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Friday 26 April 2013

Mint-y Goodness!

I recently extolled the virtues of coral in THIS POST and mentioned that I've also really been loving mint for Spring/Summer. In fairness, coral and mint are pretty popular every S/S- like the nautical and neon trends, they always seem to come back in fashion as they are perfect colours for the nicer, sunnier (I'm nothing if not eternally optimistic) weather. Apart from actual clothing, I'm loving mint shades for accessories and nails, so here's my mini rundown on what I'll be wearing to channel the look this season:

 1) Mint and grey strappy heels, Asos.
These are pretty much taxi-to-bar shoes, undoubtedly they will cripple me and will be my (literal) downfall but somehow I think they may be worth it. These are available online now.


2) Mint Candy Apple polish, Essie.
I love this polish, for a matte creme it's surprisingly lovely to apply- no streaking and fully opaque after two coats. I get a good three days wear out of it before I see any obvious signs of wear and tear, it dries fast and generally just looks all Summery and pretty. Hurrah! (as a side note, I mostly got this cause it reminds me of my wedding manicure, which I was informed by the nail technician is an OPI shade called "Tease", however according to the Internet that polish apparently does not exist, so this is a happy alternative).

Essie Nail Polish in Mint Candy Apple

3) Mint Doctors bag, Topshop.
It's slightly cruel of me to include this as I actually got it last year but I really had to pop it in as it's so perfect. It's surprisingly roomy so fits all my random goods and has a detachable long strap so it can be worn across the body although I prefer to carry it in the crook of my arm, whilst I pretend to be a lady.


So those are my current favourite mint items. Anyone else enjoying this trend?
xx

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm

I recently discovered a love for French brand Nuxe when I started using their Creme Fraiche de Beaute  Enrichie (review HERE) so I was eager to try their little pot of delicious lip balm- Reve de Miel, an absolute favourite in the beauty world.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm

So whats the deal with this then?

It's an ultra nourishing balm containing honey, plant oils, shea butter and grapefruit extract to help nourish, repair, soothe and protect the lips. 

15g of product is housed in a heavy glass pot, adding a feel of luxury and it contains no parabens and 79.5% natural ingredients which is also great. I love everything about this so prepare for gushing!
Firstly, it smells amazing- I've seen it compared to Terry's chocolate orange, (which is one of my all time favourite chocolate brands) and I'm very happy to report that it does indeed have a good old smack of that to it. I will say that the scent wears off shortly after applying so if you're not a big fan of overpowering smells then nothing to worry about here.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm

Secondly, it is seriously moisturising- my lips have been super soft since I started using it and it feels ridiculously comforting when applied..I would actually describe it as a massive treat for the lips. Finally I have to say how long lasting this is- when I put it on at night I find that there's still some on my lips the following morning. While it feels like it's sunk in there's still a nice light layer left on my lips, so it's kind of like a deep conditioning mask for your kisser! Basically, I can't recommend this enough. It looks a little bit like the kind of thicker consistency honey that you have to melt to use but looks are deceiving- it's incredibly malleable and just generally lovely.
You can find it HERE on Cloud 10 beauty for the bargain price of 12.50 and they also sell the balm stick version if you find yourself adverse to dipping your finger in a pot.
Anybody else tried Reve de Miel?
Xx

Monday 22 April 2013

Cath Kidston Haul

I'm a little bit of a Cath Kidston obsessive..my apartment is actually starting to resemble one of the stores as I now have everything from mugs to cushion, throws to bedsheets, toiletry bags to hand lotion. I care not. Retro kitsch sums up my interior design style perfectly so for me having various different floral patterns strewn about the place is heaven and finding anything Cath Kidston on sale is even better.
Here are a few bits I picked up recently for next to nothing. I would advise keeping an eye on the website for sales but for even better bargains check out the Kildare Outlet Store- so many good deals to be had there and they recently expanded the shop so it's now brimming with loads of lovely stuff.
I didn't really need anymore bed sheets but this shade of blue is one of my all time favourites and I can't leave a polka dot behind:


I did however need a new oven glove (nothing more tragically domestic than that statement) and this colourful number is one of those ones that covers your entire arm, you know, just in case you have plans to battle dragons or whatever:


Lastly, and possibly the best of all, are these here salt and pepper shakers. I'm sorry, but these are just ridiculously cute:

Ah would you look at them there. 

