Mini Haul | Forever 21, Play.com, O.P.I & China Glaze

Hi guys. I have bought a few random bits and bobs lately, so I thought it was only right that I did a mini haul on my blog! Hauls are one of my favourite types of blog posts to write as it enables me to share some great finds with my followers too. All of these purchases have been made over the past month or so and I am really excited about all of them. So, let's dive straight in to this mini haul!

V-Cut Floral Dress - £12.00
First up is this gorgeous dress from Forever 21. I am a huge fan of bodycon styles as I feel that they suit my petite frame and do not overwhelm me, plus the v-neck cut is very flattering. I am also a huge lover of floral patterns and the colour of this one combined with this kind of watercolour effect is really pretty and unique. Considering how affordable this dress is, the quality of it is amazing! The material is very thick yet stretchy and there is even boning around the deep V to add some more support. This dress comes in another colour too, which my best friend bought as we loved them both, so we actually got one each to swap and share!

Faking It by Cora Carmack - £6.99
I recently bought this book by the author Cora Carmack. 'Faking It' is the second book in a three part series that I discovered at the end of last year. In the first book 'Losing It,' a girl studying at university is aiming to lose her virginity. She eventually meets the perfect guy but it is soon revealed that their relationship is forbidden and the story unravels from there (I don't want to give anything away!) The second book, however, is kind of a spin-off as it follows one of the other characters featured in the first book on his own quest to find love. I became addicted to the first book and so I am really excited to start reading this one too!

As I completed a three day intensive nail course in October last year, I have been slowly building up my collection of professional nail polishes so that I can eventually start my own mobile nail technician business. As I completed my course at my nearby Sally's store, I have a trade card which enables me to get products at a cheaper price than they are sold to the general public. I actually picked up these five polishes on a VAT free day too, which means that they were even cheaper than usual! Even though I cannot remember the exact prices (they were all around the £5 mark,) I wanted to share these beautiful colours with you all.

O.P.I Nail Polishes
The first O.P.I nail varnish that I purchased is 'Live.Love.Carnival,' which is a stunning coral colour. It is incredibly bright, opaque and I think that it suits every skin tone. It's a great all-rounder! The gorgeous blue colour that you can see above is called 'Teal The Cows Come Home.' I really love this polish as it has a lot of shimmery particles running through it and sometimes is nice to choose a rarer polish to wear instead of your typical reds, pinks or neutrals, which most of us wear the majority of the time! The last O.P.I polish in this mini haul is 'Cajun Shrimp,' a striking orangey-red that really packs a punch. I think that this colour is a nice twist on a classic red and the slight orange hue makes it perfect for summer!

China Glaze Nail Polishes
The first polish I got is 'In A Lily Bit,' which is a really pretty pastel lilac colour. I am really into milky colours at the moment, despite the fact that they are quite difficult to apply, and I have a feeling that this colour will be a popular one amongst my future customers as it is quite unique. The second China Glaze polish that I bought is a very bright fuchsia/purple shade called 'Dune Our Thing'. I think this shade is a nice twist on a classic pink shade that a lot of people reach for, so I have a feeling that this one will get a lot of use too.

So that's it for my mini haul! I hope you all enjoyed reading some quick reviews on what I have purchased over the past few weeks. Which item is your favourite? What have you hauled recently? Let me know by leaving a comment below. Thank you!

Bargain Buys: Primark Flatform Wedges

Hi guys. One thing that I surprisingly do not own a lot of is shoes and you will often find me in the three same pair of shoes; my biker boots, black sandals or white Converse. I find it incredibly hard to find footwear that is a) comfortable and b) fit well, as I have narrow feet and and a lot shoes are often too wide for me. Therefore, I find shoe shopping a bit of a chore at times. However, every now and then I come across a pair that I fall in love with and fit like an absolute dream. Whilst out shopping with my Mum last week, I came across these gorgeous suede flatform wedges from Primark that cost just £10 (what a bargain!) I have seen quite a few bloggers talking about these lately but I have only just found them in my local store and as soon as I laid my eyes on them, I knew I had to have them!

