Glossybox - February 2012

Last month I posted about the January Glossybox which was a Valentines Day limited edition box.  This month it is back to the traditional dusty pink box containing products that reflect London Fashion Week (23-26 February).

If you are unfamiliar to Glossybox, it's a monthly subscription where you receive 5 or 6 luxury product miniatures (some of which may be full size) from high-end brands every month.  You just register to create an account and subscribe to receive your first Glossybox.  The box is sent directly to your door every month and will allow you to test out new products in the comfort of your own home. You can also provide product feedback in order to receive Glossydots which you can collect in order to claim a free box.  The box also contains product information, application notes and tips and tricks about beauty and style. It gives you the chance to try new perfumes, make up, body and care products of high-end and niche brands some of which you may not have heard of or tried otherwise.  The beauty box costs £10.00 per month (plus p+p).

This is the traditional box that you will receive each month which is a dusty pink colour with the Glossybox logo on the front.

There was a little more literature than usual in this months box.  It had the standard product information card that tells you where you can buy the products, how much they cost and any discounts that are available to you if you want to purchase the products.  But it also contained a flyer about London Fashion Week with a 15% discount code for tickets. 

The last item was a small business card that says "Expect The Unexpected" and to log on to the site from the 24th February for more information.  When you log on you see the following image:

Every day when you click on the box you receive an individual letter that spells a clue about the mystery box.  So far I have received the letters D, G, and I.  I think that the box may have something to do with designer, but that is just a guess and I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

Back to this months box and as usual the products were beautifully wrapped.

Finally let's take a peak inside this months Glossybox.

1. Duwop Venom Gloss in Buttercup £16 / 10.4ml:  This doesn't look like anything much in the tube but on application the product is quite sheer and gives a nice neutral sheen to the lips with gold reflex.  It causes a light tingling to the lips (due to the venom) which I'm not really a fan of and the product has quite a strong sweet smell which becomes slightly sickly after a while.  I have so many lip glosses that this wouldn't be one that I would reach for on a regular basis but it might be pretty as a top coat to tone down a stronger lip.  The product is also very sticky, so I definitely won't be wearing this on a windy day as I'd rather my hair wasn't stuck to my lips.

2. Impress Press on manicure £17.40 / Set:  I have my nails done professionally, so I never use press on nails.  But even if I did, these would not be something that I would try, purely down to the colour which is neon orange (the picture doesn't quite capture the true colour as it is much brighter).  This is a new product that claims on application to last up to a week.  The packaging is innovative as it looks like a nail polish bottle and keeps the nails contained so you won't lose them, but sadly this will not be a product that I'll be trying. I would have prefered to have received a nail varnish as at least I could wear it on my toes, but I never wear press-on-nails so I am rather disappointed with this product.

3. Paul Mitchell Quick Slip £14.25 / 150ml:  This is a styling cream that claims to p

rovide flexible hold and definition, s

hields vulnerable strands from the sun and s

peeds up drying time while it conditions and protects.  It also contains s

oftening conditioners and UV protection to leave hair looking and feeling healthy.  I have yet to try this product, but it is definitely something that I will try as I love experimenting with products claiming to protect your hair.  The product has a thick creamy consistancy (like most conditioners) and the inclusion of a pump means that you can control the amount being used without wasting any product.  It has the same scent that can be found in other Paul Mitchell products which is quite strong and sweet (to me it smells like fabric softener).

4. BM Beauty Pure Mineral Eyeshadow in Wolf Howl £7 / 2g:  I am not the biggest fan of mineral eyeshadows, purely for the fact that I have a tendency to spill them.  I received the colour Wolf Howl which is an iredescent midnight blue colour.   I tend to wear more neutral eyeshadows however I would probably wear this to line my lower lash line to add a pop of colour. 

5. Como Shambhala Invigorate Shower Gel £20 / 300ml: I have so many bath/shower products at the moment that I didn't really need a new shower gel (I'm currently trying to use up a large bottle of Snow Fairy by Lush).  However this 50ml bottle would be perfect for travelling so I know I will use it at some point.  It is described as being an invigorating shower gel which contains a blend of essential oils (eucalptus, geranium, lavender and peppermint) which are designed to uplift your mood.  You can really smell the lavender and peppermint especially in this product and the smell reminds me of Turkish Delight.  I wouldn't pay £20 normally for a shower gel so I don't think I'll be repurchasing this as there are some brilliant alternatives for a lot less money, but it's always nice to try out something new and a little different.

My initial impression....

Some nice products, but generally a little disappointed, especially with the colour choices of the lipgloss, eyeshadow and press-on-nails in particular.  I'm looking forward to seeing what will be in next months Mystery Box - hopefully it'll be something exciting!

If you would like to read future posts relating to Glossybox then please subscribe.

What's in my everyday makeup bag?

This is the makeup bag that I carry with me on a daily basis.  I do not keep a full face load of products with me, just a few items to refresh my makeup if I need to.  The current contents listed below were the items that were present in my What's in my handbag post. No items were added or removed, so this is a true reflection of what I carry with me (which is probably too much!). 

Mac Makeup bag from the Graphic Garden Collection
(Bought in San Francisco in 2009

The picture and list below shows you the content in more detail.  The majority of these products always remain in my makeup bag.  The only items that I change are the eye liners I use and the lip products and these tend to vary on a daily basis depending on what kind of look I am going for.

Starting from the top:

Estee Lauder Pure White Linen in Light Breeze 4ml: This is my signature summer scent, however I always leave it in my makeup bag as on the odd occasion I have forgotten to put perfume on (which I hate to do) and this sample means that I can quickly spritz some on me where ever I am.