Confession time- I really don't need these. I already have two sets of s & p shakers so definitely didn't require a third but they had to come home with me..they were calling to me..the way only ceramic hen and roosters can. I'm using them as ornaments on either side of a shelf with framed photos, paintings and a lamp and I like the clustered, homely feel these add. Also, it was only six euro for the two. That's right, SIX! Sure where would you be going?!

Friday 19 April 2013

Kiehls Creme de Corps

I love this stuff. It's an all over body moisturiser designed for extremely dry or flaking skin and is fragrance free so ideal for those of a sensitive disposition too. I have read that others have found this a bit rich but personally I find it really easy to massage in and it sinks into the skin quickly.

Kiehls Creme de Corps

I've noticed a definite improvement in condition and suppleness of my skin since I started using it and am only about a quarter of the way through the bottle at this stage. The only thing I would say is I'm not sure if I would actually rather it was scented- while it doesn't smell of anything in particular, it has a faint "product" smell, for want of a better way to describe it and I suppose when I use it I miss the scent of the likes of my Body Shop Almond Body Butter or Garnier Body Intensive Lotion. That's only a small gripe however, otherwise I'm very happy with this and would definitely repurchase. Next time I'll probably get the bigger size that comes with a pump applicator.
This is a 250ml size, I found it HERE on the house of Fraser website. It's quite pricey at £27, so I would recommend waiting for an online sale and using your reward card points. I managed to get mine for free doing that so I don't feel so hard done by!
XX

Romantic Literary Quotes to make you go "Aww"

I don't know why, but I'm feeling particularly smushy today so prepare to be overcome with romance as you read the following- some of my all time favourite romantic literary/movie quotes!



 “Because,” he said, “I sometimes have a queer feeling with regard to you—especially when you are near me, as now: it is as if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly and inextricably knotted to a similar string situated in the corresponding quarter of your little frame.  And if that boisterous Channel, and two hundred miles or so of land come broad between us, I am afraid that cord of communion will be snapt; and then I’ve a nervous notion I should take to bleeding inwardly". Mr Rochester to Jane Eyre (people really need to make more declarations of love involving the words "bleeding inwardly", I feel).

"Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear". -Jane Eyre.

He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking- Anna Karenina.

 "What did my arms do before they held you?" -Sylvia Plath (poor old Sylvia, wha?)

"I've never had a moments doubt. I love you. I believe in you completely. You are my dearest one. My reason for life".- Atonement

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same"- Cathy, Wuthering heights.



“When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine that the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun.” ― Juliet

"How doth my lady? For nothing can be ill if she be well". -Romeo, seconds before everything went really unwell.

"When I first met her, I knew in a moment I would have to spend the next few days re-arranging my mind so there'd be room for her to stay"- The Great Gatsby. Swoon.

And eh, lastly..


If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.- Ahem, Winnie the pooh.

Thursday 18 April 2013

Three Coral Picks from Topshop

Coral and mint (there shall be an upcoming post re the latter) are everywhere this Spring /Summer and while i've been loving coral shades for lips (post on that HERE) I've also been recently looking into the colour for clothes, blush and accessories. I think it's one of those ideal colours for pale and tanned skin alike, hence why I got these little lovelies from Topshop. Bizarrely, all of these look like variations of pink/peach/orange in these photos but I can assure you they are in fact coral in real life!
I am in love with this playsuit- I'm not sure I've ever owned a playsuit that sits this well on, it's just very flattering to my shape and a bit perfect really. The back is absolutely stunning- check out that lace detail!
Topshop Coral Playsuit

Secondly, I picked up these fabulous coral heels. I love Topshop heels-I've always found them to be well made and that little bit funky in design so they tend to look a lot more expensive than they actually are. Bonus! I already have plans to wear them with a bird print dress I have that these match exactly and also just to dress up a pair of skinny blue jeans and a floral top.

Topshop Coral Heels

Lastly, I finally bit the bullet and got one of the Topshop cream blushes:


This is head over heels, a cream to powder blush in, you guessed it- a pure coral, no shimmer in this and once applied it gives a lovely fresh faced glow.