The main reason that I bought these shoes is because I thought that they would be great for occasions where you want to dress up a little but do not want to wear ridiculously high heels. Plus, flatform style shoes are all the rage at the moment! As these wedges add just a little bit of height, they are super comfortable and so you could wear them all day without getting achy feet - which is an added bonus! I love the detailing on these shoes too, the cross-over straps and gunmetal buckle are just my style. At first I tried on a UK size 4, which is my usual shoe size, but they were a little big. Then, I picked up a size 3 instead and they fitted perfectly. So, if you are planning on investing in a pair yourself, bare in mind that you may have to go down one size.

For £10 for a pair of comfortable wedges that are versatile and pair well with lots of different outfits, I don't think you can go wrong really! I cannot wait to start wearing these and I'm positive that I am going to get a lot of use out of them too. Overall, I cannot recommend these wedges enough, so if you're on the hunt for a pair of semi-formal shoes, why not pop into your local Primark and give these a try?

Topshop Glow Highlighter in 'Polish' Review

Hi guys. On Friday, I popped into my local Topshop in aid of treating myself to a little something after having quite a shoddy week. I was intending on buying an item of clothing but nothing really caught my eye or was in my budget. So, after standing deliberating over all of the lovely products at the make-up stand for about 10 minutes, I ended up walking away £9.00 poorer but with this gorgeous Topshop highlighter in my hand!

Topshop's 'Glow' comes in two different colours; Polish, (a pearly white) and Gleam (a glittery gold.) I opted for Polish as I decided that it would definitely suit my skin tone better and I imagine that Gleam would look better on darker skin tones. I only got into using a highlighter in the later part of last year and up until now, I have been using Soap & Glory's 'Glow All Out' (which you can read my review on here.) However, the main difference between these two products is that 'Glow All Out' is a powder whereas 'Polish' is cream based.

 I was amazed by just how luminous the product was when I first swatched it on the back of my hand and I knew that had to have it! As soon as I got home, I applied the product onto the tops of my cheekbones and I was still just as impressed. The creamy consistency made it so easy to blend and I was left with lovely, luminous glow to my skin. It catches the light really well and I do think that it take any make-up look to the next level. I can only imagine how radiant and glowy it will make my skin look in the summer when it is nice and sunny outside!

The only thing that I would say is that I did not find this highlighter is not subtle. So, I would probably stick to using at at night time for clubbing and so on, rather than during the daytime as it could be a bit too much. The only other downside to this product is that I can imagine it to be rather troublesome to get out of the pot when you are running low and there is less product in there but I guess time will tell with that one!

Overall, this is a lovely little highlighter which does not cost you an arm and a leg. This is actually the first ever make-up item that I have ever bought from Topshop and I am thoroughly impressed, so I am sure that I will be buying more items from them in the future. I would love to know your thoughts on the Topshop range and if you have any product recommendations, so please leave me a comment below if you have any suggestions for me! Thank you :)

Boots Christmas Gift Guide 2013

In a few days it will be the first full weekend of December and so, many of us will be starting our Christmas shopping (if we haven't done so already!) I, for one, like to make my Christmas shopping as stress-free as possible, as we all know how busy the hustle and bustle of our local high streets and shopping centres can be at this time of year. With that in mind, I am very happy that I picked up a Boots Christmas Gift Guide this year because I can now look at and plan what I am going to buy for each of my loved ones before I hit the shops. Now, don't be fooled, Boots doesn't just cater for those who love beauty and personal care items. Boots has a wide range of products in the following categories: gift for women, gifts for men, gifts for kids and general gifts for everyone to enjoy.

In addition, the guide also has a Christmas Gift List where you can write down what you want to buy for each person. I think that this is a great way to keep yourself on top of everything, crossing off the presents on your list as you buy them. So, without rambling on for too long, let's see what gifts that I recommend from this amazing catalogue!

