Big Haul

I went shopping last weekend with mother and spent too much money.. A couple of things were impulse buys but I'm happy with the rest. Some things I will review in detail separately :)

Please note: I'm so sorry about the quality (or lack of) in the pictures, my camera is broken so I cant change any of the settings, it does "auto" without a flash and that it unfortunately! I'm getting a new one for Christmas though so don't fear! ;)

Oh my goodness, how flipping gorgeous are these shoes!! Mum bought these for me (everything else I bought myself) from New Look. They were £27.99 but they had 25% off. I had to have them, they're so nice! They're really comfy to walk in too which is a bonus. Love, love, love.

This is one of the impulse buys.. From New Look, £24.99. Don't get me wrong, I do really like it BUT it's actually a cabin bag so I'd look a bit of a donkey walking around with it on a normal day but I do intend to use it for days out when I know I need to take more things with me or for shopping/over night stays. I bought it wanting a hand bag but I was carrying loads of bags and think I just got it cause I knew I could stuff most of it all into one! Ah well!

I don't think I've ever been into Primark and not bought earrings.. But then saying that, I don't live right near one so I could probably count the amount of times I've ever been on 2 hands! As you can see, they were £2.50 for 12 pairs. I don't like them all but for the price it doesn't really matter does it! I like pairs: 1, 2, 4, 8, 10 and 12. The rest I chucked in the bin.

You can never have too many socks, can you? They're from Primark but I can't remember the price (maybe £5? I binned the receipt, oopsy) but you get 5 pairs and they're all animal print so I was happy :) They're quite thin but I don't like thick normal socks, if you know what I mean? If they're meant to be thick, yeah but not on normal socks!

PJ bottoms (I actually call them jammies or jarmer bottoms) These were £5 from Primark which is bargainous, right?! They're quite soft thinnish ones with pockets and a silky tie on them. I bought these cause they reminded me of Christmas and I intend on wearing these Christmas morning/afternoon.. maybe just all day and night!

These are my new favourite jarmies! Aren't they pretty! £5 from Primark, can't go wrong can ya! They're a really soft, thick, fleecey material with cuffed bottoms to keep the warm in and a pretty pink tie. What's not to love? These are for real cold days/nights as you get too hot otherwise! I love them a lot. I would wear them out the house if I could ;)

Every man and his dog has one of these studded bags, don't they. I did want the baby pink one but the one we went to only had this one so I just got it.. It was £6 from Primark. I'm not using it as a clutch bag though, I'm using it to put make up, tissues, ibuprofen etc in, in my handbag so it's all together, how handy :)

Lastly I went to Boots with my £5 off a £20 spend voucher and knew before we even went shopping that I would be buying Soap & Glory products with it!
I originally went to the till with 2 of the new Sugar Crush body washes (£6.50 each) and the Mist You Madly travel sized body spray (£3.50 I think?).. Then realised I had the voucher so ran to pick up Peaches and Clean (£7). A different girl served me and she scanned it all through and it come to a lower price (no idea why) so I got my mum to quickly grab another body spray.. But then I realised it was 3 for 2 so when she got back, I sent her off again to get a travel sized Scrub Of Your Life (£2.50).. Needless to say, mum was a bit annoyed, I was getting hot and bothered.. and embarrassed! Plus everyone else queuing was getting annoyed but I got there in the end!!

I absolutely LOVE all of the Soap & Glory products I got (from last week and everything else previous) apart from Peaches & Clean which I had quite a nasty reaction to but I shall review each of these in more detail in the next couple of weeks, including pictures of my face after using Peaches & Clean, bet you can hardly contain yourself! ;)


What have you been buying lately?

My sister made a blog!

My sister, Ocean and her little one, Skye come over today and I was talking to her about my blog and how much I love doing it.. Which made her want to start one! Her blog will mostly be updates on Skye as she'd like to look back when she's a bit older, which is a lovely idea :) She said it will be a baby and lifestyle blog.
Please please check it out and maybe give her a follow? :) 

skyesthelimitx.blogspot.co.uk

Ooh, this evening I got some good news, Ocean and her other half, Karl have put in for a house just down the road from us. How freaking exciting is that!! It will be great to see her and Skye lots :)

Speaking of good news, as I'm getting a good camera for Crimbo, I'm planning on starting to make YouTube videos. I've wanted to for a while but after Christmas I'm going to take the plunge, yay! Because I'll be seeing Ocean a lot more, you can expect to see her in a lot of them too, super duper excitemento!!!

Hope you're liking the Christmassy feel on the blog too ;)

Christmas traditions..

When it comes to Christmas day (or even Christmas eve - Boxing day) most of us have traditions or a certain way we usually do things and our family is no exception although since leaving home, I haven't yet settled into my own way of doing things, which makes me sad :(

Whilst living with my parents and for as long as I can remember this was how we done things..

Christmas eve we'd stay in together in the evening and have a Chinese take away for dinner then just before we went to bed we were allowed to open one small present each.

Christmas morning we'd get up around 6/7am and we would rummage through our stockings (we both got stockings til we were 18/19!) then go into mum and dads room. When we were little we'd show them what Santa had left us but as we got older we went in to wake them up/thank them/snout through each others stockings!