Freedent Chewing Gum: I don't have chewing gum all the time, but again this is something that I like to have with me just in case I need to freshen my breath.

Gosh Velvet Touch Eye Liner in 006 Bananas: This is such a pretty light gold colour which I often use as an inner corner highlight, especially if I am wearing gold/bronze shadows.

3 Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils in Yeyo (white), Bourbon (brown with gold shimmer), Zero (black): These eye liners by Urban Decay are my all time favourite as they last all day long without smudging.  They also come in an array of colours.  I bought mine in a gift set that contained 5 or 6 different pencils so it is worth keeping a look out for these if you are interested in trying them.  I use the white eye liner as an inner corner highlight and the brown and black tend to go with the majority of makeup looks.  I usually just line the outer half of my lower lash line (if I line the whole lash line it tends to make my eyes look to closed and small).

Benefit It Stick: This is a pencil concealer (I shade fits all) that I use to cover any blemishes or redness throughout the day.  I like that it is small so it doesn't take up much room and it is really creamy so it is easy to apply.  Sadly I can't seem to find it on their website so it's probably been discontinued (something Benefit do a lot which is most annoying), but you still might be able to find it on Ebay or Amazon.

Mac Select Moisture Cover Concealer in NW20: This is my under eye concealer although I do sometimes use it to cover redness and blemishes as well.  If I am out and about all day and not heading home, I like to have this to refresh under my eyes so I look a little brighter.  It is really creamy and very easy to blend which is important as the skin around your eyes is so delecate that you don't want to damage it.

Sigmas travel lip brush:  I love Sigma brushes and I bought mine over a year ago as part of the Premium Professional Kit from their Website in America.  Unfortunately you can't buy this brush individually at the moment, however you can now buy some of their brushes in the UK from Love-Makeup.

Kirby Grips & Hairclip: I have very long hair and sometimes (if I have a side parting) my hair really annoys me and gets in my eyes so I like to hair a few hair grips with me so that I can clip it out of the way especially if it is windy outside as I don't want my hair getting stuck to my lipgloss.

Saline solution: I keep a few capsules with me at all times as I wear contact lenses and sometimes my eyes can feel a little dry, especially if I have been wearing my lenses for a while.

Vicks Inhaler Nasal Stick:  This might seem like a random product to have in my makeup bag but as you may have realised by now, I like to plan for the inevitable.  So many times I have been rescued from a blocked/stuffy nose at work by remembering that I had this with me.

Nail file:  Not sure what brand this is as it was a present.  I always have a nail file with me as there's nothing more annoying than having a chipped nail and I know that if I don't file it immediately I will keep picking at the chip making it a lot worse in the process.  One little tip - make sure that you get a nail file that comes in a sleeve - I stupidly didn't once and I had it in my bag and it scratched some of my things.  I was very upset!

Benefit Eye Bright: This is a instant eye brightener which comes in a milky pink shade.  I often apply it as an inner corner highlight or to line my lower waterline which helps to brighten your eyes, especially on those days when you are feeling rather tired.

L'Oreal Paris Super Liner Carbon Gloss in Carbon Black: I cannot say enough good things about this product - it is my favourite liquid eyeliner of all time and it is always in my makeup bag.  If I have been out all day, by refreshing my eyeliner (especially the little flicks that I like to do at the outer corner) I never feel the need to reapply my mascara as the eyeliner seems to make my eye makeup look as though I have just done it.  L'Oreal also do the same liner in Silver Black and I like to use this colour if I want a softer look on the eyes.

Mac Lustre Glass in Pinkaret:  This is a beautiful pink lipgloss with gold shimmer and I usually like to wear this in the summer months, but lately I have been applying this over my Mac Tinted Lip Condition for a more glossy finish.

Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Grapefruit:  This is a sheer pink lipgloss that is extremely moisturising on the lips and perfect if you want to add a little colour and gloss to the lips.  I got this product free when I ordered some Clinique products via their website.

Plasters:  These often become more used in the summer months when I start to wear pumps on my feet as no matter what I do I always seem to get a slight blister on my heal.  I have learnt that rubbing Vaseline into the backs of shoes helps and it does, but you never know when you might be in need of a plaster so I always keep a few to hand.

Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm:  I really like Carmex as a lip balm and this is probably my favourite for moisturising dry lips.  It is also handy as it comes in a squeezy tube and it is not as big as some of the tins that you can buy.  At first I didn't like the smell (sorry - not sure how to describe it, I guess it reminded me of playdoh) but I now quite like it.

Mac Tinted Lip Conditioner in Petting Pink:  This was in my January favourites and still is one of my favourite products I use especially as it has an spf 15.  It has a slight vanilla scent (like most of Mac products) and it really leaves your lips feeling smooth and kissable whilst adding a nice tint to the lips.  Definitely a product that I will continue to repurchase in the future.

Hairbands:  I carry these for the same reason I carry hair grips and that is because my hair often gets in my way.  Especially if I am carrying Olivia as she is just starting to grab things (my hair being one of them).  No matter where I am, these hairbands (which prevent snags) mean that I can quickly tie back my hair if I need to.

Laura Mercier Hand Cream in Creme Brulee:  This product can also be found in my January favourites.  During the Winter months my hands have been a lot dryer so I always make sure that I keep hand cream with me.  It also means that my nails stay in better condition too.

