recent happenings #7

sunny Spitalfields church / can't wait for exams to end so I can stop buying 'revision snacks' / a hideous nail combination yuck / York Square looking lovely / Orangina! / a yummy Jerusalem artichoke, beetroot and goats cheese salad / my housemate's new accordion! / the only shoes appropriate for a 6pm-6am shift at work / barbecue time

Hurry up Tuesday! I can't wait for exams to go away so I can do all the things I want to. I feel like I've had no fun for weeks now. It's so hot in London (and everywhere in the else in the UK) at the moment and I hope it doesn't start raining when I'm free - that would be so unfair! Yet again this week has been spent revising so I haven't really got anything exciting to tell you but soon this won't be the case :)

Hope you're all well and enjoying the glorious weather! x

xx

recent happenings #6

post-exam treats / very stylish library attire / Mile End in bloom! / love this drink / curly hair / saturday lunch of garlic mushrooms and salami salad with the OC / my skincare saviour this week / one more exam left! / back to one of my favourite nail polishes, Maybelline Express Finish Nail Colour in Turquoise Lagoon

Hello hello! I hope you're all brilliant - I feel like I haven't blogged in forever even  though I only didn't post for a day! This week has been super hectic as I've had two exams and then work all weekend but thankfully I now have only one exam left to do, I'm just so glad the other four are over. As you can see I haven't done too much this week as I have been chained to my desk and until the 29th it will still be revision revision revision as I'm sure quite a few of you are also doing. I just can't wait until the summer now to have a bit of freedom!

Good luck to everyone else who's revising hard!

xx

summer wish list

Clockwise from top left: Essie Nail Polish in Turquoise and Caicos, Daisy Floral Bomber Jacket from Topshop, Origins A Perfect World World BB Tinted Moisturiser, Black Strappy Wedges from River Island, Denise Tunic from Monki, Everard Skirt from Aubin and Wills, Enamel Etched Triangle Earrings from Urban Outfitters, Estee Lauder Pure Colour Gloss Stick in Orange Poppy

Hurry up summer! I can't stop dreaming of being able to wear shorts and skirts without the need for thick tights and to be able to venture outside without having to debate whether to bring my umbrella or not. However, on the other hand, I don't know if I'm quite ready to have to keep my legs stubble free 24/7 and to keep my toe nails prim and painted (mmm cold and rain is good for laziness)... So to try and get in the mood for summer (how is it nearly June?!) I've put together a little wish list of more summer appropriate bits and bobs.

• Now I 100% don't need any more nail varnish but this doesn't stop me wanting this incredible turquoise polish from Essie. It doesn't look like much in the bottle but definitely Google some swatches as it's so beautiful on. I'd happily wear this on my fingers and toes all summer.
• This daisy print jacket would look perfect with some high waisted denim shorts and little sandals for a stroll in the park. It's also really handy to have a little summer jacket like this around as, well... the English summer weather can be unpredictable to say the least.
• I'm really enjoying using my No7 BB Cream again at the moment and it's the only one I've tried so I'm keen to give some other ones a go. I loves Origins skincare and I like to think that this would not only make my skin look brilliant while it was on, but make my skin healthier in the long run. I've heard some great reviews of this too!
• These wedges from River Island would be great to wear out at night in the summer. I'm not going to pretend that I'll stop wearing black in the warmer months as that would just not be true - these wedges would look great with black leggings and a black tunic!
• I actually think this Monki blouse would look great with the River Island wedges. This would also be fab over denim shorts or again with leggings if it's a little chillier.
• This skirt makes me want to go on holiday so much! The idea of wearing a little white cami tucked in to this and then walking down a beach barefoot is my idea of heaven right now. The print is beautiful.
• I can't really put my finger on what I love about these earrings from Urban Outfitters but I just think they're a really interesting shape. In the summer I scrape my hair up in to a bun a lot and I think dangly earrings can look great when your hair's up.
• If you read my post a few days ago (which you can look at here) then you'll know that I'm obsessed with lip products at the moment. I really want one of these sheer gloss sticks from Estee Lauder but I don't know if I'd be able to decide which colour - they all look so pretty!

What's on your summer wish list?

xx

nail of the day

Not at all weather appropriate but hey while there's still clouds (and thunder and lightening yesterday!) I'll still be wearing black clothes and dark nails if I feel like it! Today's pick for my nails is Raspberry by Barry M. I love this dark vampy red, it's such a great polish for nights out and what I see as a 'smarter' nail colour.

As with most Barry M Nail Paints, it's really thick creamy and opaque. I used two coats but to be honest I could have gotten away with one! The only thing is that I always find this colour really difficult to paint on neatly... this may just be me haha. For my base coat I used my No7 So Smooth Base Coat (of course) and for my top coat I chose the Sally Hansen Doubly Duty Top Coat as I need to pick up another Sally Hansen Insta-Dri. Formula-wise the Double Duty Top Coat works just as well but I do miss the Insta-Dri-ing properties!

