NOTD: Multi patterned with Barry M

So I was VERY bored last night so I thought I'd play around with some nail polishes from my favourite brand Barry M! I used their Gelly nail polish in Prickly Pear, Foil Effects Gold and Peach Melba.

Thumb Nail - Spotty

First finger - Ombre

Middle finger - Glitter

Ring finger - Fishtail Braid

Little finger - Coloured french manicure

If anyone wants a tutorial for any of these, let me know :) Or if you'd like a nail polish collection let me know too!!

Mini Haul...

I really wanted to do the 100 day spending ban, I swear. HOWEVER with me having worked so hard over Christmas, and now not having a job, I thought I'd treat myself to a few goodies before I couldn't afford them.

MUA had a great deal on their website where you got the MUA artiste palette free when you spent £5 or more (I think that was the deal). So I decided to treat myself to a few goodies. I picked up the individual eyeshadows in Shade 25 pearl (apparently a dupe for Mac's Cranberry??), Shade 16 matt, Shade 11 pearl and Shade 30 pearl. I absolutely love their singles, as they are just super pigmented for £1! Then I picked up a lipstick in Shade 14 Bare as I was desperate for a nudey lipstick. Then I also picked up a couple of their eye pencils in Starry Night (a black liner with glitter) and Pink Sparkle (a pinky colour).

I ordered a Burt's Bees mango nourishing lip balm as I'd heard so much about them and I really wanted to try a stick lip balm rather than using my Vaseline all the time as my lips were becoming immune to it!

I picked a couple of bits up at Superdrug, I got a Sleek blush in Rose Gold. It is the most amazing colour! Apparently a dupe for NARS Orgasm but I've never seen it first hand so can't really comment! But it is the most gorgeous colour and I got it on the lovely Gemma from Button's Blog recommendation! I also got a new Barry M topcoat and one of their Gelly polishes in Prickly Pear (see my review of their Gelly polishes here ). I got this limited edition Gold Glitter polish free as I spent over £6 so was chuffed!! I love me a freebie!

Last but not least, I popped to YSL and asked for a sample of their Shocking mascara as I am desperate to try it. I'll give a good review once I've gave it a good try out!!

Unfortunately, as I haven't managed to get a new job just yet (redundancy sucks), I think an involuntary spending ban will be coming soon. So I thought I'd treat myself while I could!!

Shade 25 Pearl, Shade 11 Pearl, Shade 30 Pearl, Shade 16 Matt, Sleek's Rose Gold blush  

 MUA Artiste Collection Palette

MUA eyeliner in Pink Sparkle (top), Starry Night, lipstick in Shade 14 Bare. 

No-one likes a 'tache.. Review

No female likes having a moustache.. That tricky hair that sits just upon your top lip which is the bane of many a girl's life, especially if you have dark hair like myself. I wanted rid of mine, but I'm very sceptical of facial hair removal creams and such methods as I'm scared how the hair would grow back. I know mine is dark but at least it's fine hair. 

While I was at university, one of my house-mate's had a similar problem and sorted me out with this product. Jolen. Jolen is a creme bleach which aims to lighten excess dark hair on face, arms, body and brow. You get a pot of bleach creme, accelerator powder, a little mixing tray and a spatula. You mix a little of both the powder and the cream to form a paste which you apply to the clean dry area where you would like to lighten the hair. You leave it on for ten minutes, scrape it off and hey presto! No more caterpillar on your lip! 

Yes, if you look extremely close, you can still see it, but who really gets that close??

I would definitely recommend this as an alternative to hair removal. Quick and easy and I usually do it whilst in the bath or the shower!!

You can buy Jolen here for £4.39.  

Favourites of 2012

As if it's two weeks into 2013 already?? The time is literally flying over! I know it's quite late to post a 2012 favourites, however with not having a job I'm spending all my time job searching and trying to wonder why I can't get a job?? Anyway, here's what products I fell in love with in 2012 and I still love even now!

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

This was a massive surprise for my birthday from my amazing boyfriend. I absolutely love neutral colours, therefore this palette was made for me. In particular, my favourite shades are Tease, Suspect, Pistol and YDK! Since this is an everyday staple for me, I doubt I'm gonna fall out of love with this product any time soon. 

John Frieda Radiant Red Enhancing Shampoo

2012 was the year I was on a mission to get the reddest hair possible and this is the most amazing shampoo ever if you ever dye your hair red. Never have I had a shampoo that makes me hair even redder AFTER I've washed it, normally washing it means it fades. John Frieda's Brilliant Brunette is great too but the Radiant Red is a lot more vibrant. 

Soap and Glory Hand Food

The only hand cream I have kept up using. I always buy them and mean well, but never follow through. However this one smells divine and you only need the smallest amount to make your hands baby soft! Plus their travel size is perfect for your handbag and majorly affordable!!

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

This I only discovered at the beginning of December but it's made such a big impression that I HAD to include it. I was a bit wary about trying a gel foundation as I have oily skin, however this didn't disappoint. It is more like a liquid than a gel I think, and it blends really well. You literally only need the smallest amount, and it's quite good coverage. However it is definitely buildable. 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

It makes my eyeshadow last all day and this small pot has lasted so long! It doesn't make my eye feel heavy like some other primers do and I love the look of the bottle!!

