So we have had a tiny amount of sunshine and that's enough to make me dream of a new summer wardrobe. What new pieces I want to get this year to go with older stuff etc. Basically if I could have one of everything in Zara I would be happy haha.
Anyway I have been thinking about some new summer sandals and my first stop was Primark as they usually have loads to choose from. Last year I bought some from New Look for about £15 but in Primark they are basically the same for half the price.
I picked up these 2 beauties. One is a aztec printed sandal £6 and the other is a black open sandal £8. They both fit nice and are really comfy. I am sure both will walk many miles over the summer.
Also I couldn't leave my daughter out so I picked her up some super cute open toe sandals with velcro £3.50, so hopefully they will stay on her feet.
I was currently rocking my Zara Mini City handbag which I still love but I have been wanting something a bit smaller now that I have finished work for maternity leave. I don't need to carry as much stuff or try and squeeze in my dinner.
I still need to carry my maternity notes everywhere that I go and some other non glamorous pregnancy essentials (breast pads anyone?).
I knew that I wanted a across the body bag so I can be hands free when I'm finally pushing my pram and I knew that I wanted a nice summery colour. I mainly wanted a pastel colour such as baby pink, blue or mint green but when I saw this bag I knew this was the perfect one. It only comes in bright yellow or black and my local store only had 2 yellow left and tonnes of black so it must be a popular pick.
Primark do have some super cute and cheap mini satchels at the moment which I nearly decided on one but I love this one so much more as it's a little bigger and has a front pocket. I really don't have anything negative to say apart from some of the Primark bags quality can be terrible. The last one left of the shelf the handle was stitched on all lopsided.
Anyway here are the positives:
* bright colour perfect for summer with contrasting black piping and zip. Looks super stylish.
* cheap! at only £8.00
* adjustable strap.
* good amount of pockets, good size front pocket with clasp, zip to main pocket and I smaller zipped compartment inside.
* small in size (not positive for everyone but it was just what I wanted).
As this bag has been such a hit I have seen it on eBay for buy it now prices of £20 which is crazy seeing as the RRP is only £8. If you can still get your hands on this bag I would recommend it as I plan to use it future summers to come.
So I have been wearing my make up very natural lately if I wear at all. Pregnancy hasn't been a blessing to my skin as my cheeks are alot more red and irritated due to the hormones. Anyway here are my favourite picks for a beautiful spring summer lip.
Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip balm
I do have the other version of this in the little tub which is thicker and all round better but this balm stick also holds a special place in my heart. It is perfect to keep in my handbag for on the go applications. It still feels very moisturising and nourishing on the lips.
Maybelline Colour Whisper - Pin Up Peach
This is by far my favourite lip product of the year and that I find myself reaching for the most. It isn't as intense and as think as a lipstick on the lips but still gives great colour payoff which is also a bit glossy. It leaves my lips feeling nice and there is no drying. The colour doesn't last for a long time when eating or drinking but I don't mind reapplying this beauty. Unfortunately this isn't out in the UK so I had to purchase mine from ebay but this colour is just the perfect shade of a pinky peach, definitely more on the pink side. I now want all colours on this haha.
NYX Butter Lip Balm - Brownie
Another import from the USA I'm afraid but I think the newer version of these are availab now in the UK, they are in different packaging. These are in between a lip balm and a lip stick feeling much lighter on the lips but with some colour pay off. I have 3 shades and Brownie is the perfect nude, my lips but better. It looks more dry in the tube than I thought but still feels nice and buttery on the lips. The colour payoff isn't as good as a Maybelline Colour Whisper as this feels thicker and drier. These are more like a well tinted lip balm. This is nice if I just want a small wash of colour and it smells good enough to eat.
Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish - No. 16
This is the perfect Pink lipstick for summer that I love so much. I am a huge fan of these Kate lipsticks and this is by far my favourite shade. It isn't too scary bright pink but the colour is really pigmented. It smells gorgeous and is great value. The only problem is that it can cling to any dryness on my lips but so do my high end Mac lipsticks so I either need to make sure my lips are in good condition to wear this or to wear a wear a small layer of balm (but the colour payoff won't be as good).
