New Year Resolutions

Time to make some New Years Resolutions. Sometimes I feel I shouldn't make them as I don't really believe in them; if you want to change something in your life then you shouldn't have to wait until January 1st to sort it out. I tend to try and set them out for things I know I can do and then it gives me that little bit of motivation to stick to it. So without further ado...

1. Be Happy. This is the mantra I live my life by. Heck, it better be I have it tattooed on me. I tend to just take life as it comes, try not to regret anything and surround myself with people and things that make me happy. As I already accomplish this goal most days I would like to try and help others to be happier too.

2. Travel more. I have always been abroad at least once a year for the whole of my life. 2012 was a busy year and I just didn't make plans to go away and this would have been the only thing I would have changed. I have a few trips next year planned so I want to really get the most out of them!

3. Volunteer. I don't care what I do or how I do it but I'd like to make a little difference by helping the community.

4. Sleep. Somehow I stay awake all hours and then get up early for work. I am exhausted. I vow to go to bed before 11pm at least 2 nights a week. This will benefit me in so many ways - more energy, no dark circles under my eyes & hopefully better skin!

5. Get dressed up more. Okay a slightly weird one. Sometimes I will get out of bed as late as possible, rush getting ready and by 10am hate how I look and of course I've only gone and bloody forgotten my make up bag/hairbrush. I think if you feel happy with how you have dressed/done your hair or makeup etc then you can ooze a little more confidence & just have a better day. So I am going to try and piece my outfits together the night before and spend an extra 5 minutes playing with my look before I walk out of the door!




6. Save money. It just has to be done. I am going to try a spending ban starting tomorrow where I will only allow myself a maximum of £100 a week for things like petrol, going out & shopping. I have to start high otherwise I will not stick to it!

Right time to dash into town pick up my new trainers I got in the sales & grab a quick outfit for tonight! It's going to be very low key (tonight is really overrated in my opinion), a small group of us are going to a friends house for drinks & a shisha pipe haha! Thinking of a casual skater dress, thick black tights, vans and a hoody for outside (or fingers crossed my Urban Outfitters coat arrives today)!

Have a really good night whatever you get up to and here's to another great year!

My Christmas Sales Haul.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I spent my day opening presents (I got some lovely bits!), having a huge fry up, playing games with the family before it was time for me to cook Christmas dinner. I don't mean to toot my own horn but it was pretty banging. I only had one mishap where I drenched myself in goose fat (cold not boiling thank heaven). After dinner we played lots more games before feeling rather tipsy and settling down to the Royle Family at about 1:30am! Boxing Day was spent watching soaps, finishing off making homemade chocolates, visiting my best friends family & shopping!

I decided not to venture out to the Boxing Day sales and opted to do it all online, big mug of baileys hot chocolates in hand. I set myself some gudielines:

I am a sucker for sales and usually get really cheap things because it's on sale and then never even wear/use them. This year I told myself to look at more expensive products that were around 50% so I know I saved a decent amount on something quite dear.

Get something you need & make sure there isn't one similar sitting in your wardrobe at home!

Aim for higher end brands or brands you haven't used before!

I was so proud that I did all this (still managed to make my Paypal account cry though!)

Here's what I got!

JD Sports - Adidas Originals Decade OG - £67.00 down to £30.00

I have needed some decent trainers for ages as I was committing fashion crimes everytime I went to the gym in my OLD Babychams. Yes Babychams! These are still girly with the sequins and will go with everything!

Space NK - Laura Mercier Bonne Mine Palette - £17.50 down to £8.50

Really liked the look of every single colour and have been wanting to try more of the brand due to my love of her tinted moisturiser.

Space NK - Chantecaille Real Skin Foundation - £50.00 down to £10.00

This is a gel foundation which I have never tried before and the savings on this is amazing! It has SPF 30 in it so will be a great product for when it starts to get warmer!

Urban Outfitters -  Ecote Fur Collar Camo Jacket  - £95.00 down to £40.00

I really wanted a khaki coat with some faux fur on it and the only other one that took my fancy was from Topshop for £70! This one is different as it has a camo print on it which I love!

Urban Outfitters - Steam Cream - £14.00 down to £7.00

Always wanted to try this so really happy to find it half off!

Net a Porter - Hunter Shoreditch Wellies - £110 down to £47

My star purchase. I was going to go for the tall ones but these are so much more me! I think you could pair theses with little summer dresses and look so cute! I've always wanted some but know I won't get lots of wear out of them so didn't want to spend a fortune. £47 is really reasonable for something that will last me forever and protect my feet from getting wet!