Topshop Cream Blush in Over Heels

I apply this using my Real Techniques stippling brush and I can imagine it lasting a long time as only a small amount is needed on the brush- it's super pigmented and blends easily.

with and without flash
I love this and will definitely be trying out more shades.

So what do ye think? Anyone else loving the coral this season?
XX

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Sunglasses

I'm on the hunt for a new pair of sunglasses. A brief search of my favourite online sites has revealed that cat's eye, vintage style frames are particularly in this year, as are heavily embellished frames and general kitsch designs. Here's my favourite picks, the links are the names of the websites: 


1) Polka Dot Heart Shaped, Topshop
2) Cats Eye with flower Embellishment, Asos
3) Half Wayfarer, Ted Baker (I'm seriously tempted by these, they're a great, classic style).
4) Pearl Highbrow Cat Eye, Asos

And lastly, the coolest and most out of my budget, these little beauties from Kurt Geiger:

5) Diamante, Kurt Geiger

XX

Sunday 14 April 2013

Models Own Ice Neon Collection- Bubblegum Pink and Pink Punch

Get your sunnies on peeps cause these are Summer in a bottle! I recently spotted the new Models Own Ice Neon polishes on the blogs of Chloe from Very Lovely Stuff and Karen from Lovely Girlie Bits and being the impressionable little blogger that I am, I had to try out my two favourite shades- Bubbglegum Pink (a bright pink, unsurprisingly) and Pink Punch (my favourite- an amazing coral).

Models Own Ice Neon Collection- Bubblegum Pink and Pink Punch
Pink Punch, Bubblegum Pink.
These come in special frosted glass that means they have to be stored in the fridge apparently to "protect the intense fluoro colour from fading". Hmm. Although I remain sceptical on that point, these are currently housed beside my raspberry jam in said fridge..as I said, impressionable. Here they are on, I just did an accent nail of the Bubblegum pink on my ring finger, the rest is Pink punch. Lovely.

Models Own Ice Neon Collection- Bubblegum Pink and Pink Punch

I have mixed feelings about these so I thought some pros and cons might be the best way to go, just so I don't ramble on too much:

Pros:

  • The colour of these is just outstanding. I could not stop looking at my nails when I had it on and managed to blind some poor girl I walked past the other day when I unexpectedly whipped off one of my gloves. That's right, non-residents of Ireland- we still have to wear gloves here..In April.
  • The bottles themselves are strangely aesthetically pleasing..I'm not sure why..
  • You can pick these up for 3 for 2 in Boots at the moment, although I got mine on Asos for about 6.50 each..I don't care, I had to have them.
  • They took a few days to chip- without a top coat, which is pretty good for my nails.
Cons:

  • It took an age to dry. Each coat needed a good 10 minutes to be ready for another layer, of which I needed 3 of to be completely opaque. To quote a great philosopher, 'Ain't nobody got time for that'.
  • Even when I thought it was dry it was still tacky and smudged easily- I had to redo 3 of my nails completely, which pretty much has never happened to me before. Aargh.
  • These are supposed to be a matte formula, which I'm not a huge fan of but thought it'd be an interesting mix with the neon..having said that, once dry it just seemed more lacklustre a finish than out and out matte, if that makes sense? Either way you'd need to put a top coat on, so the idea of these being matte seemed a bit pointless to me.
  • Although they took a few days to chip, when they did- by Jaysus they went chip-tastic. I was leaving little trails of neon all about the place which I really didn't appreciate.
  • The formula is super runny- as in even when I was careful not to have excess on the brush, it still dripped all down the side of the bottle and also on to my pjs. Grr.
Models Own Ice Neon Collection- Bubblegum Pink and Pink Punch
I left these matte just for the purpose of testing them properly but they would be better with a shiny topcoat, I think.
I think the cons have won out there but I have to say, I still love the colours of these so much that I would probably still buy them even knowing all of that. I'll definitely be wearing them again as they're just so bloody Summery and they look fantastic on but I think I'll have to set aside several hours to perfect them..it's worth it for the beauty of the neon, though, right? Right?!

Other available colours include Toxic Apple, Luis Lemon and Pukka Purple.

Friday 12 April 2013

Recently Viewed

Yet again I've been indulging the film addict in me lately. As I can't get to the cinema I've just been watching lots of recent and slightly older releases at home with a big mug of tea and some double chocolate chip cookies..it's a tough life but someone has to do it! Top of my list was to see Django, which did not disappoint..