YSL Rouge Volupte Shine - No. 15 Coral Intuitive
This is just a classic beautiful lip stick that is perfect for any occasion. As it is from the shine range it isn't a thick lipstick, it is a lightweight lipstick with shine. It's probably quite similar to my Maybelline Colour Whisper for texture and application on the lips. This is a beautiful pinky peach shade more on the side of peach for this spring summer. It has good pigmentation but the shine or colour won't last for hours eating or drinking. But with packaging looking this good you will be happy to show it off for all to see for reapplication. It is very pricey but I see this as a investment.
Swatches from left to right: Nyx lip butter, maybelline colour whisper, rimmel Kate and ysl rouge volupte.
So now that it's Spring and the cold sun is shining I have decided to switch my makeup rotation around a bit to get me in the mood for Spring/Summer.
I've seen a lot of new makeup releases doing the rounds lately but while they are all very pretty I've delved into my stash to see what pretty pieces that I already have.
1. Benefit World Famous Neutrals - This eyeshadow set never gets old! the colours are beautifully pigmented and very longwearing. It is perfect for daily casual makeup or glamorous evening looks. See my full review and swatches here
2. Too Faced Summer Eyes - This is a great way of introducing abit of colour into my look without being scared. I am never one to wear bright crazy coloured eyeshadow but here you get 3 looks and Too Faced include a how too to achieve a gorgeous summer look. See my full review, swatches and a tutorial here
3. Benefit Hervana Blusher - This is my second favourite Benefit Blusher after Coralista and it is a gorgeous light pink and it smells just heavenly seriously it smells so good you need to sniff it. You also get a good quality application brush with it that isn't too small so I do use it. There is just something special about swirling your brush around to mix the colours for a pretty pink flush. See my full review here
4. Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish No 16 - again this is just a perfect choice for a everyday wearable pink lip that gives you that Spring/Summer vibe. I was obsessed with Coral everything last summer and I still am but I am currently trying to change it up abit and head towards the more pinkish rose hues. More info here
Let me know what your Spring/Summer picks are by linking to your blog below as my favourite way to discover makeup is by reading blogs :-) x
So you may already know that I work in a skate/bmx shop and I am lucky enough to help with the upcoming seasons buying and I have to say Vans is usually my favourite appointment. As the rep is so lovely and is sometimes kind enough to throw me the odd free sample or two but most of all I love seeing the new seasons prints and here are my favourites for this Spring/Summer. I had to pre order these about 6 months ago and they have just arrived through our shop doors today. Sadly we are not selling these for you to buy as my bosses were optimistic that they would sell well so they just ordered the one pair for me but I'm sure that you can pick them up at your local Vans store or Schuh.
As a crazy cat lady these are my ultimate pair of Vans and they are available in the best selling Authentic style! They also do a matching backpack and snap back cap. These are classed as unisex and are available in sizes uk3 and up. They are in collaboration with the ASPCA charity to raise awareness of cruelty against animals. They also have some products with dogs on. You can buy these shoes directly from Vans here
So there's no better excuse for a wardrobe overhaul than when your pregnant and your clothes no longer fit. I have trawled for hours online to find that all my favourite high street stores no longer stock maternity clothes in there shops anymore it's all online only. This is very frustrating as I would have liked to have seen them and tried them on first. Most maternity collections are pants I have found that my favourites are from New Look and Asos, not to mention any ebay bargains that you can bag.
Anyway I am lucky to be due a summer baby so I can get lots of cute spring/summer clothes to wear. Here is what I am currently wearing:
New Look V Neck Red Tea Dress £22.99
This is just stunning and it can be worn casual or dressed up. I wear it with black maternity leggings and some black ankle boots.
New Look Navy Butterfly Print Dress
Like most of the new look dresses they also make them for their normal none maternity line. The material on this is nice and loose and thin so it's very breathable and comfortable to wear. It clings to you in just the right places. Again I wear this with black leggings and black ankle boots until it gets warmer.
Asos Star Print Dress
This has a tie at the back and it has a nice length to it. I've seen so many short maternity dresses just urgh there is no need for that. My above dresses are all just above the knee so not too short. The material of this is quite thick so it may be too warm for summer but I am enjoying wearing it for now. It can be worn with some cute flat shoes or boots. I bought this brand new with tags from ebay at the bargain price of £12.99
ASOS Ridley Skinny Jeans Mid Wash £22.99
These are just beautiful they are very flattering and nice and skinny. I have some gap skinny jeans which are not skinny in the slightest. It's also hard to find under the bump maternity jeans that don't fall down with the elasticated waist band but these don't. They are tight on the bottom of the leg so if I do get the dreaded pregnancy candles I will have to give these a miss.