So that's a total saving of £211 on this items which I am over the moon with. I have promised myself no more sale buys as I really don't need anymore clothes or anything else so January is going to be a big saving month for! I'm going to do a spending diary and see how little I can live on as there's a few things I would love to pay off! Now I've treated myself to these goodies I have no excuse to buy!!

If you have any great sales you have found please link them below so I can share them with my friends!

The Winterlicious Tag

Everyone and their Nan seems to be doing this festive filled tag so I am too! 

1. Favourite Winter Nail Polish?

 I tend to go for either darker reds and purples for a festive look or light blues and silvers for a snowy look! I received a Deborah Lippmann nail polish in Razzle Dazzle last year in a Glossybox which is definitely my favourite nail polish this Christmas season. It's a deep raspberry shade which glitters.

2. Favourite Winter Lip Product?

I think a red lip is really festive I only choose this when I feel bold. I like the Sleek Matte Lipstick in Vixen it really is beautiful. I've been reaching for my Revlon Just Bitten Kissable in Crush a lot too.

3. Most Worn Winter Clothing Piece

I love my Christmas Jumper sooo much but find I have been reaching for my leather jacket I got earlier this Autumn from New Look pretty much every day too.

4. Most Worn Winter Accessory

I always wear my watch so it doesn't count so I will say this scarf. I have a lot of scarfs but this is the one I grab when I'm wearing mainly black as it's nice and bright!

5. Favourite Winter Candle/Scent

Ooooh I got Yankee Candle's Cranberry Ice and I really love it. I also love the smell of tinsel.

6. Favourite Winter Beverage

I love Gingerbread Lattes, Snowballs and the new Rekorderlig Winter Cider is AMAZING!

7. All Time Favourite Christmas Movie

I don't have a favourite but The Holiday, Love Actually & Elf are definitely all contenders.

8. Favourite Christmas Song

The Christmas Song (The one that goes Chestnuts roasting on an open fire) I really love the older Christmas songs for feeling in the spirit but the newer ones are great for parties.

9. Favourite Holiday Food

Gingerbread! I only tend to eat it around Christmas time and I love it.

10. Favourite Holiday Decoration

My friend Mia got me this little buddy as a little treat and he's definitely my favourite decoration this year. He lights up too!

11. What is top of your Christmas List

I've gotten to an age where I don't really want or need anything as if I want something I tend to buy it myself it. I think perfume is always a great gift to receive as it's something I don't like buying for myself! I like funny little presents that mean something to me too! A nice big Yankee Candle wouldn't go a miss either ;) 

12. Plans for the holiday

We are having a big family do on New Years Day so Christmas Day is going to be low key. Present opening in the morning and then my sister has to go to work until 6 (She works at a pub) so I will spend the day doing things with Mum & Dad like playing on the Wii etc. I'm also cooking Christmas dinner this year (having a late one so my sister can join in after work) so that will probably take up a good part of the afternoon!


I probably won't write again until Boxing Day so I hope everyone has a lovely, happy Christmas and gets to spend some quality time with their loved ones!

Pre Christmas Clothing Haul

Been running around like mad recently and been visiting lots of places (with lots of shops) so here's a haul of all the things I've got this month!

PRIMARK

 £13

£15 

£18  £8 (BARGAIN!)

£4 

I got this soley because I refuse to pay £18+ for one in Topshop.

£12

This bag is so sturdy it reminds me a little of the Zara shoppers! They have a really nice brown one too!

£2.00 & £1.50

I haven't tried out collar tips yet and thought these are so cheap I may as well!

£1.50

MISS SELFRIDGE

£38 £15

£8 £4.50 

This is one necklace but can be worn either side to match your outfits!

£38.00  High waisted blue jeans £25 and red low waisted jeans £20

THE WARDROBE 

£26.50

£28

Thought I would go for a charcoal colour disco pant over the standard black!

FOREVER 21

£8.40

NEW LOOK

£19.99

I am now going to run into town for a quick mad dash to pick up some presents I have reserved, then a afternoon nap will be needed for a dinner and night out with the girls! Can't wait!

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo

Tanya Burr is perhaps my biggest hero. Beautiful, smiley & a top businesswoman - seriously showing that if us girls want something grab it by the balls (and no I'm talking about her hot fiancé Jim). I am addicted to her blog, YouTube channels & her Twitter. When she mentioned she found a miracle product in her November Favourites I was intrigued, I mean if she was hailing it a wonder-product it must be bloody good. I watched the video and tripped over myself to get down to Boots. And like that the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo was mine.