That is everything!  Like I said at the start, the majority of the items above can always be found in my makeup bag.  It is usually just the lip products and perhaps eye liners that change.  I don't carry a pressed powder with me as my skin isn't oily and my foundation tends to stay in place all day.  I also don't bother with blushes and it would mean that I would need a brush which would take up more space.  In the summer months, occasionally I might carry a cream blush with me as that can be applied with my fingers but my cheeks are quite pigmented anyway and my blusher usually stays in place (I always use Mac's Cream Colour Base in Hush underneath my blushes so that helps them to stay put).

What do you carry in your makeup bag?  Leave a comment below and subscribe for future makeup related posts. x

Clothing/Shoe Haul for Olivia

I can't believe how fast Olivia is growing, soon she will be out of her 0-3 months clothes and will be in her 3-6 month ones.  I was really lucky to have a girl as my sister (who has two girls) gave me lots of baby clothes so a part from a few items, I didn't have to buy a lot.  Before Olivia was born I went through all the clothes I was given and I divided them into ages and separated them into different boxes (this also kept me busy whilst I was on maternity leave).  There was enough clothes to fill three large plastic boxes which was amazing.  Recently I had forgotten what I had been given so I went through all the boxes and completed a checklist (like an inventory) of everything I had been given so that I knew how many dresses, trousers etc I had and what I still needed to get.

One thing you need to know is that all the following items (except one) were bought from Next.  I adore the children's clothes from Next and I often buy clothes for work from there too.  The clothes always wash really well and they last which is really important to me.  There might be other shops that you could buy cheaper clothes from but I don't think that the prices are extortionate and you can often pick up some brilliant bargains in their sales (which they always seem to have).

One thing that I didn't have was shoes.  I know you have to be careful about what you put on babies feet as they can damage the development of them but this is more important once they start walking.  I had bought lots of socks and had been given a couple of pairs of booties but it has been driving me mad that as soon as you put them on, Olivia manages to take them off.  I wanted a pair of soft pram shoes that would prevent socks from coming off and would stay on her feet.  This is what I found and I am over the moon.



Pram Shoes by Next £8.50

I think these shoes are so adorable.  They are made of soft leather with a soft padded bottom for the foot.  They have a strap which is attached by velcro which means that they are easy to put on as well as staying secure on the foot (no more losing booties - hooray!)  I decided to get two pairs as I thought the white would go with most outfits and I have quite a few pink outfits that the pink ones would go with also.  They are also so cute that I just couldn't help myself.  These are in 3-6 months but they also do them in sizes up to 18 months, and I thought they were quite reasonably priced.

Currently Olivia has been wearing a lot of leggings and tops which have proven to be extremely practical for during the day (as well as for changing her bottom in emergencies) and so I wanted to find some in the next size up.  The following pictures show two outfits (purchased as sets) which are both coral/pink and consist of leggings with a longer top and I thought they were both really pretty.  Olivia was also born with a lot of hair, which has been growing rapidly (she may need a haircut very soon) and I was able to buy matching hairbands which are fastened with velcro to wear with these outfits.

Two Piece Jersey Set £12 

Two Piece Jersey Set £12

Jersey Hairbands Two Pack £4.50

The following outfit is one that you don't need to wear a pair of shoes with and that's because the leggings have feet attached.  I really like pastel clothes and Mamas and Papas always seem to have a good range.  I thought this was a really pretty outfit and although the clothes are slightly more expensive than Nexts, they are still quite reasonable.



2 Piece Jersey Set - Approx £22

 The next dress was part of the Winter collection from Next so I'm not sure if you can get it any more but I thought it would be perfect for Sunday lunches out etc.  The dress is a corduroy material so it is quite warm, which is perfect for the cold weather we are having at the moment.  It also came with a long sleeve vest which is great as it means it can be mixed with other dresses and not just this one.

Cord Dress by Next Originally £18

Something that I don't think you can have enough of and that are sleep-suits or baby-grows.  Whatever you prefer to call them.  I already had a few of these (some which my sister gave me and a couple given as gifts) but I wanted to get some more.  Most places offer sets and I thought this pack of three suits were adorable.  Nexts current collection seems to consist of quite a lot of pinks/coral/orange colours which I happen to quite like but I know it's not for everyone.

Cat Sleepsuits Three Pack £14-£15

The final item that I bought was this dress from Next.  I bought it in the size 6-9 months as I thought it would be lovely for Olivia during the Summer months as it is a light weight cotton.  Plus it can be paired with a white cardigan if it slightly cooler.  

Dress by Next £12

I am always on the look out for things for Olivia and I know that when the sales next come round I'll be buying a few things that she can wear for this time next year so that I can start stocking up on the basics.

As children grow out of clothing and shoes so quickly I know that it is important to not get carried away with buying everything I see but perhaps I can get just a few things - just don't tell the hubby!

If you would like to see more posts about hauls for Olivia, then please subscribe!

Lent - What are you giving up?

Are you giving up anything for Lent this year?  If you don't know what Lent is then click here for more information (I love Wikipedia - plus they explain it so much better than I can). 

Before I start, this is not a post with me spouting about religion.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and the last thing I want is to get into a debate about God versus Science. However every year I like to follow the tradition and give something up for Lent.  Most people tend to give up chocolate or drinking etc but as I'm on a diet already, I didn't want to deprive myself of my one little luxury, plus I rarely drink so that would be too easy. 

After having bought a few beauty items recently (don't worry hubby, I didn't spend a fortune) I thought that this would be something that I could give up.  I have a habit of buying something for example a new shampoo before I've even finished up my old bottle.  This results in half used bottles/items being pushed to the back of my cupboards where I either forget about them or they go off.  On Youtube their was a tag a couple of years ago called "Project 10 Pan" where the idea was to use up 10 items before you could buy something new.  For me this wasn't practical as it would take me ages to use up 10 items.  So I thought that I would restrict myself from buying any new items unless I had used one up.  For example, I can't buy a new lipstick unless I have used one up.  For me I thought this would be a more realistic challenge as it would mean that I could replace the products I love to use on a regular basis if they run out (Liz Earle skincare springs to mind), but it would stop me from spontaneously buying new products (and multiple ones at that).