Me, Mum & Ocean messing about with xmas lights last year.

 We would then all go downstairs and dad would cook a small fry up and we'd always have it with orange juice. After we'd eaten we'd all get washed and dressed and wait for each other in the living room. Once we were all there we would start opening presents (with Christmas music on) taking it in turns, one present at a time. Mum and Dad always made us read out who it was from so we could thank them afterwards - I'm really glad they done this and hate hearing of others who just wake up early hours and rip open all their presents.. I like that we shared it all together and could actually appreciate what people had bought for us - and who had bought it.
After we'd all opened our presents we would all go back and look through what we got properly, as kids we'd sit and play then when we got older we'd sort everything out/take it upstairs or try out whatever we'd got while Mum and Dad cooked lunch. We have always had a turkey for lunch and always had crackers.. and always worn the silly hats! - It's law! After lunch we'd ring round and thank everybody then carry on playing or as we got older we'd sit together as a family and play some games and have a giggle.
Boxing day was usually about seeing other family members and having a cold turkey dinner with pickles and bits like that.

Mum & Dad in the costumes Oce got them as a joke!

Last year, my sister, Ocean and I (plus our other halves - Karl and Aaron) spent Christmas at Mum and Dads. Christmas eve was exactly the same as usual - Chinese and a present before bed.
Christmas morning we had a small fry up (with orange juice!) then once we were all ready, we opened presents one at a time, appreciating every one. We sat together for a turkey dinner (with our silly hats) and a bottle of bubbles then later on in the afternoon we were playing games like Who's In The Bag? and Mr and Mrs (me and Aaron won, oohyeah!) and had many drinks. Me and Aaron left Boxing day and went to Aaron's parents where we had a cold turkey dinner and sat watching TV most of afternoon/evening (they are older remember..)

The year before mum and dad went away for Christmas and my sister went with them. We spent Christmas alone and didn't really do much to be honest! We did do most of what we usually would apart from playing games!

This year we have Christmas eve and Christmas day on our own. Aaron's parents are going away and my parents are spending Christmas day with my sister, her other half and my sisters little one, Skye.
We'll probably have a Chinese Christmas eve but I'm not sure if we'll open a present before bed.. When you get older you get way less presents!! Well, you do in our family anyway! Christmas day we'll cook a small turkey and have a bottle of bubbles but I bet we don't wear the silly hats. We'll take it in turns with presents and listen to Christmas music but it just won't feel the same, I know it.
Boxing day we have my parents round late afternoon and over night so I'm sure there will be lots of drinking and games played.. plus a cold turkey dinner. Aaron's parents will come round when they get back from their holiday and I haven't spoken to my sister about seeing them yet but we will.

Skye last week, isn't she the cutest!

I wish it still felt really special as you got older but I know for us at least, the sparkle has most definitely faded. Maybe if we have children one day, it will be for them how it was for me when I was younger.. I still get excited about decorating the house though! :)

What are your traditions and have they changed now you've left home (if you have)??

P.S.. Do you like my background? ;) - I can't wait for it to snow!

Get to know me, If ya like :)

Ashleigh over at Life Highs Lows and Garb tagged me in this post and I wouldn't usually do the post BUT this time I wanted to :) You should all go and say hi to Ashleigh because she is super lovely and is the friendliest person I've got talking to since I started blogging. I wish there were more bloggers like her :)

The rules...
Post 11 random facts about yourself
Answer 11 question's from the person who tagged you
Create 11 new questions for who you tag
Tag 11 blogs with under 200 followers, and no tag back

I'm not going to be doing that bit, I just wanted to to the first 2 really! :)

11 Facts About Me..

1. I'm 24. Unless you've read my 'about me' you'd probably think I'm younger!
2. I don't drive. I tried a couple years back but it makes me too nervous!
3. I am very strong minded and have very strong opinions.
4. I'm usually a very good judge of character.
5. I love blogging but I constantly feel like I'm on the outside looking in.
6. I have 3 tattoos (a swirly thing on my ankle, a star on my forearm and a heart on my little finger)
7. I'm supposed to wear glasses for computer/tv and reading but rarely wear them.
8. I love making new friends even though I'm shy at first, that soon disappears!
9. I used to go clubbing twice a week religiously, now I don't enjoy it at all.
10. I only like Yorkshire tea and my coffee has to be milky.
11. I *love* singing but I'm not very good at it!

