Elle in Wonderland

Southwold

2011-10-16T13:19:00.000-07:00

Today consisted of an afternoon in sunny Southwold; walks on the beach followed by cream tea at Tilly's. The perfect Sunday in so many ways.

My thrifted skirt made an appearance (a St Michael special none the less); black, underskirt and a £1.50 price tag. Yes please. Who doesn't love a bargain?

Southwold is everything I love about the Suffolk coast, well worth a visit if you are up that way! One day I'd love a beach hut but at approx £60k a pop I think I will be waiting a while! For the time being I will have to be satisfied with just taking pictures of other people's candy coloured huts. See below.

Outfit
Black pleated skirt- £1.50 Charity Shop
Gold lurex top - 50p Carboot
Moschino Letter Belt- £1.99 Charity Shop
Watch- Michael Kors (it upsets me slightly that this cost approx 50x the price of the above)
Shoes- Kurt Geiger
Perfume- Dolce and Gabbana L'Amoureux

In other news:

*I dug up the remains of my Face Atelier Foundation and my gosh I'd forgotten how good that stuff is! A little of bit powder is required as I find it dries slightly tacky however after that, set for the day! No pun intended.

*I just spotted the NARS Danmari All About Cheeks Palette on Sephora.... major craving created. A Christmas list may now have been started. I'm not old, am I?

*Everybody knows the sunrises before it sets. With this logic applied Before Sunrise should be watched Before Sunset. Any sensible person would do this, not me however. Blondest moment of the week for sure.

Hope you have all had a fantastic weekend, any links are greatly appreciated. I'm still on the lookout for some new reading!

Elle x

Macarons & More

2011-10-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

Green tea and white chocolate, rose, violet and blackcurrant, passion fruit and milk chocolate

Supporting local business is important to me, especially food. No chain can compete with the culinary delights that some local food retailers offer. Lunchtime would not be the same without some of the independent offerings.

The above are the work of the Norwich based MasterChef finalist, Tim Kinnaird. Tim offers a range of macarons and luxury cakes through his Macarons & More venture and I have to admit these are my guilty pleasure. The violet and blackcurrant is truly divine. Tim is a cake/sweet treat genius.

The above were purchased from Wholesome in Norwich, an amazing fun independent grocer full of local produce. This week impressions of Alan Partridge resulted in half price coffee! If you are ever in Norwich be sure to check them out for amazing salads and said macaroons.

I have to admit I've been quite restrained with my latest purchase, two still remain nearly 24 hours later, however I don't see them lasting until the end of the day.....

Elle x

September Standouts

2011-10-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

*Alpha-H Essential Hydration Cream- This is potentially my sixth small tube of this moisturiser, for me to come back for second helpings is pretty much unheard so this is pretty special. Sinks in quickly, moisturises all day, no strong scent and no irritation. The lack of availability is my only complaint, internet orders only for me.

* Laura Mercier Mineral Pressed Powder- I know I said I rarely come back for seconds but this is actually one of them. My Grandma actually gave me this the first time as she didn't like it. I however love it. This provides medium coverage with a matt finish, perfect for topping up a light foundation. I will admit I baulked slightly on repurchase as the till rung up at £31. Not one to be dropped.

* Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Eyeshadow in shade 8 - My ultimate lazy eyeshadow, no base and no brush are required, literally pat and go. High metallic shine, not a large glitter particle in sight, in a flattering pinked champagne.

What more could you want as you battle with the hotel hairdryer and the clock, which coincidently you have managed to over heat every day of your two week stay? Nothing good ever comes from packing lightly. Fact. T3 you won't be left again.

* Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume- I bought this in April when I was in New York however i ended up spending most of the summer with lash extensions, this therefore laying pretty much redundant. This brief bliss period with constant Bambi lashes caused me to forget the trials and tribulations of mascara. This is dark, holds a Shu Uemura induced curl nicely and finally is cheap as chips. Wins all round.

* Laura Mercier Brow Definer- Soft This is a soft brown with no red tones and therefore perfect for dark blondes. It is pigmented waxy formula but not so much it appears unnatural and is very easy to control. Perfect for light definition. Love.

* Chanel Soleil Tan- Me and Chanel Bronze Universal are not in favour. More often than not I catch a glimpse of myself with some tangerine stripes across my face. Not classy. Not fabulous. Definitely not Chanel. Perhaps Coco?

This however is very different, think soft focus lens and that blurry perfection. This is a blend of soft tan and gold shimmer in a light liquid consistency. This is with some Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser is proving to be a winner on good skin days.

* New nail varnish storage- The selected few made it to the Autumn/Winter kilner jar and there is only space for metallic, berry and glitter. All that glitters is most definitely gold to me.

And finally my new glasses. Tortoiseshell, slightly oversized and most definitely over priced. Lost my sight, lost my money.

Have a happy Friday!
Link me up to your September favourites and blogs, I'm desperate for some new reads, i'm getting antsy this evening!

Elle x

Jinny Lash Lash Extensions

2011-10-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago I was very kindly given the opportunity to try out Jinny Lash. I have had lash extensions in the past at my local beauty salon and have always been reasonably happy with the results. I was therefore intrigued to see what the Rolls-Royce of the eyelash extension world could offer.

Before: Say hello to freckle face......

After.....

The treatment was extremely relaxing, to the point that i started to drift off at numerous points. My therapist worked extremely quietly and gently. Top marks on that front.

As I've had lashes before I'm used to the no oil, no rubbing drill. I found these lashes extremely light and comfortable in comparison to sets i have had before. The actual lashes felt lighter and thinner, offering a more natural fluttery look. My lashes didn't scream fake as I asked my therapist to keep them natural however i'm advised that if false it what you are after then this can happen!

In terms of longevity they lasted approximately two weeks. This was with no mascara and minimal eye make up. They shed very naturally and I never noticed I'd lost any of my natural eyelashes with them. Sets I have had in the past have lasted longer but i definitely noticed my own eyelashes breaking off with them. Major plus point for Jinny Lash

All this said it is definitely something best left for special occasions or treats in my opinion, unless you are super rich! I would highly recommend Jinny Lash if you are looking for non-damaging lashes, from people who really listen to what you want!

For more information on Jinny Lash you can visit their website: http://www.jinnylash.com/

Prices start from £80 for a half set of lashes.

I had my treatment done at the James Street branch which is just off of Oxford Street so very convenient for central London.

Elle x

Brighton Rocks.....

2011-10-02T01:28:00.000-07:00

Many people will describe Norfolk as backwards. I do my utmost to defend this stereotype; however, in terms of make up shopping we are definitely living in the dark ages. MAC appeared a few years ago, closely followed by Laura Mericer and then.......well nothing really. Liz Earle appeared at some point this year however this didn't really excite, my skin and Liz Earle don't have the best relationship.

Away work, or 'wolidays' as I saw Bryony Gordon refer to them this morning, therefore gives me ample shopping opportunities. Brighton has been my home for the past fortnight and like a proper addict the first thing I did was stalk out SpaceNK and ~~have a casual browse~~ reach for the card (well it was payday as well).

The bag of goodness.......

Two of these items were replacements, both of which had experienced the same grizzly end of being shattered on a hard floor. Butter fingers I am. The other two? Over indulgent necessities perhaps?

Diptyque Mini Candle in Baies- Rose and blackcurrant. Love. Diptyque candles are my favourite indulgence as they burn cleanly and the scent stays fresh. Nobody wants a smoke damaged ceiling again ; )

Chantecaille Just Skin- I have heard a lot of good things about this and as my skin has cleared up a lot i finally feel able to wear something lighter. Hoping for great things, will probably go running back to the Mat Lumiere

NARS Laguna- I dropped my last one, the other product I'd dropped being the candle. I needed a new one. Of both.

Diptyque Roll on Perfume in Philosykos- Unisex and therefore right up my street. I'm not going to attempt to describe the scent and that will end in disaster. Figs feature heavily though ; ). My love of unisex scents ended in slight embarrassment, in my mind excellent scent skills, when I smelt out D+G L'amourex on a male colleague and was able to name it and number it. Maybe this could be my Mastermind specialist subject.........

Other things I have been loving this week include:

*Avene Triacneal- I'm going to do a separate post on this at some point. Definitely a noteworthy purchase and a spot treatment that actually works!

*Brighton- Although it was work related the sun was shining, the beach was packed and the food was top notch. Terre a Terre was like no culinary experience I had encountered before, the best vegetarian I've ever eaten in. Fun food, including vodka spiked tomatoes. Need I say more.

* Using up the last summer things- This weekend i've finished up Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess perfume, some coconut body butter and i'm working through the last of my 'summer products'. Tom Ford Vanille Tobacco will soon be back ; )

*The sun- No explanation necessary.

Hope you've all had a fantastic weekend!

Elle x

Masquerade Ball

2011-09-24T04:53:00.000-07:00

The annual ball comes with an annual dilemma. The dress. Last year I faltered, a last minute panic resulted in £180 being dropped on the Thursday evening in Monsoon. A dress I could just about stand but really wasn't 'me'. The dress was an omen for the night in general, one best forgotten. The memories confined to the back of mind, along with the dress at the back of my wardrobe. This year was going to be better.