Over the next forty days, hopefully I will be able to use up and rediscover some products that I have disregarded for a while.  You might not think that this is much of a challenge but for me it really is.  It is so easy for me to go and buy a new lipgloss when actually I don't need a new one as I have so many (I know that this will make my hubby very happy to read this). 

Just so you know, and so you don't think I've cheated, I do have a couple of beauty hauls coming up soon, one for Soap & Glory, Topshop and the other for L'Oreal but these were bought a week or so ago. 

I will keep you updated on my progress so look out for future posts and who knows if it goes well over the next forty days, then perhaps I might continue with it for a while. 

Let me know if you have given up anything for Lent, and if you have, good luck!

Finally a new phone - Introducing the iPhone 4S

I've had my current phone (iPhone 3GS which I love) ever since it was released in the UK in 2009.  To be honest I didn't really need a new phone as mine still looked brand new (I always ensured that it was kept in a case when I had it in my bag), and my phone had the latest software from updating it with itunes.  Did I really need a new one?  Probably not, although there's now was two small cracks appearing at the base of the phone where you put the charger in, plus I was able to get an upgrade so why not.

On phoning O2 I was told that I would have to pay £100 for the latest iPhone 4S (a price that I was not willing to pay).  I knew I could get the phone free for the same amount I am currently paying so I said those all important words "I'd like to cancel my contract".  I quickly got transferred to a young guy (in fact I have no idea how old he was, he just sounded young and unfortunately I can't remember his name) who asked why I wanted to leave.  I said that the sales team had said that I would have to pay for the phone to upgrade and I knew I could get it free else where (or words to that effect) and he simply replied "let me see what I can do...I have more flexibility with what we can offer".  The guy certainly did, as within minutes I had agreed to a new contract staying with them for 24 months (paying the same that I am right now) and obtaining the phone I wanted for free - Woo hoo!  I probably could have paid less each month or had a shorter contract, but to be honest I was more than happy with the arrangement. 

I was told the phone would be delivered within 2-3 working days.  So imagine my surprise when less than 24 hours later the phone arrived on my door step. Huge happy face :)

Now I know everyone has probably seen this phone plenty of times and perhaps you even have it, but just in case here's mine. 

The phone was easy to install.  I just connected it to my existing itunes and synced all the data.  I haven't played around with all the new features just yet but I currently am loving the Sky Go app which allows me to watch movies and sport on my phone and the new camera allows me to take even better quality photos of Olivia which for me is really important as she seems to be growing up so quickly that I want to capture every moment.  iCloud is also a great feature as it allows you to back up all the information of your phone as well as syncing it to your computer via wifi - very handy.

I should also state that over the last three years O2 have been great and I have never experienced any problems with them.  That isn't to say that you won't, just that so far they have been very good for me.

As a treat, I bought myself a new case for my phone (plus my previous case was rather dirty).  I looked at so many different ones on line and to start with I considered buying a hard case, but to be honest I really liked my old case which was a pouch.  I saw the following one in the Cath Kidston store in Bluewater and I couldn't resist it, I thought it was so cute.  It is made of oil cloth so it can easily be wiped down if it gets dirty.  They do different prints but I chose the Victoria Rose phone case which was £15 (must cheaper than other phone cases I had seen which were about £25).  I also liked the strap (which is used to remove the phone) as it fastens over the top of your phone with velcro, so it can't come out.

What phone do you currently have?  It seems to be that you are either a Blackberry fan or an iPhone fan.  What are you?  It is quite clear that I am an iPhone fan and I can't see myself changing any time soon. 

Dear Beauty... 3 Months Old

Dear Beauty,

Time is going by so fast.  I can't believe that you are 3 months old today.  It seems like it was only yesterday that I found out I was pregnant and that my life would change - for the better.  I love being a mum, and I never knew I could love someone so much (besides your daddy and our family of course).  You are my absolute world and I would do anything for you.

Olivia on the day she was born

On the 21st November at 9.56 am (after a rather long labour) you decided to enter into our lives weighing 8 lbs 10 oz.  Since that moment when I first held you in my arms, I have never wanted to protect someone so much, and I will continue to protect you every day for the rest of your life.  On that very first day, even though I had only just laid eyes on you, I knew you.  We have a special bond like no other, and we always will.

I'm sure every parent says this about their child, but Olivia, you truly are perfect.  You are such a happy and contented baby, your daddy and I couldn't wish for anything more.  Every time you smile at me my heart melts and I look forward to what every new day brings. 

I only have 4 months left before I have to go back to work full time.  It makes me sad to think about it, as I'm afraid of what I will miss out on when I am not around.  Luckily I go back to school for 3 weeks and then we break up for the summer holidays, so at least daddy and I will have 6 weeks off with you.  But I know that every day that I am away from you will be such a struggle.  To be honest I don't want any one to know you more than me.  I am your mummy and I should be the one that is there for you.  The only consolation is that at least Nanny and Grandma will be looking after you whilst I am at work, so I know that you will be in safe hands.  Plus know that every day that I am away from you, you will always be in my thoughts.