I've also seen that Barry M have released some new colours. They're not all for me but Cappuccino and Nude look gorgeous so I may have to have a little hunt for them soon...

What have you got on your nails at the moment?

xx

nail of the day

It looks a little more red here but it's a bright coral!

The weather is still as rubbish as ever so while nail-wise grey polish would probably be most appropriate, I've ignored the rain and decided to wear this gorgeous bright coral on my nails! This is Chubby Cheeks by Essie - I absolutely love it!

Formula-wise, Essie can be a little hit and miss. My first Essie polish was Better Together, a very light baby pink. I found this to be quite difficult to work with and streaky on application which was very annoying as I do love the colour. This did put me off the brand a bit, however, when I saw Essie's new diffusion line in Superdrug a few weeks ago I just had to get one and Chubby Cheeks was my pick!

The formula of Chubby Cheeks is a dream in comparison to Better Together. It paints on so easily and wasn't streaky in the slightest. The wide flat brush produced with the new diffusion range also made the polish easy to apply neatly - brilliant! My only criticism would be that the nail varnish took three coats to be fully opaque which is a little annoying as most polishes, I find, only take two. For a slightly more expensive polish surely this shouldn't be an issue...

As ever, I used my No7 So Smooth Base Coat and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat and the polish wore for a good five days before chipping which is a while for me as I usually change my nails quite a few times in a week. Also, my Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat is beginning to go a little gloopy (noooooo) so I'm going to have to repurchase it ASAP - I can't live without it! The best top coat around!

xx

nail of the day

The No7 bottle will no longer close properly :( !

No7 So Smooth Base Coat, W.I.P. Nail Polish from Urban Outfitters in Lava, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

I bought this intriguing coloured nail varnish from Urban Outfitters on Sunday. They have such a gorgeous range of colours, many of which are a little different from others you see on the high street, but I was most drawn to Lava as the greeney bluey bronze duo chrome effect in the bottle intrigued me and reminded me of Chanel's infamous Peridot.

I have to admit that I am disappointed with this polish - the formula is so so thin and the brush is quite small which makes the polish really difficult to apply. It also chipped in only a day, even though I used my trusty No7 So Smooth Base Coat and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat. The colour has been a bit of a let down too. In normal day light it looks too much just like a shimmery green for my liking and I wish that it had more of a bronzey tone as it does in dimmer light.

There are lots more polishes from Urban Outfitters which I'd love to try - can anyone tell me if the formula of the others are so watery too?

W.I.P. Nail Polishes are £6 from Urban Outfitters and are also available online here.

xx

current favourites

I didn't want to call this my April Favourites as that sort of implies that I'll do this every month, which I can't promise I necessarily will. However, regardless of the title, here are some things which I've really enjoyed using over the past month or so.

• For a true neutral lover (and lover of shimmer!) the Naked Palette is a must. It has the perfect range of shades to take you from a pretty subtle day time look to a full on smoky eye. It's quite pricey at £36 but for the quality and the number of eyeshadows you get (12), I think it's worth every penny.
• I've already done a full review of Lancome Hypnose Drama (which you can read here), but let me just reiterate - this is the best mascara I've ever used. It's just a shame that I didn't fall for a high street one!
• While I do love my Rimmel Brow Pencil for more defined brows, when I'm after more natural looking eyebrows for everyday (which are also quicker to do) then Clinique Instant Lift for Brows is a must for me. It has a screw up brow pencil on one end and a brow bone highlight on the other. However, my brow pencil end has run out and this time I've just purchased Clinique's Superfine Liner for Brows as I wasn't so bothered about the highlight side as it seemed a little too gold toned. It's a bit more expensive than a high street brow pencil at £12 but it's the perfect colour for my very fair eyebrows!
• Again, I've done a full review on the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze which you can read here. This is just such a fab multi-use product - I love to use it on its own, as a base for eyeshadow and as a liner - just brilliant!
• Three nail polish colours which I've really enjoyed wearing recently are Models Own 'Blooboo', Barry M 'Peach Melba' and Maybelline Express Finish in 'Turquoise Lagoon'. They're all just such fun colours for spring. Have a look at them on my nails here, here and here!