I first spotted this dress in H+M when I was travelling in Budapest in July. I loved the simple Grecian style, the pleats and the light chiffon. Space constraints however meant it was not to be. It was a dress that stuck in my mind, yes i'm aware this is bordering on sad however I don't mind. Back in Norwich i spotted this dress a month or two later and instantly made it mine. Not for any particular reason, just that it would 'come in handy' one day. Cue the annual ball, this year masquerade themed.... A panic free year at a fraction of the price. Thank you H+M!

Dress £29.99 - H+M

Jewellery- Vintage

Slightly patchy tan courtesy of Xen-Tan Dark Lotion

On the subject of false tan I think my habit/addiction has finally been cured. Rumour has it it takes 30 days to cure a habit, 45 an addiction. I can gladly say I had resisted the lure of the sickly scented dark glop for longer than that, until the cream dress clashed with my milky skin. I told myself one little application wouldn't hurt and it certainly didn't. The smell left me nauseous. it clashed with my perfume, it was just generally hideous. I can only imagine I had become immune to the scent/stench in the same way as a smoker, not ideal. This is certainly one habit i'm not going back to.

Elle x

What's in my bag? Uncut.....

2011-09-09T12:43:00.000-07:00

This is the genuine contents of my working bag. Emptied out this evening, no edit (apart from the Kettle Chips packet, empty of course). This is the internet but I'm not shying away from the shamefully excessive contents of my bag. Everyone loves to keep it real sometimes, don't they?

Yes, it is a Focco.

In no particular order, to draw parallel with the disordered nature of my bag.......

Green tea bags- This was probably an attempt at a faddy health kick on Monday, four days later and two Quarter Pounders down I have no recollection of this brilliant idea of mine. Probably for the best.

Miniature Batiste and Elnett- Why not? They come in miniature so must be handbag essentials....

Tangle Teezer (aka. dog brush)- Lifesaver, why the Dragons turned this down I'll never know....... I'm pretty sure i should receive a commission based on the number of people i have convinced to buy one of these!

Water

Kindle and case- Not that i ever read in the week. Ever.

Tissues/cleansing wipes- Essential

Document wallet- Full of train tickets, receipts and random expenses I should probably claim.

Headphones- I need to be able to listen to Spotify at my heart's content. Album of the week is The English Riviera by Metronomy. Introduced by a random guy I met on a plane and I highly recommend, especially 'The Bay'. Check it out.

Purse and a coin purse- Probably should work on the consolidation of them two.

Keys- Car and house. Standard. I do have a pretty Mulberry keyring i got for my 21st birthday however i have nothing else to add.

Paracetamol and antibiotics- Nothing hardcore or interesting about them.

Laptop charger- No explanation necessary, except it doesn't fit in my laptop bag because of the shed like fate that that has too suffered.

Make up bag- We won't start on the contents of that.. probably best saved for a rainy day.

Calculators -Yes, plural. One sans lid, one complete. One mine, one lifted in true 'Artful Dodger' fashion from ab unsuspecting colleague. Note to self- must return.

Phone- Switched off and staying that way for the whole weekend. OK, just tonight.

Glasses -For my dud eye. 20/20 in one eye and blind as a bat in the other. I can not see at an angle, these are therefore when sitting on a colleague's lap just isn't not an option.

Orange card- 3G USB modem thingy. Sometimes work, sometimes doesn't. Mainly the latter.

Moleskine Diary- The usage of this can be determined by where the ribbon marker lies... week Wednesday 11th May.

Most used makeup/stuff- This has a special place in my bag. Strewn across the bottom. At the moment we have Cover Girl Lash Blast, a very battered Topshop Nevada Lipstick, Sleek Pout Polish in Peach Perfection, MAC Concealer, some Avon hair serum and Fresh Cannabis Santal.

Lamy Fountain Pen and cartridges- The pen is my attempt at being 'grown up'. I envy people who have beautiful italic writing, my attempts end up more smudged across the page with the resultant 'inked' hand. Oh well... one day...

Mini Moleskine- I'll confess to the true purpose of this... i write words i come across in this which i don't know the meaning of. I then check them in a dictionary later. I know this is very very sad.... This week we have had virile, antsy, mercurial and bested. Who knows what next week will bring?

Highlighters and tabs- Can you spot the reoccurring theme of excess?

Link me up to your posts, I'm female and therefore inherently nosy........

Elle x

Why I love charity shops.....

2011-09-03T07:03:00.000-07:00

Check out the price on that bad boy. I love living in Norwich sometimes.

The £5 dress

2011-08-07T04:20:00.000-07:00

I love a good car boot sale. Always have. Always will.

Any new man in my life will have to accept this fact and I should probably add this to my ever growing requirement list, somewhere after taller (this seems to be a major issue, 6ft men please make yourself known) and fatter (if i can't get your jeans on I'm not interested). Sunday mornings to me are a car boot followed by a plate of poached eggs on toast. Heaven in my eyes.

This was my best purchase of last week, a heavily sequined, keyhole back vintage dress. £5, no bartering required. Happy buyer. Happy seller.

I get a little desperate to wear new purchases, regardless of the season, so last night i donned the dress for an Indian and a few drinks. Christmas tree I was.

My mum is no David Bailey and i'm certainly no Elle Macpherson so here are a few snappy snaps of the dress from last night......

Hello shoulder pads!

PS. Shoes were added at a later point, i didn't embrace the whole barefoot thing all night : )

Elle x

For when new doesn't cut it......

2011-08-06T03:49:00.000-07:00

Probably the favourite corner of my bedroom.....

Vintage Mary Picture- £8.50

Morris Dancer Wooden Hobby Horse Head- £3.00 (bought from the most delightfully eccentric gentleman at a car boot sale who had to clear out his London 'art' flat)

Vintage Cadbury Milk Bottle- 50p

Plastic Bambi Figure £1.00

Brass monkeys (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil) £1

Books- Amazon

Vintage Bluebird and Squirrel Toffee Tins- £1 each

My Grandad's hat from WW2

Vintage case-£1

Vintage Bally Briefcase- £2.00

Everything was purchased from car boot sales with the exception of the hat and the books. Recycling for the win....

I love looking at interior posts so link me up if you have any!

Elle x

Baa....

2011-08-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

I am a sheep.

Sometimes I enjoy being a sheep.

Sideways cross necklace... check... Lisa Taubes chain... check... and now the Focco. Case in point. A full house in blogging bingo.

Quick outfit of the day to showcase the lovely (albeit plastic) Focco above.

Lace Blazer: H+M

Jeans: H+M (style super squin, ie super skin tight)

Top: H+M.... can you see a pattern here? I could probably write an ode on this £7.99 grey marl top. My wardrobe epicentre.

Wedges: Topshop

Bag: The Focco

Bracelet- Vintage

Today consisted of lunch with a friend at Wagamama. Teriyaki beef always makes for a good day. A trot around H+M makes for a good day 9 times out of 10. Today, as dictated by the laws of probability, was a good H+M day.....

Purchase of the day

A bit of a hybrid between a satin bed jacket and something that is daytime appropriate but I like it. Who doesn't like a bit of underwear inspired clothing?

I went to London yesterday for the first time in a long time. All I can say is HUMID. When I was there I had Jinny lash extensions however i'm going to cover them in a separate post so for the moment here is a sneak peak......

(Note. Fluttering these at Kwik Fit this afternoon got me some free work on my car. Win for my bank balance. Win for being a clueless girl.)

Elle x

Give me some knitting needles and call me Ethel.....

2011-08-02T00:24:00.000-07:00

This week I set up a pension.

This week I had an overwhelming urge to buy a pleated midi skirt.

This week I'm pretty sure my Nanny lived more dangerously than I did.

A quick rummage in the local charity shop solved this urge. £1.50 later, and with no resultant harm to the pension fund, this blue beauty was mine.

It moves well and is not too boxy. I love it.

I whipped it out last night for dinner, which unfortunately wasn't as good value and caused damage to my purse of a large multiple of £1.50.....

Top- H+M

Vintage Blue Pleated Midi Skirt- Charity Shop

Brown Leather Belt- Charity Shop (probably my best buy ever, £1.50 and i wear it with everything)

Shoes- Topshop

Jewellery- Vintage cuff and Lisa Taubes Necklace

Next stop Mecca.....OK maybe I've already been......ssshhh!

Elle x

Milk anyone?

2011-07-30T11:46:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in my previous post this afternoon I acquired a large collection of vintage advertisement milk bottles from the car boot today. Bottles which probably should have been returned to the milk man many moons ago have now become my vase of choice. I have a couple of other bottles which I have picked up before for a few pounds however this morning I spotted a whole array within cardboard box this morning. On enquiring of the price i was told i could have the lot for £5 (18 bottles for £5 v Pedlar's price of £6.50 per bottle). Sold to the girl dressed in what could be construed as pyjamas.

