Glamourous Nails

Evening lovelies,

If you read the British version of Glamour Magazine, you may very well have seen that the December issue comes with a free Nails Inc nail polish!

I read Glamour almost religiously, but I was naturally excited to pick up this month's issue when I saw the nail polish free with it. Nails Inc nail polishes retail around the £11 mark, so to get one free with a £2 magazine is fantastic. You get a great read, and can give yourself a pretty manicure for less than the price of your daily coffee fix. What's not to love?

I intentionally picked up a copy that had a bottle of the bright red nail polish.

The nail polish is a full sized 10ml bottle and the colour is called St James, It's a beautiful bright, cheery tomato red, which is my favourite nail colour to wear, so I was excited to try it.

I used this polish on my nails last night, and it was a positive experience. The brush was easy to work with, and the colour went on smoothly, and dried in the blink of an eye. I normally apply three coats of most polishes, but I found two coats was more than adequate with St James.

I love this nail polish!

It's the perfect classic red nail colour; a shade that works with almost any outfit, and is great with very fair skin tones like my own. I imagine this shade would work with most skin colours, though, but don't quote me on that. The colour is a bold tomato red, just like it appears in the bottle, and it's identical to my favourite nail polish, Barry M's Bright Red.

The photo below has captured the colour quite accurately.

I'm very impressed with this polish. I can't think of anything negative about it at all! What a great freebie!

£11 is more than I'd usually spend on a nail polish, but I'd certainly consider treating myself to a few when I can afford to.

There are four different shades to collect with Glamour which alone would cost £44, but if you bought four copies of the magazine, they'll come to just £8. I know which I'd choose.

I'm intending to buy another copy or two if I can get my hands on them.

Have you bought Glamour this month? Which nail polish(es) did you get?

Have you used Nail Inc polishes before? Any colour recommendations?

Why Do You Love Make Up?

Hey guys,

Today I've got a tagged post for you all. I found this challenge over on Sian's blog last week, and decided to have a go at it, too. As you know, I love my make up, especially if it involves colourful eye shadows, so I had to take part!

When did you begin loving make up?

As far as I can remember I was eleven. The year was 1996. I'd just started secondary school, and had hit puberty. I developed early. I was the tallest in my form. I was extremely shy, and self conscious, and to top it all of I wore glasses and was covered in a million freckles. I felt that I stood out, so I made an effort to look the best I could every day to draw less attention to myself. 

Make up gave me more confidence in my appearance, and I soon realised I loved wearing it, and experimenting with it. I'd use my pocket money to buy cheap make up from Collection 2000, Rimmel, Boots 17, and Avon. I was the girl who wore electric blue mascara, coloured eye make up (lilac was my favourite), iridescent lip sticks, and streaks of coloured hair mascara in my hair (remember those)? Looking back, it all sounds awful, but I assure you they were all in style at the time. (1996-2000). I loved to do my friends' make up, too, probably a little inspired by Cher from Clueless and her love of fashion and make overs.

How do you feel without make up?

Naked! I feel make up is as much a part of my identity as the clothes I wear. 

I have no issues leaving the house fresh-faced if I'm just popping to the supermarket or somewhere where I don't expect to run in to anyone I know, but if I'm spending time with people outside my immediate family I have to apply my face first. I feel naked, rough, frumpy, and less confident without at least a coat of mascara to enhance my eyes. In nine years of working for the same employer I only went to work without make up once, and I was repeatedly asked if I was ill.

What do you love about make up?

I love how make up can easily change or update a look. I love how it can enhance my favourite features (lashes), and conceal my "imperfections" (dark circles). I love how such a simple routine and a few lotions and powders can give me that little bit of extra confidence, and make me feel ready to face the day. I love having the freedom to express myself and my personality with a whole spectrum of colours, and how different looks and trends are accessible to everybody no matter their size or shape. I love that colourful eye make up has become my signature look, and how it shows my personality, and that I used to leave people guessing what colour I'd wear the next day.

Three holy-grail items:

1. My Inglot Eyeshadow Freedom Palettes

These are the best eye shadows I've ever used... well, apart from Bnevertoobusytobebeautiful's (they went in to administration a couple of years ago). Inglot have a fantastic system: they sell a variety of different sized palettes separately from their extensive range of eye shadows, which means you're able to customise your perfect palette with your favourite colours! Let's face it, most palettes available usually have a couple of shades we never use, so Inglot's are perfect. I own 22 of their shadows, and I swear by them. The colours are highly pigmented, and have great staying power. It's rare to need to reapply them as the shadows remain in place and vibrant all day. My favourites are the greens and turquoises, and their fantastic range of colours is heaven for a colour loving junkie like me! They're also really reasonably priced and when a colour it used up all one has to do is order a refill to take it's place!