• I've definitely rekindled my love for Soap and Glory's Pulp Friction Body Scrub. Not only does this stuff smell brilliant (I have to restrain myself from eating it), but it leaves my skin silky smooth! You can pick this up from Boots for £8, which I thing is a fab price considering how long it's lasting me.
• This may seem a bit of an odd choice, but I've really enjoyed using the Dr. Bronner's Magic Lavender Hand Sanitizing Spray which I got in my February Glossybox. Living in London and working in a job where I have to handle money, my hands continuously feel dirty and I find myself using a lot of hand sanitizer. I not only love the smell of this as it's less chemically smelling than others I've tried but I love that it's in a spray bottle. I also find that it doesn't leave my hands feeling as dry as others have done. I'll definitely pick up another one of these when it runs out.
• Ever since I smelled Valentina by Valentino in last month's Glossybox, I've wanted a bottle. My boyfriend treated me to some for my birthday and I can't stop using it! I'm awful at describing scents, but it's floral and girly but not too sweet. Definitely give it a smell if you get a chance as it's such a beautiful perfume.

• These jeans were really difficult to photograph so I don't think I've done them much justice, but I absolutely love them. I can't get enough of Zara at the moment and I think these leather look jeans have to be my favourite recent purchase. I can't find them online any more but they're basically identical to these. They're great to wear both in the day and for a night out and make basic outfits look so much more interesting.
• This necklace from River Island has been practically glued to my neck all month! I know everyone has these cuff style necklaces at the moment but for me this is the perfect thickness. I just love how plain it is and it looks fab especially with basic tees. It cost me £7 and it's also available in silver (umm, may have to get that...)
• Last but by no means least is my Babyliss Big Hair. This makes my hair look salon fresh and feel so healthy and bouncy - Kate Middleton would be jealous! I love how it gives my naturally very flat hair a bit of life and volume. It's perhaps a bit pricey at £45 ish (here on Amazon) but it does make the fiddly task of blow drying your hair so much easier.

Have you tried any of these bits? What did you think?

xx

recent happenings #3

final essay of the year in! / cheeky Yo! Sushi by myself... / a very wet Selfridges / a naughty but beautiful treat from Selfridges - my first YSL lipstick! / soggy Canary Wharf / coffee and cake / a grey Olympic stadium / love my new top! (another Zara purchase...) / can't wait to start reading this! / a tasty dinner for my boyfriend's 21st birthday / my little purchase came from Dolly Bow Bow but the ring was too small so I need to exchange it :( / lovely candles to help me revise / I love this polish, it's so simple - LA Girl in Darling (ignore my very messy nails, I painted them on the Tube!)

As you can see I've actually ventured out a little more this week which has been brilliant! I've still got lots of revision to do so trying to divide my time between that and enjoying myself a bit as much as I can. Also, note the grey and wet theme of these photos - I'm getting sick of living in a very rainy London! 

xx

nail of the day (x 2!)

I thought it would probably just be easier if I condensed this in to one post for you today, so here is what I've had on my nails so far this week!

From Monday to Wednesday, I was wearing Models Own Pro nail varnish in Mellow Yellow, which was a gift from my boyfriend. He said he picked it because he knew pastels were in this season - good work! As I find with all Models Own nail polishes, Mellow Yellow was very thick and creamy and easy to work with. It did go on a little streaky the first coat but the second sorted that right out.

I had lots of comments on this polish actually, even from boys. I think this may be because it's a relatively unusual colour and as it's so pale it looks quite striking. The only thing I would say is that in certain totally artificial lights it looked a little as if I was wearing Tipp-Ex on my nails which isn't really a good look... However, I do love the colour and in natural light (as pictured above) it reminds me off that delicious yellow vanilla Cornish ice cream - yum! Next time I wear it I'm going to try and pair it with a brighter colour in some way as I think that will look fab too.

By Wednesday night, although my nails were still looking fine minus a little inevitable tip wear, I wanted a change. I love how easy it is to simply change your nail varnish and the difference that this can make to outfits. I work quite a few days a week and I have to wear the same dress every shift as it's my current uniform, so playing around with my nails, hair and make up can make me feel as if I look completely different. I decided to go for Barry M Nail Paint in Berry Ice Cream with Barry M's Hologram glitter over the top.

These nails look like a six year old girls dream. They're so tacky and over the top but that's what I like about them haha! I put two coats of Berry Ice Cream on and I originally intended to leave it at that as it's such a pretty colour. I then spotted Hologram which I'd completely forgotten I had so added two coats of that on top and voila - nails that Barbie would be proud of!

As for base and top coats, both times I used No7 So Smooth Base Coat and then my Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat. Such a fab combination that make my nails super shiny and my nail polish last for ages! (I'll stop there though as I know how much I constantly ramble on about these two lovelies...)

What have you got on your nails at the moment? I have so much nail varnish but can ALWAYS be tempted to get more...

xx

nail of the day (and a quick review of sally hansen top coats!)

Just a quick post to show you what I currently have on my nails. The nail varnish was actually one of my presents from my little brother, so thank you very much Archie! (Will he ever read this blog, considering it's mostly about beauty? I don't think so...)

