Treats From & Other Stories
You can’t go to London and not shop! Right? Well I certainly can’t. I knew I wanted to visit the usual places like Liberty, SpaceNK and Selfridges. I also wanted to pop into & Other Stories and Pixi – my lovely mum was with me, the weather was so sunny we had a fab time. She treated me to a few bits as I don’t get to see her often (we live 300 miles apart). So it was nice to catch up with her and do a little retail therapy. Its been a while since I spent so much in one go.
I thought I would break it up and show you in this post what I bought from & Other Stories
Body Lotion Fig Fiction / Linen Beige Naquet Eyeshadow / Khaki Naquet Eye Pencil
What a beautiful shop & Other Stories is. I took lots of photos and think I will do a post on it. What do you think? Would you be interested in seeing that. The shop is laid out so well and merchandised so you want everything. The clothes are fashionable but affordable and they look to be well made. So many accessories that are merchandised alongside the clothes and we all know that the beauty section has been getting nothing but rave reviews and I’m here to say nothing other than I loved it! So many great own named branded items as well as The Balm, This Works and Dr Bronners and a few more that I wasn’t familiar with.
I wanted to buy so many things but had to show a little restraint. The Fig Fiction Body Lotion smells divine. Fig has become my new favourite scent. It is so luxurious and fresh, I am in love with it. They had a really good selection of eyeshadows and being utterly predictable I picked up a neutral colour called Linen Beige – why change the habit of a lifetime?? The packaging for the eyeliners I just loved, its so simplistic and appealed to my packaging addiction / obsession. I bought another neutral colour and went for Khaki. I think this is more of a copper but again I made a perfect choice for me & think I will get alot of wear out of it.
I’m really happy with the products I bought an already planning a return visit. On my wish list is a blush in Satin Magenta the Fig Fiction Body Mist – I can only imagine how amazing this smells and I need to try their Concealor Stick.
Have you visit & Other Stories or tried any beauty products from them? I’d love to hear your recommendations.
Bill’s Cafe Restaraunt
I knew whilst I was in London that I wanted to visit Bills. I’ve seen so many cute posts about it & heard nothing but good things. So I thought the day before my brother ran the Marathon would be the perfect time. I went with my husband, brother & mum, none of us had been before.
I took loads of photos whilst I was there, I may have been a little excited! There are a few Bill’s in London and decided to go to the one in Covent Garden Wellington Street. We made a great choice, it was a lovely restaurant so cute inside and the staff couldn’t have been nicer. They have paid great attention to detail and we would recommend it 100%.
We ate there for breakfast and the menu was fab. All of us enjoyed what we ordered and it was very fresh and super yummy. I would love to go back for Dinner next time.
Guacamole Eggs and beans on toast (brothers) / Blueberry Pancakes, Banana & Strawberries and maple syrup (mums)
Smoothies / Soya Porridge with banana & hazelnuts (mine & it was so good)
Have you ever been to Bill’s – let me know what you thought and which one you visited
Instagram Round Up #22
Its been one hectic week. My husband & I headed down to London early on Friday morning from Liverpool and had the most amazing time. I’m sure if you follow me on any social media platform you would have seen that my brother ran the London Marathon. It was his 4th year in a row and he ran it in a PB time of 3.24. So I’m really proud of him! He ran for charity Virgin Just Giving Page.
The weather was amazing and I did a little retail therapy. Just what I needed. My mum also came and it was great being able to spend time with her. She lives in Scotland and I don’t get to see her too often. We shopped and had alot of fun walking around in the beautiful sunshine discovering new places to eat, parks to sit in and sights to photograph.
We stayed 4 days and enjoyed every minute. London is always a city that inspires me, but I do love to come home and get back into my routine. As I said I did a fair bit of shopping & will be doing a post about that this week. So keep your eyes peeled for that.
Jack Daniel’s / Happy Book / My Niece Alyvia / PEZ / Beautiful Blossom / Desk Space / Avon Order / Garnier Gradual Tan / Bedside Table / Husband & Brother / London Haul / Brother / London / Face Wash / Me & My Brother / London
Hope you all had a lovely weekend x
St Andrews
Whilst I was in Scotland recently my husband took me out to dinner in St Andrews. It was a sunny but very chilly evening. Its so nice to pop over there for dinner and a walk as the sun sets. Its so pretty, rich in history and right on the East Coast of Scotland. We need to visit more often thats for sure.