2. The Body Shop Lightening Touch

Basically this is a slightly cheaper dupe of YSL Touche Eclat. It works on under eye circles, and other imperfections, and can also be used for a bit of highlighting. I've always had dark circles under my eyes and this product works wonders on them. It masks those pesky shadows, and leaves my skin looking dewy, and my eyes awake. It's like a good night's sleep in a pen!

3. Benefit They're Real! Mascara

I was convinced to buy this when I visited Macy's in New York last year. The consultant convinced my Sister to try it, and I was amazed by the results. The brush is designed to coat every lash, even those little short hairs in the inner corners, and adds noticeable length to my lashes without using an eye lash curler. It's a  

pricey mascara, but it really gives noticeable results, and as I always wore mascara every day the cost per wear could justify a luxury brand.

And a fourth for luck...

4. Maybelline Volum' Express The Colossal Mascara Waterproof in black

I can't live without mascara, and this one is perfect for every day use. It really thickens my lashes, and adds a little length, too. The mascara is a really dark black which enhances my brown eyes, and it's waterproof, which is always a contributing factor when I'm shopping for mascaras. I find this one stays put all day, and I rarely have issues with it smudging- even in the rain, or if there are a few tears. It's affordable, too, and doesn't break the bank. If I only had time to apply one product before rushing out the door, it would probably be this.

I hope you've enjoyed reading about my journey with make up. Feel free to snag this challenge and have a go yourselves!

Style It Up Saturday: Pretty Paisley

I was browsing the ASOS website a little earlier this evening in an attempt to kill the boredom that was driving me crazy. I was thinking about putting together a post on my favourite motif jumpers, when I stumbled up on this beautiful paisley skater dress...

It was love at first sight.

 Just look at that gorgeous paisley pattern! It's one of the prettiest dresses I've seen in a very long time. I have a soft spot for paisley- although I don't think I own anything but a wash bag with a paisley pattern- and I find all these colours so sweet and appealing.

The  colours seem more suited to Spring and Summer than Autumn, but I think with the right pieces, it could be worn this season, too.

It costs a little more than I generally spend on a dress, at £55, but I would happily cut back a little to make this dress mine. If I get any Christmas money this year, this may well be my investment, or otherwise I'll have to hope it's still available in the new year.

It's also quite short on the model, but going by her height, and the fact ASOS dresses usually tend to be much longer than they appear on line, I imagine this would rest just above my knees.

I decided to put together a little collage of how I might wear it for Autumn/Winter...

Dress: ASOS

Cardigan: ASOS

Bag: Topshop

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Tights: Evans

Belts: Dorothy Perkins

Gloves: Accessorize

Ear Muffs: Accessorize

Necklace: River Island

This look is very feminine, which is just one side of my style. I picked out the pink from the dress, and used dusky pinks, greys, lilac, and taupe to build up this look. I personally think these colours compliment each other perfectly. I'd often see these colours in one garment or look when working with high end Children's fashion, but I see no reason why adults should miss out on the fun!

I love the over sized boyfriend cardigan- it just looks so warm and cosy. I'd layer it over the dress with the pink belt to define my waist. I think my favourite piece in the look, apart from the dress, is the cut off gloves. The bag is girlier than I usually go for, but it works well with the look. I'd use the shoulder strap it comes with and wear it cross-body.

I might also wear this dress with a neutral biker jacket, a studded bag, and studded slippers. Or with a long winter coat and boots (knee high, or ankle). And when the weather is warm, it could be worn with bare legs, or cropped white leggings, and a cropped cardigan. The possibilities are endless.

I ♥ Fall Tag

I saw this Autumn inspired tag on Sarah's blog and decided to steal the post idea as I was having a bit of writer's block. This tagged post is all to do with Autumn and Halloween. Well, technically, the questions are titled with 'Fall', but I'm English and in England this season is more commonly known as Autumn, so forgive me for answering a Fall question with the word Autumn in my sentences.

1. Favourite Fall lip product?

I have a new found love for Benefit's Benetint lip and cheek stain after getting a small pot of it free with a magazine recently. One coat of it gives a subtle, natural look, but it can also be built up to create a more intense pout. It makes my small lips look so much fuller, and it gets extra points for being versatile and giving my cheeks an English Rose glow, too.

2. Favourite Fall nail polish?

This Autumn I'm really loving Barry M's Raspberry, Racing Green, and Ruby Glitter polishes, and also NYC Backstage Brown. Each colour works so well with my Autumn wardrobe, and even though they're all inexpensive polishes (which are fab as they don't break the bank), they all dry wonderfully smooth, and can remain chip free for days.

