Spring Beauty Wishlist

Ahh Spring. The most beautiful of all seasons. I love this time of year when it feels as though we are transitioning from the cold, harsh winters and the light at the end of the tunnel is a pastel hue that just screams spring! Pretty much everything about spring pleases me, from the fashion, to the scenery and of course, the makeup. I thought I would share with you the beauty items that I've been lusting after for the up and coming spring season.

1. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Radiant Magenta

I love a bit of blusher and these blogger hyped ones are firmly on my radar. The shade that I'm lusting after the most is Radiant Magenta. I think that this shade will look really lovely throughout spring.

Link: SpaceNK £28.00

2. The New Black Nail Polish set in Cream Puff

Five pretty pastel shades that look deliciously sweet. These will look so pretty throughout spring and will complement any outfit. I know that these will definitely be adorning my manicures in the very near future.

Link: SpaceNK £20.00

3. DKNY Be Delicious City Blossom Urban Violet

Wow. That's a mouthful. I tested this little beauty out in boots a few days ago and ever since I've not been able to stop wanting to smell it. I know that might sound a bit weird, but it really is beautiful. If you've not tested this yet then go your nearest boots asap.

Link: Boots £37.00

4. Eyeko Mascara Wardrobe

In spring/summer, I like to wear a very minimal eye makeup. I prefer to add a neutral shadow, no liner and very defined lashes. I think that it gives a bit more of a wide eyed look, which is one that I favour. I think that this little set of mascaras will fit the bill just perfectly.

Link: Harvey Nichols £21.00

5. Topshop Lipstick in Peach Sundae

How cute is the name of this lipstick? I love to wear deep, vampy shades in the colder months but always look forward to the pastels and coral shades. This is just the prettiest lipstick and I'm pretty sure I don't have anything like it in my collection. This will definitely be my most worn shade once purchased.

Link: Topshop £8.00

6. Moroccan Oil

This is an all year rounder for me, but even more so in spring. I don't know about you, but I tend to do a lot more with my hair in the spring/summer months. After the cold months when my hair is constantly worn down, I like to wear it up in pretty buns and braids which can take its toll on my locks, so this treatment is a must.

Link: Feel Unique £31.85

So there we have my Spring Wishlist. I'm pretty sure that I will be adding some more items in the next few weeks. What are your spring must haves and lust afters?

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The Wedding Series: #1 Where To Start

I've been thinking about starting a wedding series on my little blog for a while but I wasn't too sure if people would find them boring. It turns out that quite a lot of you were interested in it, after asking on twitter, so here we are. I thought that I would share our wedding planning journey every step of the way and I might even film a couple of YouTube videos along the way.

Okay, so I'm sure that many of you will know that on Christmas Eve 2013, me and Olly got engaged. I was completely surprised and over the moon, along with being extremely excited to start planning. Like most females, I had a good idea of what I wanted for our big day. Putting these plans into action though is another matter! So this "Where To Start" post is going to be all the things that I have learnt, realised, and been told since being engaged.

First things first, shout it from the rooftops! My Mum, Dad and Brother were all present when Olly proposed so we informed his immediate family (most of whom knew his plans anyway) and then we told all of our friends. This was the easy part. Starting to actually plan the wedding is difficult on another level though. I never really thought of how much there was to think about! there are quite a few things that need to be done before anything else, even before looking at a dress which is literally the most exciting thing in the world!

After a good chat with my mum, we decided that there needs to be three areas that need to be done with each other n mind. These are a budget, a venue and a guest list. The budget can be quite a delicate matter, but long story short, you need to be 100% sure of what your absolute maximum is. Also, don't be afraid to ask if and what other people will be contributing, because this can really make all the difference. It will also help when deciding on a venue. We are yet to find our venue but we have appointments to go and view some. By having your budget in place, you will know exactly what sort of venue you can afford, and you will be able to ensure that you are getting absolutely the best venue for your big day. It helps to have a provisional guest list worked out so that you can inform the venue from the start, how many people you will be expecting to be there. It's no use having a guest list of 100 people and having a venue that can only fit 80 people. So, those are my three things that will get you started on your wedding planning journey. 

I'm really looking forward to continue with these posts and sharing our wedding journey with you all. It's such an exciting time and I can tell that writing about it is going to be one of my favourite posts to do. If you have any tips and tricks for wedding planning, or have a particular post you would like to see then just let me know :)

 

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Recent Purchases!

Finally! A new blog post!