On a more positive note, at least I do still have 4 months off with you, some parents aren't as lucky.  Seeing just how much you have changed over the last 3 months, I can't wait to see how much you will develop over the next 3.  When will you start crawling, or start eating solids?  Will your eyes stay blue or turn brown like mine.  Who knows.  But I will enjoy every minute of you changing and discovering new things.

When you were born, I was so overcome with emotions.  Wondering whether or not I would be a good mother and how I would know what to do.  Some times I surprise myself when instinctively I know what to do, especially if you are crying.  As every day passes, it has become easier and being a mum has begun to feel more natural.  It's hard to imagine what my life was like before you were born and to be honest I wouldn't want my life any other way.  I feel as though you have always been with us and as everyday passes I feel so blessed that you are a part of my life.

To my beautiful baby girl, I love you with all my heart and always will.

...With Love x

WW Update - Week 6

There is no entry for week 5 as I was unable to go and get weighed as I was at a rehearsal.  So it had been two weeks since stepping on to those scales and once again as per usual I was a little scared.  I know I seem to always say this, but I had been slightly naughty over the past two weeks.  Especially the first week as I knew I wasn't going to be weighed - I knew I shouldn't have but I couldn't resist the chocolate tin.  This past week I promised myself that I would be good, however Valentines Day was definitely the exception.  Phil and I had such a nice day and it was really nice to eat out, just the two of us, and I have to admit that I didn't think about my diet once. I just wanted us to enjoy ourselves.  But I know that for me everyday can't be like that, so for the rest of the week I was more careful about what I was eating.

So that I could have a few treats this week, I bought a couple of Weight Watcher products from the meeting.  One of them was my usual Rich Toffee Chocolate bars (5 in a box) for £2.15 which are my favourite and the second was something that I hadn't seen before, Garlic and Herb Bag and Bake (1 in a box) for 85p, but it usually costs £1.  I thought I'd give it a try to see what it's like, plus it's no points.

Now for the exciting part.  I was hoping that I would still lose 1 lb at least, so I was ecstatic to discover that I has lost 3 1/2 lb, which means that so far I have lost 13 1/2 lbs.  Currently I'm not really doing any exercise, a part from pushing the pram on our daily walks.  I have completed a few exercise DVDs when I can, but I haven't been sticking to a daily routine.  I have bought a few DVDs and I also have Wii Fit Plus which I thought I would try.  But at the moment, I'm just sticking to the diet and as I'm not the biggest fan of exercise, I'm going to start to introduce that slowly, that way I might actually stick with it.

I'm so proud of myself and my weight loss so far is definitely encouraging me to keep going.  My target is to try and lose another 2 stone by the time I go back to work in June.  Whether or not I'll achieve this, I'm not sure, but I'm certainly going to try my best.

What's in my handbag?

Whenever someone holds my bag they always ask what I have in it as it is so heavy.  I don't think that it's that heavy, but I do carry quite a lot with me as you never know what you might need.  That and the fact that I can never be bothered to have a good clear out.

Well, today was the day when I thought enough was enough and finally I would have a look at what I have been carrying around with me for so long.

So here it is...my handbag and it's contents!

Before people judge me for having a Louis Vuitton, I want to state that I do not have lots of designer things, in fact I had wanted a LV bag for a long time and this was a first year anniversary present from my husband.  I love this bag so much and it is my pride and joy.  It is a Speedy 30 (in Monogram Canvas) which is the perfect size for me, I found the next size up to be too big, especially to use on a daily basis, whilst this one is just the right size for everything I want to have with me.

 The following picture is an overview of the contents of my bag and as you can see I carry an awful lot of "stuff" around with me on a daily basis.  Before you see inside, let me just say that this was not planned and the contents below is a true reflection of what's in my bag - I did not remove or add any items  - what would be the point! 

 So this is what I'm currently carrying around with me - a tad too much I think - but if it fits, then why not!  Let's have a closer look.  I've broken the contents up so you can see the contents in more depth.

  



• Hall Soothers Throat Sweets in Cherry flavour (not my favourite but I had a sore throat recently and I was desperate), plus a wrapper
• Car key
• 10p in change - not sure why this was loose in my bag
• Freedent chewing gum - only one left
• House keys - also has a mini torch and a Disney key ring
• iPhone 3GS (looking rather dirty) and phone case
• Dior mirror (inside pouch)
• Weight Watchers Gold Membership card

• Mac Makeup bag (Graphic Garden collection, bought in San Francisco) - contents to be shown in a future post
• Kleenex Balm tissues - my favourite as they don't hurt your nose
• Old shopping list
• Receipt
• One of Olivia's toy rattles - just in case she wants to play
• Muslin cloth - for those sick moments
• Sainsburys coupon
• Hair clip
• Mac zip purse  (Graphic Garden collection) - contents in a picture below

• Curtain hooks - we're putting up blackout curtains in Olivia's room
• Olivia's booties - they never stay on her feet
• Weight Watchers Eat Out guide - so I can try and keep to my diet if I eat out
• Louis Vuitton purse - Zippy Wallet in Monogram Canvas
• Receipt - JoJo Maman Bebe
• Compact hairbrush/mirror
• Glasses & case
• Little Brown Bag zip purse - contents below

• 3 pens - don't know why
• Weight Watchers Strawberry Hearts and Mint Humbugs (2 points for the whole box)
• Antiseptic throat spray - I've had a sore throat
• Glasses - cheap pair from Accessorize
• Weight Watchers points calculator
• Prescription ticket
• Mini Nivea deodorant

• Contains car key for our other car and loyalty cards for Tesco and Sainsburys
• Keys for my parents house

• 2 pairs of spare contact lenses
• Saline drops
• Kirby grips
• Hair clips

The picture below shows the layout inside my Louis Vuitton Zippy purse (this was a birthday present from Phil).  I love this purse as it can hold so much.  It can hold 12 cards although I tend to double mine up in places.  It has an additional sections behind these on both side as well as a zipped compartment for coins in the middle and another section where you can put notes.  It can also hold my iPhone, so you can use the purse as a clutch on nights out - which is one of the reasons why I wanted this one.  It has the same Monogram Canvas pattern to match my bag.

