAC - Pro Conceal and Correct Palette - £35
Prep & Prime Highlighter - £18.50
Charlotte Tilbury - The Fallen Angel Luxury Eyeshadow Palette - £45
By Terry Ombre Blackstar - Misty Rock - £29
NARS - All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation - £32

Going through my blog I realised I hadn't done a beauty wishlist in quite some time. In a dream world I would be able to afford all of these however in the student budget world I can probably afford one... well a girl can dream.

This beauty wishlist seems to have a Charlotte Tilbury theme running right the way through it. I'm so desperate to try it because I currently have nothing and so many people have mentioned how amazing it is. I think if I buy anything from it right now it would have to be the lip cheat as I currently can't afford a lot more. (I'm going back to New York in June and I all my money is going towards that.) The one I want to try more than anything is the Filmstar Bronze and Glow but I can't quite bring myself to pay that much for a bronze and highlight considering the amount of bronzers I already own.

Another one that I have been after for ages is the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturer, I'm hopefully going to buy it when I'm in New York. I have never really been a fan of Tinted Moisturer but my skin is pretty clear right now and I think it will be great for when I go to Italy in the summer.

Right now I'm trying not to buy any MAC products because I currently have quite a few although these are two products I have heard so much about and I'm dying to try them out. The Pro Conceal and Correct Palette is one that I have heard so much about, although I'm not sure I can justify the £35. Although if I got it I know I wouldn't run out of concealer for quite some time. The other MAC product is something that I heard from Tanya Burr and at £18.50 I think I might pick this up sometime this month. I love the fact that this can be used as a concealer and highlighter, multi use products are my favourite.

By Terry Ombre Blackstar is another one I have seen so many people talk about but again the price is pretty steep for an eyeshadow stick. Although I think these must be worth the hype because I have seen people with four or five of them. Finally I couldn't end the wishlist without NARS' new foundation. I was tempted to pick between this one and NARS Sheer Glow. I have never tried a NARS foundation and I'm really eager to try this one out, I've heard a lot of good reviews on this foundation especially from people who have similar skin-type to me.

What is on your beauty wishlist?

February Favourites

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 19:00:00 +0000

It's that time of the month again. February has come to an end and hopefully the end to all of the bad weather. Bring on March and Spring. Anyhow I thought I would include some of the things I have been loving for the past month.

Make Up

Anastasia Contour Kit

If you haven't heard about this, the chance is that you have been living under a rock for the past two months. This is certainly the most hyped product around right now with all of the Kardashians loving it. I am no stranger and for the past month... maybe longer have been loving it. I have the light/medium and its the perfect colouring for my skin tone. My favourite highlight is Banana while my favourite bronzer is Java. Couldn't recommend this product enough.

Benefit - Roller Lash Mascara

Like above this is another product everybody has been after for the past month. The new Benefit mascara is nothing short of amazing. I have actually done a review of it which can be found here. This mascara extends and opens up your eyes to give you fuller looking lashes. I would never usually recommend spending for than £10 on mascara but I really think that this one is worth it.

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lipliner

Since losing my beloved Mac Soar lipliner (still mourning over this) I decided it probably wasn't a good idea to spend so much on a lipliner considering I would probably lose it again however I was in need of a new nude one. I had heard a lot of good things about Tiramisu and decided to check it out. At only £2.99 I thought I might as well give it a go and even it was no good it wasn't expensive. While its not as good as any of the Mac ones it does the job well. It is honestly the perfect colour to go under Mac Velvet Teddy which was more of the purpose. I would recommend picking up Rimmel lipliners because for what they cost they are amazing.

Beauty

Tangle Teezer

I am so late to the hype of these since I only picked one up last month although I can honestly say this has actually changed my hair routine. The only thing that me off it was the price tag, I mean paying over £10 for a hairbrush seemed kind of ridiculous to me. Although I had to do something because my hair was so knotty and it was actually falling out every time I put a normal brush through it. This goes through my hair so easily and with no trouble... life saver.

Una Brennan - Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil

This was something I tried out at the start of the month and the review I did of it can be found here. I needed something which was going to help my skin because it was so prone to breakouts. I had heard so many people with oily skin talk about this so I decided to give it a try. It really is amazing all you need is a little tiny bit on your hands. It makes the skin feel super soft and clean. I would definitely recommend for those whose skin has them oily tendencies.

Clothing

H&M Wool Coat

I actually got this coat for Christmas but for this past month I seem to have been wearing it more than anything. This coat is honestly so flattering. I was looking for a camel coloured coat and after searching high and low I finally saw this one. I love this because it makes any outfit look immediately smart and as though you put a lot of effort into it. The link for it can be found here (although only size 14 is left)

Gossip Girl

I'm really not one for TV shows but one I have been really getting into recently is Gossip Girl. I feel as though I am so far behind on the hype of this. While I am still only on Season 1 I cannot believe how hooked I am already. I can see myself getting through the series in the next month. If you haven't seen it yet I would recommend because it is so good and if you are anything like me and love New York then it will definitely be for you.