New Look Striped Knit Cardigan Shell Pink £17.99
This is from there normal line and is the perfect spring summer cover up to go over my dresses or tshirts. I love the very pale pink colour and it's very comfortable to wear.
These are my favourite pieces but I have lots more of New Look pieces that I love dearly such as their maternity tshirts and leggings. The material and fit is just right. I also feel the need to mention bras as wearing a bra when pregnant is not easy. Due to the extreme soreness in the first trimester I had to go bra free most of the time and when my sickness was bad I didn't want any tight band around my mid section as it made me want to be sick even more. So the answer is to get a bra with no underwire or padding! As easy as it sounds they were hard to find I found my favourites from mothercare which also have clips for when I want to breastfeed which will be handy.
So if you saw a previous post for some Vans Era Cat print shoes from last year I am still waiting for them to arrive. They are due soon as part of the Vans 2014 Spring Summer collection. So while I'm waiting impatiently for those ones I had a shoe shaped hole in my spring wardrobe so I've bought these.
They are Vans Eras in navy blue suede with a grey and while polka dot print upper with white laces. I think they are so cute and the print is spot on (lol) what I wanted! Nothing to colourful or crazy. These will be my perfect Spring casual shoes and they are currently available to buy in Schuh.
I read a lot of blogs and I missed out on getting the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse in one of the recent Glossyboxes but it seems that everyone loved it. Since then I have been wanting to try it and as I have never had anything by the brand I thought this travel set would make the perfect introduction.
The price of it varies around the net from £12.40 including postage at Feel Unique to £8.91 that I paid on the Nuxe official website which included delivery. The product is £9.90 on there as standard but I got a 99p discount and free shipping due to it being my first order. You also receive 3 samples from them and you get to pick 1 larger sample. For £8.91 I couldn't really say no.
The order was dispatched and arrived quick as I had it within 2 working days and inside it I got the following items:
Nuxe Eau Demaquillante Micellaire - Micellar Cleansing Water with rose petals. 35ml x2 as one was my deluxe sample.
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse - multi purpose dry oil 10ml.
Nuxe Nuxellence Jeunesse - youth and radiance revealing fluid 15ml.
Nuxe Reve De Miel - Hand and Nail Cream 15ml.
Nuxe Body Gel Douche Fondant - Fondant Shower Gel 30ml.
+ A handy plastic zip storage bag.
My 3 samples where as follows:
Huile Prodigieuse 4ml.
Gel Demaquillant Fondant 4ml.
Serum Creme Fraiche de Beaute 2ml.
Overall for the price I feel like I got a good selection and amount of product. I've not had chance to try everything yet but from what I have tried I love it already. I have tried the cleansing water which smells gorgeous and feminine. The smell reminds me of being sat in a nice flower garden on a hot summers day relaxing. The cleanser feels nice and gentle on the skin even around the eye area so I hope this continues to impress me.
I also love the hand cream as my hands get very dry with working in retail I have recently finished a Nivea Smooth Nourishing hand cream but it doesn't compare to this as this sinks into the skin very well and doesn't leave my hands feeling greasy at all but they feel moisturised for longer. I will definitely be repurching this one and as well it smells divine. So I'm loving Nuxe so far and I can't wait to try the rest of the products and report back.
I am so impressed with these products that I am rationing myself with them, please check out Nuxe's website here for more amazing products! They also give you discount on your first order so what are you waiting for ladies get shopping.
Do you have any favourite Nuxe products that you could recommend for me? Jodie x
Here are my favourite items that are currently on my wishlist :
Ted Baker Lingar Handbag - Nude Pink
I love everything about this it is the perfect size to carry what I would want it to, the colour of it is gorgeous and it would be perfect for summer.
I currently have the Mardun bag which I adore but the handles don't fit over my shoulder so I have to carry it by hand and it can often be heavy, so in the summer I don't want to be lugging this around. I would like a across the body bag to keep my hands free and to keep me more comfortable when it's hot.
New Look Aztec Print Voile Maxi Skirt - Black
So the Aztec is back in fashion this summer and I quite like the more subtle Aztec looks. All are too bright and crazy for me but this is just right. I also love the fact that it's a maxi skirt as I am not a fan of short skirts this summer. Maxi skirts are perfect for keeping cool and are far more comfortable than skinny jeans bring them on. I could happily wear these all the year through. They look. Look great with some sandals or Converse.
