Hauling On My Lonesome

Today is the only day I have off this week, therefore I decided to make the most of the weather and make a last minute decision to travel up to Bluewater for some retail therapy. Bluewater, is the closest 'big' shopping centre to where I live. I like the range of shops within the shopping centre, it'll definitely keep you busy for a good few hours :D I also decided to shop alone as sometimes it's the best way to attack those stores, no wasting people's time, you can go at your own pace and leave whenever your legs give up on you :P

Let's start with a quick OOTD:

Cardigan: H&M

Dress: Wholesale-Dress

Bag: Oasis

Onto my haul. Before I went to Bluewater, I passed through town and dropped by to TK Maxx.

If you have the time to dig around the piles of clutter in TK Maxx, you may get find some really good deals :) I managed to snapped up these bargains. The floral box was £1.99, and is great for storing my nail polishes. The two suncreams were a great find, the Loreal one at £5.99 and the Korres one at £3.99! The Korres watermelon suncream smells lovely, I will review soon :)

Bluewater:

From the sales at Urban Outfitters, the top is perfect for the summer, it's loose and flowy. I love the ruffles, which gives the top extra volume. As you can tell I love floral, this skinny belt was too pretty to miss. The jewelery are really cute, the small charm bracelets gives a delicate feel to any outfits. 

These gorgeous accessories pieces are from Miss Selfridge. I bought the earrings and the scarf as I'm a huge fan of the nautical theme at the moment. The belt was a exciting find, I had my eye on it when the belt first came into stores, but at £28, I held back. It was such a gorgeous belt, but i couldn't justify spending almost £30 on a belt. Today I found it on the sales rack for a tenth of the original price and had an extra 10% off with my student card :D yay!

That's it for today, I'm totally knackered from doing like three rounds of the perimeter of the building and with the weather at it's usual weirdness (it rained, then brightened up to a stuffy sunny day), it was so tiring.

Have you been shopping lately?

♥

New Hair Colour! Garnier Nutrisse Creme in Watermelon

Back in January I had posted about my new hair colour. Since then the colour had lightened and was red in certain lighting, but it was dark enough to not distinguish any difference when my roots grew out. Therefore being the lazy person I was, I hadn't dyed my hair ever since.

However with the summer sun making it's appearance more frequently here in London, I decided to keep to red but dye it a warmer shade of red.
I opted for Garnier Nutrisse, which I had been using for a few years now, in Watermelon 6.6. With my hair not as dark as it naturally was, I expected a slightly darker red as the middle result showed.

The instructions stated that development time was 20 minutes, I left it in for 35 minutes so the colour got take it's kick for a possible lighter result.

My hair colour before (flash/no flash/natural daylight), as you can see my hair is thick and after applying the solution onto my hair, we (my sister and I) realised that maybe I should have brought another box...

Anyway, I know for next time. Here were my results (excuse the newly washed frizziness) :P

It's definitely a warmer shade of red now, and in some lighting you can see the 'watermelon' colour (flash/no flash/natural daylight/natural daylight). It looks really nice when the sun shines onto it, i really like the result. Some strands are lighter and more golden red which seems like I have some sort of tint to my hair colour :D

The colour was quite quick to wash out, unlike some, and made my hair really soft and shiny. It was also really easy to wash off the skin too.

Hope you lovely people are enjoying the weather (in London it is hot!) and have a great weekend! 

♥

Unravelling My New Love ^_^

I'm trying to get as many post as I can in these few days I have off before I go back into a intense working pattern...

So. I got woken up by a delivery guy this morning. Normally when the bell rings in the morning, I have an inkling that some kind of parcel has arrived and 99% of the time the package is mine... :X
My little sister brought it up to my room, still half asleep I instantly got up after acknowledging what it could be and started to unravel the gorgeous item inside! There were so many layers! XD

After five layers...

An additional to my purse/bag collection. The Love Moschino Cosmetic Purse!

This package came from Italy and took about four days to arrived from the Moschino Warehouse. Made from leather, it has a really nice crocodile print all over the exterior of the purse. I adore the 3D heart clasp!

Although it was advertised as a cosmetic purse, this could also be used as a clutch or even a normal purse. It's the same length as my long River Island purse, just a little higher in height. It's pretty spacious and has two compartments either side of the opening.

I really really love this purse and I can't stop staring at it. I decided to splash out again with this buy as it was half price in the sale and I couldn't resist the classic combination of black and gold. I love how this purse looks classy and as well as 'casual', perfect for any occasions.