Ruby Glitter (Centre), Raspberry (Right)

Racing Green (Right)

Backstage Brown

3. Favourite Starbucks Fall drink?

I'm not much of a Starbucks drinker. I don't drink tea or coffee, and I personally prefer to head to Costa for a sweet treat. On the rare occasion I visit either, it tends to be for a hot chocolate when I'm out shopping and freezing because the temperature is below zero. I do remember loving the hazelnut hot chocolate I once had in Starbucks in Covent Garden, though.

4. Favourite Fall candle?

It's technically designed for the festive season, but during both Autumn and Winter I love the scent of the Christmas Cupcake and Vanilla Cupcake Yankee Candles. They smell like a mixture of vanilla cupcakes and shortbread, and smell delicious. The aroma of cakes baking in the kitchen reminds me of cold dark Sunday afternoons when my Mum would often be baking something delicious in the kitchen, so they give a really comforting, nostalgic smell.

[Source]

 5. Favourite fall scarf or accessory?

I've just purchased myself a new knitted teal snood, and it's so warm and cosy. It's definitely my new favourite accessory, and it's in one of my favourite Autumn colours.

I also adore my navy polka dot scarf, and my cut off crochet Accessorize gloves, which I have in two different colour themes.

[Source]

6. Haunted house, haunted hay ride, or haunted corn maze?

I can't say I've ever experienced any of the above. Halloween was never much of a big deal in England when I was growing up. People are beginning to get in to it more these days, but I've never stumbled up on a 'haunted' social event.

7. Favourite Halloween movie?

Hocus Pocus! I grew up watching it every Halloween, and over the years it's become a tradition to watch it every year. Childish, maybe, but it brings back good memories, and let's face it, nineties kids, it really can't be beat! When I was little, I wanted to be Sarah Jessica Parker's character... what was I thinking?

I love to dig out the Scream saga, and Labyrinth, too.

8. Favourite candy to eat on Halloween?

I don't have a preference or any traditions, as I don't usually make much of a deal out of Halloween, apart from watching movies and occasionally carving a pumpkin... I'm not a big fan of sweets, but you can never go wrong with some Haribo Star Mix or a bar of chocolate.

9. What are you dressing up as for Halloween?

I haven't dressed up for Halloween since I was eleven. If I had somewhere to go and celebrate, I like the idea of dressing up as Amy Ferrah Fowler from The Big Bang Theory. There was a photo of a girl who did just that on Tumblr last year, and I thought the idea was brilliant!

When I was younger, I was usually dressed as a ghost.

My pumpkin from last year.

10. What is your favourite thing about Fall?

I love crunching through dead leaves, buying new clothes, layering, keeping warm in cute gloves and scarves, and knowing Christmas isn't far away. I love how pretty everything looks with a backdrop of colourful leaves, and feeling the frost on my skin on cold mornings. Oh, and ordinarily, I get excited for bonfire night.

 Halloween 2011

What do you love about Autumn/Fall?

Feel free to give this challenge a go, too!

Liebster Blog Award Volume Five

I was recently nominated for another Liebster blog award by Keely from Another Girls Paradise. Thank you so much, Keely! I'm always astonished when anybody nominates me for an award. Truth be told, I'm astounded that anybody even reads my little blog at all! They always mean a lot, but having done a few of these lately, I'm running out of things to share about myself.

Rules

You must post 11 random facts about yourself. You must answer 11 questions from the person who chose you. You must create a new set of 11 questions for who you tag. 

You must then tag 11 blogs with under 200 followers and let them know. You can not tag back.

I'm going to break the rules a little here, and just share some facts about myself, and answer Keely's questions. I hate having to choose between all the wonderful blogs I follow, and have already passed the award on to my favourite bloggers several times.

11 Facts About Little Old Me

1. Most of my family are (English) Northerners, but my Sisters and I are Southerners born and raised.

2. I keep tropical fish and have a shrimp called Francois. I decided they needed French names. It's thought that his shrimp friend Jean-Pierre was murdered. Although it remains a mystery as his body was never found.

3. I have an odd sense of humour (see no. 2 above)... 

4. I love movie and musical soundtracks.

5. One of my favourite theatre experiences was seeing Sister Act in the West End whilst Whoopi Goldberg was starring as the head nun. She was only on stage for a couple of weeks, so it was a once in a life time experience. She was fantastic!

6.  I'm planning to get a tattoo of a flock of flying birds as soon as I'm back in one piece and living a more normal life. I want this to symbolise regaining my freedom, and to remind myself to never take life for granted again.