How Much Is My Night Out Face Worth?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 19:00:00 +0000

FOTN

Mac Studio Fix Foundation - £21.50

Wake Me Up Concealer - £5.49

Mac Studio Finish Concealer - £15.50

Mac Studio Fix Powder - £21.50

Nars Virtual Domination Palette - £45

Anastasia Contour Kit - £39

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish - £23

Anastasia Brow Wiz - £15.50

Maybelline Brow Draw - £4.99

L'oreal Super Liner - £6.49

Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes Mascara - £17.76

Benefit Roller Lash (I only have the mini version but full size is) £19.50

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner - £3.99

Mac Lipstick - £15.50

Total: £254.22

When I saw how much it came to I was honestly pretty shocked. Whilst I know that I use mostly high end products and there are certainly cheaper alternatives that may be just as good if not in some cases better however I trust these products and know that they work for me. I think that this is probably more important than finding a cheap alternative just because it could mean saving a couple of pounds.

The only thing that really justifies the amount of money is the fact that this is my 'night out' make up and therefore I wouldn't use this many products every day. While I product use similar products and maybe some of the same, I just wouldn't use as many.

Whilst on this list I have included two face palettes, this is because I use a couple of products from each of them. It is easier than mentioning them separately and also quite possibly cheaper. From The Nars Virtual Domination palette I use Laguna and Sex Fantasy while in the Anastasia Contour Kit I use Banana, Java and Fawn.

I think by looking at this it is clear that I have quite the obsession with MAC. As you can tell they are my favourite make up brand.

I'm interested to see how much your face costs, let me know?

Sanctuary Spa - 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 19:00:00 +0000

If you have read my Una Brennan Super Facialist Review (found here) you will be aware of the horrendous break out I had a couple of weeks ago. Sanctuary Spa - 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask is the second part of my miracle skin care.

Before buying this I had heard a lot of amazing reviews about this face mask however it was only when Gabby (velvetgh0st) recommend it... that I actually took note. This is purely due to the fact that we have very similar/oily skin types.

Last week when I popped into Boots I noticed that it was on offer for £7 down from £10 (it's still on offer atm) therefore I knew that I had to pick it up.

The Detox Mask is ideal for oily and congested skin although anyone can use it. It is mainly aimed at those with problem skin which is my skin type. The aim of this mask is to combat breakouts and blemishes to leave the skin feeling soothe and refreshed. It does this through containing essential oils of Myrrh.

With combination skin it is important that only the congested areas are targeted with the mask due it being a deep cleanse facial. The main area of concern that Sanctuary Spa products target is; chin, nose and forehead, this is due to them being more prone to oil. It is better off to use a moisture enhancing mask for the cheeks because this may dry them out.

I find that the mask is also really handy for if you haven't got a lot of time because it only takes 5 minutes to work. Unlike a lot of other masks this one doesn't actually dry instead it heats up and then cools down when its ready to come off. The heat isn't at all uncomfortable just very soothing. For the best results I would say to use it a couple of times a week however if your skin is going through a breakout then I recommend using it every night.

Sanctuary Spa say that it is best to apply it to make up removed damp face.
Next is to massage a thin layer onto the problem areas of the skin.
After this allow it to heat up and cool down for 5 minutes.
Finally rinse off with warm water and a cloth and then pat dry.

If you have Oily/Combination skin I would certainly recommend. What are your favourite face masks, let me know?

5 Product Face Tag

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 19:00:00 +0000

On some lazy days, I'm just not in the mood for a full face of make up, therefore I thought I would combine my lazy day make up routine with the five product face tag.

No matter what I'm doing I will always pick Mac Studio Fix Foundation, this foundation gives a matte full coverage finish and it is great for when the skin isn't looking that great. With this foundation because its full coverage there isn't always the need for concealer therefore taking one product out of consideration.

The next product is for multi use which is the Hoola Bronzer, I'm including this because it can be used to bronze up the face but also for eyeshadow. I am loving bronzer for eyeshadow right now because of how matte it is. The bronzer adds depth to the eyes whilst still looking minimal. Next we have a new favourite which is Benefit's Roller Lash mascara (review can be found here) - I am so in love with this thing it gives thick full lashes within a couple of layers. I have the mini version however I will soon be buying the full sized version because this is honestly the best mascara I have ever used. Another product that I couldn't live without is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Ebony, this is my holy grail and I couldn't be without it. It is the best brow product I have ever used.

