Birthday Highlights 2013!

I had another fantastic birthday this year and although I shared most of these pictures on Twitter and Instagram, I thought I'd pop some up here too.

Woken up to Cake, presents, a huge card and most excitingly- a balloon. It really is the little things with me.

Definitely a running theme of 'birthday drinks'- Breakfast Mimosa, Prosecco & Strawberries, Bellini and best of all- tea in my birthday mug.

Outfit of the Day for Birthday Dinner- Closet dress, Dolce & Gabana shoes and Ted Baker Clutch- one of my lovely birthday presents. 

I really had the best day, from start to finish. I won't go into too much detail but this birthday was particularly special, as the last year has been quite tough so I just want to say a huge thanks to everyone for your support and kind messages and for everyone who made it such a fantastic day- I'm extremely grateful and believe me, I know how lucky I am!

XX

The 31 Day Snap

I'm generally not great for sticking to blog challenges (hence why I never end up doing them) but after seeing the 30 Day Snap on Sprinkle of Glitter's blog, I felt like giving it a go.

photo source

Originally the challenge was for June but I copped on to it a bit late so I said I'd wait til July, hence why it's now the "31 Day Snap", so I'll be starting this Monday, July 1st. There's a fair chance I might not manage to post every day but I'll give it a go and hopefully in the process I'll find some interesting things to pop up here whilst honing my (somewhat lacking) photography skills.
If you're interested in taking part, there's basically no rules, except to credit Louise's blog @ Sprinkle of Glitter. You can photograph whatever piques your interest and it can be as random as you like! Just one photo per day and it doesn't have to be anything overly fancy or artistic!
Hope you enjoy and let me know if you're going to take part too!

XX

Three New Necklaces from Accessorize

Accessorize have brought out some really exquisite pieces lately. I adore a pretty little necklace and these three are perfect for Summer. The first two were birthday presents and I bought the little bee myself so all three should still be available to buy if you want to check them out for yourself in real life.
I have a weakness for all things birds, butterflies, bees and flowers when it comes to jewelry so these are definitely my cup of tea. Regardez:

So lovely.

XX

Beautiful Fragrances from Roger & Gallet: Fleur d'Osmanthus and Fleur de Figuier

Being the little perfume lover that I am, I was thrilled to see Roger & Gallet have launched a new fragrance, Fleur de Figuier and was even more delighted to receive a generous sample size of the Fresh Fragrant Water, Gentle Shower Cream and Replenishing Body Lotion so I could try it for myself. The lovely team at Roger & Gallet also sent me a full size of the Fleur d'Osmanthus Fresh Fragrant Water so now I just smell like a garden of beautiful blooms all the time, which is pretty fantastic really.

First things first, a little about the brand. Roger & Gallet was created in Paris in 1862 and to this day continues to make beautiful blends of perfumes from essential oils and rare, natural ingredients. 

Because of their variety of scents (particular favourites include Ginger, Blue Lotus, Rose Imaginaire and Green Tea) and the fact that you can layer your scent using shower cream, soap, body lotion as well as perfume means that the sets the brand produce make beautiful and luxurious gifts (I've picked up one or two of these sets as presents for loved ones in the past) and are always a delight to receive. Also, just check out the stunning packaging. That Art Deco design is very aesthetically pleasing, the bottle looks so at home on my dressing table and makes me think of the sort of glass bottles stylish ladies would have used in the 1920's. I do love a bit of vintage glamour.

These are my samples of Fleur de Figuier. When I took them out of the packaging I was bowled over by the stunning smell of figs- although it's sweet, it also has a warm, earthy tone that is perfect for Summer but will work equally as well during Autumn- it's kind of the perfect, all year round scent. The Fresh Fragrant Water is incredibly long lasting, I wore this all day and didn't need to reapply it once, which is pretty impressive. I've gotten plenty of compliments when I've worn this- it's a very unique but refreshing scent, which I think will suit all ages. 