St Andrews is quite a small town but is full of stunning architecture and coastline if you have never visited then I highly recommend you do at some point.
What a Combo
I bought both of these nail polishes whilst in Scotland a couple of weeks ago and I have to say I love the combination. Even my husband commented on how fancy my nails looked!!
The MUA polish in Koala Bear is a lovely grey and was only £1 BARGAIN! It did take 3 coats and I am so impatient when it comes to painting my nails & it was so hard for me to sit and wait in between coats. the end result was worth it.
How pretty is the Barry M Glitter, its in the shade Pink Sapphire it’s from their Jewel Glitter Collection. It has flecks of silver and pink glitter in different sizes. It’s very girly and glitzy. Totally in love with it.
I am going to London this weekend and I will be wearing this combination for sure. I think it would look cute over a black polish too. Watch this space for that.
Bedside Table
I have loved seeing people blog about whats on their bedside tables. I change mine up on a regular basis but this is what is on there this week.
My bedside table is infact a set of IKEA draws (not very glam). on it I have a standard Ikea metal lamp and a Positive Slogan Sign – to try and keep me motivated. So far it’s not working, but I like it.
My iPad Mini is never far away & has a cute pink bear cover on which my friends toddler loves alot more than my husband does. I read lots of magazines on my iPad and I also blog on there too, it’s really handy. I do read books on there too but often I enjoy reading a standard book and the one I’m currently reading is William S Burroughs – The ‘Priest’, They Called Him and its completely fascinating. What a life he led. This is quite possibly the most beautiful book I own – Its stunning.
I have my Jo Malone candle that I only every burn for 30 minutes at a time, I really don’t want it to run out EVER! I have the English Pear & Freesia scent. This is a little bit of luxury in my bedroom and I savour it. I love this perfume too especially in the Spring / Summer its perfect. My white ceramic bird was a Christmas gift a while ago and is cute just sat there.
The Skincare on my bedside table is never the same one week to the next I love to change it up. My skin at the moment is looking really dull and in need of much TLC so I have quite nourishing products on there.
My Aesop Parsley Seed Serum is so loved, it’s a product that I wouldn’t be without. Clarins Lotus Oil is nothing short of a miracle worker It’s very hydrating and great for oily / acne prone skin. My face mask of the moment is my Origins Drink Up Intense and I’ve been using this twice a week, it gives my skin a real moisture boost and helps it look & feel plump and gives it more of a healthy look. Burt’s Bees Honey & Grapeseed Oil Hand Lotion – this is really hydrating but I am not a fan of the scent so wont repurchase it. Every girl needs a lipbalm to hand and mine is the Smith’s Rosebud Lip Salve. I have been suffering from tension headaches and try not to take pills where I can and so I have been using Tiger Balm and it seems to work. I love the smell of it.
I just love my Russian Stacking Dolls for no other reason than they make me smile & that’s reason enough for me. How cute is my iPad case.
Hope you enjoyed seeing what on my bedside table. What do you keep on yours?
Branching Out InTo Makeup
Superdry kindly sent me some bits from their makeup line to try out. I was quite excited when I received nail polish as I have been browsing their website looking at them, thinking how much I liked their colour range. I have seen a good few posts talking about them releasing their makeup line and I was super impressed by their packaging and attention to detail.
Superdry is a brand that I associate with being quite on trend and their makeup / beauty offerings live up to this too. They have quite varied selection including nail polish, eyeshadows, lip sticks, blush, lip glaze and quite a few other products. I spied a few tools and brushes on their website too. I love their bright colourful branding its very fun.
The nail file duo has been living in my handbag – when I get them out people love the bright colours and the handy bag they came in is perfect for on the go. The buff and shine block is good quality and I’m attempting to get my nails in shape for going to California in June, they need alot of TLC and these Superdry tools are helping.
Both shades are really pretty and right up my street. I love the Jade mint green shade – what a perfect colour for Spring and Summer. Soda Pop is an orange toned red and takes two coats to look fab! The consistency of the polish is quite thin and a little watery but it applies well and as I said 2 coats gives a good colour. The brush could be thicker but that’s just my preference, I am a fan of the wider brush.