Finally my favourite lipstick ever which is Mac Velvet Teddy, I use this lipstick every single day and I absolutely love it. I makes me lips look bigger than they actually are and finishes off the minimal look in the best way.

What are the 5 products you couldn't live without?

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 19:00:00 +0000

Wearing Roller Lash.

Yesterday, (12/02/15) saw the release of Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara. I picked up my mini version last month in March' issue of Elle.

This is the first Benefit mascara that I have tried out, surprisingly I have never used BADgal Lash or They're Real however I am aware of how highly regarded they are among beauty fanatics. Once seeing how anticipated everyone was over this reveal, I just knew I had to get my hands on it. The first thing I noticed with this mascara was how absolutely stunning the package is; black and pink is so incredibly simplistic that it just works so well.

Benefit claim that this mascara is super curling and lifting and for once I agree. First of all I think that it's the smallest applicator for a mascara I have ever seen. I think that this might be the secret behind its fantastic application. A smaller applicator means its a lot easier to apply into those horrible corners of the eye. Another thing I noticed was the plastic applicator and I think Benefit must be the only ones that can make a plastic applicator work. I'm not the biggest fan of them because I do find it harder to get them through my lashes although this is definitely an exception.

With Roller Lash I like to brush down my lashes and then brush upwards while adding a couple more coats. Whilst I think it is most certainly super curling, I also think that this mascara is great for the bottom lashes. With the applicator it is so easy to get underneath the bottom lashes without getting any of the product underneath the eye.

Before using Roller Lash I had never really been big on higher end mascara however I think Benefit have managed to convert me with this. I will certainly be picking up the full size.

What are your thoughts on this mascara, do you believe its worth the hype.

Super Facialist By Una Brennan Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 20:00:00 +0000

What I know about skin care could be written on the back of my hand, therefore before purchasing this I did some research. A couple of weeks ago I got an allergic reaction after using a product. Usually my skin doesn't react badly to products however this time it did. My upper lip, chin and around my nose completely broke out and therefore I was in need of a miracle.

So after doing a bit of research I heard a lot of being mentioning face oils, I can honestly say that I would have never thought about putting a face oil on, mainly because my skin is incredibly oily already and the thought of putting oil on top of it honestly confused me.

Well... however a week later and I can say I would recommend a face oil even for the oilest of skins. I think that its important to make sure that your skin is well looked after; something I didn't do before a couple of weeks ago. The oil smells like oranges and its a scent you're either going to love or hate. I can honestly say I love it. Its not particularly strong and overpowering therefore its bearable.

With this oil all you need to do is pop a couple drops onto your hands and then rub you hands onto your make up removed dry skin. Once you have rubbed it all over you then need to be a warm flannel and place it onto your face and slowly wash away all of the oil.

There is only one downside to this product and its getting it out. I find on more than one occasion that I'm having to be careful with how much product I pour out because its so easy to tip too much out therefore I think there needs to something in order to stop too much of it from leaking.

I hope you enjoyed this review.

New York Day 5

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 18:31:00 +0000

I am finally getting round to blogging about my last day in New York. Day 4 can be found here.

The day started with an open top bus journey through New York City and down to the World Trade Centre. I can honestly say that if you have time whilst in New York I would recommend going on the tour because the guy that leads it is really great and tell you about everything you are driving past.

My favourite place we went through was Greenwich Village, I'm honestly gutted we didn't spend anytime there because it is one of the most picturesque places I have ever seen. The apartment buildings are exactly like those you see in films, I actually couldn't quite comprehend how a like they looked.

If you are in New York and have the time, I think its important to go down to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. The first time I came to New York the museum wasn't actually there so it was a first time seeing it for all of us. The museum is absolutely stunning and everything is laid out so perfect in honour of the survivors and those who lost their lives. The thing about the museum is you feel as though you know every victim, which is honestly more heartbreaking than anything. I won't go into too much detail about he Museum as I think its something you need to see to understand.

The walk over to the boat for the Statue Of Liberty was honestly a lot longer than I remember it to be however it is one of the most stunning walks ever. It is so relaxing and peaceful and a great way to take in the surroundings. Visiting The Statue of Liberty is again another tourist attraction however one I'm not too keen on. The reason being is because I absolutely hate boats therefore I sat inside and let my family take the pictures. (Credit to my brother for the above picture.)

Our last port of call for the day was to visit the Brooklyn Bridge and my dad thought that it would too far to walk and therefore we would catch the subway. Once we got on the subway we spoke to a local lady who told us we were on the wrong one... great. The subway we got on was the one to Brooklyn, ironically because that was the other side of the bridge. We got off the subway and walked the route from Brooklyn back to Manhattan. We walked the bridge around 6pm and all of the buildings we lit up and it was such a stunning view to see all of Manhattan lit up. A little last minute trip to Bloomingdales was in order to pick up a few last bits and then back to the hotel.

