Xmas 2013 haul: beauty products

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to part 2 of my Xmas haul.

Under sink storage

Hi Guys!

This post is a bit random but I'm so happy with my purchase that I thought I'd share it with you.
I have a great space underneath my kitchen sink - really spacious - but I've got a lot of crap and I'm messy (I never put things back where I got them from) and so I often find myself chucking things into the space and making a total mess. I find myself in a cycle of spending ages tidying it up (honestly!) but then destroying my work. I try my best to place the most used items at the front but if I need to grab anything from the back then it's game over straight away.

Xmas 2013 haul: non beauty products

Hi Everyone!

Hope you had a brilliant Christmas. I had a fantastic day with my family, and I did really really well with my presents!
Usually I ask Santa Claus to bring me money but this year I didn't - because instead of buying myself a treat I end up spending it on something boring like the gas bill. So anyways, I got lots of stuff which I really appreciate and of which I'm sharing with you now. I've split the post into two: one (this one) of my non beauty type products and the other post will be beauty type products. (Also, big up to my brother for all my Ikea goodies which I've already shared with you previously). 

Review: Gliss Ultimate Volume Shampoo and Conditioner

Hi Guys!

Found these gems in The 99p Store - silicone free shampoo and conditioner from Gliss.

As expected neither of these give much foaming action or 'slippage' but they do a great cleansing job and leaves my hair soft and shiny. I've definitely noticed an impovement in my scalp when using this. It's not easy to find silicone free shampoo in my price range so this is a blessing. I'm on my second batch, and if I see more I shall definitely be stocking up.

However, I do alternate between this conditioner and a 'normal' conditioner - I do miss the silky slippy feel of silicones at times (especially if I haven't brushed my hair before getting into the shower!!) and since I only apply conditioner to the mid-end length it does not irriate my scalp anyway.

In conclusion? It's 99p dude, there doesn't have to be a conclusion!

#adventcalendar days 16-24

Hi Guys!

With great sadness - here are my last batch of advent calendar goodies.

Day 16 was a olive oil hair pack and a gorgeous Barry M nail paint in raspberry.

Day 17 were some tooth sticking eclairs - an oldie but a goodie!

Day 18 - I don't know where V got this from but it's a genius make up pencil sharpener. I tried to capture it in the picture - one end is for a normal sized pencil, the other end is for those jumbo pencils, and it has a cover/lid so great for the handbag. (Barry M btw) 

Day 19 was some old school pick and mix. I was eating this at my desk - one moment there were a hundred jelly babies begging for mercy and 3 minutes later I'd eaten them all oops

Day 20 - two of my favourite things - face wipes and chocolate!

Day 21 - my first ever models own nail polish!!! 200% opaque in 2 coats. Even one good coat is good enough to go. This was a contender for Christmas day notd but ended up running late and sticking with a very chipped barry m raspberry (day 16). 

Day 22 - the yummiest biggest chocolate star ever. If I see these on sale I'm going to grab a million.

Day 23 - haven't had a chance to test it out but excited about my latest maybelline colorshow additionin 'power red'. 

My last special advent calendar present - Day 24 - traditional chocolate coins! Who remembers thinking this was real money? Was that just me?

A massive thank you to V for putting this all together. I've been so spoiled, and I'm so grateful. Not just for the actual gifts but also for the time, thought and effort - this has also been much appreciated. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day!

Wishing everyone a (late) Merry Christmas. I hope everyone had a lovely day.

Monica Vinader haul and review

Hello Hello!

So excited - a birthday treat - a fiji gold chain bracelet from Monica Vinader.

I've become obsessed with the brand - look out for a few more pieces post Christmas!!!

A solid band, engraved with 'love' in Korean - Saranghae. There's a reason why this was chosen but it'll make more sense once I receive all my pieces... but I like how dainty and pretty it looks. The adjustable part is gold chain but the infamous fiji bracelet comes with a colour string adjustable band.

I'm a big girl so it's no surprise that I have a big wrist (17cm) - this style (as are a lot of the Monica Vinader friendship bracelets) just about fits for a 20cm fitting...if that makes sense.

Totally in love with this and wearing it everyday. Also, I must say, the customer service and shopping experience with the Monica Vinader website is absolutely superb! Thumbs up!!!

Dinner at Zedel

Hi Guys!

I went for dinner in Regent Street's Zedel - a French brasserie. I've never been to a place like this before and had no idea what to expect. What I experienced was great food and an amazing atmosphere. Zedel is surprisingly bigger inside than it looks from the street. The interior is beautiful - gorgeous art deco, glamourous and cool.

Let's just say - food was amazing. I had pate to start, steak for my main and creme brulee for dessert. I also tasted for the first time a bite of steak tar tar and I must say, it was yummy. But I couldn't eat a whole raw cow.

The service was brilliant - I felt welcomed and comfortable. I wasn't  overly bugged but I was never thirsty. This was a treat but I think this might have come up to about £40 for what I ate - and I would say it was worth it and totally recommend it to anymore. 

After dinner we walked down Regent Street towards Bond Street station. The window displays were lovely. If I win the lottery I shall be raiding Hamleys!

Xmas lunch at Las Iguanas

Hi Guys,

I went for a christmas lunch the other day at Las Iguanas in Westfield Stratford City.
I ate off the christmas menu - 2 courses for £15 (3 courses would have been £20). I had chicken wings to start, and duck for my main course.

I must say, I wouldn't go back. The service was pretty poor - very slow and non attentive. The food was ok - I definitely wouldn't eat there again out of choice, and wouldn't recommend it to anyone else.