I'm finally feeling better and got round to filming my second YouTube video today. I thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to share with you some of the bits and bobs that I've bought over the past few weeks. It's not too much but there are a few homey bits and some beauty items that I've been wanting to try for a while.

I'm still new to the whole YouTube and filming malarkey, but I am really enjoying it so far. I'm hoping to get better at editing though but I'm sure that will come with time.

Can't wait for the next video! You can watch my videos and subscribe to my channel here :)

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Where have I been?

Another one of those "Where have I been?" posts. I hate writing these sort of posts because they always leave me feeling a little disappointed in myself, but as I was on a roll with my posting schedule, I thought it would be fair to just give you a little update.

Last week I started with an almighty cold which doesn't go very well in hand with my asthma. I was feeling a little under the weather but still felt well enough to continue with my everyday activities. Then as the days went on, I started to feel much worse so took a trip to the doctors to be told I had a chest infection. Great. I was prescribed antibiotics but after 5 days these had no effect and I was actually feeling a lot worse. Another trip to the doctors and I found out I had a severe viral infection which had deprived me of sleep. This has been making my anxiety become much more frequent, mainly because I don't really deal with illness very well and because I have just been so tired. 

I'm starting to feel much better now and I'm very much looking forward to getting back into the blogging routine. I've been more disappointed that I haven't been able to keep up with my YouTube channel as I've only posted one video on there so far and was really looking forward to doing some more uploads. I promise that I will get back into the swing of things very soon!

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Date Night Face of the Day

I love Date Night! It's my favourite time of the week! This week with it been valentines we had plans to go out for a lovely meal and a few cocktails, however we were both pretty ill and instead sat at home with our feet up and did nothing. Instead we decided that when we were both feeling better we would go out for a meal, which ended up being last night.

As we weren't going for anything fancy, it meant that we didn't have to get too done up, but it was nice to apply make up properly for the first time in a week. I felt a bit more human, hallelujah antibiotics! The look that I went for was pretty simple but I wanted to make myself look a bit more awake. After being ill I'be had terrible dark circles and my skin has needed a huge pick me up! I applied a shimmery eyeshadow in the hope that it would brighten my eyes and I think it worked slightly, but I am having to layer on the illuminating eye cream recently. I applied a touch of bronzer just to warm up my face a tiny bit and added a coral blush for the same reason. I was wanting a statement lip but really couldn't decide on a shade so I decided to play it safe with a pinky nude shade. 

Products Used:

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

Maybelline Fit Me Powder

Sleek Au Naturel Palette (for both eyes and brows)

Stila Smudgestick in Damsel

Soap and Glory Solar Powder

MAC Fleur Power Blush

Rimmel Matte Lipstick in Kate 101

I quite like this neutral and simple look, and will probably be wearing it for the net few days. I think the best thing about this particular look is that you can switch up so many things like the blush, lips or eyeliner. I think next time I'll try a brighter pink lip or a rose toned blusher.

What is your date night look?

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Alternative Ideas for a Valentines Date

Another Valentines post today, but one that isn't beauty related. Instead I thought that I would put together a list of some fun ideas for that special date. I love going on days out with Olly and we're always looking for alternative options rather than just doing the same thing over and over again. So here are my picks for fun Valentines dates...

The Aquarium:

If your date is an animal/ocean lover then I think this is a great idea!. I think that they provide a really lovely setting for a date and it means that you probably won't have any awkward silences as you can discuss the sea life they have there and conversation will probably flow when walking around. If you have a look at the Aquarium of your choice they might even have demo's and feeding times so you can get a little bit hands on! Aquariums are one of my favourite places to visit to visit so this would please me no end!

TIP: If you can get to the Sealife Centre at The Trafford Centre in Manchester, they are doing a promotional offer for valentines. All you have do is quote "I love Sealife" at the ticket booth and you will get one adult free with one full paying adult.

Adventure Park:

One for the slightly more daring couple out there. I'm sure that most people are probably familiar with the team building sort of things that schools and businesses arrange, but how about an extreme one for individuals? You can be your very own version of Tarzan and Jane as you swing through the trees and create a sense of adventure. One of the best places is Go Ape, who offer 29 different locations across the country so there's bound to be one near you! You can find out more on their website here.

Do Something On Snow:

Okay, so I know that this seems bonkers because we have no snow on the ground. But there are some snow activity centres dotted around the country which provide facilities of do lots of snow based activities. Xscape in both Yorkshire and Milton Keynes offer Skiing, Snowboarding, Tobogganing and other snow based fun, to anyone even if you have no winter sports experience. The Tobogganing is particularly fun, I used to do this at Xscape in my home county of Yorkshire and it certainly would make a great alternative date! You can find out more from the Xscape website here.