Django Unchained
The long awaited new release from Quentin Tarantino, it stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz (he won best supporting Oscar for this) and Leonardo DiCaprio. Django (Foxx) is a slave set free by a German bounty hunter/former travelling dentist (Waltz) who then goes on a mission to rescue his wife from a terrifying and brutal plantation owner (DiCaprio). The acting in this is absolutely superb and although the storyline and particularly some of the flashback scenes are quite harrowing, violent and difficult to watch it's without a doubt one of the best films I've seen in a long time. Like other Tarantino films this has a real sense of a heightened reality- even though you know the events that are portrayed are completely unrealistic and there's no way it would ever have happened like that (like Hitlers face being shot to pieces in the cinema at the end of Inglorious Basterds or The Bride killing Lucy Liu at the end of Kill Bill 1), somehow you can forget that while you're watching it- possibly because it's just so gripping. Basically if you haven't seen this yet then you need to get your hands on it, stat! Also, look out for the Samuel L Jackson cameo..legend.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
I wrote about the book this film is based on in my Recently Read Part 2 post and I loved it so I was keen to see the film adaptation. The screenplay for this was written by the author of the book, Stephen Chbosky so the storyline doesn't stray too far from the original. The film centres on Charlie, an emotionally disturbed teenager (he possibly has autism but we're never told that for certain), trying to deal with life and the events taking place around him while navigating the pitfalls of adolescence. I liked this but not unusually for me, I did prefer the book. This is a nice quirky little film though and if you're looking for something a bit different you could do worse. Plus Emma Watson is in it and she's great.

This is 40
This is one of those Judd Apatow (The 40 Year Old Virgin, Bridesmaids) comedy vehicles in which every possible funny actor of a certain age make an appearance. Supposedly this is a follow on from events in "Knocked Up", whereby the couple from that are now married with 3 kids, are both approaching 40 and are not too happy with their lives. At times this was funny but mostly I just found it really dragged out. Genuinely, it felt like we'd been watching it for about four hours and by the end of it I wasn't really sure I cared that much about their ailing relationship anyway. What I will say is that Paul Rudd, Chris O Dowd and Lena Dunham are all in it and I love them. Also, they played the Pixies at one point so there's that...



The Sapphires
Another Chris O Dowd film, in which he stars as a drunken Irishman (shocking) who discovers a very talented girl group of Australian Aboriginal women with amazing voices (they really are fabulous- the soundtrack is great) who then travel to Vietnam to entertain the US troops. The films themes are mostly based on the huge issues of racism that were so insidious at the time (it's based on a true story) and family, as it looks on a closer level at the bonds between these four women. I really liked this one, it was enjoyable to watch and just nicely entertaining. Definitely worth a viewing!

Wreck it Ralph
Ralph is a video game bad guy (hence the 'wreck it" part) who wants to be a good guy and so sets out to leave his own game and become a hero in a problem-shooter one instead..unfortunately he ends up making a powerful enemy that threatens to destroy all the games in the arcade (I know I've said "game" about 5 times now but there really is no other way to describe it). Along the way he meets Vanellope Von Schweez, a ridiculously cute troublemaker from a candy coated racing car game and they both set to work on helping each other out. If you're looking for a bit of video game nostalgia or y'know, you're a small child, this is the one for you. Personally it didn't do a whole lot for me but it was pleasant viewing and certainly lived up to the hype.

In Time
This is a terrible film but had a fairly decent premise. So it's set in the not too distant future and instead of money, the currency is now time. As in, a cup of coffee will set you back four minutes, a bus trip two hours etc. Most people are incredibly poor and live each day with literally just that- a day. One such person is Justin Timberlake. I can't remember his characters name so lets just call him Jim. Anyway, without going into too much detail, Jim decides to take revenge on the people in charge of all the time and kidnaps Amanda Seyfried who's father is incredibly time-wealthy (and also happens to be the same guy that plays Pete Campbell in Mad Men). Somehow they took that idea and went nowhere fast (see what I did there) with it. For shame on everyone involved-especially you, Cillian Murphy. I thought you were better than that..sniff.