Now the problem... what do i do with 18 milk bottles?

Pretty trio for my bedroom......

Flowers courtesy of my mummy's garden : )

And a box full of orphans......

Milk anyone?

Here is one other thing I acquired this morning, a plastic deer who left me particularly enamored for the princely sum of £1. Fun, kitsch and delightfully tacky.............

P.S. When i originally started this blog it was a make up blog, pure and simple. Times have changed and my enthusiasm has waned for the make up community somewhat, for numerous reasons. I have reached a different stage in my life and so although i will still make some sporadic make up posts for now this blog is taking a lifestyle focus, i.e a mishmash of everything!

I know people will have initially followed this a make up blog, so if you no longer wish to follow i totally understand and thank you for the support you have shown in the past : )

Elle x

Blonde on Blonde- OOTD

2011-07-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

As predicted the blonde is back. I found the brown difficult to work with, I found it easily unflattering and the maintenance turned into a bit of a nightmare (there is a hell of a lot of bleach lurking under there). Lets just say bleach, brown and sun do not mix. In conclusion the blonde is back and i am much happier.

I had the most amazing time travelling around Eastern Europe however i will do a separate post on that for anybody that is interested!

I went a wedding reception last night so thought i would do a quick outfit post. I know the dress isn't to everybody's taste, my sister has expressed her disapproval on many occasions, however i personally love it.

With vintage i always wonder who bought the dress originally and for what and how did it end up in a charity shop 50 years down the line? I found this when i was working away in Woodbridge and knew it had to be mine......

Maxi dress- Vintage Susan Small c.1960s £20 British Heart Foundation

Vintage Leather Clutch- £1.50 Car boot sale

This morning was spent scuffing/car booting and culminated in the purchase of an amazing sequined dress for £5 and a box of vintage advertisement milk bottles (don't ask, it was a deal in my eyes at 8am). Hoping to get an early start in tomorrow and locate some more bargains.

Elle x

I packed my bag and in it I put.........

2011-06-18T02:32:00.000-07:00

I'm going away on a trip that less than a year ago I would of never dreamt of going on. The mere suggestion of a hostel and a night train would of been dismissed quickly as 'not me'. In all honesty I don't think anybody would of even have entertained the idea with me in the first place. Me and high maintenance went together as easily as strawberries and cream.

Cue a difficult few months, a new appreciation for life and a particularly miserable lunch break in February and I had been coerced into 'backpacking', in its loosest sense. I even wanted to ditch the backpack part ..... apparently that isn't the point.

A flight is booked to Prague. A return flight is booked from Zadar. The intervening period is less planned.

For someone who likes to plan with military precision this is disconcerting to say the least. The Charge of the Light Brigade comes to mind and we all know how that ended.

The travel plan so far involves Prague, Vienna, Budapest (most excited about the baths) and some Croatian island hopping for a week of relaxation. Obviously on a budget. If anyone has any tips/places to visit it would be much appreciated. I love food

Giddy with excitement I did order a map and yes, i have pinned it to my wall and marked places with a gold star : )

The travel bible.....

Obviously my aim is to make this trip slightly more glamorous. I didn't sign up for totally slumming it. Did I? Inspired by Abbie's post on swimwear I started the hunt for the perfect bikini. This is the Goddess Monroe bikini by Seafolly. It didn't come cheap but is far more substantial than the string offerings of the high street.

And as a true beauty junkie I have begun to amass an array of travel sized products........waxing, gel nail and eyelash extension appointments may have also been booked. Baby steps for the unseasoned backpacker....

I may have also ordered a sneaky pair of Havianas from Sarenza this morning using the 30% discount code from Lilyloveslola . Travel essential, right?

If anybody has any travel essentials please let me know, i've ordered a money belt and a travel towel.

Can a leopard really change its spots? We will see......

The spending diary double bill is up tomorrow, don't worry i hadn't forgotten and as predicted far worse than week one.

Elle x

Spending Diary-Week 1

2011-06-05T10:31:00.000-07:00

"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."
— Oscar Wilde

The above quote was probably my mantra when it came spending... well not quite but pretty damn close.

If you read my last post you will see that I am on a mission to challenge my spending. Starting with the spending diary.......

Week 1

Day 1- Monday
Racked up a tidy sum of £21.85 at Sainsbury's..... intended to be my basis for packed lunches. Funnily enough this never materialized and I paid for my lunch every day. Couple of unnecessary hair products may have been added too.....

£2.99 was spent on a download of The Mark-2 Wife.... short book which provided an evening of entertainment. Probably could of picked one of the many unread books on my bookshelf....
Total Spend £24.84

Day 2- Tuesday
Lunch- Boots £4.38.... not a patch on M+S and with the £3.95 salad meal deal on at the moment i will probably be returning to the dark side of smoked salmon salad. Somethings just don't cut it.
Carpark £5.20 (bain/drain of my life)
Random machine coffee and a Nutrigrain 80p
Total Spend £10.38

Day 3- Wednesday
Carpark £5.20
Pret Lunch £5.20 (Yes, the stuff i bought for lunch was still sitting in the fridge)
Hairgrips £1.99
Apple Headphones £26.00 (I was desperate)
Paper £1.79
Vending machine spending £1.50
£2 charity bucket donation to the Spinal Injury Association (means a lot to me and would never not donate when I see them collecting)
Total Spend £43.68

Day 4- Thursday
Vogue £4.10
Taxi £5.00
Random coffee and chocolate £1.00
Carpark £5.20
Lunch £2.55
Total Spend £17.85

Day 5- Friday
Carpark £5.20
Subway £2.29
Total spend £7.49

Day 6- Saturday
Lunch £4.20
M+S Dinner £4.45 (dining at the desk.... Saturday night glamour)
Total spend £8.65

Day 7- Sunday
My far my best day, probably more circumstantial than any massive self-control!
Tesco lunch- £4.04
Dairy Milk and three machine coffees £1.10
Total Spend £5.14

Yes that was it.... the truth be told i spend my whole weekend studying in the office and had college today.... however there were no sneaky online 'make myself feel better' purchases. Very proud : )

Total Week 1 Spend £117.03

Lessons learnt- Week 1

1. Admit making lunch is probably something I won't ever do. I cave at the first mention of a lunch out with a colleague, which is most days. That is OK, just don't kid yourself Eleanor.
2. Magazines are generally dull. The internet has a whole plethora of more exciting articles.
3. Cheap car parking involves being on time. Must get up 30 minutes earlier.
4. I like food; especially out.
5. I can go a week without buying make up and no, I haven't run out.
6. I'm pretty sure my reckless spending would have made more enthralling reading, alas this is not the point.

Obviously this excludes things such as my board but this my controllable spending.

Week 2......destined to be more expensive, based on the need for petrol and the temptation derived from exam related stress. I'm going to try to be strong.... maybe by name and frugal/thrifty/sparing can be mentioned in a sentence together one day?

I can safely say keeping my card in the back of my Moleskine reminded me I would have to disclose that purchase and put me off on a number of close calls. Knowing the facts had to be faced at the end of the week kept me motivated!

Did anybody else start a diary? How did you all fair?

Elle x

The Last Supper: Sunday Splurging meet the Spending Diary

2011-05-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

My name is Eleanor and I spend too much.

Payday comes and goes and I seem to have made it my mission to spend every last penny in the intervening period.

Well times are a changin'......

Here i present my last Sunday Splurge, along with details of the 'Spending Diary'.

All I can say is the last Sunday Splurge was a good one, and very practical for once .......

Topshop Oceania Wedges £60

(£48 with a bit of 20% student discount, one bonus of my career choice!)

I love these wedges, the leather is buttery soft and they are just the right heel height for me at 5'9''. I'm pretty sure these are going to become my new favourite thing.

Zara Trousers £25.99

Zara really comes up trumps when it comes to work wear in my opinion, balancing professionalism and modesty with style. If any of you have links to good work wear blogs let me know i'm constantly looking for inspiration. I may post some workwear posts if i can drag myself out of bed earlier.....

The original point of my trip was to pick up this bag, unfortunately it was gone when i got there so i ordered online when i got home (when there is a will there's a way).

Zara Plaited Shopper £79.99

Destined to be my work bag for the summer, large enough to store all of my life and plain enough to go with everything.

And so onto the second part of the post; the spending diary.

June is marking a new chapter in my life; one of restraint, modesty and self control. Well a month of good intentions at least.......

I am going to detail every last penny of my spending in my red Moleskine (yes, excessive stationery spending is one of the many points i need to work on). I have a tendency to fritter my money away on frivolities such as M+S lunches (no more salmon salads), car parking (Eleanor get up 20 minutes earlier and walk from the free parking) and 'treat' purchases (life isn't that hard that i need to 'treat' myself on such a regular basis).

I am going to publish my spending on here, on a weekly basis, in the hope i can shame myself into curbing my spending habits. I remember features like this in Shout magazine with great fondness, I think women are inherently nosy, hence the popularity of the 'What's in my bag?' tag.

