Moving on Up

When my mum invited me out with her work friends last night I didn't quite no what to expect. Would it be awkward, would it be dull, would I be bored out of my mind? Well the answer was quite simple, no, no it wouldn't be. We drank, we giggled, we danced and we had a bloody good time.

I have a confession to make, I am a newly single girl which should explain my blogging absence since new year. I really needed a good night out, where I could just let my hair down and have fun.So I did and hope I will be doing it more often now!

Since becoming a newly singleton, I didn't really know what to do with myself. For over a year I have always had someone to experience things with and a routine. It's quite the sudden shock when all that is gone but after taking time out I came to realise people come and go, and life changes. So it is definitely time to get on with things!

I love this dress I am wearing, its a velvet French Connection dress that I bought about two years ago now. If it is black and velvet, I have to have it! I paired it up with black opaques, (my lily white legs are not ready to be seen out and about) and my new Miss.S necklace that I picked up for a measly £1.50! I've really taken to OTT jewellery lately and have picked up quite a few statement necklaces over the past few weeks. They can make or break an outfit, and make something dull a bit more lively! I love Arabella's jewellery selection, she has some lovely pieces and has inspired me to be a little more daring when it come to my own selection.

I was also in the need of a new clutch and bigger is always better in my opinion! I wanted this bag ever since it arrived in one of our delivery's months and months ago, but each time pay day came and went there were always other things I wanted more! That was until this bag went down from £35 to £10! I could no longer resist the suede touch and studded detail! Although I now face the problem of the silver stud, gold jewellery scenario! I hate mixing the two!

In more exciting news, me and my friend are planning a holiday for the summer months! Not decided on where to go as of yet but this is my first ever girly holiday and I am so excited! It means a lot of saving rather than splurging in the run up to summer but with the promise of sand, sea and cocktails I think i may just about handle it!

D.x

MAC Plumful

It has taken me a while to test out the offerings from the MAC lipstick collection. On a recent trip to York, not being one to pass up a trip to the MAC counter, I decided to part ways with fourteen pounds and picked up this beautiful shade.

I love plum and berry shades. They are a way to spice up your make up look without being too dramatic.  This shade is the perfect mix of plum and pink, not too light and not too deep. The colour starts of being quite sheer when you first apply but the colour is buildable for a stronger statement.
The staying power is brilliant, and I found I only needed to top up a few times throughout the day to just build on the colour. I found a lip brush allowed me to be more precise and made outlining the lips that much easier.

MAC Plumful £14

The finish is quite glossy, and is perfect for everyday wear. I usually prefer a matte look lip, but with the weather leaving my lips quite dry, this lipstick was a great alternative. The texture is smooth and didn't cling to problem areas. Popping on a layer of lip balm before hand, provides a great base for the colour.

There are so many other shades that I want to try from this range and for fourteen pounds I think its a cheaper way to get that MAC fix!

Which shades would you recommend for perfect every day wear?

D.x

A Vintage Affair

The Vintage Tea Party Year Waterstones £15.00

I have been in awe of the vintage phenomenon that has been sweeping our nation for the past few years. There is nothing quite like a vintage touch to demonstrate and air of class, originality and creativity.  The fashion, the hair, the lifestyle, there is something quite alluring about the past and I can't quite out my finger on it.

The Vintage Tea Party Book Waterstones £16.00

Well now it could not be easier to allow snippets from the past into your present, if you are looking for something a little retro, a little kitsch than look no further than Miss Angel Adore, author of not one but two amazing books.

The Vintage Tea Party Book burst onto our shelves earlier last year and I have never been so keen to get my hands on a book. A beautifully written exploration of the past in terms of entertaining, food and drink and personal style, Angel Adoree teaches the average novice how to turn her dream tea party into a reality.

make your own butterfly display page 220

Pages filled with charming animal illustrations that could rival Alice in Wonderland, the book is simply beautiful and looks just that amongst all my other plain Jane recipe books. If you are looking for something new to try at home, then flick through and choose at random. One of my favourites is the British Potato recipe. Baked new potatoes with soured cream and chive filling, an everyday recipe with a little something special.