With Superdry being new to the makeup game I was dubious about their quality, but I have to say they really surprised me as their nail products are long wearing and the colour range is great. I just love the packaging of all their beauty products and I am excited to pick up some of their Brushes. I’ve been loving using both the Jade and Soda Pop but have my eye on the Bronze shade – it looks so pretty
You can buy the Superdry beauty range in store or online at Superdry.com – the nail polish is £6 for 10ml. I think that’s reasonably priced. If you haven’t already I recommend you take a look at their beauty offerings I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I am also excited to see what is to come from them in the future.
Hope you’re all having a lovely weekend x
Instagram Round Up #21
I’m finally back home after being in Scotland for 2 weeks helping my dad who is recovering from a Stroke, its been just over a year since he had his Stroke and Craniotomy. He is paralised down the left side and is making a slow recovery. It’s so hard to see him so dependent upon people as he was so independent before his Stroke and served 30 years in the army – I knew nothing about Strokes before my dad suffered his and I had no idea how life changing they were and how little help you get.
I’m exhausted and have lots to catch up on but I’m looking forward to heading down to London for 4 days next Friday as my brother is running the London Marathon for the 4th year in a row. He is aiming for a time of 3:20 which will be a PB. So excited to do a little shopping and take some time out.
Whilst in Scotland I did manage to pop over to St Andrews for the evening, it was lovely and sunny so took the time to walk along the beach, eat chips and be a bit of a tourist. Its so beautiful there!
I’m really trying to write some proper blog posts over the next few days, I’m just finding it a little difficult to concentrate but I’ve so many great products to write about. I thought I would ease myself back into it with an Instagram roundup as they are quite easy and its been a good few weeks since I last did one.
Micky Flanagan / Visit to Superdrug / Brother / St Andrews / Antiques / PEZ / Magazines / LUSH / Me & John looking rather tired
I hope you all had a lovely Easter and I wanted to thank you all for your kind messages and words of support with my dad. Means alot to me x
The Timing Is All Wrong
I wanted to let you know I will be absent from the blogging world for a wee while as I’m dealing with a family crisis. I have tried to blog over the past few weeks but my brain is all over the place and I don’t want to blog when it doesn’t feel like I’m in a good place.
So please keep me in your thoughts & pop by and check out my blog soon I hope to be back in the blogging saddle by the end of the month. I miss reading all my fave blogs and interacting with you on Twitter – I will be back (Terminator Style).
Three Products I’m Loving #2
I did a similar post a few weeks ago. I always forget to do a monthly favourites so I thought picking three products every so often that I’d been using a lot would be easier. So here are the three products I have been loving and using a fair bit lately.
Sally Hansen Mega Shine Topcoat – I always buy this from TK Maxx for £3.99 and it is the best topcoat I’ve used. It prolongs the wear of my nail polish and makes my nail polish colour POP. It’s so glossy and as the name suggests gives your nails a Mega Shine. Its 100% fab (technical term). I can’t wear nail polish without a topcoat as it chips too fast and I really like the look of glossy nails.
NARS Foreplay Cheek Palette – This cheek quad is so pretty I could look at it all day long. This has a Peach Matte Blush, Gold Highlighting Blush, Pink Matte Blush, Orgasm Blush I don’t wear the gold too much but the other 3 shades I love.
It’s great for travel and I tend to use it mostly for that, but as a new years resolution I wanted to use my favourite products more. So I leave this out on my dresser and I have been reaching for it so much more and I’ve been getting more wear out of it. Its far too pretty to be in a drawer. The Matt Pink is my all time favourite shade and with a light hand it looks pretty on the cheek. I did a review of this last year if you’d like to read it here. This was a limited edition palette, but as far as I am aware it’s still available at SpaceNK
Avon Golden Glamour Blush Duo – this is another really pretty product. I bought it last Spring and have used it at some point every week. It really is one of my top blush / highlighters its stunning. Avon did well with this. I really like duo products this is another product that I take with me when I travel. The blush is a soft dusky pink and the highlighter has a really pretty shimmer without being too discoball its very pretty and applies really nicely to your cheeks / cheekbones and adds a flush of colour and brightness to your face. It sits nicely on the skin and doesn’t look dusty or powdery on top of your foundation. It’s very light and pretty.
So they’re the three products I have been loving – who knew I was in love with two cheek products. What have you been using a lot lately?