The Gentle Shower Cream seems like a bit of a wonder product- it's suitable for sensitive skin, creates a soft rich lather and manages to keep the skin nice and soft thanks to the addition of Shea butter, perfect for my naturally dry skin. 

Similarly, the Replenishing Body Lotion is quickly and easily absorbed, contains fig pulp known for it's softening properties and effect on suppleness. Unlike a lot of moisturisers, I found this just sank in really well, was non-greasy and non-sticky. Also good to know is that both the shower cream and the body lotion are paraben free and hypoallergenic and suitable for vegans and vegetarians, so like I said, the perfect gift for anyone really. 

You can find out more about the Fleur de Figuier range HERE.

Oh Fleur d'Osmanthus, you are just a beautiful fragrance. Yes, I am talking to a bottle of perfume. It's that good. From my first spray of this, I have not stopped wearing it. Every time I use it Himself remarks how lovely I smell and that's always a good indicator for me! The brand describe this as having characteristics inspired by a Chinese Garden of Eden, with a combination of floral notes, citrus fruit and wood. I feel like this is a scent that would suit most people because it's light, fresh and Summery- so very wearable. 

When I wear it I get an instant hit of citrus (which makes sense as it contains mandarin and grapefruit) and although that lingers, a beautiful, delicate floral smell (the Osmanthus flower) takes centre stage once the fragrance settles into the skin. This for me, is the perfect mix. I'm not a big fan of straight up sweet scents- I need something a bit more complex and I feel like this is the perfect option for me. It also contains Benzoin essential oils, which are reported to have a calming and uplifting effect on the mind- something I think we can all do with at times! Fleur d'Osmanthus is officially my ideal Summer daytime scent and I think I may have to check out the body lotion and shower cream in the range too!

If you want to have a look at the rest of the range for yourself, you can check it out HERE.

What about you, have you tried any of Roger & Gallet's gorgeous scents? Which is your favourite?

XX

Recently Read

Again, I've been a busy little reading bee of late, these are my very eclectic collection of recently read books:

World War Z by Max Brooks

Ah here, this took me forever to read. I love a good zombie story as much as the next zombie-lover but this just dragged a bit for me. It has a really promising premise- a quickly spreading virus across the world causing a zombie outbreak, but instead of happening in the present tense, the book follows the main character around different continents interviewing survivors of this zombie war that ended ten years ago. Parts of it are really nail-biting, exciting stuff, others parts are really interesting (I'd find myself thinking- hmm, that could happen like that, couldn't it?) but a lot of it is less than enthralling interviews with army dude types that I struggled through a bit. This is a weird one cause while I was reading it I couldn't wait to be finished it but looking back on it now, it was a pretty cool read, different to anything else I've read lately and I will of course be going to see the film version, if for no other reason than Brad Pitt.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Margaret Lea is a mild mannered woman who works in her father's book shop and writes historical biographies but there's something missing from her life, leaving her with an ongoing feeling of loneliness.

She's approached by world famous author Vida Winter who requests that she comes to stay in her old mansion and transcribe the story of her life- an elusive tale (the 13th) that the public have been waiting for- but this is no fable, it's real life and Ms Winter's past holds some very dark secrets. I liked this book, as it's pretty much an homage to the Bronte sisters. Jane Eyre amongst other classics are referenced throughout the novel and in general this is a bookworm's paradise. Having said that, the book moves along slowly in places (particularly the parts where Margaret is on her own, soliloquy-ing it up) which was slightly annoying but overall, this was a good read.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

This is the first part in a trilogy of Young Adult books (The Wolves of Mercy Falls) about Grace- a high school student who following a wolf attack when she was a child has left her fascinated with what she believes to be a pack of werewolves living in the woods near her home. She grows obsessed with one wolf in particular, Sam, who she ends up falling in love with in his human form. Unfortunately for the young lovers, Sam only has a limited time where he can continue to change from human to werewolf and back again before he changes into an animal permanently. The book basically focuses on the teenage angst that dating a werewolf brings, which gets a bit wearisome after a while. I said once I finished it that that was it, I wouldn't bother reading the next two but after the ending of the first book I find myself intrigued and may need to read more!

Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls by David Sedaris

I love Davis Sedaris. I've read a few of his previous books so couldn't wait for this to come out. Sedaris is a comedian and author and tends to write mostly autobiographical, self-deprecating short stories about his upbringing, family and travel experiences. I got this one on audio book, and the fact that it was read out by Sedaris himself just made it even more hilarious. I listened to this on my daily walk and regularly found myself laughing out loud on the street- I couldn't help it, it's just too funny. 

Carrie by Stephen King

I just love King's writing, it's such an unusual mix of horror and humour. The fact that the settings for his novels are so common place (in this case, a small town high school in America), makes the scary scenarios that bit more terrifying. You probably know the story of Carrie by now, considering this was a highly successful horror movie and this was the book that basically launched King's career, but if not- Carrie is a 17 year old girl who has been cruelly and perpetually bullied by her peers her entire life as well as being psychologically and physically abused by her religious zealot of a mother. Unfortunately for the small town Carrie lives in, she's been honing her telekinetic abilities (the power to move objects with your mind) and intends to get her revenge. This really is a fantastic read- I finished it in two days because I could not put it down. I would highly recommend! 

A Room With A View by E.M.Forster

Written in 1908, this is set in the Edwardian era in England and follows Lucy, a young woman travelling around Italy, chaperoned by her irritating older cousin, Charlotte. While in Florence, Lucy meets a young Englishman George, who falls for Lucy but confused by her feelings for him and by Charlotte's disapproval of him, Lucy returns back to England and agrees to marry Cecil, a more sophisticated and well off young man, who appears quite pretentious and eager to change Lucy. Unexpectedly, George and his father move into the area, reigniting old feelings and leaving Lucy questioning her engagement and her place in society as a woman- does she even want to marry when doing so means she'll lose all independence? The novel actually gives a really good insight into the role of women and feminism at the time the book was written, which is really interesting but overall this is a nice light-hearted Summer read.

Human Remains by Elizabeth Haynes

I've read the two previous novels written by Haynes, Into the Darkest Corner and Revenge of the Tide, and I really enjoyed both of them, particularly the former so I was eager to read this, in spite of the really unappealing title. The book begins with Annabel, a data analyst for the police who stumbles upon the rotting corpse of her next door neighbour- apparently having been there for a long time without anyone noticing her disappearance. Disturbed by this, Annabel does some research in work and finds that the community has an unusually large number of similar cases and she begins to wonder if there is something more sinister behind these occurrences. This interest eventually leads her into danger herself. One thing I really liked about this book was the past/present narrative structure and the fact that the story is told from the perspective of Annabel, the dead and another main character. It certainly isn't a book I'll be forgetting in a hurry and the storyline is very different from the usual crime/thrillers on the market. Having said that, if you're of a sensitive disposition I would avoid this like the plague- there's an awful lot of very graphic descriptions of decaying dead bodies, which is quite unpleasant. 

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris 

This is the 11th in the Sookie Stackhouse series (there's 13 in total). I had stopped reading these ages ago cause I found they had gotten quite repetitive but I was looking for something light to read and you don't get any easier than the True Blood books so I said I may as well finish off the last three, starting with Dead Reckoning. This is the usual jazz, Sookie finds herself in grave danger and has to use her psychic faery powers with help from her vampire boyfriend to get herself out of trouble. As I said, it is very repetitive in places (sometimes it feels like Charlaine Harris is just trying to reach her word count and doesn't really care how she gets there) but I still enjoyed it and am looking forward to starting the next one.

That's my lot for the moment, I've already started three new books but I'd love to know what you're reading and if you have any recommendations, let me know in the comments!