So that is the contents of my bag.  Like I have already mentioned, nothing was added or removed so this is a true reflection of what I carry around with me on a daily basis.  There is a lot of items I know, but I always like to be prepared just in case I might need something.  I would like to reduce the amount of things I carry, especially as Olivia is getting heavier to carry, this bag isn't really ideal.  But I see this bag as an investment and something that I will have for a very long time.

Love is in the air - Valentines Day 2012

I love Valentines Day - especially as my husband is a true romantic at heart and always likes to do some sort of surprise for me, and this year was no different.

I woke up to my husband bringing me a dozen red roses, a cup of tea and my favourite blueberry muffin. That's certainly a great way to start the day!

We then exchanged our cards and gifts.  Since we have been together, Phil and I do not have any photo albums of us together except for our Wedding album.  In October 2010 we got burgled and one of the things that was taken was our camera along with all our photos (yes, we were that stupid that we hadn't backed all of them up).  I had uploaded our honeymoon photos and a few others, but so many were lost.  I decided that it was about time we had some photo albums to keep.  Using Snapfish I decided to create two photo books - one of our honeymoon and the other of a trip to Eurodisney.  I thought it was something that we could both enjoy.  The books were really easy to create and the end product was brilliant - I'll definitely use them again.  So now we have two hard back books to start our collection off and the plan is to create more books in the future of holidays and special occasions.  I'm already starting to collect photos for a book of Olivia's first year.  Phil had no idea about the photo books and couldn't believe how amazing they turned out and is so pleased that we finally have some photos of us.

Recently I have become rather obsessed with all things Cath Kidson (as you will see soon in future posts) and Phil knew that I liked one of their bags.  I have a gorgeous Louis Vuitton which is currently my every day bag (it was an anniversary present), however I wanted a bag that I could wear across the body especially for when Olivia starts to become more active and I need both my hands free.  I also wanted a bag for the summer months and one that wouldn't get ruined if Olivia had sticky fingers.  When I saw this bag I thought it was perfect and Phil bought it for me as a Valentines present.

I liked the fact that the strap was adjustable so it could be worn as a shoulder bag or across the body.  It also has a zip pocket inside as well as a pocket on the front and a clasp at the front so that the bag remains closed.  Like most of Cath Kidston's bags they are made of oil cloth which means that they can easily be wiped down.

That wasn't the end of my treats though, as Phil had also planned a surprise for the rest of the day.  He had arranged for Olivia to be looked after by Grandma and Grandad (Phil's parents, mine are Nanny and Grandpa).  We then took a long drive in the car whilst I tried to guess where we were going (he took a rather long route to our final destination so that I couldn't tell where we were going).  In the end we arrived at Bluewater (one of my favourite places to go and not too far away from Olivia).  We ate at Yo Sushi!, (a place that we had both wanted to try but hadn't had the opportunity to) and thoroughly enjoyed it.  We sat at the bar and watched all the dishes go past - which they did, as by the time I had worked out what something was, it was gone and I had to wait for it to come past again.  Still it was fun!

We then headed towards the cinema and on collecting the tickets I discovered that we were going to see "The Woman in Black".  This is a film that I had been wanting to see for some time as I love the stage version (which I had seen many times as I teach it for GCSE Drama).  Phil on the other hand had not been too keen as he hadn't quite recovered from seeing the stage version.  I don't think he had quite forgiven me for making him sit in the aisle seat. 



I really enjoyed the film (although the stage version is better) but I can't quite believe that it is a 12a as on several occasions I jumped and at times had to look away.  It is reported that they had to remove 60 seconds of footage in order to make it a 12a and not a 15 (it is believed that they wanted to lower the rating to appeal to more of Daniel Radcliffe's fans as a result of his success in the Harry Potter films).  The ending was also different to the stage version and I keep changing my mind over which ending I prefer. 

After watching quite an upsetting film about children dying, Phil and I were desperate to see Olivia (especially as it was the longest we had been away from her) and headed back to the Grandparents.  After we had lifted our spirits from having several cuddles, we headed out for dinner to a Mexican restaurant.  When we first arrived the restaurant was quite quiet, but as the night progressed and it got busier, it started to remind us of the film "Valentines Day" when Anne Hathaway's character is on a date with Topher Grace and the restaurant is so packed that they are sat right next to other strangers, so much so that you could hear every word that they were saying.  At this point we quickly paid and headed back to collect Olivia and go home.

I truly had a wonderful Valentines Day especially as Phil had arranged for us to see a film that he did not want to see at all but knew that I really did.  That to me is love.  But as it was the first time since Olivia was born that we were able to have a date and spend quality time together it really was an amazing day.  I love Olivia so much, but I realise now more than ever how important it is to ensure that Phil and I have time together on our own.  Valentines Day may be fun, but it is only one day after all, so we try to keep the romance throughout the rest of the year as well and so far it seems to be working.