In the evening we ate at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse. Everyone had a steak aside from me, I am a vegetarian. This restaurant is very highly rated among New Yorkers and it's easy to understand why, the waiters were wonderful alongside the food.

I hope you've enjoyed my New York blogs I would love to hear your opinions, I have a trip to Italy planned in the summer so hopefully I will blog about that as well.

That Red Lip

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 20:08:00 +0000

I used to be the person that would always wear some sort of bright lip however a red was never one of them. I recently bought Russian Red by MAC whilst in New York and I can officially say that I have been converted.

While for an everyday look it is very hard for me to stray away from my beloved Velvet Teddy however if I'm going out for an evening I will no longer reach for my favourite nude but now my favourite red.

Russian Red is a classic matte red. A matte lipstick is so important when it comes to red because you need it to last and this is exactly what it does. Alongside this underneath I put my Exaggerate full colour lip liner in Red Diva by Rimmel. Which I can honestly say isn't particularly drying which is why its my favourite combination at the moment. This lip liner is more of a berry red than a classic bright red although I wear this lip liner for the longevity more than making it brighter. I can honestly say that this lipstick lasts 10 times longer with lipliner especially reds because they have the habit of bleeding which is never a good look.

If you are looking for a classic red I always think that MAC do the best red shades although I am a big fan of Rimmel 107 which works just as well I find.

What's your favourite red lip combo?

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 20:06:00 +0000

Contour Kit Review

I'm not one to buy something purely due to the hype of it... however I caved. Throughout the month of January I promised myself that I wouldn't buy anymore clothes therefore I decided I would just spend the money buying expensive make up instead, that's aloud isn't it?

I first actually saw this when I was in New York and I must say its a lot smaller than I thought it would be. When I saw this palette it was nearing the end of my trip so I promised myself I wouldn't buy anymore make up. Although last week when I got paid I decided it was time to just bite the bullet so I bought the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit in Light and I can honestly say I have never been happier with a purchase.

So in my last blog post Bronzers and Highlighters (link can be found here) I mentioned that I hadn't tried it out however since then I have been using it everyday.

On the top row you have Vanilla, Banana and Sand. Vanilla and Banana are both matte highlights while Sand a lovely shimmer to it. Vanilla and Sand both have pink undertones to them while Banana has more of a yellow undertone. My favourite of the top row has to be Vanilla I love it for an inner eye and below the brow highlight, its the perfect shade.

On the bottom row you have Java, Fawn and Havana each of them wonderful matte shades. I have been using Java to bronze up my entire face it think its the perfect bronzer for me at the moment. I apply it with a Real Techniques blusher brush. Fawn is definitely the colour I will be using in the summer because its a little bit dusky which is perfect with a glow.

Now even though this is a contour kit I have actually been using Havana as an eyeshadow shade and I absolutely love it. I have noticed recently how a lot of Bloggers and YouTubers have been using bronzer as an eye shadow and I will have to agree its great.

These palette is incredibly pigmented with colours lasting all day. I would honestly recommend it as I think its great for every day use especially if you're a big fan of contouring.

All views are my own and this was bought with my own money.

Bronzers and Highlighters

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 20:00:00 +0000

There was once a time when I wouldn't go anywhere near Bronzers or Highlighters but fast forward a couple of years a seem to have gathered a little collection.

One of my favourites has to be the Sleek Contouring and Blush Palette as you can see from above this palette has certainly been well loved. This was the first bronzer I got and I can honestly I must have worn it everyday for about 6 months. I do see occassionally go back to this when I'm feeling a not so heavy make up look. If you are looking for a high street bronze and highlight this is the one get.

Another high street product is the Bourjois Délice de Poudre. I only actually bought this not too long ago when Boots had a 3 for 2 offer on and after seeing everyone go on about it I decided to jump on the bandwagon. I must say it smells amazing but I'm not too keen on the actual product at the moment purely due to how pale I am. I have it in shade 55 as I'm pretty sure this one only comes in one shade. I think this product is certainly a lot better when you have a tan. I'm definitely going to be using this in the summer.

If you've been reading my blog for a while you will know a lot about my next product which is Benefit - Hoola Bronzer. Which was featured in my Everyday Make Up (here) I honestly can't recommend this bronzer enough, it is by far the best bronzer I have ever used. It is perfect for every skin tone and as someone who is pretty pale it is perfect as it doesn't make me look orange in the slightest which is a must for me. This bronzer is perfect whether you want an all over bronze or just something to contour your face.