XX

Lemon Butter Cookies

It's been a while since I revved up the old KitchenAid but a beloved sibling's birthday is as good a reason as any. My sister is not a huge fan of chocolate so I thought these lemon butter cookies would be a nice light, post dinner alternative. I found the recipe in the Lilly Higgins baking book "Make, Bake, Love", one of my absolute favourites as it's packed full of beautiful, easy to follow recipes. I "adapted" this one (I say adapted cause basically I made them incorrectly- if the recipe says use TWO TRAYS it's because the biscuits expand so don't skimp and use just the one. Lesson learnt. Actually, Lilly calls these "lemon drops" but mine resembled nothing like drops after baking so I'm calling them Lemon Butter cookies instead.) but you could add whatever you want to these if you don't particularly like lemon. Himself and I are thinking of making them with ground almonds and cherry pieces or orange zest and ginger for Christmas.

What you''ll need..

Ingredients:
200g softened Butter
50g Icing Sugar, sieved, with a bit extra to dust the biscuits with afterwards, for decorative purposes.
Zest of one Lemon (I used two cause they were small)
200g Plain Flour
1/2 tsp of baking powder.

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Lightly grease your all-important two trays.
2. I creamed the butter and icing sugar together in my KitchenAid but you could easily do it by hand, as long as the result is that it's light and mixed well. Add lemon zest, flour and baking powder, beat quickly until all combined.
3. Roll mixture into small balls in your hands (no non-creepy way of saying that, unfortunately), place on baking trays and press down lightly with the back of a teaspoon to create the indentation you can see in the photo.
4. Bake for 10-15 mins, remove from tray and leave to cool on a wire rack.
5. When cool, dust with icing sugar.
6. Scoff noisily with a large mug of tea and pretend it's somehow healthier than the chocolate cake you would've made, cause, you know, LEMONS.

All boxed up and ready to go!

Chanel Le Vernis: Bel-Argus

Oh Chanel. Every time I see your beautiful packaging and even more stunning contents, my heart beats a little bit faster. So naturally when I opened my birthday presents this year to this sight....

I was more than a bit excited. I'll go through the other two items when I've had a chance to give them the proper review they deserve but for the time being, here's the beautiful polish, bel-argus, part of Chanel's Summer range.

Indoor light..

I struggled to take photos of this that would do it justice. It just would not photograph properly for me as it's one of those multi-faceted polishes, depending what way the light hits it it's all sorts of colours, as you can see in the photos above and below. Even describing it is difficult! It's like a metallic electric blue mixed with an oil spill..basically it's just really stunning and I would advise you to go check it out for yourself in real life.

Natural light, outside

Application was super easy, it dried quickly and only needed two coats. I popped on my usual seche vite top coat and it's still going strong three days later. So it's passed my three tests I use for every nail polish to determine it's worth- the first is application, as I mentioned. Second is durability, especially after cleaning the house and taking a shower (it passed both of these) and the third is himself's seal of approval- if I hear "your nails look lovely" (which I did with this), then I know I'm on to a winner!
I'm off now to stare at my own nails in wonder for another while but in the meantime, let me know in the comments if the uniqueness of Chanel's polishes tempt you as much as they do me!

XX

Revlon Super Lustrous Gloss: Kiss Me Coral

Lured into Boots recently, so I was by the need for new liquid eyeliner. Then of course I spotted it was buy-one-get-one half price on all make-up, so obviously I had to get this new coral toned gloss from Revlon too. Obviously. Ahem.

These are available in 12 shades (although I don't know how many of those we'll be getting here), and are designed to plump the lips while hydrating and adding a glossy colour-packed shine. So here are my thoughts:

• Although the formula has a micro-glitter in it, it doesn't feel gritty on the lips but instead has just a nice glossy feel- not too sticky or gloopy.
• It has a doe-foot applicator which makes it easy to slick on, although it can be easy to put too much on so I would say a mirror is definitely necessary for this one, unless you're only using a tiny amount.

• There's virtually no scent- I say virtually because if you sniff really carefully (don't do this part in public obviously, to avoid looking like a lunatic), you may detect a very faint hint of caramel. Weird. Either give it a proper smell Revlon, or don't bother.
• The colour is very pretty and being coral with a hint of shimmer, is perfect for Summer. You can either lightly apply this or go full on with it, as you can see in the photos below:

lightly applied

more heavily applied (ridiculous pout optional)

• Lastly, I will say that like most glosses this isn't hugely long-lasting, if you're planning on eating, drinking or you know, living, then you'll need regular touch-ups. 