Sleeping through the night at 12 weeks

My hubby and I had decided that during half term we would try putting Olivia in her own room for the first time.  Olivia's 12 weeks today and it is recommended that babies should remain in the parents room until they are 6 months old.  We knew that this wouldn't be possible as her cot wouldn't fit in our room and she is quickly outgrowing her current bed.  We thought that trying her in her own room during half term would be the best idea as both of us would be home and we could tag team during the night if we needed to.  On Saturday and Sunday we cleared her room making sure that everything was put away (it had been a little of a dumping ground up until now).

On listening to other peoples advice, lots had said to place her moses basket in the cot to start with until she gets used to being in the room and then put her in her bed to sleep.  This is what we intended to do.

Last night came around and at first Phil was a little apprehensive about her going into her own room and even said "how about one more night in our room".  I didn't mind what we did, just as long as she went in there soon, as it won't be long before she is too big for her moses basket.  By the time I had got washed and ready for bed, Phil had changed his mind and said "let's just do it, we have to at some point".

After falling asleep on her bottle (I know she shouldn't but she wouldn't wake up no matter how hard I tried) and leaving 2oz which is very unusual for her, I was feeling rather nervous, thinking that she would probably wake up at around 3am.  We carried her into her room and wrapped her up all snug as per usual.  She looked so tiny in comparison to the large cot, and I couldn't help thinking whether or not it was too soon for her to be on her own.  But deep down I knew that it was the right decision no matter how nervous I felt.  Luckily my sister had given us a video monitor which we had set up so we could watch her from our room.  For us this was great, as it gave us peace of mind as we could see that she was ok.

Phil and I got ourselves into bed and turned off the lights.  At first, all I wanted to do was to reach over and touch her.  For 12 weeks, she had been asleep right next to my side of the bed and was within easy reach so I couldn't settle her with ease.  Now she was next door and all I could do was lay there, staring at the monitor as though Olivia would suddenly start screaming.  But she didn't and I soon drifted off to sleep. 

I woke up at around 2am, looked at the monitor and again noticed she was asleep.  The same thing happened every hour until it reached around 6am.  Usually at this time, Olivia starts moving and getting a little grumpy.  Well, she was certainly moving, but she was still asleep and soon was able to settle herself.

At 7am we had to wake her as usual for her morning feed.  Phil and I went in together, both excited to see our baby girl.  She looked so peaceful and couldn't stop yawning.  Then once we had fed her, we put her down as per usual (but in her room instead of ours) and once again she slept peacefully until we woke her at 9am to get her dressed.

To say both Phil and I were shocked would be an understatement.  I never in my wildest dreams thought that she would sleep until 7am and especially not the first night we put her in her own room.  Perhaps as it was so quiet in there she was not disturbed, so she didn't wake up.  What was even more satisfying was that she didn't have her dummy for the whole night either, and there was me thinking that I would keep having to get out of bed to put it back in her mouth.

Who knows what lays in store for us tonight, but now she has done it once, I don't feel so guilty about putting her in her own room again.  I'm sure that we will have some difficult nights ahead of us but for now I'm more that happy about how things are progressing.

If you would like to read more posts about Olivia then please subscribe!

Clarins Double Fix Mascara - Product Rave

Do you have a favourite mascara that you wish was waterproof? 

For some reason and I don't know why, but waterproof mascaras just don't work on my lashes.  I often find them very difficult to remove and I end up causing more lashes to fall out from repeatedly rubbing them with makeup remover.  Plus they don't seem to hold the curl in my lashes for very long.  Perhaps I need to find a different make-up remover or perhaps I just haven't found the right waterproof mascara. 

I have found the perfect alternative and it is a product that I have used for years, and that is Clarins Double Fix Mascara.

Clarins Double Fix Mascara is a clear gel like formula that you apply just like a mascara over your usual mascara or it can even be applied alone.  This product is multi-talented though as you can even use it as a brow groomer.  It leaves your lashes looking glossy and ensures that your mascara stays put and you don't get any smudges throughout the day. 

This product has been well and truly tested over the years, so I know that it works (for me at least).  I was first introduced to this product in 2003 when my Nan passed away.  My cousin had it on her and said that no matter how much I cried, my mascara would stay put, and believe me I cried my heart out that day and yet my mascara didn't budge.  I have been swimming in pools and the sea whilst wearing this product and I even wore it on my wedding day, and once again this product did not lot me down.  My eyes also tend to water, especially during the cold/windy weather, but I know that if I wear this product I don't have to worry.

The packaging isn't my favourite as it is a hard tube and it doesn't allow you to see how much product you have left which is a little annoying.  The old style packaging used to resemble a toothpaste tube which meant that it could be squeezed to ensure that every bit of product was used.  I don't know why they changed the packaging, but I wish that they hadn't.  As it is a clear gel, it does discolour over time especially if applied over other coloured mascaras and although it doesn't make the product look very nice, it doesn't stop it from working.

Priced at £16, there may be a waterproof mascara that works for you and is much cheaper.  However if you are like me and have a favourite mascara that isn't waterproof, then this might be the product for you.  I know that until I can find a waterproof mascara that works, I will continue to buy Clarins Double Fix Mascara.

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Seven Deadly Sins of Beauty Tag

This is a beauty tag that has been doing the rounds on You Tube and after seeing Amarixe's tag (love her beauty channel as she gives great reviews on products) I thought that it would be quite fun to do. 

Below you will find the questions and answers to my Seven Deadly Sins of Beauty.

1. GREED:

What is your most inexpensive beauty item?

I would have to say that Vaseline is my cheapest beauty product which retails between £1 - £2.  I like the fact that the product is very versatile (especially the original formula) as I can use it on my lips, on my eye lashes to condition them as well as parts of the body that are dry or cracked.  It also works wonders in preventing Olivia from getting a rash on her chin/neck which can sometimes occur due to feeding.

