Little Red Easter Dress

I've had such a lazy Easter Friday, but it still hasn't stopped me from dressing up in my new favourite dress and coat. Today I thought I'd show you my wonderful little red dress from http://www.be-boutique.co.uk/ If you have been a long term follower of my blog, you will know that I have a passion for retro inspired clothing and this dress reminds me of something out of the 1950s era. 

This Little Mistress dress has a wonderful floaty skirt, beautiful puffy sleeves and is fabulous for someone with an hourglass figure like myself. The only negative aspect about this dress is the sizing. It says size 8 on the label, but it is rather stretchy and a little bit too big on me. However, this can be sorted with a wide waist belt. 

The £20 price tag for this dress is very worthwhile and great for a small price vintage inspired investment. I can't wait for the summer to wear my wide brimmed hat and this little red frock.

http://www.be-boutique.co.uk/

What do you think of the dress?

xx

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Hair care Splurge

The Au Natural Look - Still looking a bit poorly hence the blemishes, but on the mend!

The area where I live has been heavily hit by snowfall - the traffic is barely moving, people are looking far from glamorous with snow boots and hoodies and I'm feeling very uninspired in the hair department. Recently I've been tying my hair into a ponytail, grabbing my nearest jumper, which at the moment seems to be my pole dancing hoodie and running the bus stop as quick as I can to avoid the flourishes. This morning I woke up in utter despair as my locks looked dry, my roots were halfway down my head and the realisation that I had let myself go started to kick in. Yes, I've unfortunately been ill lately and the weather has not been the best, but I must try to make an effort, after all it's this face that my partner wakes up to every morning, I should be rolling around in silk pyjamas with my hair perfectly coiffed. 

All these sudden thoughts made me jump out of bed, embrace the snow and run to the nearest Boots. After my mini spree, I returned with a handful of goodies which I'm very eager to try.

The first product is the Got2B - 2 Sexy mousse. I love the bright pink container as it blends with my bedroom and looks very girly. I've been a fan of Got2B products since I tried their hairspray last year and I'm seriously hooked on it.

The next product I purchased was the Wild Ombres kit from L'oreal Paris. I'm finding my hair really bland at the moment and would really like to spice things up a little. I'm hoping that this kit will be easy to use and give my locks a new lease of life. Look out for the review in the next week or so.

Finally, the last item I bought was the Flat Iron Protection Shine Mist from the Lee Stafford range. I used this earlier when I got out of the bath and straightened my hair. The product smells quite refreshing and my hair is now glimmering with shine. Although I've only used it once, I have really noticed the difference between using a heat protector and not using it before. It's been a long time since my TIGI Catwalk heat protector ran out and I probably shouldn't have left it this long to replace it.

Three other products I'm seriously in love with at the moment are all from the Timotei range. I was lucky enough to be sent two samples a few weeks ago and I've been religiously using them since they came in the post. The dry shampoo is really refreshing and perfect for those days when you're in a hurry and need your hair to be looking it's best. I like the simple packaging and that the product isn't too over fragrant. Both of these factors has made my partner take a liking to this product and he happily uses it when he's at my hair and hasn't had a chance to wash his hair before work. The dry shampoo can be purchased for under £2 and I think it's a reasonable price. Unfortunately nothing will make me stray from my Bastiste obsession, but this dry shampoo is definitely close second and a firm winner for my fiance James.

The second product I was sent to review is the 2in1 Timotei Pure Shampoo. I'm happy to report that product really exceeded my expectations. It has managed to revamp my hair and it really does wonders on my sensitive scalp. Having a sensitive scalp runs in my family and my mum has been borrowing this product every other day to use. The shampoo is quick and easy to use and gives an overall glossy look to the hair. I barely have any pitfalls about this product, but one would probably be that I need to purchase a Timotei shampoo that is more catered to my dry hair. The glossy look is perfect, but my ends dry out really quickly. This is perfect for anyone with normal hair and I would recommend it to anyone. The other product in this picture is an older Timotei product that I have been using for quite awhile now. This conditioner really helps revive my hair when it's having a dull moment and it's another conditioner that I would happily rate in my top 10.