Overall, this is a nice product but I can't say it's the best gloss I've ever used and when it's finished I more than likely won't repurchase. It is a pretty Summer lip staple though.

Anyone else tried any of the Revlon super lustrous glosses? If so, what did you think? 

XX

Pimms and er, Croquet on the Lawn..

OK, so there was no croquet, I may be fancy but I'm not quite that fancy. Pimms though- what a delightfully refreshing, Summery drink. Obviously this is an alcoholic cocktail (about 25% vol..eep) so drink responsibly and only if you're over 18 (Unfortunately for me, it's been a good decade since I last had a surly bouncer check my i.d. Oh, those were the days).
Anyways, you'll need:

Pimms No.1, 50mls if you're only making one glass (but that'd be crazy cause it's delicious and you'll undoubtedly want more), or 200mls for a jug.

Lemonade (we went for the cloudy variety, just for added interest..very exciting lives we lead altogether)

Mint (about half a packet)

Oranges (I used two)

A punnet of Strawberries

Half a cucumber, peeled

A lemon.

You can also add in other fruit if you like- I made this with apples before too and it was lovely.

Slice all the fruit, throw into your jug with a load of ice.

Pour over one part Pimms to three parts Lemonade.

Give it a good old stir!

Add your mint on top to garnish..

..and enjoy!

xx

See by Chloe Eau de Parfum

Being a huge fan of the original Chloe perfume, released a few years ago now, I'm always eager to try the latest variations of the now classic scent from the brand. I have and love the original, Chloe Eau Fresh and Love,Chloe so when Himself came home from the airport with this little lovely in tow I was a very happy bunny indeed.

See By Chloe is actually the diffusion line of the fashion house and is generally aimed at a younger market and although this perfume is in keeping with that ideal I feel it would be suitable for all age groups. 

Firstly, I adore everything about the design, there's something very 70's about the box and the font of the writing. The birdcage bottle design is possibly the prettiest I've ever seen. I actually exclaimed "It's a birdcage!!" when I took it out of it's box..because I love birdcages. I'm weird like that. The lid even has a little hook on top, as if to hang it up- a lovely touch. 

When you first spray it you get a hit of sweet/fruitiness and with top notes of apples and honey that's no surprise. That soon mellows though and the bottom notes of sandalwood, musk, vanilla, jasmine, apple blossom and ylang ylang take over- giving some of that powdery floral scent of the original Chloe. There's something very vintage-y about that "powdery" element of the perfume that all of the Chloe range seems to possess- it's very feminine and warm. I'm generally not a huge fan of very sweet perfumes but I love vanilla and that mixed with the musk makes this definitely more my cup of tea than a lot of other Summer perfumes on the market. 

Surprisingly, it's a very warm scent so will be perfect for Autumn/Winter as well. 

Romantic and feminine, this is a truly beautiful scent that lingers on the skin for hours after applying it and although it has similar fragrance notes to the original Chloe and other Chloe variations, making it obviously part of the same family, it is also quite unique. This is definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a fresh and clean scent that is simultaneously delicate and oh-so-pretty.

XX

Summer Skin

Ah, sun. You elude us for pretty much 11 months out of the year but when you do show up it's always worth the wait. Glorious warmth, happy faces everywhere and a fine old stretch in the evenings. Lovely. With this newfound meditteranean style weather I generally try and shake up my skincare/make-up routine accordingly.