Gifts for beauty lovers

First up is this lovely Soap & Glory Bubble Barrelled kit (£18.00) which features some of the brands most coveted products including a shower gel, hand cream, foot cream, body butter, body scrub and shampoo. This bundle also has a cute headband thrown in for good measure, which you could wear during your huge pamper session! I think that this would be the perfect present for any beauty lover because not only are the products amazing, but the packaging is really gorgeous too! There are also many other Soap & Glory gift sets to choose from in the catalogue covering all price ranges, so I recommend having a look at what's on offer!

Gifts for fragrance lovers

If you have a slightly higher budget to spend, why not buy your loved one this lovely Marc Jacobs Dot Gift Set? This product includes the eau de parfum (50ml,) plus a body lotion and shower gel (both 75ml.) I think that this gift set is excellent value for money as it is the same price that the fragrance would be if sold separately, which is £49.50. This perfume is a very floral scent with hints of vanilla and jasmine, which smells divine. I would also recommend a few of the other Marc Jacobs perfumes such as Daisy, Honey and Lola.

Gifts for £10 and under

Next up, the Boots Extracts range offers many gifts for those of us with a slightly smaller budget. The Extracts Super Cranberry Collection (£10.00) includes a body wash, body butter and body scrub. This range feels really luxurious on the skin despite its value for money. Plus, the lovely cranberry smell is perfect for Christmas. The Extracts collection has many other scents to choose from. Another favourite of mine is the Mango Collection Wash Bag which is even more affordable at just £6! This set is essentially the same as the Cranberry Collection minus the body scrub and it is packaged in a vibrant wash bag instead of in a box.

Gifts for men

This Topman T-Shirt Gift, £25.00, is a great gift for the man in your life. This set includes a 100ml bottle of Topman's No.27 eau de parfum, which I have actually smelt before and I love it! The t-shirt is plain black with a white V-shape motif on the pocket. Unfortunately, the only down side to this gift is that the t-shirt is only provided in a medium (if only there were size options!) If you wanted to go for something a little cheaper, the Boxer Shorts Gift Set features a pair of boxer shorts (again only medium sizes available) with the same design as the t-shirt and a body spray for £12.00 instead.

Gifts for food lovers

Last but not least is the selection of Nandos gifts on offer. The Chilli Planter and Sauce Set (£12.50) contains a hot sauce, a packet of chilli seeds and a ceramic pot to grow your own chillis in - which is kind of cool in my opinion! For the same price, you could also treat your food lover to the Nandos Table Trio. This set contains both the medium and hot peri-peri sauces along with a pot of the ever so popular peri-peri chip sprinkle. If none of these presents tickle your taste buds, Boots also have many other food brands within the gift guide including Wahaca and Food Nation.

I hope that both this post and the gift guide makes your Christmas shopping a stress-free experience by giving you plenty of ideas as what to buy for your friends and family. I hope that you are all getting into the festive spirit as I have plenty more Christmas-themes posts coming your way this month, so keep your eyes peeled!

ASOS Autumn/Winter Knitwear

Hi guys! The weather has taken a major turn for the worse lately and it has become bitterly cold in England, which in turn has made many of us reach for our cosiest items of clothing to keep us nice and warm. So, today I thought that I would do a little post on three lovely jumpers from ASOS to give you all some inspiration if you are in need of some new knitwear for your autumn/winter wardrobe. Plus, as these jumpers are all from ASOS which is an online shop, there is no need to even face the hustle and bustle of your local high street or shopping centre (which means that you can shelter from this horrible weather - what a bonus!) So, without further ado, let's get started!

ASOS Jumper With Lace Collar Detail - £28.00
First up, this particular jumper caught my eye for a number of different reasons. I love the rich wine/plum colour of this knit, as this colour family is always very popular at this time of year. Also, the cute lace collar gives this jumper a slightly smarter feel to it, which would be perfect to wear either to work or for weekend outings. Hence, this item is extremely versatile and therefore worth it's very reasonable price tag.