I like that all these products have made me embrace my natural side and that my hair is looking in a healthier condition. I can't wait to properly try all the products that I bought today and I hope my dip dying session doesn't end up in a hair disaster.

Have you made any hair care changes recently?

xx

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The BooHoo Beehive

BooHoo have recently released their 'how to' beehive tutorial and it's really got me thinking about spring and frolicking around fields listening to 60s music. This is far from the scenario right now, where I'm snuggled up in bed with my hoodie on due to the freezing cold air and snow settling outside. The beehive hairstyle is iconically linked with the 1960s era which saw the fame of one of my favourite models Bridget Bardot. Her beehive became the classic look for all, with many people replicating the look to go shopping on Carnaby street. The beehive is currently back in style spring/summer 2013 and so are the beautiful patterns and fabrics often associated with the 60s. Following the release of the Beehive tutorial, I've decided to put together a few outfits that I think would go perfectly with the beehive hairstyle.  

The inspiration behind these outfits are shopping and cocktails with your friends. 

Collage created on Photovisi photos from Boohoo.com

Outfit 1

Polka dots are so feminine and chic and they add a little flirty fun to your outfit. This polka dot skater dress has the orange retro colouring of the 1960s and would look fabulous with the cream shoulder bag and  brown vintage-inspired studded booties. This outfit looks easy to wear, yet very stylish for meeting friends and go shopping around the town.

Total outfit price: £55

Collage created on photovisi. Photo's from Boohoo.com

The second outfit I've put together is something I'd wear for drinking cocktails with your friends. This outfit includes a glamorous marble print midi skirt- great for adding a little sophistication and glamour without looking over the top, a lace shirt and classy kitten heels to give a vintage vibe. 

Total outfit price: £45

Here's my earlier attempt of doing a partial beehive. Usually it looks loads better, but unfortunately I had no hairspray and the whole thing flopped just as I grabbed the camera.

What do you think of my outfit choices?

www.boohoo.com

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Weleda Skin Care

I've always been a fan of natural products that stray away from harmful chemicals. Having sensitive skin has always been a problem for me and it takes me a while to discover which products will work with my body and which are likely to bring me out in bright red marks. Natural products are a god send for me as they're less likely to have the ingredients I'm allergic to. Weleda have been creating products from plant made materials since 1921 and what first started out as a small pharmaceutical company, has turned into a worldwide success spanning over 90 years and still going strong. This year, Weleda have probably been the most known for their association with London Fashion Week. The Weleda team got involved with models and designers, as well their products being used in goodie bags for all the A-list attendees. The product 'Skin Food' was particularly successful and was requested by four designers at the fashion week. 

A few of you may remember that the Weleda body oil had been included in one of the Glossy Boxes a few months ago. This was the first time I discovered the brand and fell in love with it. The oils smell sensual, blend easily and leave skin feeling soft and not too oily. When I was approached and asked if I could show you all some more of their range, I couldn't decline the offer. I was sent a few of the products that had become a recent hit at LFW and I now can see why.

Wild Rose Body Oil

• Blends easily.
• Smells as fresh as a field of roses.
• Helps stimulate rejuvenation and revitalization of the skin.

Verdict: 

The product smells really lovely and blends into the skin really well. Like all the Weleda oils I've tried, I'm rather impressed.

Skin Food

• Great for dry skin.
• Soothing and refreshing

Verdict

Works really well for my dry skin, but I'm not won over by the scent. This product is great for every now and then, but unfortunately wont be replacing my Clarins anytime soon.

Pomegranate Firming Serum

• Tautens aging skin.
• Great for moisture.

Verdict

I love this product. The pomegranate scent is really noticeable, but not too overpowering and the product soaks into the skin leaving you feeling soft and refreshed.