Have you had anything nice in the post recently?

♥

NOTD: OPI Absolutely Alice

This OPI Polish is from the Alice in Wonderland Collection. It's a clear polish with royal blue and specks of gold glitter. The pictures show the result after three layers.
As with many glitter nail polishes, you need to be patient to achieve the actual shade that you get from the bottle, each layer has to be completely dried before applying the next coat otherwise it can get clumpy.

Thank you to those who have entered my giveaway. Those who haven't, link's in the sidebar :)
Hope you're having a lovely week.

♥

[Ended] 75 Followers Giveaway!

I've recently reached 75 followers, and to show you my appreciation, love and thanks, I've put together a little giveaway.

Prizes:

-Celia Birtwell Canvas Bag

-Flower Necklace

-Bow Ring

-Love Earrings

-Criss Cross Eyelashes

-Notebook

-2x My Beauty Diary Mask (Cherry Blossom and Chocolate Cherry)

-Biore Nose Strip

-Skinfood Nose Strip

-2x Japanese Bath Salts

-Soap and Glory Hand Food

-Rimmel Lip Stick in Love Me

-Barry M Lip Gloss

-Models Own Nail Polish in Red Alert

-Eyeko Fatbalm in Strawberry

Hello Kitty Cosmetic Bag 

Close up pics of prizes:

Rules:

-Must be a public follower

-One comment entry per person, however there are two other ways to gain an extra entry.

How To Enter:

Comment below with where you are from, I'm curious to know how far of a reach my readers are :P (1 entry)

To get extra entries you can:

-Post a blog entry or a link to my giveaway on you own blog (Use the first pic on your entry or sidebar). A thanks for sharing the love :) (+1 entry)

Please post the link in your comment.

-If you purchase something from my blog sale (couple of new items added). A thanks for giving the products a good home (+1 entry)

Please give me your username/blog address in the email.

Use this format please:

Name:

Blog URL:

I'm From:

Email Address:

Link to your blog post or sidebar link (if applicable):

Giveaway ends in a month. 22nd July 2010 at 11.59 BST (GMT+1)

Winner will be chosen at random using random.org and will be contacted via email. If prize unclaimed within 3 days a new winner will be chosen.

Thank you and good luck! 

♥

In That Style: Maxi Dress

Whether for day wear of evening wear, everyone is wearing maxi dresses.
It has been on the fashion radar for the past couple of years now and is still going strong this summer as style icons have been seen looking stunning in them as well as it hitting this year's catwalk.
It was a trend I loved but would never had imagine wearing as being 5ft1, I didn't think I would be able to find a perfect maxi dress that wouldn't make me look like a tree stump and wouldn't drag around everywhere I walked.
However. After spotting the beautiful Nicole Richie, one of my style icons, in a gorgeous maxi, I'd realised that petite ladies could of course rock in them too!

From plain to floral to zig zags, there are countless designs on there. Finding the perfect takes time, but it's out there somewhere, as I have found in the kids section of H&M and a Asian wholesale site :)

What do you think? Maxi dresses, yes or no?

♥

P.S If you haven't checked it out yet, I have a blog sale <-click  :)

Beaute de Kose Fantasist Summer Collection 2010

Beaute de Kose as I know it, is a high end brand in Japan. I think they release two (correct me if I'm wrong) limited edition sets per year. I've read many blog post about their previous collections and particularly their Eye Fantasist which are very popular products of theirs.
Whilst browsing Ichibankao, I spotted their latest collection up for purchase and decided to indulge in my first Beaute de Kose Collection.

The packaging is absolutely gorgeous! It comes in a beautiful floral design card box, the items were wrapped in pretty pale green tissue paper.

The collection includes (everything is limited editions):

-Beaute de Kose Eye Fantasist in GR755 (Verdurous Green) and BR357 (Soil Brown)

-Beaute de Kose Rouge Fantasist Aqua Vinyl mini in OR281 (Sweet Orange)

-Beaute de Kose face color F (Layered Petal)

-Beaute de Kose solid perfume

I love the cute gold floral print :)

GR755, BR357, OR281

The eye creams are shimmery and quite sheer with one layer and fully blended out, the green can clearly be used as a shimmery highlight. The eye colours are buildable though, I don't usually use brown and green eye colours but these two are really pretty. The lip colour is a lovely orange on the skin, but on the lips is a beautiful sheer gloss with a slight shimmer to it.