I've got to include a Mac product somewhere haven't I. I have the Mineralize Skin Finish in Lightscapade. This is my favourite highligher at the moment and I have been using this everyday for quite some while. This is perfect for my pastly skin, it gives the tops of your cheeks the subtle glow that you need. The highlighter does look a bit strange which blue, orange and pink running through it however I just swirl this around on my brush and lightly dust it onto my face.

Finally two new palettes that have come into my hands recently are of course Nars Virtual Domination and Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit. The Nars palette has the very famous Laguna Bronzer which I absolutely love I find it very similar to the Benefit one where I can either use it for an all over bronze or just to contour. The highlight in the Nars palette is Miss Liberty Highlighting Blush Powder, this hightlighter is absolutely stunning with gorgeous sparkles running through it, amazing for a glow. The Anastasia Contour Kit is something I haven't actually had the chance to try yet however once I do there will be a review on it. I can't wait to try it out tomorrow.

What are your favourite bronzers and highlights, let me know?

January Favourites

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:31:00 +0000

I am struggling to comprehend the fact that January is almost over. So I guess its time to round up my favourites throughout the month.

Beauty

Mac Studio Fix Powder - NW20

This product is a new holy grail for me. Since buying this in New York at the end of December I can officially say its a firm favourite. I can't honestly recommend this product enough, you can wear its on its own or with foundation. I love using this alongside my Studio Fix Foundation as its so high coverage. I think this going to be a favourite for a few more months yet.

Wake Me Up Concealer - 010 Ivory

In my updated every day make up routine I said that I used my Collection one every day however that has changed. I have been meaning to try this for so long and when I saw it in Boots I just had to get it. I think this concealer is a little bit more water based than the collection one. I would recommend this one for under the eyes. I honestly think its really similar to the Nars creamy concealer. Its an amazing price and one I would definitely recommend picking up

Zoeva 102 - Silk Finish

I hate to admit it but my beloved Real Technique buffing brush has been replaced by this little one. I love all of my Zoeva brushes but this is definitely my favourite it makes blending foundation so easy and quick. This one leaves no brush marks on the face and no hairs escaping from the brush which was happening with my buffing brush.

Nars Sex Fantasy Blush

How could I do a January favourites without mentioning my absolute favourite palette. Sex Fantasy is part of the Virtual Domination palette and I can honestly say its a new favourite. I must admit I do still switch it up between this and Nars Orgasm as an old favourite. I think this blush goes great with the Benefit Hoola Bronzer. Sex Fantasy is such a lovely baby pink colour and of course with being Nars its amazingly pigmented. I honestly can't recommend Nars blushers enough, there is honestly nothing that compares to it.

Beauty Favourites

Skincare

Micellar Cleansing Water

This has been a firm favourite for a good couple of months. This is seriously the best thing to remove your make up with. I love this because its so gentle on the skin and is possibly the first make up remover that hasn't broke me out. Its only costs about £4 and lasts for ages. I honestly would not stop purchasing this.

Fashion

Topshop Denim Jacket

I bought this a few months ago but however before Christmas is raining too much for me to wear it however since its the rain has seemed to calm down, well at least down here it has. I have been wearing this almost everyday. Its so warm and comfy, I think a black leather jacket is a must and I'm so in love I can't rave about it enough.

Topshop MOTO Black Super Ripped Jamie Jeans

For the past month my legs have been rather cold, which is all thanks to these Topshop jeans. I love how go can dress these up or just wear them with a pair of boots. Alongside that they are super comfortable I have to admit that these night be replacing my Joni Jeans.

The ultimate jeans

I hope you enjoyed my favourites. University interviews start this week so I sincerely apologise for not updating as regularly. Anyway I hope you have a wonderful week.

Green Smoothie Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 17:30:00 +0000

In an attempt to get some what healthier I bought myself a Breville Blend Active. I saw everybody raving about these so I kinda caved in and got one myself. I love how practical it is, all you need to do is change the lid and all is done. The smoothie I made today was a Green Smoothie. This is a recipe that I found last night, it came from Tanya Burr YouTube Channel.

All of these ingredients are optional and you can just experiment and make the recipes your own.

I used:

Ginger (a tiny amount)
Pineapple chunks (a handful)
1 Celery Stick
1/5 of a cucumber
Spinach (a handful)
1 Banana
Coconut Water (how much depends on how much you like)

Green Smoothie

Hopefully I'll do more of these in the future.

New York City - Day 4

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 10:28:00 +0000

I think New Years Day was my favourite day in New York. We left the hotel and went for some breakfast at Palace restaurant on 57th Street we then continued our walk over to Central Park. One of my favourite things about New York is definitely the parks because its insane because in about 20 minutes you can go from the insane panic of Times Square to the relaxing atmosphere of Central Park.