So that's my lot. Anyone else seen anything good lately?
xx

Thursday 11 April 2013

Avene Pampering Gift set

Recently I was lucky enough to receive a beautiful Avene hamper as a get well soon gift and have been thoroughly enjoying all the bits and pieces in it since. Up until now I've never used any Avene products but had heard lots of good things about how moisturising they are and God knows that's what my super dry skin needs right now.


The gift set contains full sizes of Hand Cream, Emollient Balm and Thermal Water spray, as well as two mini Body Creams and two mini Cleansers.
First thing I used is the Extremely Gentle Cleanser- a make-up remover for face and eyes for skin that's naturally hypersensitive or overly stressed out. Apparently it contains a high percentage of Avene thermal spring water (96%), which helps to quickly calm irritation and allows for perfect cleansing and make-up removal while avoiding the additional irritation caused by rinsing with water (so the idea is that you aapply with a cotton pad or with fingertips or tissue off without rubbing). It contains no parabens, preservatives, fragrance or colouring agents. I LOVE this cleanser. It's so soothing and my skin always feels super soft after use. I've tried using cotton pads to remove this but I prefer using a damp muslin cloth, used gently..old habits die hard I guess! I will definitely be buying a full size of this when I've used up the rest of my Liz Earle and Eve Lom cleansers. It really is a lovely product.


I've also used up one of the mini Body Creams. This is for dry, rough and scaly skin. Mmm. Scaly. This has a really mild fragrance- hard to put my finger on what it reminds me of but the ingredients list Sweet Almond Oil so it could be that I'm smelling. This is a pretty light lotion although I do find it takes a little while to sink in completely to my skin but it is very dry at the moment, as I said so it could just be that.
Avene Cold Cream

Next up is the Cold Cream for dry and damaged hands- this is a lovely treat for dry skin, I've been using it every night and my hands are definitely softer because of it. It has a similar scent to the body cream and is non-greasy.

Avene Eau Thermale

Thermal Water for sensitive skin is a spray can of pure thermal water which the brand recommends for use on sensitive, hypersensitive, allergic or irritated skin, post sunburn, after anti-acne treatments, for diaper rash, razor burn, after hair removal, to "set" make up, to complete cleansing, in Summer, after outdoor activity, when travelling and just for general refreshment and comfort. Basically you just spray this in a fine mist onto the face, leave it a few seconds and then pat it dry. This is a really soothing, cooling face treatment and actually if you're wondering what to buy for someone in hospital or a loved one recouperating at home then this is ideal- it's a nice pick-me-up for the skin.

Avene TriXera+ Emollient Balm

Lastly is the TriXera+ Emollient Balm for very dry and atopic skin. Again, this is fragrance and paraben free and is of particular benefit to those with skin-dryness induced by medical treatments. It can be used on the face and body and works by reducing discomfort and softening the skin through plant-based lipids and again, the legendary Avene thermal spring water. This is another great moisturiser, if your skin is suffering I can definitely recommend this!

So that's that! Has anyone else tried any Avene goodies? 

Monday 8 April 2013

Favourite Spring/Summer Lip Colours

The sun has finally decided to make an appearance after what can only be described as bizarre weather with snow and freezing cold temperatures in the last month. Thanks to this happy occurrence I've been merrily rooting out my favourite Spring/Summer lip shades and thought I'd share them with all you lovely lot too.

Benefit, Tom Ford, Chanel Gloss
Topshop, Rimmel, YSL Rouge Pur Couture
Chanel Boy, Revlon Lip Butter, YSL Rouge Volupte Perle

The Rouge Volupte Shine gets its own post..cause it's just too pretty.


Left to Right: Benefit, Tom Ford, Chanel Gloss, Topshop, Rimmel, YSL Rouge Pur Couture, Chanel Boy, Revlon Lip Butter, YSL Rouge Volupte Perle, YSL Rouge Volupte Shine. 


Benefit, Tom Ford, Chanel Gloss, Topshop, Rimmel, YSL Rouge Pur Couture, Chanel Boy.