Too Faced Summer Eye Pallette
I can't wait to own this as the colours are gorgeous! This pallette is a remake of the 2012 version with one shadow different and new packaging. So if you bought it last year you probably wouldn't buy it this year but luckily for me i didn't so this is definitely next on my list to buy. I love anything coral at the moment so this will be perfect to wear over the summer.
Converse Hi Ness Wedge Shoe - White
I went to the Trafford Centre last night and saw these, needless to say it was love at first sight! I love how they are not too high so they will be comfortable as well as chic.
Benefit Stay Flawless Primer
I feel like I have to try everything new by Benefit as they can do no wrong in my eyes. This is to keep all make up in place for a whole day. A lot of people complain about their makeup doing a disappearing act in summer when it's hot so this is to stop that. It will lock it in place and help to keep it matte for 15 hours. So bring on looking flawless for a whole day in the beer garden.
So what's on your wishlist ladies please share :-)
Hi I am a newbie to Glossybox but squealed like 5 year old when I saw the treats in store when I opened my June box.
Here is the low down:
Figs & Rouge - cherry blossom tinted lip balm.
I love how this is 100% natural and full of goodness as well as gorgeousness. I am so glad that I got the cherry blossom colour and not the coco rose colour as I wouldn't have liked it as much. This is my favourite product from this month's box.
This is a full size product at 12.5ml worth £5.00.
Organic Surge - Super-Intensive Daily Moisturiser.
I will have to give this a test run before reporting back but first try and it is more solid than I thought it would be when I first dipped my finger in. It smells very natural but I'm not sure if I like it or not. I will be using this on my hands and body as I am still using my trusty Benefit facial one at the moment. This feels good quality so I can't wait to see how it works it's magic on my dry hands. Update 9/6/13 I just can't get used to the smell of this it is repulsive which is a shame as it seems like a good product but but I can't get passed the foul smell.
Full size 50ml worth £8.99.
Nails Inc - Portobello
I love love love the colour of this! I will be wearing this later today. I don't usually wear nail varnish much but I will try this out. It is a neon coral colour which looks amazing. It is a perfect colour to help me feel more summery from a good brand.
Full size 10ml is worth £11, but you get 4ml.
Paul Mitchell Curls - Full Circle Leave-In Treatment & Ultimate Wave.
I am a huge Paul Mitchell fan as his hair products are my favourite. These products are to help give the the perfect beach hair like Sienna Miller and Kate Bosworth. The leave in treatment into prevent frizz and the other Ultimate Wave is to add texture to beach waves. There is a few products out there at the moment like salt sprays etc to get this look but I am expecting nothing less than first class from PM. My first thought was erh I have straight hair! But I may try some chic waves this summer.
Full size leave in treatment at 200ml is £14.95, you get 15ml.
Full size Ultimate Wave at 150ml is £11.95, you get 15ml.
Helen E Cosmetics - Lip Pencil in Shade 7.
This is my least favourite product in the box purely because I probably won't use it. I would have preferred the lip crayon but oh well. The colour does look a little too dark for me but I will see if it matches one of my lip sticks. I know lip liners make all the difference when wearing lipstick to stop fading. I like how this one is waterproof so it should last even longer.
Full size 1.3g is £8 you get 1.2g.
So this is June's Glossybox and I am not disappointed. What is your favourite?
So summer has finally arrived but probably not for long but here is my favourite summer looks than I plan to be sporting on these hot sunny days.
1. Suncream: I don't want a tan I like being pale and interesting. Anything that Dita does is good enough for me.
2. Cat eye sunglasses: preferably in black. I have fell in love with some Chanel ones as they are amazing but whilst I am fantasising about those I will be picking some up from the high street that I can actually afford.
3. Maxi skirts: these are so much more comfortable that skinny jeans. Long and flowy or tight and clingy it doesn't matter the maxi skirts are in and look fab.
4. Bright lip: I'm thinking a bright pink as it will help to put me in a summery mood.
5. Metallic sandal: I know the wedge sandals are in but so are metallics and I'm not a fan of the wedge sandal they look a bit ugly. I will be rocking a metallic flat sandal. I got the perfect ones from George at Asda late last year and I can't wait to finally wear them.
6. Leather jacket: any colour will do the brighter the better, but as I'm guessing the sun won't be sticking around for long it's good to carry a cover up to prevent getting chilly.
What are your summer wardrobe must haves? Let's discuss...