I may even reconcile my bank in true accountant style (Kindle downloads cost money Eleanor)...... one small step away from those who keep a balance sheet of their life; don't worry I shall seek rehabilitation before I reach this point!

Anybody else in? A couple of lovely ladies on Twitter are.

It would be interesting to compare spending habits....

Elle x

OOTD- Colour Blocking and moving to the dark side......

2011-05-22T03:34:00.000-07:00

Long time no see i know....in this time I've moved to the dark side, reference exhibit A below, in an attempt to revive my parched bleached hair. I'm pretty sure it will only be time before I revert back to the light side however for the moment I'm reasonably content with the novelty of dark hair.

Exhibit A

And a couple of outfit pictures from last night's drinks.......

Various pieces of vintage jewellery

Transport charm bracelet- Charity shop 75p

Mustard Seed Bracelet- Hell's Kitchen Flea Market $10

Chunky bracelet- Car boot sale £2

Orange Colour Block Dress- Zara £35.99

Bow Sandals- Primark £6.00

Leather envelope clutch- Car boot sale £1

Finally I had to add my new Anthony Burrill print in ( I lusted after this for so long)....

such a simple sentiment that never fails to raise a smile when i look at it

Motto of the month

Elle x

Glossy Box Numero 1/Giveaway Winner/Share the Love

2011-05-21T08:29:00.000-07:00

This is a bit of a mish mash post covering a number of bases. Firstly, probably the most talked about 'thing' of the week within the beauty community...GlossyBox.

I'm going to keep this simple as I'm pretty sure we are all au fait with the first parcel's contents by now! I was kindly sent this box as a preview by the lovely people at GlossyBox HQ......

Box contents (which you have probably all seen):

1. Nars: Orgasm Illuminator (30ml) (Full size)

2. All for Eve: Eve Red Lipstick by Daniel Sandler (Full size)

3. Bionova Lab: Bioactive Cleanser for Normal/Dry Skin (4ml)

4. Alterna: Caviar Anti-Aging Rapid Repair Spray (25ml)

5. COMO Shambhala: Invigorate Body Lotion (50ml)

The Graze box of the beauty world costs just £10 per month for five luxury beauty samples and can be canceled at any time.

It came beautifully packaged (if not slightly excessively packed if i put my eco warrior head on) although the boxes are of such quality they can easily be used for storage or gift packaging. Perhaps a future consideration may be the option to have more basic packaging? Just a thought.

The parcel's contents obviously speaks for itself. Full size NARS... yes please!

If the standard is maintained at this level I can see this being a very successful business...deteriorating contents is the only thing I worry about but we shall see!

Hopefully this isn't the pinnacle of GlossyBox!

For the time being Graze has been canceled (dried fruit and rice crackers were getting slightly dull anyway) and has been replaced with GlossyBox, generating a cost saving for £4 month.... winner.

You can sign up here:

http://www.glossybox.co.uk/

Secondly the winner of my Bourjois giveaway, as selected by the random number generator is:
Charli

And finally here are some blogs that I have been enjoying recently....
http://laura-laments.blogspot.com/
http://blaironabudget.blogspot.com/
http://cupcakesandcashmere.com/

Go and check them out if you haven't already!

Elle x

CLOSED:A very royal giveaway.... Bourjois Rose Lounge

2011-05-15T09:26:00.001-07:00

I know a couple of weeks ago now but I have a little royal wedding giveaway for you. I think I still have a bit of royal wedding fever, seriously loved it!

Kate Middleton may have Will but ~~Harry~~ the nail varnish is attainable. Oh well I can think of worse things!

The shade of choice for the big day was Bourjois Rose Lounge topped with Essie Allure; very pretty, very pink and very Kate.

I tracked down two of the Bourjois in my local Boots, one for me, one for one of you........

All you need to do to enter is be a follower of this blog and comment below. No airs and graces here.

Feel free to tweet/blog about this giveaway but no extra entries will be given.

Blogger ate my first version of this post, so I have had to post again. Sorry if you entered before!

One entry person. Giveaway closes on the 20th May 2011 at 5pm. Will post worldwide!

Elle x

A few of the holiday snaps.....NEW YORK

2011-04-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

Today it was back to the humdrum of daily life, the bright lights and constant noise seem a distant but vivid memory. Today i was awoken by the noise of a cow rather than the roar of traffic. Today was a sad day.

The past four days were spent in New York on a short break, lapping up everything the big city has to offer. This primarily being shops, food and a few museums thrown in for good measure. I really did fall in love with the city.

Another weekend away is already being mentally planned to settle me and my itchy feet; Stockholm and Berlin being the early contenders. I'm open to any suggestions on good places for long weekends!

It was very cold; cue an impromptu coat purchase. Thank goodness for H+M, international saviour!

Here are a few snaps for your delectation and possible delight.......

Before the coat purchase (warmth courtesy of Starbucks)

Money, money, money.....

Battersea Park...

Times Square.... sinfully tacky

Requisite visit to Magnolia Bakery.....

Red velvet goodness....

Walking the High Line......

The amazing Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park....

THE face of every day.....

Macaroni at Balthazar....

Thanks to Belle Du Jour NYC for the amazing recommendation.

Central Park and once again a Starbucks......

The Brooklyn Bridge....

Warhol at the MOMA......

Dog anybody?

Hell's Kitchen Flea Market......

Vintage ware......

Happy, happy memories......

One thing I highly recommend is the New York travel journal Moleskine. Seriously amazing.....

When I am in a new city I hate to look like a conspicuous tourist, I want to blend into the background and soak up the atmosphere this therefore made the Moleskine my ultimate travel guide. It cost me around £10 and you can get one for a whole host of main cities. It is full of maps (subway and street), spaces to list, tracing paper to map routes and a whole host of other useful things in the most subtle format. I could whip this out on the subway with no look of 'Hello, I'm a lost tourist' at all. Happy Elle.

The front of the notebook contains a wonderful quote from Aldous Huxley, which i wholeheartedly agree with and sums up this product....
For every traveller who has any taste of his own, the only useful guidebook will be the one which he himself has written.

Plain inconspicuous journal....

A quick peak inside....

Streets listed in alphabetical order with map grid references.....

Fold out subway map....

I've detailed all the places I visited and will store this with pictures to make a lovely travel keepsake.
Love. Love. Love

In other news project 10 pan fell slightly by the wayside; it was tough in the city of temptation but I was remarkably restrained (not perfect, just 'restrained') and even came home with $60. Kerching!

There will be a follow up post to this detailing my New York acquisitions but I have a feeling that will be a weekend job!

Elle x

Car Boot Haulin' 001

2011-03-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

Most Sunday mornings will involve a trip to a car boot sale for me. Rain or shine I will be there. I know they are not to everybody's taste however I love them. I love the banter, the fresh country air and traipsing round in a pair of Hunters looking for a bargain. Guaranteed you will meet some strange characters but it is all part of the fun.

Anyway this was the produce from this morning's escapade........

Topshop Peach Blazer- 50p

I was so excited when I saw this as I have been after a peach blazer for a while, when the gentleman said 50p I couldn't get my money out fast enough! Turned out they were emigrating and it all had to go.......

The remainder of my haul had a very yellow theme... must be the sunshine.......

The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Hand Lotion-50p

Butter London Nail Varnish (Cheeky Chops)-50p

120 film for my Diana Camera (all in date!)- 3 for £1
The film is £6 a roll in Jessops, massive steal!

Vintage milk Bottle £3 and Daffodils 50p

I picked up this milk bottle to make into a vase, a few plastic beads and some bootsale daffodils later my aim is achieved!

Total spend=£6.00

Seriously, I pay more to park my car everyday. Where is the justice in that?

It is amazing what people will throw out and how little they will charge for it! Last year I picked up brand new perfume, vintage Ray-Bans for £3, silk scarfs galore, a ton of vintage jewellery, a beautiful leather coat and that was just the start..... Most car boot sales are advertised in the local paper so keep a look out.

This bracelet is probably one of my favourite car boot finds, somebody will complement it every time i wear it......

If people are interested I may make this a weekly feature, I know for sure that I love looking at posts like this! Let me know if i should keep going with this!

Elle x

Project 10 Pan- Take 2

2011-03-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

Project 10 pan (take 2) is well and truly overdue. Actually finishing a product this morning prompted me to commence this challenge once again.

I have far too many nude lipsticks, varying shades of peach blush and half loved lipglosses which i am frankly sick of the sight of.

They need to go.

As well as being sick of the sight of certain items I am going to New York the first week of April (super excitement) AND I have also found/persuaded someone to go travelling (well high class backpacking) around Europe with me in the Summer. Serious penny stashing is therefore in order! I've vowed to myself that I am going to make this year a good one and this means annual leave will involve some sort of holiday (whilst I am mortgage/commitment free). Experiences bring me so much more than 'things' and I can honestly say I never been as happy as I am now. It was a long time coming but it feels so good.