7. I'm also seriously considering getting the words 'make it count' tattooed on me, too, as another reminder to live each day well. Many of you might recognise it as a quote from Titanic. It happens to be my favourite film, but the three little words would have spoken to me even  if they were said in a film I hated.

8. I can cross stitch a little. Nothing too elaborate, mind, but I've learnt to cross-stitch, and back-stitch, and can manage small designs. I've not adopted it as a hobby, though.

9. I used to sketch and paint, but haven't done a single picture since I broke my wrist five years or so ago.

10. I'm considering taking art, photography, and creative writing classes when I'm physically able to do so.

11. As well as the skills in no 10, I'd love to learn how to crochet, sew, knit, and how to make clothes and patchwork quilts, accessories, and jewellery. Basically, I want to learn how to create everything.

Keely's Questions to Me

1) Are you afraid of the dark?

No, but I don't particularly like it.

2) What movie or song makes you cry? 

Movies- 

These make me cry every single time...

The Green Mile, Marley and Me, I Am Legend, Titanic, Steel Magnolias.

Songs-

This of course depends on my mood, but if I'm particularly upset or down, then these songs have the power to make me bawl like a baby.

The All American Rejects- It Ends Tonight
Avril Lavigne- Slipped Away
Boyzone- Every Day I Love You, Better, and One More Song.
The Calling- Could It Be Any Harder, and Stigmatized
Coldplay- The Scientist
Evanescence- Hello, and Lost in Paradise
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole- Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Kings of Leon- Pyro
Linkin Park- Valentine's Day, My December, The Little Things Give You Away and Leave Out All The Rest
Lostprophets- 4am Forever
Michael Jackson- Little Susie
My Chemical Romance- The Ghost of You
Ronan Keating- Winter Song, Mama's Arms, and In This Life

I started listing them and came up with so many songs that made me cry. I decided to keep most of them in the post, but cut a few out.

3) Favourite comfort food? 

I'm not a comfort eater, but there are some foods which can't be beaten and do leave me with a content feeling- so probably my Mum's home made chocolate cakes, or her apple pie which are both a rare treat. 

4) If you could live anywhere, where it would be and why?

I would love to have a town house in New York as it's an incredible, beautiful, lively city; worlds apart from the town I live in.. I'd also love to live by the sea in Cornwall so I could walk on the beach and paddle in the sea everyday. I've always dreamt of living by the sea and becoming a surfer.
  

5) Favourite item of clothing?

I adore most of my wardrobe these days, but if I had to choose I'd say my black hummingbird print skirt; my black bird-print maxi dress; my navy/cream flamingo print circle dress, and my black and white polka dot shirt dress. I love how I feel in each of these items, and I think they're all visually pretty, too.

6) What do you do to cheer yourself up on a rainy day?

I actually like rain and it doesn't make me miserable at all! I love curling up with a good book and listening to it lashing against the windows. If I need to cheer up a miserable grey day, I'll dress in something colourful and play some good tunes.

7)  Do you believe in ghosts? 

Yes. I'm not sure if I believe that they can be seen, but I believe their presence/energy can be felt. The elderly man who owned this house before us died here of an illness, and for a few years there was a bad energy in the house, particularly in a couple of the rooms. I regularly felt it, and always sensed I was being watched. My Sister and I once saw the kitchen cupboards opening and closing before our eyes. I still hate being in the dining room or my parents bedroom alone.

8) Favourite book?

I have two firm favourites: The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, and The Stand by Stephen King. They're both great and interesting reads in different ways, and if you haven't read them I suggest you get yourself copies pronto!

9) Do you have a childhood item that you'll never throw away?

I haven't kept hold of much from my childhood, but I have some teddies in the loft, and a copy of my favourite childhood book ''Goodnight Mister Tom'' that I have no intention of giving away. I'm a sentimental soul.

10) Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

I honestly haven't thought that far ahead. I don't have a life plan pencilled in my diary like many do.

I hope I'm happy, healthy, free of pain, living life to the full, doing something I love, with great friends and family around me.

11) Why do you like to blog?

Firstly, I find blogging a great distraction from my back injuries. Blogging has given me something to focus on every day, and it fills a good portion of  my time. The days used to drag so much more before I created this blog, so it's become my saviour. It's great to do something positive during a difficult time in my life.

 I like being able to show that there are ways to make living with life-changing injuries a little brighter. I like showing society that larger girls enjoy fashion and looking good, too, and that women of all sizes look good in fashionable threads. I also love to write, and obviously I love fashion, style, and beauty, so it's enjoyable to combine them and focus on those subjects with lovely like-minded individuals.