I've eaten at Las Iguanas before and it was better - maybe it was because it was off the christmas menu? But that's no excuse. Really unimpressed. I feel so bad to be so negative - especially about a christmas lunch - but it was a waste of my money and over 2 hours of my time (waiting waiting waiting even though we pre ordered and there were no other customers argghhhh).

Christmas is coming!!!

It's nearly Christmas!

I've got my tree up and only two people left to buy for.
I'm usually much less organised but I'm excited for Christmas this year. 

Christmas tree theme of silver hasn't changed - some baubles had to enter bauble hospital for some superglue treatment. It's hard not to be tempted by new decorations every year but money and storage space means I need to stay commited with what I have. I'm glad I went for a plain theme - makes the yearly repetition easier to bear.

How are your christmas plans going? What is your decoration theme?
Do you go all out or are you minimalistic like moi?

#adventcalendar days 9-15

Hi Guys!

Another week, another fab bunch of advent calendar goodies :)

Day 9 was what I call a 'scrubbie' but what the label called a 'body polisher'. Learn something new everyday!

Really excited about Day 10 - a balmi. Basically a lip balm but it's packaged so cute and the balm itself is nice snd moisturising. This makes a great stocking filler- fun and functional. 

Day 11 is currently cheekily living in my fruit bowl - fruit pastilles lol

Day 12 - nom nom nom merryteasers

Day 13 - my favourite dry shmapoo - a travel sixe mini batiste. I've been meaning to grab myself a mini size to leave at work so this is perfect. 

Day 14 - nom nom nom an assortment of old school pick n mix! 

And that brings us to Day 15 - I can't believe there's only 10 days left until christmas day!
Today I got a pink face cloth and another merryteaser - oooh I better eat it now!

Ikea haul and ootd

Hi Guys

Went to Ikea with my brother and Cee. Techically to get me my xmas presents - but I've got them at home and most of the stuff is in use on the same day.

OOTD in Ikea - ignore the bearded man. Awkward. 

Big lips pillow. I didn't buy this. But I enjoyed posing with it. No shame, no gain!

It is with great sadness and regret that I announce that I did not have a hotdog. I had just eaten KFC. First world problems. Absolutely gutted though!

One of the main items I wanted - a lamp for my bedroom side table. (Astrid lamp - £21)

Light bulb innit. Was £7 a good price?

The lamp in action - at first I wasn't sure - I wanted something with more of a wow factor but strangely enough it's simplicity makes it stand out in the corner of my room. I'm very happy :)

Fake grass! Wanted this for my kitchen sink but it's been moved onto the coffee table. Sometimes I feel a bit crap about having fake plants but I like having green around and I don't like being a plant serial killer so there ya go!

I have a set of these containers in all sort of sizes - pasta, rice, sugar, tea bags - they all go in here. I broke my sugar jar the other day so have a replacement, and the spice jars are for my sumac. I'm not the biggest fan of this style but since i already have a set it's cheaper to stick with the same style. 

It's a tray. It's huge. I wanted to have a box tray with handles - you know pintrest style - but thought this might look hipster on my coffee table. It doesn't but it's ok I guess. I;m still hunting though. 

This is my tray in action! I don't know how to style it. The nail polish isn't part of the set up - I just forgot to move it. Do you like my fake grass? I don't like how cutesy the set up is. I wanted a more organic look. I don't know. That candle though omg

Oven glove! Really needed one. Not happy with the colour but it was the only option. 

This! THIS! OMG! I was looking for vanilla tea lights and saw these which were neutral (for my colour scheme) and smell sweet. And wow they are ice cram scented. And I can smell them (me!) even when they are not lit. One big candle is on my tray, and one is near my bedside lamp. It smells yummy. Might be a bit too sickly sweet for some people, but you can just gtfo my house if that's the case. 

Got 2 packs of napkins for my napkin holder. Just looked at the receipt and realised I should have gone to Tiger instead. These were £2 per pack. Tiger do them for £1. Damn.

This is a long plant pot type thing - £4.50 - I was thinking of putting my hair products in this and placing it on my shelf but it didn't fit on my shelf so.....

....I popped my toilet and bathroom cleaning products in it. Apologies for the toilet pic. Keeping it real. 

This was an impulse buy and to be honest I don't like it. It's suppose to be a rest or support for your laptop or tablet. But it's too big for me and I can't put it on my lap. If possible I would like to return this. 

This was the second reason why I wanted to go to Ikea - faux fur sheepskin rug - £10. I've always wanted something like this growing up but my brother has asthma and these cheap shit gets all up in his grill and lungs so it was a no go situation but now I'm alone in penny palace I can have furry air all night long :)

I don't know where to put it though. Under my make up table would be nice but the mess the mess oh my days. And this is handwash only so that's just too much stress. Possibly near my bed so when I wake up my feet are greeted by a pretend dead sheep? 

A drainer. I dunno, I thought it was pretty lol

I've already got one of these and it's so handy (for plastic bags) so I've gotten another one and I think I'll put wrapping paper in it. So compact.

I also repurchased some more skubb shoe boxes and some of the wonderful shoe horns.

And that was that. Had a great time :)

Keeping warm - Winter 2013

Hi Guys!

The colder weather is my favourite fashion time - I love coats and I love being wrapped up (I hate being hot but I like the look of being wrapped up...just me?)

This is my newest addition to the coat cupboard. It's a black swing coat with a removable faux fur collar. £30 from asda!!! I love it - it looks really nice with my work clothes and it's thick enough but not tooooo thick.  

Plaid, tartan, whatever you call it - I love it. Scarf left is £8 from Matalan and adds a great pop of colour to my black on black outfits; scarf on the right is £18 from topshop and no I didn't buy it.

Stay warm and well everyone! xoxo