Nothing says Summer to me more than the smell of coconut- just a whiff reminds me of sun lotion, sand between my toes and a great big 99....complete with a flake, obviously. The Body Shop coconut body butter contains fair trade organic virgin coconut oil to provide hydration for dry skin over 24 hours. These body butters are one of my holy grail products- they smell amazing with the scent lasting ages on the skin and clear up any dry patches super fast. The beautifying oil for body, face and hair is a new product for me- the lovely Marissa Carter of Cocoa Brown tan fame recently suggested on Twitter that when you want to gradually remove fake tan that a body oil such as coconut oil is a great option as it helps break down the tan on the skin gently, rather than just scrubbing it all off in one go, which will only serve to make you look all blotchy! By contrast- avoid oil based moisturisers when trying to maintain a fake tan, I usually use my coconut body butter when preparing my skin for tanning- dry patches are the kiss of death for an even tan! It's worth keeping an eye in-store as they always have good deals on. 

Speaking of Cocoa Brown, the latest sunless tanning product from Marissa Carter is Night & Day Tan Mousse* and is officially my new favourite tan, following closely on the heels of the original Cocoa Brown 1 hour Tan. The idea with Night & Day is that you apply it with your tanning mitt, and are immediately tanned- no need to leave it to develop or to wash it off, you can get dressed and head straight out the door- perfect for when you want a nice deep tan for a night out. Up you get early the next morning (optimistic) for brunch but at that stage you probably want to look more sun kissed than bronzed, so you hop into the shower and are left with a light glow that'll then last for up to five days! You could be forgiven for thinking this is some sort of fancy witchcraft but you'd be wrong. It's just that someone has finally developed tanning products that work and are actually convenient also, something I know I've been waiting for since I was a teenager (way back in the year 19-dickety-2). All the better is the fact that Cocoa Brown is an Irish brand, available in Penney's and lots of pharmacies around the country for the bargainous price of 7.99. 

If I'm telling you about sunless tanning then it should be obvious I'm not a big sun worshipper- don't get me wrong, I love the beautiful weather and no one rocks an ice pop (tangle twisters are my favourite, in case you're interested) and a sun chair quite like I do but I burn, not tan and that's not a good look. So I coat myself in the above- Boots own brand Soltan, a moisturising facial suncare cream with the highest UVA and UVB rating and SPF 30. It smells lovely and sinks into the skin quickly and easily- I wear it under foundations that don't have an SPF (I'm looking at you Bourjois Healthy mix serum) or on it's own if I'm just popping out for a walk and not only have I never burnt but it also leaves my dry skin nice and soft. Yay! For lips, I use my Eos lip sphere in lemon, which has an SPF of 15. There's a full review of it HERE.

Lastly, sun care wise is this embarrassing looking bottle of Nivea for kids- there's genuinely no reason as to why I have this but I found it in the house and think himself must have bought it. Either way, it has factor 30 with UVA and UVB protection and is water resistant. It also tickles us both that the liquid is in fact bright blue- a feature that is clearly for children but amuses us nonetheless.

Lastly, I've been loving this Green Tea BB cream from Singapore-based brand Ginvera. It contains SPF 30 and suits all skin tones- it brightens and evens out the complexion and although it looks dark when first out of the tube, once applied it seems to alter according to your skin tone. I'm quite pale and I find this suits me really well. It's also easy to apply, looks beautiful on and is perfect for those off-duty days when you can't be bothered to make any sort of an effort, which lets face it is pretty much any sunny day. Luckily this is only the second BB cream I've tried and I love it so the search is over. Huzzah! You can find this on Ginvera's website HERE.

Let me know below if you have any hot tips (see what I did there?!) for Summer skin care!

XX

*pr sample

Stila Convertible Colour Palette

Stilas Convertible Colour Trio contains 3 versatile shades for cheeks and lips- two of their classic colours (peony and lillium) and a new limited edition shade (cherry blossom). This is the cool edition, there's also a warm version but I felt the cool version would be more suitable for my skin tone. The compact is thin and light with a handy mirror for on-the-go touch ups. I tend to use my Real Techniques stippling brush to apply the blush to my cheeks but you can use your fingers to blend it out too. Peony is my favourite for both cheeks and lips, adding a bright pop of pink that really brightens the face. The other two shades are beautifully natural and are especially nice worn as contour or as a blush when wearing tan. Cherry blossom in particular gives the cheeks a nice sun kissed glow. 