The blush I have yet to swatch, it's too pretty and i don't want to spoil the over spray of the flower. I know, but I'm a sucker for all things pretty! I will pluck up the courage eventually! :P

And finally the solid perfume, this smells so good! It's smells so sweet and summery. Once you open the box, you get that lovely scent of the perfume. Love!

All in all, it's such a beautiful collection to have. Beaute de Kose have done such a fantastic job with this set, from the packaging to the shades, perfect summer products. In Japan it retails for 5250 yen, Ichibankao is selling it for 6700 yen including shipping. Still a good deal nonetheless as a eye fantasist alone is 3400 yen.

I my collection of Japanese products is slowly growing :D What are your favourite Japanese brands?

Hope you're having a great week! 

♥

Top Five Summer Fragrances

I have quite a vast collection of perfumes, I tend to spontaneously buy whenever I feel drawn in by price, smell, or packaging. Being a post advertising and marketing student, I should know full well not to get sucked in by such con :P, but I fail most of the time. I adore cute and creative packaging.

So I've cut down my collection into my favourite five fragrances I will be using this summer.

Burberry Weekend

This was my first ever perfume which I received as a gift years ago and I've loved it ever since. It's a lovely fruity and soft fragrance. It as base tones of sandalwood, musk and cedarwood which are a few of my favourite smells.

Sarah Jessica Parker NYC

This is the newest fragrance buy SATC star SJP and the newest one I bought out of all five and it was love at first smell, literally.

Within the five, this has the sweetest smell with base tones of musk and vanilla, it's a gorgeous fruity and floral perfume.

Britney Spears Fantasy

This perfume bears many memories of when I was in Hong Kong last year, my friend had it on and since returning to the UK every time I get a smell of this it takes me back...oh how I need a holiday!

Beautiful floral fragrance with musk, sensual woods and orris woods base tones.

Cacharel Anais Anais

This has to be the more mature smelling fragrance, it has that classic smell and feel to it. I seem to like it for that reason, it's really nice and soft. It has a combination of floral and woody tones.

Ghost Serenity

Another gift which I love. This is the softest smelling perfume out of the five and the smell lingers for a very long time. Base notes of white musk, amber and white moss. As much as I adore this perfume, I am finding it very hard to find it in stores. I can never find it!

You can tell I'm a musk lover :D I'm no fragrance expert, all information about base tones were from theperfumeshop.com and good old google :)

What fragrances will you be using this summer?

Hope you all had a great weekend! 

♥

Maybelline Times Square Trendy Look Cosmetic Set

I found this set whilst randomly browsing online :) A lovely little Maybelline kit for less than £10!

What does it include?
2x Shiny-Licious Fruity Lip Gloss
        -Sugar Plum (850)
        -Whisper Pink (807)
2x  Colorama Glossy Nail Color
       -Cotton Candy
       -Berry Sweet
1x Dream Mousse Eye Colour
       -Angelic Pink
1x Define-A-Lash
       -Black
All comes in a PVC pouch with a classic New York City design.

Sugar Plum. Whisper Pink. Angelic Pink.

Every product in this set is very 'light'. The shades, the formulas and the texture on your skin.

In a nutshell:
The lipglosses.Sheer as you can see in the swatches. Feels great on the lips, not sticky or heavy. I really like them and they do have a fruity taste as Maybelline claims. The taste is not too sickly, nor does it taste of any fruits i know... Having said that, I don't think I'll be licking off lipgloss any time soon anyway :P

The nail polishes. I'm am very impressed.

Berry Sweet. Cotton Candy

With just one coat, the colours are amazingly opaque. Berry Sweet is a lovely red-purple shade and Cotton Candy is a pearly pink. Quick drying, a easy to work with brush, beautiful colour payoff.

Eye Colour. The formula of the mousse eye colour is so light and soft.

Softly blended, this is the shade we get. The eye colour, being a mousse/cream eye shadow, is very easy to blend. Therefore the shade can be as light or as heavy as your personal taste require. This would make a lovely rosy pink blusher as well as a pretty eye shadow.

The mascara. This is one of my favourite mascaras. I really like the design of the brush.

The bristles are short and sparse, which lessens clumpiness and defines my lashes really well. 

The mascara alone costs £8 in stores, with a extra £2 you could get an extra four products with a pouch.

If it is for a friend or yourself, I would totally recommend this set. It is available from frangrance direct, the link to the set is here.

What do you think?

Hope you had a great weekend! 

♥