Only Christmas Pudding Jumper - £25.00
Next up, I couldn't do this post without throwing in a novelty Christmas jumper for good measure. I do find that a lot of festive jumpers tend to lean a little bit towards the 'tacky' side and can sometimes look incredibly garish, but this jumper is perfect. The simple Christmas pudding design combined with the overall monochrome design is subtle enough to pull off and in my opinion, is really cute too. Just make sure that you keep the rest of your outfit simple and let the jumper do the talking!

ASOS Jumper In Stitch With Back Detail - £35.00
Last but not least is my favourite jumper of the bunch. I love the simplicity of the emerald green jumper with minimal black piping around the cuffs and the neckline. Of course, the main focus of this jumper is the cut-out back - which was what drew me to this particular item in the first place. As most jumpers are very loose and usually worn for comfort, the little peep of flesh in this design will keep you feeling sexy and feminine. I love this jumper so much that I have actually added it to my Christmas list, so fingers crossed it is waiting for me under the tree next month!

I hope you all enjoyed reading about my three favourite jumper picks from ASOS. Are there any jumpers or knitwear that are currently on your wish list? Please feel free to let me know by leaving me a comment below, I love reading what all of you like and getting some fashion inspiration too! Thank you :)

Outfit Of The Day: Maxi Skirt

Top: Topshop (£8) - Skirt: New Look (£19.99) 

Hi guys. Again, I realise that it has been over a week since I last blogged and so I am making up for it today with something that I have never done before - an outfit of the day post! I have always been dubious of maxi skirts because as a petite girl who is a mere five foot two inches tall, I tend to steer away from long lengths as I have always felt that I suit shorter lengths and I have always just stuck to that. However, I have taken the plunge and finally purchased an aztec print maxi skirt. Consequently, I thought I would share my outfit with you today as I am on my way to a barbecue this afternoon. I absolutely love the entire outfit and I've come to realise that I can get away with maxi skirts after all. I have so many tops in my wardrobe that will go with this garment, especially as the skirt is black and white, which will match almost anything. To take this skirt into the evening, I would switch to some wedges instead of the sandals that I am wearing today. Also, teaming this outfit with a denim jacket over the top would also look lovely. 

Necklace: Primark (£2) - Ring: New Look (£3.99) which is part of a pack of 4

Shoes: New Look (£17.99)

If you would like me to do more Outfit Of The Day posts in the future then please comment below and let me know as I really enjoyed putting this post together! Thank you for reading :) 

Summer Style: Patterned Culottes

Now that the weather is warming up, it's time for us to invest in some summer shorts and I believe that a big trend this season is patterned culottes. Not only are the patterns extremely summery; I also think that culottes are perfect for hot, sunny days as they are incredibly floaty and will not cling to your legs too much. In addition, I love that culottes are high-waisted as this makes them very flattering on most body types, as they cinch you in at the waist. This also means that if you a brave enough, you could pair the shorts with a crop top, showing just a little bit of your midriff! At the moment, Topshop have some lovely choices and so I thought I would share three of my favourite pairs with you.

1. Ditsy Print Frill Hem Shorts - £32.00
I adore these shorts. I am definitely a sucker for any floral pattern and the little pop of pink contrasts well with the navy material. I think that the frilly hem of the shorts also adds a really cute touch to the garment, which will also make you feel incredibly feminine. 

2. Floral Animal Print Shorts - £30.00
As well as my addiction to floral prints, I am a huge lover of leopard print too. I really love these shorts as the design features a lot of accent colours - which means that these shorts will go with many different tops (which is an added bonus!)

3. Ditsy Mix Print Culotte Shorts - £28.00
Again, I have picked another floral pair as I just couldn't resist them. I love the way that the black waist on the shorts contrasts so well with the overall red design - I think that it makes these shorts extra special. As I am quite petite, I tend to suit smaller 'ditsy' patterns more than large ones, so these shorts are perfect for me (as are the other two above!)

As always, I would love to know what you guys think about my choices, so please do not hesitate to leave me a comment below. I always respond to the comments I receive because I love getting feedback on my posts :)