Anyway the first victim was By Terry Baume de Rose.......

Would I repurchase? No. It is nice but for £32 i want more than nice.

In preparation I have already lined up some future contenders which include YSL Tea Rose Lipstick, MAC Pearl CCB and MAC Lightscapade MSF (again).....

1 down, 9 to go.... I'm scared already!

Anybody else in?

Elle x

We've come a long long way together......

2011-03-13T07:44:00.000-07:00

I will be the first to admit I am usually a make up snob... I thought I had left the days of 17 long behind, along with a sky blue/turquoise eyeshadow from Miss Sporty that adorned my eyes in an unflattering way. I thought I was cool, that is all that counts right?

Anyway fast forward 10 years and I find myself staring at the 17 stand once again. A particularly long day at work called for an impromptu trip to Boots, as often happens on days like these, before returning back to the office for the affectionately named 'late shift' and some desk dining (eg. a takeaway from Nandos).

On this occasion I immediately knew this was going to be my late night 'treat'. The inner magpie in me was immediately drawn to the metallic goodness of this little palette; and also the price at £5.49. This is the 17 Vintage Love Metallic Nudes Palette......

6 shades (disproportionately sized) in a slightly strange arrangement but we can live with that....

One swatch, no primer....

These eyeshadows are amazing; richly pigmented, smooth, metallic and completely flattering. 17, I think we may have resurrected a long lost friendship.

And although it pains me to admit, I actually like it better than my Ombres Perlees de Chanel which was 7x the price! Good work 17!

Have any of you been wowed by this little gem?

Elle x

Saturday is for.....

2011-01-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

Burning a candle at one end, after burning the candle at both ends during the week...

Afternoon tea in vintage tea cups.....

Chunky knit blankets and a book....

Rediscovering blogs i meant to suscribe to when i found them originally.....

www.newfavouritething.com

And Sunday will be for Mad Men.....

Perfection...

Elle x

An education....

2011-01-15T04:53:00.000-08:00

Reading is something i used to enjoy immensely but like a lot of things work got in the way and the only 'book' i was likely to pick up was a book of accounting standards. Now despite the necessity of these 'books' they are most certainly not something i read for enjoyment, nor do they provide a great level of enrichment to my life.

So my slightly selfish resolution for this year is to educate myself further, by reading classic books, making sure i read a quality newspaper and generally participating in more cultured activities. Slightly geeky i know but necessary for myself

So far i have managed two books (one a week, go me), The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald and Animal Farm by George Orwell, both on the short side and great for easing me in. The Great Gatsby is an amazing little book and one i would highly recommend! War and Peace and the like are something i definitely need to train up for!

The postman arrived with my new toy this morning to aid me with this challenge

A kindle.....

Although i have only had this beauty a few hours i am already becoming very attached. I can not get over how crisp the words appear on the screen and how easy it is to use.

First download went to The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and is my read for next week for the hotel!

I spend a lot of time away with my work and to say i am an excessive packer is one hell of an understatement. Therefore the kindle suits my needs beautifully, offering me both the variety i desire and more space for toiletries.

I can't decide what i want to wear tomorrow; let alone what i will desire to read in a week. I can fill this little beast with a variety of books to suit all my potential needs.

After all "variety's the very spice of life"....

If you have any book suggestions they would be greatly appreciate, i love hearing what other people are reading!

Elle x

ASOS you fail....

2010-10-12T00:15:00.000-07:00

Oh ASOS you never fail to amaze with your top notch packaging....

This was the box of delights that greeted me this morning... no posing of products required to create this masterpiece.

Does the box want to be any larger?

Hello smashed glass, enough nail polish fumes to knock me out and not an inch of bubble wrap in sight! All before breakfast.... Not the best shopping experience i have ever had if i am honest.

How a nail varnish box opened in transit is also beyond me? Answers on a post card please :)

This is after last week's incident of the already used Illamasqua lipstick...however that is a whole new story.

Seriously ASOS sort it out.... more haste less speed and an inch of common sense please

Elle x

Treat of the week..... well month - YSL Arty Ring

2010-08-08T14:26:00.000-07:00

I have been lusting over this ring for a long time now but it has been notoriously hard to get hold of. So when i was browsing the Harvey Nichols website the other night and saw it in stock AND in coral i knew i had to have it! Well i had a long chat with myself first, justifying the price and necessity of the purchase. This didn't prove to difficult and involved the words iconic, classic and i could pass it down to my first born. Maybe slightly far fetched but close!

I got a size 6 and i would normally have a size small in say Topshop, so i think these definitely come up on the small size which is consistent with what i have read.

When this arrived in the post i was so excited!
Oh the beauty.....

It was definitely everything i had hoped and more, i am one very happy customer!

Never one to be completely content I am now considering trying to track down the turquoise version... a girl can dream i suppose!

Elle x

Makeup Collection and Storage

2010-07-23T07:55:00.000-07:00

Hello Dolls,

As promised i have done a collection post. I have been collecting for about 6 years so don't think i have bought all of this in a short space of time, this is years of accumulating! I remember saving up my paper round money to buy MAC eyeshadows when i was about 13 and a pot shadow was £9. The first thing i ever bought from MAC was Vanilla pigment, quickly followed by Naked Lunch and Sprout eyeshadows (not sure if they even do Sprout anymore it was pretty hideous!).

This is my mirror and vanity with my white anglepoise lamp. I keep my traincases to the side on an acrylic table.

I keep my perfume on this little glass tray which came from a car boot. At the moment I'm into to Philosophy scents, they smell so clean and fresh, just a shame they don't last a bit longer!

My MAC lipsticks are in this glass heart shaped container which i got from the Range. I like to store my lipsticks this way up so can i see the shade names easily when i am in a rush in the morning!

On the top of my vanity i keep a basket for face products and things i use all of the time, such as NARS Sheer Glow, MAC Stereo Rose, Nars Laguna etc. I also put new products in there which i haven't tried out. At the moment i have a NARS Multiple Tint in Turks and Caicos to try out which i am very excited about!

I have two Shu Uemura Atelier cases which i use to hold the majority of my collection. I don't think you can get these anymore but they are amazing! They are three tiered and have pots to hold pencils, brushes etc.

This is my eye product case which is mostly MAC and NARS. I have a 15 pan palette that i keep on the top too.

The second case holds my true obsession, cheek products! I have a lot of MSFs and some other highlighter products such as NARS multiples <3

And closed up with the top tray in...

The top tray has NYX cream blushes, NARS blushes and MAC cream and mineralize blushes which don't fit in the palettes.

On my bookcase i have some make up books, such as NARS Make Up You Mind and Scott Barnes- All About Face. I love makeup books for ideas and inspiration. I also have my Barbie Loves MAC doll which i think was released in about 2006, I've had her a while!

If you have any questions or want to see anything in more detail leave me a comment below : ) I love looking at other collections, so link me to your post if you have done a post!

Elle x

Jumpsuits and cupcakes

2010-07-11T04:53:00.000-07:00

It is my sister's 18th birthday so .. Happy Birthday Sophie! Last night she had a party so here is a couple of pictures of the clothes i adorned myself with....

OOTN

Jumpsuit- H+M

Shoes- Carvela

Leather Envelope Clutch- Vintage

Necklace- Lisa Taubes

I really like this jumpsuit, i wasn't too sure to start with but i think it is a winner!

And some pictures of the cupcakes i made for the party...

As my second ever attempt i was quite impressed with myself .. Delia eat your heart out (well not quite!)

Hope you are all having a great weekend and have fun in the sun whilst it lasts!

Elle x

June Favourites

2010-07-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

I didn't find June a particularly inspiring month in the world of beauty especially on the cosmetic front. All was not lost as i did pick up a few nice skincare items and had a dig around my stash and found a few neglected cosmetic items which deserved more attention...

NARS Mekong Eyeshadow- A gorgeous super dark espresso with golden shimmer, which provides a great alternative to black. I use this in my outer V a lot to create smokey brown eye looks, I sometimes feel black is too harsh for my fair skin tone but this is just perfect. There is a little bit of fall out but perfectly controllable.

NARS Tuomota Multiple Bronzer- I love this matte bronzer as a contour as it is creamy and easy to blend. I use this with my 109 brush and it looks nice and natural with no bright orange tones, I’ve done a little swatch below so you can see the colour..

Chanel Particuliere Nail Varnish- I’m sure this is perfectly dupable, with say Barry M Mushroom polish, however nothing comes close to having the real deal for me. I must admit i was rather excited when i spotted this on the counter at Jarrolds a couple of weeks back, after a random restock. This is one of those dirty taupe colours which waivers to the brown rather than purple side. I know nobody else probably knows it is Chanel but I feel classy and sophisticated when I wear it, a moderately to expensive guilty pleasure purchase in my opinion.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair- This product is one of those cult products which often wins a number of awards, I am often dubious of this, I mean who still votes for Maybelline Great Lash mascara as the best mascara of all time still?? However I let my scepticism go and purchased this, mainly due to seeing Tanya rave about this product (I mean who wouldn’t want skin like hers?). This product has definitely helped heal any blemishes I have faster than normal and soothes my skin when it feels irritated. I don’t use this every night, just keep it to hand for angry skin days.