Wild Rose Soothing Night Cream

• Replenishes skin.
• Softens lines.
• Provides essential nutrients.

Verdict

I quite like the scent of this product, it reminds me of vintage skin care and my grandma...but in a really good way. Unfortunately my skin did not really like this product and I became itchy - it's such a shame as every other aspect looked rather promising. 

Sea Buckhorn Body Oil and the body cream

• Helps regain vitality in skin.
• Intensively Nourishes 

Verdict

Both these products have to be my favourite. The smell great, they do exactly what it says on the tin and I've manage to easily implement them into my every day skin care regime. The body cream in particular has kept my skin nourished and freshly scented all day.

Overall I really love the variety of products available from Weleda, especially the body oils. Not only are they great for your skin, they smell and look fantastic too. I will definitely be repurchasing the Sea Buckhorn products soon and the firming serum.

Have you tried any Weleda products?

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Fabb Events Leeds Meetup

Yesterday I embraced the rain to hit Leeds for a spot of shopping with my partner and to attend the FABB Leeds meetup. Despite the horrible weather, the day turned out to be fantastic and I have so much admiration for Tor and Ray who managed to create such a successful event.

Meeting fashion and beauty bloggers for the first time is always something that daunts me. They always look stylish, immaculate and I often feel like - do I really belong here? Then within seconds, I feel at home and I'm gossiping about the latest release from MAC or talking about our recent 'lust haves'. I met so many wonderful fashion bloggers yesterday and I quite missed talking to them when I left. We bonded over the sight all of the beautiful cupcakes, enjoyed chit-chatting about all the presentations and best of all, traded tips of the trade whilst drinking cocktails...or Cranberry juice in my case.

The cakes were created by 'Rosie the Cake Maker' and tasted absolutely divine. I loved the attention to detail on all the frosting and the little FABB logos. It really made the event feel homely and all the bloggers took time out to take so many pictures.

For those who have never heard of Fabb Events - the whole afternoon was created by fashion and beauty bloggers Tor and Ray. They were very accommodating hosts, constantly asking if everyone was having a good time and making sure that everyone received their goodie bags.

Bloggers were treated to several presentations by various brands such as: Cloud 9, Health Point Ltd, Chiara fashion and Ark clothing. Throughout the afternoon there were various giveaways and lots of opportunities to ask questions. Chiara clothing did a really big giveaway with 10 lucky girls all walking away with various new clothing. Unfortunately I did not win (forever unlucky), but I'm looking forward to seeing all the other girls prizes on their blogs.

One of my favourite presentations of the day was from the Best British Bloggers girls. They were very amusing and kept us all giggling at the thought of pugs. It was fun to learn more about the brand and particularly exciting for me as I will be doing work experience with them in a few weeks time and it was the first I got to meet some of the team.  

The final presentation was by the ever so stylish Ark Clothing girls. They looked so trendy and really sold the outfits to us bloggers. Ark clothing have revealed that there will be lots of dip dye clothing, pastel leather skirts and funky tee's coming up in the next few months - I know where my wage will be going. I'm particularly seeking this cute little dip dye skirt that I knew I had to show you all. 

Before we left, we were all given various goodie bags to take away with us. I'm still in shock by the quantity of products we have been given and most importantly I'm so excited to blog about them all. Goodies included samples from: Elemis, St Moriz, Health Point Ltd, Witch Hazel, Batiste and Neal and Wolf and many more.

The event was so much fun and I really enjoyed meeting everyone. If you're a blogger, I cannot recommend Fabbevents enough and I can't wait until the next one.

Did you go to the Leeds meetup?

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In Love With Radley

Some people may not be well acquainted with the brand Radley, but the cute little dog logo is admired by thousands. The brand are renowned for creating beautiful, quality leather handbags and purses, but recently their accessories line has hit the limelight. 

Admittedly, I was one of those people that associated Radley with older women, however I'm in love with their new 2013 collections. Radley have grasped exactly what this season is about with their bright colours and attention to detail. Since the preview of the Spring/Summer collection, lots of fashion bloggers have jumped onto the Radley bandwagon showcasing their love through a series of reviews and picture postings. The new Radley bags are clearly highly sought after, but it's their watches that have really grabbed my attention.