Learn to bake these delicious potatoes page 126

For a sweet tooth try there trifle shots page 173

Not only does this book transform you into a wannabe housewife, but there are also plenty make and do pieces to put your craft skills to the test. Why not try making your own pinny, retro style or even attempt to put together your own bird mobile that would look perfect in any stylish home.

For something a little different that is both beautiful inside and out, pick up one of these books that you can turn to time and time again, in an entertaining emergency or simply to indulge in it's pretty pages.

Don't forget to follow me on twitter girlies need all the help I can get! @Danielle20990

D.x

Soap and Glory The Righteous Butter

I have a little confession to make, up until Christmas day I was a Soap and Glory virgin. I know almost unspeakable as a wannabe blogger but it is true. Alas do not panic as I have now delved into the world of Soap and Glory and I kind of like it.

Soap and Glory mini available at boots priced £2.50

After receiving a couple of their goodies in my Christmas stocking I have grown quite curious as to what this, once little, brand in boots has to offer me. Testing out the miniature Flake away scrub, Clean Girls body wash and The Righteous Butter body butter, I was impressed.

The Righteous Butter Boots £10.50

So impressed that I went straight out and picked up the full size body butter as It was too good to resist, 300ml of good temptations. The thick, creamy butter leaves your skins feeling smoothly nourished without the greasy aftermath. Your skins absorbs the moisture as you rub into your skin and is perfect for dry areas. The butter relieves any dry patches and restores them to their former glory. This product is great to use after jumping out the bath or shower to complete your relaxation routine.

The packing of this brand is to die for. A blend of tongue in cheek humour, retro styling and pink packaging allow for a fun, feminine feel. The black and white imagery makes the range seem vintage and classic as well as being ever so modern with the product names. They make perfect gifts as well as lining your own bathrooms and bedrooms.

I simply cannot wait to try a few more products.

D.x

MAC Fix Spray

I have always wanted to give this product a try. It is one of those products that I am not actually sure what it is supposed to accomplish for your skin and I have often questioned whether it is an essential or in fact glorified water in a spray bottle.

MAC Fix+ Spray 100ml £13.50

After having approximately five minutes at the House of Fraser MAC counter, in the Metro centre three days before Christmas, I walked away with my MAC Skin Finish and this little bottle off obscure clear liquid.

After experiencing problems in the past with my make up, not quite getting the foundation to powder ratio exact, I was often dismayed with the caked on appearance of my skin. That is where MAC Fix spray comes into play.

The finishing mist/ skin refresher is described as a 'soothing moisture mist' that will freshen up your make up during the day whilst adding a finishing touch to your make up. Well I am not sure if finishing touch is quite how I would describe the results of this spray. There is a lot of power behind this little spray and even with the most gentle of touches a lot of product comes out. I find that dabbing the product into your skin with a brush helps set it a bit more and prevents it from being, well, quite as wet.

I did find that once the product was dabbed onto dry areas, the make up underneath blended and took away the harsh bumps created by foundation in dry skin.

The product is practically unscented and doesn't irritate the skin. Avoiding those pesky leaks, the bottle comes with a turning nozzle to lock and unlock the spray, perfect for throwing into your bag when on the go.
It comes in two sizes, the 30ml and 100ml but you can only get the smaller online or in stand alone stores. I picked this up for £13.50 on a whim and wanted to see what the fuss is about.

This is a nice product to use as apart of your make up application process but in no way does it stand out. I am still undecided as to whether this is a product of just a bottle of liquid. The product is handy to have lying around in case of emergencies or if you want to add a little freshness during the day. It would be perfect for those who suffer from dry skins who wish to freshen up their foundation to a dewy more natural finish.

What did you think of the MAC fix it spray? A must have or a better left on the shelf?

D.x