I hummed and hawed over including the next two items due to one factor, which was price. Neither of these products were cheap, they definitely fall into the expensive guilty pleasure category however I did enjoy using these so thought it would be shame to leave them out.

Aromatherapy Associates Revive Evening Bath and Shower Oil- This is just pure self indulgent luxury, I use a cap of this in the bath when I feel stressed and instantly feel relaxed and revived. This smells divine a mixture of geranium and patchouli. I’m a little sad that my bottle has just one or two more baths left : (

Nude Replenishing Night Oil- This comes in at an extortionate £42 for just 15ml of product however the results were impressive. My skin plays up at times and I suffer from eczema in places. A couple of drops are all i use at night when I feel my skin is in need and I wake up with beautifully soft, glowy skin. Unlike with some oils there is no greasy residue left in morning. A major downfall however is that you can not see how much is left, meaning I can not really say how long this will last at the moment.

I also accquired two new babies in the form of Shu Uemura Atelier beauty boxes (pictured to the left)...

My vanity/set up

These cases are spacious and well-built, perfect for storing my oversized collection

I have thought about doing a collection post however am not sure whether this would be of interest to any of you! Let me know if you would like to see it.

I did do a little haul from In the Groove however i won't bother to post that as you have probably seen it all before! It consisted of Stereo Rose, Stereo Rose and one more Stereo Rose.... better to be safe than sorry : )

Elle x

FOTD ft. some May favourites

2010-06-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

I have done a FOTD post in a long time, so i thought it was about time i did one again! Some products i have loved in the month of May include Nars Mekong eyeshadow and Penny Lane cream blush so i have used these : ). Another favourite has been the NUDE Hydrating Water which you can get here. I will probably do a separate post on this as i like it a lot. I never got one with Fix + but i feel this leaves my skin feeling plump and refreshed, so a definate thumbs up.

Here is the FOTD and what i used:

Face

Nars Sheer Glow- Ceylan

MAC Studio Finish Concealer

NARS Penny Lane Cream Blush

NARS Laguna Bronzer

Eyes

MAC Painterly Paint Pot

Lancome Erika F Eyeshadow

NARS Mekong Eyeshadow

MAC Blacktrack Fluidline

Ardell Sweeties False Lashes

Dior Extase Mascara

Clinique Instant Brow Lift- Soft Brown

Lips

MAC Hue Lipstick

Hope you like it!

Elle x

Stereo Rose... I can't wait to play you again

2010-05-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

MAC is due to release Stereo Rose MSF again so i thought i would do a little post about it.

I have a large collection of MSFs however if i had to keep one this would be it. I have to confess i already have two of these, and yes i did pay over the odds but hey ho some people collect stamps i collect coloured powders. This powder has been commanding prices of £50+ to say i was little bit excited when i heard of the re-release is an understatement.

Stereo Rose is a gorgeous coral with gold shimmer.. when i hear coral and gold shimmer i instantly become excited!

What makes this different from other MSFs is both the pigmentation, which is strong enough for a blush and the glow.......

No glitter, no heavy shimmer just glowy goodness!

Personally i disliked Ripe Peach, i just didn't get the fuss but with this i most certainly get it.

Stereo Rose is due for release with the In the Groove collection in the summer, so mouse at the ready, i predict a sell out!

Will you be purchasing?

Elle x

Product Favourites- March 2010

2010-04-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

March was a good month for product discoveries, few products let me down but those that did have been given a special mention at the end, wouldn’t want them feeling left out : ) Firstly we have product favourites:

Illamasqua Bronzer Duo- Glint and Writhe- Beautiful buildable bronzer with minimal shimmer. Evokes a gorgeous glow, perfect for edging into summer makeup.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation- I won't bore anyone anymore, I think enough has been said, but I really like this foundation on my combo skin.

NARS Eyeshadow Duo- Brumes- MAC has slowly been losing my affection and being replaced with the slightly more grown up and wearable NARS. I got Brumes in a blog sale and I am so glad I did! The colours are super creamy and pigmented and create a beautiful smokey eye. The grey/blue is subtly shimmery and the matte brown is easy to work with giving a slightly different wearable smokey eye.

NARS Multiple- Luxor – This is a gorgeous iced pink which is extremely blendable and buildable. I use this as a cheek highlight it gives me a lovely ethereal glow which looks like it ‘comes from within’. No chunky glitter or sparkle in sight. Slightly on the pricey side at £27.00 but worth it in my opinion.

MAC Lipstick- Color Me Coral- Perfect frosted pale coral, great for spring and with a subtle tan. Avoid all costs however if you don’t like a bit of 80s frost : )

NYX Lipstick- Summer Love- Good basic pink nude (verging on the darker side), creamy texture and fantastic price. I find myself reaching for this regularly when I want a subtle look.

Notable let downs of the month go to (ranked in the level of disappointment experienced):

1. Vita Liberata Silken Sun- When I picked up this product the packaging made all of the right claims; odourless, flawless, clean, sadly that is where everything right about this product ended. Yes there is no smell, yes it is flawless (by default) and yes it felt clean however this is due to the distinct lack of colour. I used this consistently for a week half a tube later and my milk bottle legs did not change one shade. Major product fail.

I have noticed on the website there is a new formula version of this product entitled ‘Warm Silken Sun’, however I feel slightly defrauded by the fact that I was able to pick up this old version in Boots for £12.00. Not impressed.

2. Revlon Lilac Pastelle Nail Varnish- Pretty in the bottle, streaky mess on my nails
3. Maybelline Dreamy Creamy Foundation- Looks PERFECT for two minutes and then slides straight off. Didn’t expect much so disappointment factor low : )

Elle x

MAC Liberty of London and Prep for Glamour

2010-04-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

To be honest the collection turned out to be one big disappointment, maybe i have been following MAC too long, pretty packaging aside i didn't see anything i thought was particularly special.

I picked up two bits from the Liberty of London collection and one from Prep for Colour..

I couldn't resist a coral lipstick, taupe eyeshadow and a pretty bag....

MAC Liberty of London Small bag

MAC Ever Hip Lipstick

MAC Prepped for Glamour Eyeshadow

Swatches to follow as it is too dark now : (

On a positive note what do you ladies think of these?

Chanel 5171 Sunglasses : )

I received some birthday money yesterday and i am very tempted!

Have a great Easter weekend, i have a few posts lined up so make sure you check back!

What did you all get?

Elle x

Rococo Gold Leaf Lacquer w/ China Glaze For Audrey

2010-03-03T13:12:00.000-08:00

Here i present the Rococo Gold Leaf Lacquer.....

I know this will not be to everybody's taste but it is to mine : )

A gorgeous creamy pastel turquoise polish topped with a thin layer of gold leaf = delightfully subtle tacky nails

The Rococo can be bought from SpaceNK for the slightly extortionate sum of £22.50 ( i got mine off of Ebay for a marginally better price). Even at that price i do not have buyer's remorse, for summer i think it will provide an easy way to spruce up a dull mani. The effect can be as subtle as or garish as you wish, as the product is easy to control. I personally have gone closer to the garish side, digging around the bottle to grab as many large gold flakes as possible : )

What do you think? Tack-tastic or pretty and subtle?

Elle x

FOTD- Neutral Matte Eyes

2010-02-13T05:31:00.000-08:00

I have been loving matte make up products recently, i just wish i had a flawless skin to carry off a matte base : ( . Until that time comes i will just have to make do with matte eyes and lips....

EYES

MAC Painterly Paint Pot

MAC Brule Eyeshadow (Lid)

MAC Carbon (blended to within a inch of its life)

MAC Gesso Eyeshadow (highlight)

MAC Brow Shader

YSL Singulier Mascara

MAC Blacktrack Fluidline

FACE

Sana Pore Putty

Chanel Mat Lumiere- Clair

MAC Select Cover - NC15

Nars Laguna Bronzer

NARS Multiple in Copacabana

Mac Trace Gold Blush

LIPS

NYX Summer Love Lipstick

I love the NYX lipstick it is pigmented and creamy and i have to say i like it a lot more than most of my MAC! I would definitely recommend checking them out. I ordered 6 NYX lipsticks of Ebay - all for under £10, score!

Obviously in the spirit of all this matte love i've wanted to try some Illamasqua, what are your favourite lipsticks and creme blushes from them? I do love a good baby pink or beige nude :) What other matte products do you love?

Elle x

OPI Alice in Wonderland = Project 10 Pan Fail

2010-01-31T07:37:00.000-08:00

Project ten pan has been a failure, i managed two items and then caved at the sight of small sparkly things once again....

I partly blaim my manicurist, who let me down the road to temptation, by painting my nails in the gorgeous 'Thanks so muchness' a lovely deep classy shimmery red.