The colour is Barry M Peach Melba which is such a pretty pastel peach shade. It's perfect for this time of year and looks so subtle and natural. As with most pastel shades, it did go on a little streaky at first. I used two coats, but next time I think I'll add a third, as there are a couple of places where if you look very carefully, it's not totally opaque. I also think this would make a really pretty base for something like a gold or bronze glitter!

As usual, I used my No7 So Smooth Base Coat, which is honestly such a great base coat. In the past I've had a lot of problems with my nails getting stained from painting them too much and this not only prevents this but really helps your nail varnish to last a lot longer. Brilliant!

For the second time now, I used my new Sally Hansen Double Duty Strengthening Base and Top Coat to finish off my nails. When comparing it to my trusty Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat, I wouldn't say there was any difference between them in regards to how effectively they make your nail polish last. I find that Sally Hansen top coats really do make your nails last so much longer without chipping, even if you are using a poorer quality varnish, and both also give your nails a gorgeous glossy finish. However, I do prefer the fast drying properties of the Insta-Dri Top Coat, as you paint on a thin layer after waiting two minutes for your polish to dry slightly, and very quickly your nails are totally dry and so you don't have to worry about smudging them or leaving little dents anywhere.

No7 So Smooth Base Coat (£7.00)

Barry M Nail Paint in Peach Melba (£2.99)

Sally Hansen Double Duty Strengthening Base and Top Coat (£5.25)

(For reference, the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat is £5.99, and all prices are from Boots - remember the 3 for 2! Eek, too tempting!)

xx

nail of the day

The weather outside is becoming ever more dull and soggy so I painted my nails a nice spring-like colour, so I could at least attempt to pretend that the sun is shining!

'Blooboo' by Models Own was actually picked by my boyfriend, and a fab choice it was too. It's the perfect shade of light pastel blue. It did go on a bit streaky at first, which can be a problem sometimes with lighter coloured nail polishes, but after two coats it was fully opaque. I love the formula of Models Own nail varnishes, I always find them to be so thick and creamy and easy to work with. Some of their polishes only need one coat! (I also always think that they smell different to other nail varnishes... just me?)

I think 'Blooboo' would look lovely too with a silver glitter over the top or with a different coloured polish on the ring finger. The nail varnish I showed the other day, Maybelline Express Finish Nail Colour in 'Turquoise Lagoon', would be great for this.

Whereas I usually use my trusty No7 Base Coat and Sally Hansen quick drying top coat, I had a bit of a change today. Instead I used the Sally Hansen Double Duty Strengthening Base and Top Coat for both under and over 'Blooboo'. This is the first time that I've used it so I'll keep you updated on how well it keeps my polish from chipping but I do love the high shine finish that it gives. However, I must say that the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat does do this too and I missed how quickly it makes my nail varnish dry.

Models Own 'Blooboo' was £5.00 and the Sally Hansen Double Duty Strengthening Base and Top Coat was £5.25, both from Boots.

xx

nail of the day

Hello :)

I just had to show off this nail polish - the colour is INCREDIBLE! You may have already seen this in my last post, and here it is on my nails! It's Maybelline Express Finish Nail Colour in 'Turquoise Lagoon'. Such a brilliant colour while the weather's a bit warmer :) I also think it will look fab on my toes when I'm on holiday.

I hadn't tried a nail polish from the Maybelline Express range before but found it really easy to work with and it's fully opaque after two coats. As usual I used my trusty No7 So Smooth Base Coat and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat. I've had it on for a few days now and there is no signs of wear, not even a little bit of tip wear yay!

It's actually quite a bit more green than this :(

I'll definitely be picking up another colour from this range!

Maybelline Express Finish in 'Turquoise Lagoon' was £4.09 from Superdrug.

xx

work = treats

Hello hello,

I don't know about you, but whenever I have lots of essays to do and I feel a bit sorry for myself, I find it very easy to justify all sorts of purchases. Now, none of these items are particularly expensive but judging by my bank balance, I still should have probably waited until my March pay check in a few days...

Anyway, here are some cheapy bits I've treated myself to recently as I've been a very good girl and worked very hard :) well done Florence haha!

I actually really wanted a Revlon Lip Butter or one of the Maybelline Colour Tattoos but they were all sold out in the Boots and Superdrug in Angel (sob).

Sleek True Colour Lipstick in 'OMG'

Max Factor Lip Liner in 'Fire'

Collection 2000 Cream Puff Moisturising Lip Cream in 'Cotton Candy'

MUA Out There Plumping Lip Gloss in 'Pin Up Pink'

MUA Extreme Felt Liner in 'Black'

MUA Bronzer in 'Shade 3'

Maybelline Express Finish Nail Colour in 'Turquoise Lagoon'

Nothing too exciting, just a few high street picks - I can't wait to go shopping on Saturday after I've been paid hurrah!

xx