We walked round for a bit and then stopped off at the ice rink. Myself, Kieran, Daniella and Kris all went ice skating for about an hour. If was fun considering I hadn't skated in a good few years. Once we had gone round a few times you get to used to it and then we were all comfortable on the ice. Nearing the end my mum wanted to go round once so I lent her my skates... my mum can't ice skate and it was probably the most hilarious thing I have ever seen, she managed to fall over the moment she stepped onto the ice... Alongside that she was being dragged around by Kieran and Kris who were trying their best to make sure she didn't knock anyone out. I think she might need some lessons in the gracefulness of figure skating.

Once we had finished ice skating we walked along the front of Central Park where the horse and cart were parked. I've been on the horse and cart before and its lovely because you can ride through Central Park which is so relaxing and you can ride through while taking photographs. When riding through the man will talk you through where films have been set around Central Park which is really quite interesting.

We then took a stroll to Fifth Avenue. Walking along Fifth Avenue is really something else. Fifth Avenue is also known as the designer avenue with designers after designers. The big designers along the avenue is Tiffany's and Co, Louis Vuitton and Prada. I must admit we did have a little nose into Tiffany's and its insane in there with different levels for each occasion, they even have a baby level with the most cutest bracelets.

For lunch we went to Le Pain Quotidien which is the most gorgeous organic restaurant. I had a gluten free tomato soup which was seriously amazing. I am a big fan of organic restaurants and I must admit this was one of the best.

In the evening we caught the Subway to China Town and Little Italy. China Town is basically full of cheap souvenir gifts, I have honestly never seen so many key rings in my life... insane & yes China Town is full of Chinese people and only Chinese people. We had a meal in Little Italy which I'm going to admit wasn't the cleanest restaurant we have ever seen... although the meal was really good so we couldn't complain.

We then got the Subway back to central Manhattan and off to the Rockefeller There is the most incredible view from the Top Of The Rock and especially at night because its magical to see the whole city lit up. It was so much better doing it at night because it wasn't as busy. I would recommend The Rock over Empire State in terms of view because you can see so much more.

That is it for Day 4, I hope you enjoyed it.

Everyday Makeup Routine

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 17:42:00 +0000

This is my third daily make up routine I have done since starting this blog 18 months ago. My two previous looks are here and here. I have to admit I absolutely love this make up. From day to day I do sometimes mix up but this is what I will usually wear to college and work.

Make Up Favourites.

I think the first thing I need to mention is the change in my make up brushes. I got the Zoeva Rose Gold Brushes for Christmas and I absolutely love them. While from time to time I still do use my real technique ones these are what I reach for on a daily basis. My favourite brush has got to be the 102 silk finish, this brush makes it so easy to apply foundation as the foundation soaks into the brush it makes applying an absolute dream.

For just everyday I don't usually bother using a primer as its a bit unnecessary although if I do use it I will use the Benefit Porefessional. For base I use MAC Studio Fix in the shade NW13 with my two concealers Collection Lasting Perfection in Light & Studio Finish concealer in NC15. The Collection one is great for redness while the MAC is very bright so I use it under my eyes.

For the rest of my face I use a MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC20. This is a new product that I only bought a couple of weeks ago in New York but I have to admit its my favourite powder ever as it gives your make up such a flawless finish. To contour I use my favourite ever bronzer which is Hoola by Benefit. It such a great colour and so easy to blend. While for blush I have used the same blusher for the past 18 months which is Nars Orgasm. This product is defintely my holy grail and I've only just hit pan which shows you just how long its lasted me for. Finally I like to finish off with my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade which is the perfect highlight.

For eyes I have switched from my Naked 2 palette that I still love to my Lorac Pro. I have been lusting after this product like every other blogger and their mother but since it's pretty pricey and hard to get hold of I kindly asked my brother to get it for me for Christmas, If anyone is intrested in buying it Amazon sell it but make sure you buy it on the American Amazon as its a lot cheaper. I love this palette because it has the same amount of matte and shimmer shades. I have to admit I am more of a matte lover myself so eight matte shades is amazing. My two favourite shades are Mauve and Pewter.

My favourite part of my make up to do is my brows I just need to make sure that they look perfect (or as close to perfect eyebrows can be) I recently bought Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, I got it in shade Ebony and its a perfect match. I am so late to this Brow Wiz hype but its so good better than anything I've used before. On to eyeliner and it's something I don't wear everyday but sometimes I will just use it by itself and for these occasions I will use my L'oreal liner which is so easy to apply and looks great. For mascara I still stick to my trusty L'oreal Miss Manga although I have bought a Tarte mascara which I will start using once I finish using this one.