Top (without flash) Bottom (with flash)

I found it really difficult to photograph, in real life it has a beautiful shine and is slightly deeper, like the shade in the first photo. I searched swatches on the internet and found a lot of people have found it hard to photograph, glad it is not just me!

The little set retails for £12.15 and contains a mini bottle of all four shades in the collection, which i don't consider too bad price wise. I can't wait to try the dark glitter called 'Mad as a Hatter' and i will be sure to post as soon as i do! I'm undecided on the blue glitter 'Absolutely Alice', not sure it i really my style but i will give it a go!

I can't wait for the Paul and Joe Alice in Wonderland collection either, i loved the Disney collection from last year!

What do you all make of the Alice in Wonderland inspired collections? Any favourites or are you just not fussed?

Elle x

And the winners are ..........

2010-01-22T12:08:00.000-08:00

It took me a long time to sort though all the entries, i was shocked at the number of entries, but finally we have the winners.......

1st place -UK

Holly @ Dollymix184 writes beauty

2nd place -UK

Jessie-May@ snapshotsandmakeup

1st place -International

Gracie @ Gracified Shopaholix

2nd place- International

Jezzy@ *La dolce vita*

Contact me at elleinwonderland@googlemail.com to arrange your prizes!

Thank you all for all your entries. Another giveaway won't be far away i'm sure!

Elle x

TAG- 10 Things that make you happy : )

2010-01-17T10:35:00.000-08:00

The lovely Vex in the City tagged me for this post, so here goes!

10 things that make me happy

1. My mini- it makes me smile everytime i drive it, sad but true.

2. Unique car boot/ charity shop finds- I love this bracelet i got from a car boot so much, i've never seen one like it!

3. My lovely boyfriend- well it would be pretty sad if he didn't make me happy after three years : )

4. Gossip Girl- i can dream of that lifestyle for just a few short minutes : )

5. Happy Hippos- they do actually make me happy

6. Payday- enough said.

7. Parcels in the post- there is nothing more exciting then opening up a parcel, far more exciting than shopping in the city!

8. The smell of rain in the heat- i don't know why it is just so refreshing

9. My trollbead bracelet- each bead means something to me and brings back special memories

10. Hugh Grant films- Sad as it is they always make me smile!

I'm not sure who has done this tag, so i tag all my followers who want to do this tag! Link me to your post, i'd love to read them!

Elle x

Project 10 Pan : )

2010-01-17T10:01:00.000-08:00

Like many of you i have decided to embark on project 10 pan, my collection is taking over my entire room, so it is time for a slim down! I have decided to include sample/small items but have excluded bath/shower products as i think that would make it too easy!

Here are the potential victims:

MAC Lightscapade MSF

MAC Honey Salve

Benefit Erase Paste

Chanel Mat Lumerie

Urban Decay Underground Eyeshadow

Philosophy Amazing Grace Perfume

Shu Uemura PK 300 Liptick

Lancome Juicy Tube- Toffee

Benefit High Beam

Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshaow- Malted

YSL Teint Parafit

MAC Summerfete TLC (this really is anceint!)

MAC Creamsheen- Partial to Pink

I'm away with work at the moment for around a month so i'm hoping with selective packing i can acheive P10P quite quickly!

Who else is in on P10P? How are you all finding it? Has anyone caved?

Elle x

New Year's Day FOTD and Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T06:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody! I hope this year brings you all health, success and happiness! I can't wait for this year, hopefully it will be better than the end of last year for me, as the cliche goes, things can only get better. Well i hope they can...

Here is my FOTD, nothing ground breaking

Products used-

FACE

Chanel Mat Lumerie

Benefit Hoola

Eyeko 3 in 1 Cream

Chanel Loose Powder- Peche

Benefit Erase Paste

EYES

Matte White from Sleek Acid Palette (Highlight)

Ruby and Millie 840p Eyeshadow (Crease)

MAC Carbon (Crease)

Matte Cream from Dior Incognito Palette

YSL Singulier Mascara

Girls Aloud 'Kimberley' False Eyelashes

LIPS

YSL Rouge Volupte No.1

Blurred close up

(i forgot the macro button!)

Have a great day!

Elle x

MAC Warm and Cozy/ Love Lace Haul

2009-12-30T14:09:00.000-08:00

I was very good today when i hit the MAC store and thought very carefully about what to purchase. Normally I grab all the skinfinishes, regardless of whether i own similar shades however today i implemented 'Damage Limitation' (there is always goings to be a small amount of damage when i hit MAC i'd be foolish to think there wouldn't be!)

The damage was a follows:

Mineralized Skinfinish- By Candlelight

Hypnotizing Eyeshadow

Tinted Lip Conditioner - Feelin' Good

The lovely SA gave me a sample of the Care Blend Oil, which i was considering getting, so i'll definately be trying that again tomorrow.

The lip products seemed a bit dark or dull to me and Comfort MSF looked similar to a lot of the other brown/bronzey MSF's so i skipped that. Personally i'm not a fan of shadesticks as they always seem to snap on me so i avoided them too!

I have tried everything out and i love everything apart from the Tinted Lip Conditioner which doesn't really show up on me : ( . At least it smells nice.

What did everybody else purchase or did you skip this collection completely?

Elle x

FOTD featuring MAC Warm and Cozy Collection

2009-12-30T13:53:00.000-08:00

Products Used-

Face

MAC Prep and Prime

MAC Care Blend Oil- Sweet Orange and Lavender

Chanel Mat Lumiere- Clair (mixed with Care Blend Oil)

Benefit Erase Paste- No.1

Chanel Loose Powder - Peche

MAC Mineralized Skinfinish - By Candlelight

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Eyes
YSL Singuiler Mascara
Estee Lauder Silver Leaf Creaseless Shadow (Base)
MAC Hypnotizing (All over lid)
NARS Kalahari II (Crease + lower lashes)
MAC Shroom e/s (Highlight)
MAC Nylon e/s (Inner Corners)
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline

Lips

MAC Hue Lipstick

MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner- Feelin' Good

Elle x

I'm on twitter : )

2009-12-28T08:39:00.000-08:00

I've finally got sorted and got myself a twitter account, better late than never! I'm still very confused by the whole concept but i think i am getting it! Here is my twitter:

http://twitter.com/ellesconfession

Leave me a comment with your twitter address so i can actually follow some people : )

Elle x

OPI My Private Jet and Seche Vite : )

2009-11-15T04:15:00.000-08:00

I have been having huge problems with chipping nail varnish, whatever brand i seem to buy it ends up chipping within a day so much so i thought i may as well give up with nail varnish on natural nails. I have decided Seche Vite is my last port of call for nails that last more than one day! I purchased the Seche Vite Crystal Clear Base Coat for £7.95 and the Dry Fast Top Coat for £8.95 from Boots. So far i have been very impressed two days and no chips! I will report back later on in the week for the final verdict. I really really hope this lives up to the hype!

I also purchased OPI My Private Jet, which i am also loving! It is really hard to photograph but is basically a dark charcol/brown with holographic sparkles, it is really pretty, in a grungey way!

Excuse the sloppy application, not so clear photo! : )

If any of you have any more tip for longer last nail varnish please leave them!

Hopefully i will be back to blogging at least twice a week from now! Hope you all having a good weekend!

Elle x

Update : )

2009-09-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

Hello my lovely followers : ),

I have been missing from the blog scene for a couple of weeks but i promise i'll be back : )
I managed to kill my camera, not good, and i hate doing blogs with just images copied from the internet but i have managed to borrow one from my dad so i should be able to post some FOTDs etc.

I have also decided i need to SAVE. I really want my own place but that =DEPOSIT=MONEY. I'd been looking at my make up recently and feeling sick at the amount of money i had spent on barely touched items. I have sold a lot (but not a huge amount in comparision to my stash) in the last week and i feel so much better for it! I've also actually USED UP a couple of items which made me proud : ). I seriously suggest if you feel stuck in a rut to do this.

There is nothing out at the moment that is really interesting me in the beauty arena. If you have any suggestions to what is really worth trying let me know. I bought a few bits from the latest MAC collections, but to be honest none of it impressed me ( i think this was the start of my temporary fall out with purchasing make up lol ). I am going to London Saturday so i will expect will find something i need (like a hole in the head) there.

Finally i just wanted to say a massive thank you to Hele for the lovely prize i won in her contest. She sent me a lovely card with it which really made my week. I am loving the Nails Inc Eaton Exfoliator. It is a mean sugar scrub, none of this pansy stuff (cough The Body Shop). It has made my hands soooo smooth. It really is good, so make sure you check it if you have a chance!

Elle x

Review: Rodial Brazilian Tan Dark

2009-08-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

I actually managed to pick this up in TK Maxx for £7.99( well actually £5.50 as the bottle was a bit leaky, so i got extra discount!)however the recommended retail price for this product is £39 for 150ml. I have read about this tan in numerous magazines and it claims to be one of the darkest tans on the market. Victoria Beckham is even said to be a fan! As with all products i buy i want to try them instantly, this being no exception. I set to work with this last evening and these are my thoughts:

The first thing that struck me was the smell and not in a good way! This had a metallic odour to it and was not pleasant at all! Not a good start.