Rimmel, YSL Rouge Pur Couture, Chanel Boy, Revlon Lip Butter, YSL Rouge Volupte Perle, YSL Rouge Volupte Shine.
  • Benefit Nice Knickers- I won't lie, the name was probably the main attraction to this but it luckily turned out to also be a really nice lip product, it looks like quite a dark red in the swatch but can be worn as a sheer wash of colour or built up a bit more for a night out. Red might not be the obvious choice for this time of year but I am a red lipstick lover at heart so will always have some variation of it knocking about the place! Because this is so glossy, it's not drying on the lips and is a nice option for a warm, sunny daytime.
  • Chanel Levres Scintillantes in Jalousie- I wrote a full review on this bright pink gloss from Chanel before HERE so I won't go on about it but I will say this is the perfect pinky/blue gloss. Gorgeous.
  • Topshop All About Me- One of my favourite bright pinks, I really love Topshop's own make up brand. This is excellent quality for under a tenner. There's some really great shades in the range.
  • Tom Ford True Coral. Swoon. Look at it there. She's a beauty. This also looks way darker in the swatch than it actually is on the lips- really it's super bright. I was originally a bit wary of this lipstick because of that but it just lifts my skin tone completely. Absolutely perfect with a dewy make up base and a flick of black eyeliner. Summer in a tube, this.
  • Chanel Boy. Another great pinky/nude, this is a beautiful delicate daytime shade. I do quite like it with a smokey eye too and I think it suits most skin tones.
  • YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 26. YSL are my all time favourite lipstick brand. Amazing quality, stunning colours and Dear God would you just look at the packaging!! This is an amazing shade of pink- there's a great blue undertone in it so it works well on pale complexions such as myself and the colour is just so funky. Plus it smells like sweets. Bonus.
  • Kate Moss for Rimmel in 16. I mentioned this as part of a wedding outfit post at Christmas, which you can read about HERE. Although that was obviously for a Winter look, this is a really good colour for Spring/Summer as well because it's a matte peach/pink and like nothing else I own.
  • Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait- I wore this ALL last Summer so I'm surprised there's any left. This is a great sparkly peach shade that again, really suits paler skin tones and is a perfect lip product to throw in the bag and head off- definitely no skill needed to apply this one!
  • YSL Rouge Volupte Perle in 107. Another beautiful nude/peach, this glides on and leaves the lips with a lovely natural looking shimmer.
  • YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in 15 Corail Intuitive. I wasn't lying when I said I loved YSL! This is one of the newer shades out at the moment from the brand and I think I may be a little in love with it..a gloriously glossy coral, this just screams Summer to me. I'll be giving this a blog post with more swatches all on it's own, just so we can all luxuriate in it that bit more :)
Let me know in the comments if you have any of these and love them as much as I do, or what your own favourite Spring/Summer lip shade is!
Xx

Sunday 7 April 2013

BBC Big Read List

As well as my Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge I'm also tackling the BBC Big Read List. This has been out for a while now (since about 2003) and every so often I go back to it and check it out to see what progress I've made! I think this list is much more accessible than the Gilmore Girls one because these were chosen and voted for by the public, so there's substantially fewer political autobiographies and massive historical tomes to get to grips with, which suits me down to the ground! The fact that I STILL haven't read any of the Harry Potters or any of Tolkien's work is desperate, I know. I really must rectify that..I also haven't read any Terry Pratchett but I did try before and just couldn't get along with his style of writing so I may have to give those a miss.
There's also a lot of children's books on the list, which means that you'll probably have read a lot of them already or will have had them read to you as a youngster..handy!
Here's the list, again I've highlighted in blue the ones that I've read and as I go along I'll highlight in red the ones I've just finished. You can check out the Big Read website HERE. The titles in italics are the next on my immediate "to-read" pile!
Also, you can find me on Goodreads HERE if you're interested in seeing yet more book lists and reviews!