What is your most expensive beauty item?

LiLash is probably the most expensive item that I have purchased.  It is an eye lash growth serum and I ordered mine from the States.  It was around $130 which is about £70 or £80.  I wanted to try and lengthen my lashes as unfortunately I am not blessed with gorgeous long lashes and I have seen a lot of positive reviews of this product on You Tube and thought I would give it a go.  You use the product at night and apply is like an eye liner to your top and bottom lashes (I just did the top).  Mine lasted for quite a while, I think 4 or 5 months and I am pleased to say that I did see a noticeable improvement in the length and condition of my lashes.  Sadly I didn't repurchase it as I couldn't justify spending that sort of money regularly on just my lashes (when you stop using the product your lashes will eventually go back to normal length on the next cycle).  However it is a brilliant product and I loved the effect that it had on my lashes.

2. WRATH:

What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with?

So many people love this foundation and some are even as bold to call it one of their holy grail products.  Because of this I was desperate to try it as I too wanted gorgeous glowing skin like so many had claimed it gave them.  I have to agree that the first time I used this product my skin did look beautiful.  However over the next couple of days of wearing this my skin started to breakout in some red blemishes (no white heads - more like a raised rash) so I stopped using the product and my skin cleared up.  I have tried, on more than one occasion to try this product out again but the same thing happens.  To me the product feels quite oily on the skin, so I'm not sure if it is this that is causing a reaction.  All I know is that I love it the first time I wear it but then after that no so much.

What product has been the hardest to get?

There aren't any products which I have really struggled to find.  I am not someone who desperately goes searching for "that" lipstick from a collection, instead I just face the disappointed of missing out and hope that the product will be repromoted at some point.  I did however find Benefit's They're Real Mascara a challenge to get my hands on it.  There was so much hype about this product, especially as it had been released in the US before it had over here, so there was a massive buzz in the beauty community about it.  When it was first released in the UK it seemed to be going off the shelves like hot cakes and every wear I seemed to go didn't have it.  I decided to use up the large quantity of mascaras I already had in my collection first - even if I was slightly saddened by the prospect.  I was extremely pleased though when Christmas morning came around to see that my hubby had bought it for me.  I have been using it every day since and am loving the results it gives.  This is one product that for me, was worth the wait.

3. GLUTTONY:

What are your most delicious beauty products?

I find this question a little strange, especially as you don't tend to eat beauty products.  However I interpreted it as the beauty products that smell the most delicious.  I have two rivals for this category.  The first being any products by Bed Head as they smell just like sweets.  My favourite is Superstar, Queen for a Day Thickening Spray which you spray on to the roots of your hair when damp to inject some volume.  It smells like Starburst sweets and even lasts in you hair which is something that I love.

The second rival for this category is any products by Lush.  Their products would have to be some of my favourites and even though the smell can be quite over powering when you walk past their stores the scents of some of their products are to die for.  I especially love their lip scrubs (which you can eat and I take great pleasure in licking the product off my lips every time I use it) and my favourite is Mint Julips as it smells like Aftereight mints.  I also like any of their Vanilla scented products as this is one of my favourite scents of all time.

4. SLOTH:

What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?

When I was working I always used a Primer every day to ensure that my make-up stayed put, especially as I work long hours.  However since being on maternity leave this is one product that I often skip.  Unless I am going out for dinner and I want my skin to look flawless, I don't tend to use it.  Once the hotter weather comes around I will probably start to use it again, especially the Prep and Prime from Mac as it has an SPF 50.

5. PRIDE:

What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?

If I'm completely honest, having a complete made up face (not drag queen style though, more natural looking) gives me the most confidence.  But if I had to narrow it down to one product then I would say foundation because if my skin looks even and blemish free then I am happy.  I still love my Estee Lauder Sheer Tint Release and I am currently using this everyday.  However that doesn't really hide everything.  If I am going out for the evening, or at work and I want my skin to look flawless for a long time then I always reach for Mac's Select Moisture Cover in NW20.  It evens out my skintone perfectly and really makes me feel as though I have flawless skin (especially when blended with my fingers which I feel are the best tools for applying this product).  It's a product that I honestly couldn't not have in my collection and it's even the foundation that I wore on my wedding day.

6. LUST:

What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

Again, I thought this question was a little odd as it's not beauty product related.  I thought it might be about the product that you most want to purchase and are lusting after, in which case I would have to say Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua foundation.  I have heard so many great things about this product and I really want to buy it, but I still have quite a lot left of my Sheer Tint Release and my Studio Fix Fluid so I am patiently waiting to use these up (or at least one of them) until I buy it.

In answer to the actual question though, I have interpreted it as physical attributes.  With this in mind I would have to say nice eyes (my hubby has really blue eyes which are gorgeous...I'm so jealous as I always wanted blue eyes) and nice shoulders/upper back especially with a tan.  And yes, hubby if you are reading this, I think you have very sexy shoulders/upper back.

7. ENVY:

What items would you most like to receive as a gift?

One beauty product that I rarely buy myself, and that is perfume.  The perfumes that I like tend to be on the pricey side (Chanel and Dior perfumes being my favourite), so usually I wait until my birthday or Christmas to ask for one.  Therefore this is the product that I most like to receive as a gift.  I think that there's nothing better than receiving a bottle of perfume which come in a pretty bottle and having it displayed on my dressing table.  I love to wear perfume and I have different signature scents depending on the seasons which always make me feel beautiful and put a smile on my face when I wear them.

So what are your Seven Deadly Sins of beauty?  Leave a comment telling me about yours and subscribe for future tag related posts.