Peony, Lillium, Cherry Blossom

Peony on the cheeks

Lillium on the cheeks

Cherry Blossom on the cheeks

Peony, Lillium & Cherry Blossom swatched.

Stila Convertible colours also come as individual compacts (except for the limited edition shade in the trios), if you're new to cream blush, these are well worth trying. Highly pigmented, creamy in texture and easy to apply, these are great quality. The trio will set you back £23, while an individual convertible colour is £16, so this is very good value as you get three different blushers in the palette. 

Have you tried any of Stilas Convertible Colours? If so, what did you think?

XX

Dublin in a Week Part 4: Afternoon Tea at the Conrad Hotel

In Part 1, 2 & 3 I showed you Trinity College, Guinness Storehouse and The Japanese Gardens and no week of fun touristy things would be complete without going for Afternoon Tea somewhere. Seriously, it's just one of my favourite things to do ever. Maybe it's the combination of tiny sandwiches and champagne or perhaps it's briefly getting to act like a fancy-schmansy lady..who knows?! We went to the Conrad Hotel on Earlsford Terrace, across from the National Concert Hall. The staff were very friendly and attentive and it was a lovely experience overall.

Anyway, prepare to salivate:

Champagne! We also had Earl Grey & Mint Tea

The Layers of deliciousness!

Mini Cupcakes, Chocolate & Pistachio dipped Straberries, Berry Macaroons, Yummy Sandwiches, Scones.

Scones with strawberry jam, clotted cream and fresh strawberries (and the sign of a good afternoon tea- scones with and more importantly, without raisins. Raisins, the work of the devil), pretty tower of macaroons.

Om nom nom nom.

XX

June Wishlist

Here's what I've been adding to that mental list of "things I'd quite like to own":

1) Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, HERE but not to be found in my shade anywhere, apparently. The nice lady at the Nars counter informs me that this is sold out across Europe, such is the greatness of the product. I've swatched this and have been matched to it so I can testify to the fact that it is an amazing concealer and may be the one to finally cover up my under eye bags, which have by now reached the critical stage that people will soon be asking me if I am in fact on crystal-meth. Hopefully Nars will lash out a few more before that day comes.

2) The Babyliss Pro Perfect Curl, HERE. This looks amazing but is crazily expensive so until I find a cheap version on eBay I'll be trying to master the perfect curl using my GHD. 

3)Caudalie Vinosource Serum SOS. I like French brand Caudalie, I've been using a sample of their eye cream (for aforementioned horrendous eye bags) and really like it so I'm quite tempted by this serum for dry, dehydrated skin which just looks so comforting. You can find it HERE.

4) Oh Stila. My love for you grows stronger by the day. These are the brands new Summer eyeshadow range, the Countless colour pigments. They come in all sorts of beautiful colour combinations that allow you to use the individual colours alone or swirl them together to create your own shade. Gorgeous and can be found HERE.

5) I love a good stripe and this pencil skirt from Oasis (HERE) is no exception. 

6) Zara have been producing some fantastic coats (HERE) lately. This two tone number would be so perfect for Summer. 

7) I love statement necklaces and am crazy about this super bright floral and Rhinestone collar HERE, from Topshop, which may well have to come to live with me very soon. Pretty.

8) Lastly and perhaps the most random item- this HERE mug from Hairy Baby. I love everything the Irish company sell as they have the perfect mix of witty slogans and classic Irish-isms, that always have me in stitches. For no discernible reason, I find myself drawn to this Lent mug, which is completely irrelevant to my life, considering I haven't given anything up for lent since Mary Robinson was President (note-those two things are unrelated). Good times.

Turquoise Bauble Necklace

I stumbled across this little beauty on Ever Ours and fell for it straight away, as it reminded me of a Kate Spade necklace that is pretty much exactly like this, except for the price obviously. This being £8 and the Kate Spade being a few hundred dollars. Huzzah!

This colour and style is perfect for Summer and I've been wearing it non-stop as it goes with so many different things.

You can find the same one HERE along with many other lovely pieces.

XX