When I started writing my blog, if you approached me and said: "Radley would be giving you a watch to review", I would have laughed my head off and presumed you were highly intoxicated. When in fact Radley did offer me a watch to review, I started jumping up and down like a child at Christmas.

The watch arrived last week in an elegant silver box with gold writing on top. The pillow supporting the watch was soft and the embellishments around the clock face shone as I opened the lid. The thing element to really catch my attention was the tiny dog attached to the strap. It very much reminds me of a Scottish Terrier, which has to be among one of my top dog breeds. Being vegetarian, I make my love of animals known to everyone and when I first worse this watch, I knew it completely matched my personality.

Unfortunately when I received the watch, it was far too big for me and needed to be re-sized  This was no fault of the watch, just mine for having quite slim wrists. I literally took the watch to the jewelers the same day it arrived, because I was itching to wear it on my night out. 

The watch feels wonderful to wear. It is very light, delicate and you barely know it's there. The chain is only very small, so it looks very elegant and would easily adapt from day wear to nightwear. The stone set clock face looks really pretty and adds a gentle sparkle to the watch, without going too over the top. I find the clock face relatively easy to read and yet again, I'm loving the little Radley logo in the centre again. 

The price of this watch is £119 which is reasonable for something of such high quality. I'm so glad Radley brought my attention to their line of watches, because I never even knew they made them. These beautifully crafted watches prove that Radley is such a versatile brand and there's a lot more to them than just their handbags. 

Check out their beautiful watches here!

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Herbalife Hair Care

Since colouring my hair blonde, my beautiful locks have never quite recovered. My hair is often dry, lifeless and the only way of a revamp is to wear extensions and hope for the best. Being a hairdresser in the past, I've always been very picky when choosing shampoos and conditioners. I've been told by my old lecturers, that the trick to determine whether a shampoo is that good  is whether it foams up straight away or not. If the shampoo foams up in the first wash, it's diluted and probably wont keep your hair clean as long. Many hairdressers recommend two washes for a reason - the first is to get rid of the dirt and the second is to cleanse the hair before conditioning. I really don't know whether this is an old 'hairdressers' tale, but I take it very seriously and I normally find that my hair is in great condition for it. 

Being fussy about my hair means I care a lot about what goes on it and if at all possible, I like shampoos or conditioners that use natural ingredients. Herbalife Strengthening shampoo and conditioner is a paraben and sulphate free range, that contains aloe vera to add a fresh scent and keep your hair well mositurised. With a combination of lemon blossom, white lilies and musk, this little duo is perfect for those who love beautifully scented hair.  The olive oil extracts and shea butter help to replenish dull hair and add the all important moisture our cuticles are in need of. The winter weather can be quite harsh on hair, so it's important to give it a treat now and then, so you and your hair look your best.

I have used these products twice since I got them and so far I'm really impressed with the results. I love changing my hair care routine every couple of months so that my hair doesn't become dull. The Herbalife shampoo and conditioner seem like the perfect next step to combat my dry, split ends and I'm already seeing an improvement. Herbalife's strengthening duo costs £9.22 for each item, but a little goes a very long way.  When I go to the hairdressers, they always say that my hair is in excellent condition for someone that has changed her hair colour as almost the amount of birthdays she has gone through. I will only use the very best for my hair and if it involves spending a little bit more to get that shine, I'm happy to do so. 

 The Herbalife shampoo and conditioning set are so gentle that I've used them to wash my hair extensions and the above pictures show the results. I've had many compliments since using the products - many people have approached me asking if I've changed anything about my hair. The simple fact is that I've switched my hair care routine. I think my hair was trying to tell me that I needed a change and that change has made a big improvement. 

For more information and the products check out:  http://products.herbalife.co.uk/

What do you think of the range?

x

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