Now I wouldn't call this a moisturiser, I don't find it packs enough punch to really give your skin that plumped up feeling like the Origins Drink Up Intensive gives. It's more like a light weight serum which is designed to help unblock any sebum from your pores (helping to clear skin & mattify it) and to help erase any disfiguration on the face such as gentle scarring and marks left by spots. I love to put on my rich products before bed as I don't have to worry about my skin going oily at night so save this for the morning as it works lovely as a primer. It juste gives a really nice base to my foundation (or Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser as I have been loving lately) but feels so light likes it's not even there. 

It's £13 for a 40ml tube but I think it's one of those products you won't have to use forever. Let it clear up your skin and you may not have to repurchase; but if your skin really wants you to continue using it Boots are offering 2 for £15 on all La Roche Posay Effaclar products - and that's like buy one get one free so must be done!

Origins Super Spot Remover

So as my skin has been battling the winter (and losing) I decided it was time to do something about it. I had been saving my Debenhams Beauty Points to get a skincare saviour and surprised myself by getting something fairly cheap. I went for the Origins Super Spot Remover which costs £10.95. 

A teeny tiny bottle of a product if there ever was one but a product which has a BIG reputation in the blogging community. This stuff contains salicylic acid which can cause a stinging sensation on a really juicy spot. I apply this before bed on clean skin with a clean cotton bud on the affected areas. I think it's really important to use a fresh bud for each area over wise you may just be spreading any nasty germs to a less worse bit of your face. When you wake up in the morning the redness is reduce slightly & there may be a slight film over the areas you applied to. 

Some reviews of this product make out like your spots will gone in 12 hours. They will still be present. I will say that over the course of a few days and really taking care of your skin (getting rid of EVERY trace of make up) it will help to clear you up. So don't be put off by the price tag of a tiny product; I think this will last me around 6 months and is worth every penny.

Winter Wonderland 2012

I luckily have a week off of one of my jobs this week meaning that apart from working in retail for a few shifts this week I am officially in Christmas mode. Yesterday I decided to do something fun with my day and headed down to London again (Must get my ass down there to live ASAP as travel is costing me a fortune!) I headed down with my Mum & Sister as they weren't feeling too Christmassy yet & I wanted to help them to get into the spirit. I am definitely the Christmas elf in the family, I love everything about this season.

Of course there was only one place to go; Winter Wonderland. I went there last year but it was kind off a rushed visit as it chucked it down but this year I gave us a good couple of hours to make the most of it. I also made sure I had a hooded jacket and ear muffs at the ready and boots which wouldn't leave me with soggy feet as we tackled Oxford Street 5 days before Christmas. 

If you care what I wore here it is:

Sorry for the state of me - wet & my Sister doesn't believe in the zoom button.

Dress - The Wardrobe in Northampton

Tights - Primark

Boots - Primark

Hoody - Topshop

Leather Jacket - New Look

Bag - Primark

We arrived at the market with one mission - food. We did pretty much a full circle of the place before settling on hog roast gaps filled with gravy, apple sauce & stuffing. Mum and Keira washed it down with hot chocolates whereas I went for hot apple cider (I was scared as I know it has cinnamon in it which I hate but the kind man let me try some!) It was the amazing. I could have sat and got drunk on it but at £4 a cup that wasn't happening. Oh yeah the prices of food! Don't get put off - if you were eating in a restaurant you would pay these prices so shut up moaning. I had all my food plus some candied roasted almonds for like £13 which isn't bad at all.

Feeling warm and merry we explored the stalls and prettiness of the wonderland which was really nice to do even in the drizzle.

Now I was very kindly offered tickets to a choice of either the Magical Ice Kingdom, Ice Skating, The Big Wheel or Zippo's Christmas Circus courtesy of  Costabingo.com

As much as I love skating one; my ankle is still messed up and two; the "ice rink" was in fact white plastic with a good 2 inches of water. It had completely melted. Now I would have been fuming if I was one of the many families that had paid good money to go on there!

I opted to go to the circus, I mean who doesn't love the circus! Clowns aren't my favourite things but I don't cry over them either. The show lasted about 40 minutes and I did have a smile on my face the whole time - just good clean wholesome fun. It's also lovely seeing all the little kiddie winks getting all excited about it!

It really was a lovely afternoon out and I bet it's so much more magical at night with all the twinkly lights! I would definitely recommend going even if you have a small budget - entry is free and if you have a fiver just get some mulled wine to sip and keep your hands warm whilst you wander and take in the atmosphere. 

Winter Wonderland is at Hyde Park (less than a 5 minute walk from Mable Arch underground station) and is on until the 6th January and closes at 10pm. Get your bums down there!