  1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
  2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
  3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman
  4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
  5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling
  6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
  7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
  8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
  9. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
  10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
  11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
  12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte
  13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
  14. Rebecca, Daphne de Maurier
  15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
  16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Graham
  17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
  18. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
  19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
  20. War and Pace, Leo Tolstoy
  21. Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell
  22. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
  23. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, JK Rowling
  24. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, JK Rowling
  25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
  26. Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
  27. Middlemarch, George Elliot
  28. A Prayer for Owen Meaney, John Irving
  29. The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
  30. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
  31. The Story of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson
  32. One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
  33. The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett
  34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
  35. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
  36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
  37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
  38. Persuasion, Jane Austen
  39. Dune, Frank Herbert
  40. Emma, Jane Austen
  41. Anne of Green Gables, LM Montgomery
  42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
  43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
  44. The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
  45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
  46. Animal Farm, George Orwell
  47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
  48. Far from the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
  49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian
  50. The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher
  51. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
  52. Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
  53. The Stand, Stephen King
  54. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy (currently reading)
  55. A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth
  56. The BFG, Roald Dahl
  57. Swallows and Amazons, Arthur Ransome
  58. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
  59. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
  60. Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  61. Noughts and Crosses, Malorie Blackman
  62. Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden
  63. A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
  64. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough
  65. Mort, Terry Pratchett
  66. The Magic Farawy Tree, Enid Blyton
  67. The Magus, John Fowles
  68. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman,
  69. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett
  70. Lord of the Flies, William Golding
  71. Perfume, Patrick Suskind
  72. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell
  73. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
  74. Matilda, Roald Dahl
  75. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding
  76. The Secret History, Donna Tartt
  77. The Woman in White, Wilkie Collins
  78. Ulysses, James Joyce (currently reading)
  79. Bleak House, Charles Dickens
  80. Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson
  81. The Twits, Roald Dahl
  82. I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith
  83. Holes, Louis Sacher
  84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake
  85. The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
  86. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson
  87. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
  88. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons, 
  89. Magician, Raymond E Feist
  90. On the Road, Jack Kerouac
  91. The Godfather, Mario Puzo
  92. The Clan of the cave Bear, Jean M Auel
  93. The Colour of Magic, Terry Pratchett
  94. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
  95. Katherine, Anya Seton
  96. Kane and Abel, Jeffrey Archer
  97. Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
  98. Girls in love, Jacqueline Wilson
  99. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
  100. Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie
XX

Hamper of Loveliness!

Bit of a random post today but I just really wanted to share this amazing gift I received with you all, such was my excitement at opening it! I think gifts that are put together by the individual like this are just so special, there's clearly so much thought put into it and would be a really lovely idea if you were looking for something personal to give to a friend as a hen present or baby shower gift, just by changing around some of the contents. Mine is a get well soon gift and so contains lots of delightful pampering style bits and pieces, which not only were so much fun to unwrap and look at but will obviously be really useful as well. 
Here's the unwrapped container:


The top level houses lots of pairs of socks and floral tissues:


While the bottom level has a huge assortment of goods:


face wipes, emery boards, exfoliating gloves, hand gel, hand lotion and hand wash, nail polish remover, towels, mints, cards..
..and this rather lovely key chain:


I just think this is a brilliant present, I'm beyond impressed and will be mentally storing this as a gift idea for future reference!

Saturday 6 April 2013

Agent Provocateur Petale Noir

My amazing husband got me this perfume as part of my Valentines Day present and I've been wearing it non stop since- Agent Provocateur do several different perfumes as part of their fragrance range but this is the first one I've ever really loved. First off- just look at that beautiful bottle. Heavy glass etched with white flowers, a delicate pink liquid and that lid- like a little grenade stopper that sits in and acts as a lid and then pops out, allowing you to press down and spray the scent.


This is the brands description on their website:

"The Exquisite new fragrance from Agent Provocateur is a deep floral scent with a hint of oriental mystique. The launch of the new Petale Noir fragrance personifies the modern and naturally confident woman, but be warned, she knows what she wants and knows how to get it.
The fragrance is made with the finest of oils featuring dramatic florals for the heart and precious woods enhanced by musk crystals and sweet spicy accords that ignite the senses. A rich, vintage rose pink juice perfectly compliments the delicately floral and beautifully shaped sensual bottle".


Agent Provocateur Petale Noir

Well. That's me told. The fragrance itself is like nothing else I own- floral but musky, mature but feminine and it lasts on the skin all day. It also noticeably has several different layers- I love the way it changes after it's been applied and it definitely taps into the oriental trend that's been so big in the perfume world this year. I agree that there's something quite retro about it too- like what I can imagine my mother wearing in the 80's and there's something really comforting about that. 

Agent Provocateur Petale Noir

This is a very unique scent, I'm absolutely loving it. You can check out more from the brand in House of Fraser or on their online site, HERE. Let me know in the comments if you've tried this or any other AP perfume.
Xx