MAC Studio Fix Foundation

Possibly the best foundation I've ever used. It makes my skin look really matte (which I like as I'm super oily) and it is buildable so you can start off light and build it to what you need that day. This is definitely worth the money and I'll definitely be repurchasing this again and again and again!

MUA Single Eyeshadow Shade 24 Pearl

This is a gorgeous pinky shade. I love ALL of MUA's eyeshdadows and for £1 you really cannot go wrong. It is really good pigmentation and it's one of the only coloured eyeshadows (as in not brown, beige etc) I use on a regular basis!

Avon Glimmersticks in Blackest Black

These eyeliners are a gorgeous soft texture, more like a crayon than a pencil so it's really soft on your waterline. It also blends really well and smudges like a crayon. 

All About Nails Bellini

I wanted Model's Own's nail polish in Tropical Sun but couldn't justify the cost! This was only 99p and it is a perfect dupe! Can't wait for it to be summer again to have this permanently plastered on my nails!!

Chanel Coco Rouge Shine Lipstick in Boy

Another treat from my amazing boyfriend, my first ever Chanel item. It is so soft and moisturising on the lips and it gives a beautiful pinky sheer colour. I just wish it wasn't so costly so I could use it everyday!! (Anyone know any good dupes for it??)

OPI Nicole Sparkling in the S-Kylie

I love the Kardashian/Jenner clan like nobody else. Therefore when they had their nail polish collection with OPI, I HAD to try it! I chose this gorgeous multi glitter polish and it can build up to such a beautiful colour!

Remington Pearl Curling Wand

This has been a saviour to me this year. I love having curled hair, however I have poker straight thin limp hair. Nothing has ever managed to curl my hair and make it last a full day/night. Until now! Literally curl your hair round it for about 10-15 seconds and it creates a beautiful curl and it lasts all night! I'm pretty sure it's only about £20-£30 which is so affordable for the quality of this product!!

I also thought I'd mention some of my favourite blog and bloggers of 2012 as I've discovered so many that I absolutely love reading!

Gemma at Button's Blog.

Gemma is such a lovely person and does great reviews on fashion and beauty. There have been SO many products I've gone out and bought just because of her reviews on them. 

Louise at Confessions of a Secret Shopper. 

Louise's blog is one of the first blogs I really started following religiously. She always has series posts on, comparing brand against brand and I love keeping up to date with all her missions (Project Pan and Shopping the Stash). 

Helen at Beautifully Superfluous.

Helen not only has her blog, but also has a Youtube channel which really made me take notice of her. I absolutely love her voice and can listen to it for ages (does that sound creepy???) I love how thorough she is with her reviews too, totally 100% honest!

Shona at Fresh Beauty xox. 

This girl is such a fighter and her constant positive outlook is inspiring. I love how the majority of her reviews are of drug store products and she makes you realise you don't have to spend mega bucks to look good!!

MAC lipstick giveaway...

I wanted to do this a while ago when I hit 150 followers, however I didn't really have the money at the time and didn't want to have to say to someone 'Sorry can you wait for your prize til I've been paid??' Therefore I thought I'd start 2013 with a bang by giving away a gorgeous MAC lipstick!! Even better you get to choose which one you get!!

This giveaway will run for three weeks and will end on the 28th January 2013. 

Sorry but it will only be open for UK entries!

Please ensure you leave your email so I can contact you if you win.

Good luck everyone!!!

source

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2013.. so the world didn't end.

So despite those pesky all knowing Mayans convincing everyone that the world is going to end, it looks like everything ended up alright doesn't it??

source

I honestly cannot believe it is New Year's Eve already. Cannot believe just how quickly this year has passed by, it only seems like two minutes since I was starting my master's degree in 2011, and me and the boy were only just starting out. I'm not going to lie though, I'm glad to see the back of 2012. It was the year me and Anthony both lost our jobs, we lost our beautiful little house and I failed my degree. 2012 has been a pretty shit year with me and my man. However, always the optimist I believe that 2013 will be our year. 

My new year's resolutions you say? I usually have some stupid generic one like 'I will give up any food that has anything naughty in' or 'I will lost 10 stone'. However, I only have two this year.

1. Get my life together.

I want to have a steady job again, pass my master's with flying colours and to have a new house to spend Christmas in. One step at a time though, and lots of saving to do over the next few months!

2. Be Positive.

Most people who know me know that I'm a generally happy person. I don't see the point in being negative. However, these last few months has really made me struggle to stay that way. So in 2013 I promise to myself I will be a positive person once again :) 

HOWEVER

I don't want to be all doom and gloom. I have had some amazing times this year. Lets leave 2012 looking at the high notes!

And saving the best til last.. 2012 has meant everything as I have spent it with the love of my life :)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!! Hope everyone has had a lovely day and was spoilt by what Santa brought!!!

Just a quick one to wish everyone a merry christmas!!

What did Santa bring everyone???