Cocktail Making:

Who wouldn't love to do this? Plenty of bars in City Centres acorss the country offer this as part of their services. They do usually have to be booked in advance but they are really fun. You could make a cocktail to represent your date and then enjoy it together. I think that this is a great idea to do something to get to know your date and have fun at the same time. One that I would recommend is going to your nearest Slug and Lettuce for amazing cocktails and great lessons, along with a fantastic atmosphere. For information, visit their website here.

So there are my alternative picks for Valentines Day. I think that all of these would be perfect for any couple wanting to do something a little bit different than the usual meal out at a restaurant or cinema date. 

What ideal Valentines Day Date?

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Valentines Lip Picks

It's that time of year again. Valentines Day. It's one of those days that I'm not really bothered about personally, although this year it is our first one being engaged so I imagine that we will do something to celebrate. For this post, I've put together five lip products that I think will be perfect for Valentines day, whether it be a dinner date or a night out with your girls!

First up is Rimmel Kate 101. A soft baby pink with a matte formula, it's perfect for those who don't want to wear a statement lip. Despite being matte it doesn't dry out the lips and wears comfortably. It will even last through that romantic meal.

Next is the utterly stunning Revlon Lipgloss in Adorned. A super bright hot pink with blue and pink shimmer in for extra teeth whitening capabilities. You will probably know that I'm not a massive lip gloss fan but this is one that I really don't mind. It's non sticky which means that it sits nicely on the lips.

Anyone for a super bright barbie pink? I thought so. One for the braver ladies out there, is Maybelline Colour Sensational Vivid in Fuschia Flash. A blue toned bubbled gum and neon pink, it certainly does stand out from the crowd! This applies smoothly and wears for a long time which is a bonus!

A cult favourite now is Girl About Town from MAC. A bright yet mid-toned pink which will suit everyone! Being an amplified creme finish, it applies like a dream but packs a punch at the same time. I thin that this is extremely wearable and looks beautiful with a soft bronzed look.

Finally, it's my favourite of the bunch, All Fired Up from MAC. I have a thing for matte lipstick and this retro matte is nothing short of amazing. A cross between coral and red, it really does make a statement whilst lasting all night long. You could go out for a full meal, cocktails and even have some Valentines kisses and this will still be in tact.

So there we have my five favourite lipsticks for Valentines day. I thought that I would steer away from the usual reds and go with something a little different, but if you would like to see my red picks then let me know :). 

What lip colour will you be rocking this Valentines? Do you have any exciting plans?

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Rich Chocolate Cake Recipe

My very first recipe here on RL! I've been umming and ahhing for a while about posting food related blog posts but always forgot to take the pictures or I couldn't decide whether a meal was interesting enough. Well yesterday, whilst doing a spot of baking, I decided that I would finally get this one up on the blog. So without further ado, here is my pretty simple Rich Chocolate Cake recipe.

This is perfect to make with kids or if you want something relatively easy. I remember making these with my Grandma, who is a fabulous baker, and then eating it after my tea every Saturday night when I stayed the night with her. I'm sure it is something that all the family will enjoy, and that you will enjoy baking.

You will need: 

For the cake mix:

225g Self Raising Flour

225g Baking Fat (any sort of margarine or butter will do. I used Stork because it's all I've ever used when baking)

225g Caster Sugar

1 Medium Egg

2 Tablespoons of Cocoa

Splash of milk (I find it best not to use whole milk as it makes the mixture quite heavy)

For the topping:

140g Unsalted Butter

280g Icing Sugar

1/2 to 1 Tablespoon of Cocoa

If you like you could add a splash of alcohol into the butter icing. I added a measure of almond liquor which tasted amazing. Probably best not to do with kids though haha! 

Method:

Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees and line your cake tin. As this is quite a thick cake, I used a spring form tin to make it easier to remove but you could use any tin you like.

Once all of your ingredients are measured out, add the butter, sugar and eggs to your mixing bowl and cream together until they form a smooth and thick mixture.

Next add the flour and whisk on a high speed, then add the cocoa in. Be careful with this as it may kick up quite a bit out of the bowl. TIP: Place a cloth over the bowl as you whisk to avoid the dry ingredients coming out the bowl.