Finally onto lipstick and back to MAC again. I have been wearing Sour lipliner and the Velvet Teddy lipstick most days since November. Although lipstick is one thing I will change up quite a lot especially for college. If I do change it i'll go for something a little bit more daring like MAC's Russian Red or Rebel. However for work I will always wear Velvet Teddy because its something neutral and truthfully its the only lipstick that will last the entire shift.

I would love for you to recommend some of your make up favourites that I should try.

New York City - Day 3

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 20:18:00 +0000

Now our third day in New York was New Years Eve. We got up early and had breakfast in our hotel on the 12th Floor over looking the city. Once we had eaten, all of us (expect for my dad) decided to avoid the caffeine... you will find out later why. We left our hotel and headed for the shops.

The first place we went was this Christmas shop, now something I didn't know about was the amount of Christmas shops in New York... it was slightly insane. However everything in this shop was reduced to half price so I bought the cutest ice skates decoration for the tree I have ever seen and even better as it only cost me $4. Although I am going to have to wait till the end of the year until I am able to put it on the tree but I think it is worth it.

My stunning Christmas decoration.

Once we had finished in there we headed back down to Macy's, this time it was slightly quieter considering it was only about half 9. As there was eight of us we all went into our little groups for an hour. My cousin Daniella and I headed for the MAC counter in need of some goodies. Anyone that knows me will know that my favourite make up brand is MAC. Although the one thing I found in Macy's compared to at home is that it is a lot harder to get served and so you need to know exactly what you want else you aren't going to get anyone. Daniella picked up the Studio Sculpt foundation in NC15 & two nude lipsticks. I picked up the Studio Fix powder in NC20 which I must say I absolutely love & two matte lipsticks in Russian Red & Heroine. Once we had finished we popped out of Macy's and ran across the road to Victoria Secret and I'm not kidding it was the biggest Victoria Secret I have ever seen. We picked up a few things in there and headed back over to Macy's.

MAC Make up...

All of us went and had a look in Urban Outfitters and I was a little bit disappointed because they didn't have a lot in there for such a massive store. So once we were done we headed back to our hotel to get changed to head out for New Years Eve. Once we got back to the hotel it was 1ish so we went into Subway and had some lunch... yes I know what you're going to say, Subway? really. We were in a rush.

We got changed back in the hotel and put on our hundreds of layers... not even exaggerating I had on 300 denier tights, thermal leggings and my joni jeans. We filled our pockets with chocolate and had a drink each and then we headed over to Times Square. At this time it was only about 2pm however we knew that it was important to get there early and while you may think we were crazy, seeing the ball drop was the main reason for coming to New York for New Years. Earlier in the day we spoke to a couple of New Yorkers who said hardly any of them do it... after a few hours we learnt why.

My New Year attire.

Once we got to Times Square you could understand why security is so tight as I have never seen so many people nor police officers in my life. We got talking to one police officer who was one of the most friendliest people I have ever met. He was telling us about everything that was happening tonight and what we were going to have to deal with... especially not being able to pee for 10 hours, hence the no caffeine.

Family with the police officer!

While we were talking outside of the pen we got speaking to a couple of New Yorkers; Jacqueline and Aneesa who were from New York and if you ever go to watch the ball drop you will learn so much about the people you speak to because they are literally the only people you speak to while in the pen.

I will skip the boring part of waiting for 6 hours absolutely freezing, I couldn't actually feel my feet.

Our lovely New York friends.

Around 8pm Idina Menzel came on and sung Let It Go; she is seriously incredibly talented and of course over a million people were singing it as well because lets be real who doesn't know Frozen? After that Magic came on a performed a few times and there was a lady presenting throughout until Taylor Swift came on and sung Shake It Off and Welcome to New York. I absolutely love Taylor Swift and she really was incredible and certainly worth the wait.

As by this time it was 10 minutes till midnight the mood changed a little as people were excited to finally ring in the New Year as we saw the ball drop there was balloons thrown out of buildings and confetti everywhere, it really was incredible.

The most incredible evening!

I would say that I really think standing in Times Square for New Years is something that everybody should experience even though it was absolutely freezing it was most certainly worth it.

I really hope you're enjoying reading these! Let me know.

New York City - Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 20:26:00 +0000

On our first full day (or day 2) in New York we started it off by going for breakfast at Morning Star which is on 2nd between 50th & 51st. I had the most yummiest pancakes with strawberries and syrup. This American diner is pretty small but has a lovely family friendly atmosphere.

Pancakes at Morning Star

Once we had eaten we were eager to head off and start our day. We decided to hit the city and do a little bit of sight seeing. We started off by going to see the Chrysler Building which is a stunning Art Deco skyscraper which is located on the east side of Manhattan which is on Lexington and 42nd. The inside of this building is absolutely stunning. As you walk in you can see the America flag swaying as people walk past it & everyone having photos with it... including me. While I don't think this is something you necessarily have to visit while in New York I do believe it is a beautiful building that won't let you down.