11 Questions From Ashleigh..
 
1. What made you start writing a blog?
- I watched videos on youtube for ages (mostly hair/make up tutorials) and they always said to check their blog out and after doing so I wanted in on the blogging world!
2. Tell me one thing you want to achieve in your life.
- The thing I want most is to marry Aaron. We're engaged but we have to try and get a divorce done next year although we don't know where his ex is living so it's going to be difficult. Plus I'm sure she will be as awkward as she can. It will be a massive headache but it will be so worth it!
3. Marmite...love or hate?!
- LOVE! I don't like it in a sarnie but I love it on toast or on crumpets.. Ooh and a teaspoon of it in my gravy, makes it so tasty!
4. What is your top beauty tip?
- To always look after your skin. For ages I didn't and now I have rubbish skin but since blogging and buying various products I now make sure I look after it.
5. What are your Sunday afternoons made for?
- We always get the shopping done in the morning then we have the rest of the day to chill out and have some quality time together.
6. Looking back, what fashion or beauty trend did you regret trying?
- When I was at upper school/college I went through a bit of an 'emo/scene' stage, cringe! I'm talking skinny jeans, nike dunks, backbrushed mullet hair, thick eyeliner, huuge sunglasses.. I'll have to post pics for a laugh!! I thought I was SO cool but when I see pictures now I'm like oh my good god!!
7. What 3 people, living or dead, would you invite to your dinner party?
- Kelly Osbourne, Stacey Solomon and Nicki Minaj. I have always loved Kelly Osbourne, I love how she speaks her mind and doesn't care what people think of her. Stacey seems like a really lovely, down to earth girl and a right laugh and Nicki Minaj, well, I just love her! She's awesome awesome.
8. What is your "go to" fashion item, in an emergency going out situation?!
- Skinny jeans. I love how they can be dressed up or down and you don't need to shave your legs either, bonus! Haha :)
9. What shop do you walk into and have to be dragged out of?
- New Look! 98% of my wardrobe is New Look and all of my clothes hangers are New Look ones! Is that bad?! Oopsy! I can't help it, they're reasonably priced and I know their sizes so well that I don't need to try things on - which I hate doing cause it takes too long!
10. If you could only have mascara or lipstick for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
- Mascara, definitely. I wear mascara a lot more than I wear lipstick *flutters eyes*
11. Please tell me...why did the chicken cross the road?
- To get in my oven so I could have a lovely roast chicken gravy dinner!!

mini haul

I'm not quite sure what has taken so long to get this post up as I bought these things 2 weeks ago now but better late than never, eh? And if I hadn't said, you'd never have known anyway ;)
Superdrug have their 3 for 2 so I had to get some more bits!

Collection 2000 (yes, I will keep calling them that til they actually change the bloomin packaging!) Lasting Perfection Foundation in Ivory, black hair ring/donut, 'natural black' hair dye, Collection 2000 Sheer Loose Powder, MUA Sheer Finish lipgloss and a foundation brush.

This foundation has been raved about by many a blogger and after deciding to try wearing foundation again (now I have a good primer - stupid large pores!) I thought I'd give this a go and I'm really glad I did! I have naturally quite oily skin too (yeah, great face I've got, eh!) so this is the kind of foundation I've needed all along. I absolutely love the packaging, its glass and it feels much more expensive that it is (£5.99) - very reasonable price. Most important of all, it's a really good product! It applied nicely, looked great and it stayed on my face so I was well impressed. Highly recommend! :)

No no no, I didn't buy 2 hair donuts, just the one on the right.. But I thought I'd sit it next to my other one (standard size that you can buy everywhere) so you can see the size difference. It's not the massive massive one you can get (which I reallyyy want but can't really afford) but it's slightly bigger and I love it! I love a big bun, it's great for when you just cannot be arsed to straighten your hair :D or if it's raining etc. I can't get my hand over this one to hold the hair in place like the smaller one so it takes slightly longer to use but I prefer it because the end result is nicer so it's worth it. This cost £5.09.

Right now my roots are about an inch from my head. It's horrible and I hate it.. So I bought this. I've been dying my hair since middle school (and had every single colour apart from grey!) my natural hair colour is chocolate brown but I prefer myself with real dark hair. BUT.. Since buying this I've been thinking about doing something different with my hair colour wise but I'm not sure what (answers on a post card!) So I'm holding off using this until I know what I'm doing! I'm not sure how much it cost cause Aaron got me it from Morissons!

I like loose powder over my foundation so I thought I'd try some of this. I like that it's sheer because when my horrible oily skin starts getting a bit shiny in the day I can brush some of this over without it making a difference to the colour (and without really needing a mirror!) The packaging is plain and simple, nothing to shout about and yeah, that's about it really! Good stuff, I likey. £2.99.

After the trouble I had with the pumping lipgloss from MUA (see this post) I thought I'd better get another lipgloss to replace it and I picked this one up. It looks dark but it's sheer so it's only very very very slight on your lips which I really like. It doesn't stay on forever but what lipglosses do! It does, however last a little longer than some others I have, maybe because it's a little bit thicker/gooeyer? I like that about it though. The packaging is cheap and cheerful but with a £1.00 price tag, you can't complain. I would repurchase and will be buying other shades (even though they're sheer!)

Lastly, the foundation brush, which Callie was fascinated by apparently!! I just got Superdrugs own brand one as I didn't know how I'd get on with the foundation but as I got on very well, once this one dies I will get a better one. Though for the price (£3.99) its actually not bad at all, it's reallyyy soft and my foundation went on lovely so there's nothing bad to say about it.


There we have it, do you have any of these items? If so what are your thoughts?

I am also going shopping Saturday with mother and we're bound to come back with A LOT so expect another haul sometime soon :)