At this stage it will look really dry so add a splash of milk to the mixture and carry on whisking. 

Time to put it in the tin, add it spoonful at a time and spread it evenly across the bottom. Try and get the mixture as even as possible in the tin to ensure an even bake.

Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes at 180 degrees. To check if its ready, take a cocktail stick and insert into the middle of the cake, if it comes out clean then it's ready. It should also be shrinking away from the side a little. 

Remove from the oven and the tin, then place on a cooling rack upside down. Allow to cool fully before decorating.

Once cool, apply the butter cream mixture little by little and spread evenly on top. You could also pipe this if you wanted to. Then decorate with anything of your choice. I used Mint Poppets and crushed White Chocolate Buttons.

Final step is to cut yourself a big slice and enjoy!

I really enjoyed writing this blog post and am looking forward to doing more of them. I'm going to try and do a few a month of these sort of posts. Let me know if you make this cake and if you enjoyed as I would really love to know! 

What is your favourite thing to bake?

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Boots Haul

It's been a long time since a haul has featured here on my little blog. Why I hear you ask? Well I have been a little very short on funds. If there has been a product that I've wanted, then it really has had to have been a justified purchase. But this week I thought that I would have a wander round Boots, which lets face it, never ends with any of us leaving empty handed. I picked up a few items, but surprisingly enough there were no makeup bits. I know, I know it's a shocker but here is what I did end up buying....

First up I purchased the Garnier Moisture Match fro combination to oily skin. I've heard pretty good things about this, so I'm excited to try it out. All of the variations of this moisturiser looked pretty good, but I thought this would be better suited to my skin.

Next is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. I've been wanting this ever since it's release and really struggled to find. I managed to snap up the last bottle so it must have been fate! I love Bioderma but really didn't get on with the L'Oreal version, so I'm hoping this will live up to the hype.

Then I had a bit of a moment at the VO5 stand! My friend swears by their dry shampoo and I have really fallen out of love with Batiste, so I thought that I would VO5s a go. It was 2 for £5  on the styling products so I also picked up their Dry Texturising spray which I have high hopes for. Finally, I have always used their Heat Defence Spray and I was starting to run low so picked up another one.

Finally, the most boring of all the products and it's the Nivea Invisible Deodorant. I use this for my nights out as there's nothing than putting on your little black dress after applying deodorant and getting white streaks on it. This is an old favourite of mine and will always be a night out essential.

So there we have my haul from Boots. I know it's not the most exciting haul but I thought that I would share it nonetheless. What have you been buying recently?

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RL on YouTube!

It's finally happened! I put myself on YouTube! After watching a lot of my favourites on there for a while, and seeing some of my most loved bloggers enter the video world, I thought it was about time that I did too! I'm hoping that I will love filming videos as much as I do blogging, and that it will be something that becomes a big part of my life. At the minute, I don't have great lighting or a great editing software bud I've tried my best with it, and hopefully I will learn more long the way :)

I would love it if you could show my channel some loving and subscribe, which you can do here :) 

If you're on YouTube, feel free to leave your links/channel names below and I'll subscribe. I love finding new favourites on there :)

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Victoria's Secret Moonlight Dream Body Lotion

Last year, I fell in love with Victoria's Secret. After visiting their store in Westfield in Stratford, I knew it was going to be dangerous on my purse. I just love the body products and their body sprays are a guilty little pleasure of mine, so this week when I was in the Trafford Centre and I saw the 75% off sign, I did rejoice a little. A couple of products and bags later, I was leaving with my new items and a big smile on my face. One of those items, was the Moonlight Dream Body Moisturiser. 

First things first the fragrance. It is absolutely stunning. I had high expectations after using the body mists and being blown away by their quality, but this did not disappoint. It has a soft floral fragrance from the inclusion of the aquatic orchid, but with a sweeter edge from the honeysuckle. Growing up my mum and dad used to have a really large honeysuckle in the garden and this just throws me right back to being a child. It's not as strong as the body mists which I would say is a good thing as heavily fragranced lotions are a no no for me, but this is just the right amount. 

The lotion itself is a soft silky texture that provides a lovely soft surface to the skin. It's not a thick as other ones that I've tried, but it does a wonderful job of keeping the skin nice and soft. It also has a very slight shimmer to it which is more illuminating on the skin rather than glittery/shimmery, which really does look lovely. I tend to apply this in the morning and use a thicker one a night, but so far it definitely is love and I'm pretty sure I will be buying more to go with the two that I have already purchased.

What is your favourite body product?

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