Blending in well with the background!

Once we had a good look around at all of the Art Deco, off we went again and we walked over to Grand Central Station. I know to New Yorkers Grand Central might not seem like much but to us it's insane the station is bigger than my local mall. I think it's the perfect place to just people watch because there is so many people! There is a vast number of restaurants and a couple of shops, including a MAC. We had a good look at Grand Central and then we walked over to Times Square.

Times Square - is without a doubt is my favourite place in New York. Times Square was pretty empty but crowded with police officers due to it being the day before New Years Eve. Once we got to Times Square we noticed that one of the big screens was obviously in collaboration with Revlon's and the hashtag #loveison. We had so much fun taking photos of ourselves and trying to get into the little heart. Whilst in Times Square I spotted a Sephora to the left of me. I quickly popped in there looking for one thing and one thing only... Nars Virtual Domination Palette and I found it! Alongside that I also picked up a Tarte mascara. (Will be in a separate blog post a little later.)

I'm far on the right hand side, with my mouth open... no surprise.

Our next stop was the Empire State, I must say this was one of the things I was looking forward to the most. The first time I came to New York we didn't go up the Empire State so this time it was a must. After a good hour and half of queuing we finally made our way into the lift and up to the top. Once you get to the top there really is the most incredibly view and a little bit scary. It's insane how much you can see from so high up. I could see pretty much everything in New York and you can really see how tall these skyscrapers are which I really felt like put everything into perspective because it shows how small we actually are. I think the scariest part was definitely looking down, now I'm not scared of heights however this did freak me out a little bit especially when you could only just make out the yellow cabs.

A small part of the absolutely insane view.

We spent just over half an hour up there and it even started snowing... incredible! Once we got down we went to get some lunch at Pret, everyones favourite! After that we took a little stroll over to Bryant Park where we actually spotted two people from True Blood (I'm not sure who they were sorry any avid True Blood fans) anyway we took a look at some of the little stalls and there was this one that really caught my eye which was a little Jewellery stall and some of it was really incredible, the lady made things such as leaf and snowflake necklaces and earrings. Her website is http://www.graceoliver.com if anyone is interested in checking it out. I think one of the most stunning things about Bryant Park is the famous ice rink and being an avid figure skater when I was younger I got rather excited when I saw it. Unfortunately it was super rammed so we didn't go on it instead we walked over to Macy's. Going to Macy's at 5pm isn't something I would recommend as it was absolutely manic inside, we only had a quick look around because we decided we would have a better look later on in the week.

A quick change and we went out again this time it was to this lovely Irish Pub 'Pig N Whistle' which has the most friendliest owner. The food in there was absolutely delicious and just a lovely atmosphere, there was also a bloke playing guitar and singing which was nice to hear for a change instead of music just playing out of a music player. Once we ate we went for a nice little stroll around the shops before heading off to bed before our New Years Eve celebrations the following day.

New York City - Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 16:36:00 +0000

I have a series of blog posts coming up about my trip to New York City - so keep an eye out. However my first blog post is of my first day in the city.

So we flew out to New York last Monday (29th December) which also happened to be my birthday. We got to Heathrow airport very early in the morning and once we got through security and bag drop we didn't have much time to spare so while we were waiting for our breakfast to arrive I quickly ran off to Duty Free to get my favourite perfume YSL Black Opium which smells absolutely divine. Once we had our breakfast we had to sprint to our boarding gate as we were running pretty late... don't worry this isn't unusual for us.

Nicest smelling perfume, ever!

Once we got on the plane my mum sneakily told the cabin crew that it was my birthday and at the end of the flight they wished me happy birthday with everyone on the plane clapping... was slightly awkward.

We arrived in New Jersey at about 2'o clock and took the hour drive to New York City. It was lovely to drive around the city before getting to our hotel as our taxi driver was absolutely lovely and pointed everything out to us. Although this was my second time in the city it's nice to be reminded of places. We drove past The New York Times building... dream job! Which was slightly insane for me to see it for real.

Slightly blurry photo of The New York Times.

We then arrived at out hotel Courtyard Marriott which was on 3rd & 52nd. It was about a 20 minute walk from Times Square. On our first night we went for a walk around the City and for the first time walked through 5th Avenue, which if you aren't familiar it is where all of the designer shops are... heaven.

Always time for a birthday selfie

Although surprisingly we couldn't find anywhere to eat so we went to TGI Fridays... which is hilarious considering we probably walked past hundreds of restaurants... oh well!

That was it for my birthday & first evening in New York I look forward to sharing the rest of the week in the upcoming weeks.