This claims to be a one minute tan, one minute for application and one for drying. This was probably the high point for this product! It did apply smoothly, evenly and left a nice instant tint on the skin and it did also dry very quickly. It did not leave me feeling sticky like other products and i began to think this product was rising in my estimations! But alas, once again i had got excited too quickly.

Considering this product is supposed to be one of the darkest on the market, and i am very pale, i thought i would wake up looking like i had spent two weeks on a tropical island. 9 hours later i awake and to be honest i was surprised by the results. It was more the result of two days on an English beach! The small deposit i was left with was a nice brown with no orange tones but was in no way dark! I have had better results from gradual tanners and i was left disappointed :( The little bit of colour wore off in two days and there i was, back to be pasty self.

According to the website there is an improved version out of this product with a new 'Gardenia Fragrance', which may make this product more bearable. However i do not feel that i could ever justify spending £39 on this product. Obviously i will use up the bottle i have but i very much doubt i will repurchase!

Elle x

London Haul

2009-08-07T13:50:00.000-07:00

Me and my boyfriend went to London on Wednesday for a touch of shopping, luckily he didn't mind being dragged round the beauty counters too much, as he is well rehearsed in this!!

I didn't pick up as much as i thought i would, i decided only to get things which i can not buy here in Norwich. So this is what i picked up...

MAC Peachstock Lipstick
MAC Lip Erase Pale
Shu Uemura Eyeshadow ME Brown (i can't remember at the moment something with a five in! It is bronze/brown shade)
Shu Uemura Lipstick PK300
Ardell Lashes Demi Wispies and another pair which i have forgot the number off, I'm doing well tonight!)
Illamasqua Liquid Metal -Solstice
Marc by Marc Jacobs Lipstick Pen, Mirror and Key Chain
L'oreal Studio Secrets Face Primer

I am loving the Shu Uemura Lipstick, it is a really pretty pinky nude which is flattering while being sheer yet providing a decent level of pigmentation, if that makes sense.

I also wore the demi-wispies when i went clubbing last night and they were amazing. I loved the cat eye effect that they created. This was the best picture i could find but it is not very good

I have tried the primer once and so far so good, however the consistency is thick and may therefore be pore clogging so i might just save this one for nights out! I will report back on this one in a week.

We also spotted this amazing matte black Lamborghini with wait for it ........... bright pink barbie interior outside The Dorchester. I had to add this in as i was quite amazed......

Anyway that is enough rambling ... Hope you have a great weekend and buy lots of pretty make up!

Elle x

My Top Three Nail Polishes

2009-08-07T13:48:00.001-07:00

Here i present are my top three nail polishes for The Nails Buff's Contest-

Rimmel Black Cherry, MAC Love and Friendship, China Glaze For Audrey
Swatched on my nails:

Rimmel Black Cherry- This is a gorgeous deep eggplant purple with subtle shimmer, great for winter and looks with everything.

MAC Love and Friendship- I love this slightly dirty lilac colour (sorry that is the best i can describe it, I'm not good with colours!). There is something which is flattering about this nail varnish which makes my skin look nice in tone.

China Glaze For Audrey- Just for the fact it is the colour of a Tiffany jewellery box and that colour makes me happy : )

Elle x

FOTD- Sleek Curious Palette 2

2009-08-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

I have to say i am loving this palette so much, the shades are so pigmented and require no packing on to reach the colour. I fell in love with the teal shade today, it is so creamy and pigmented and have to say better than most of my MAC blue/greens. MAC are starting to annoy me slightly with their price increases and their same colour different story attitude, or maybe I've just been collecting for too long! For the price of £4.99 for 12 high quality shades this palette can not be faulted, i suggest you all take a look at this next time you are in Superdrug because this really is fantastic!

Close Up of the Palette

Products Used-

FACE

Estee Lauder Double Wear

MAC Sculpt/Shape Powder

Nars Orgasm Blush

Eyes

Sleek Curious Palette-

White Shade- Highlighter (2nd top row)

Turquoise shade- All over (4th top row)

Silver Shade- Crease (1st bottom row)

Urban Decay 24/7 liner Electric

L'oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara

UD PP

Lips

MAC Lollipop Lovin Lipstick

Elle x

FOTD- Sleek Curious Palette

2009-08-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

I went into the city today to get my contest prizes and was surprised to see my Superdrug had the Sleek Curious Palette, so sure enough i got it! To be honet i don't see myself ever wearing the blue shades but the rest are very pretty especially the deep eggplant colour.

Eyes
UD PP Sin
Sleek Curious Palette-
Eggplant- Crease
Taupe- All over
White- Highlighter
L'oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara
The Body Shop Eyeliner Black

Face
Estee Lauder Double Wear Liquid Foundation
Playboy Peach Bunny Blusher
Benefit Moon Beam
MAC Accentuate/Sculpt Duo

Lips
MAC Lollipop Lovin'
Benefit Her Glossiness- V.I.P

Elle x

Nails of the Week- Barry M Bright Pink Nail Paint

2009-08-03T01:28:00.000-07:00

As i am on holiday i decided to get my Bio sculpture gel nails done again and keep them extra long until i go back to work. I am really happy with them as the lady does them by hand, instead of using electric buffers/files etc which personally i'm not a fan of as i have thin nails to start with don't want to make them even worse. I love painting false nails as the colour always glide on so easily and doesn't chip. My offering this week is Barry M Nail Paint in Bright Pink. It is not a bright bright neon pink more of a bubble gum pink kicked up a notch : ) Obviously i will have to tone it down when i go back to work but until then i'm embracing extra long extra bright nails, Katie Price style!

Elle x

We have the winners.........

2009-07-31T10:09:00.000-07:00

I just want to say a big thank you to all of you for entering my contest, the response was huge! Don't be put off if you didn't win this time, i will have another contest at 200 subscribers. The lucky winners as picked by the random number generator were:

1st Prize: Becky @Make Up Me

2nd Prize: tackyblueeyshadow @tackyblueeyeshadow

3rd Prize: cat at catslittleobsessions

Contact me at selfconfessedbeautyaddict@googlemail.com and don't forget to tell me what colours/shades you would like!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Elle x

In and Out- 1

2009-07-28T06:08:00.000-07:00

In

New Shoes
Who doesn't love new shoes?? I love my new Kurt Geiger flats.

Two weeks off Work
Bliss!

My contest : )
don't forget to enter!

Sally Hard as Nails Wrap- Acrylic
Surprisingly good for my flakey nails and cheap too!

Out

Waiting for Pay Day
What more needs to be said?

Shimmer
Sorry you look beautiful in person, horrid on camera : ( Yes, MAC MSFs I'm looking at you!

Elle x

MAC Dolled Up Look : )

2009-07-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

So this was my inspiration. I loved this look and have the postcard on my wall..........

MAC Dolled Up Collection Promo Image (2002)

I once again enlisted the help of my sister for the role of model/guinea pig. Obviously this look was just for fun....

Products Used...

FACE

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation

Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick

MAC Don't Be Shy Blusher

MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Lightscapade

EYES

MAC Eyeshadow Pretty Twisted

MAC Porcelain (highlight from brow shader)

Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner- Zero

Benefit Bad Gal Mascara

Smashbox Brow Tech -Blonde

LIPS

MAC Colour Crafted Lipstick

MAC Bubbles Lipstick

BY Terry Baume de Rose

Remember my contest is still open until Friday- check it out a few posts below!

Elle x

Weekend Hauls

2009-07-27T02:42:00.001-07:00

I spent a bit too much as usual but who could resist the extra 20% of in House of Fraser sale? Certainly not me...

What's in the boxes?....

KG Lily Pumps Black

Kurt Geiger Ludlow Pumps

KG Lily Pumps Purple

I picked up these these gorgeous pumps from Kurt Geiger... i love pumps for work as i already tower most people at 5'10''. I mainly picked the purples ones up because of the gorgeous colour .. the photo doesn't really do them justice. I ended up paying £39 for the purple ones, £39 for the tan ones and £31 for the black ones.

All the Mikey jewellery in the sale was down to £3! I picked up the followings pieces original prices were £28 for the necklace and between £15 and £18 for the earrings!

I also picked up the new Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation and Face Touch up stick, i haven't had a chance to use these properly yet so i will do a review in a week or so!

And finally from Superdrug i picked up the Collection 2000 Dynasty nail varnish (after seeing Hele's blog) and Sally Hansen Hard as Wraps Acrylic. I've been wearing both of these for the past two days and have to say so far I've been really impressed with both, especially the Sally Hansen. It claim to be a sort of acrylic gel in a bottle, obviously it makes them no where near as hard as having acrylic extensions but it makes a nice base coat for me and my peely nails. To start with i applied this to thickly as i didn't realise how thick this was, less is definitely more with this!

I hope that you all had a great weekend and bought lots of nice things!

Elle x

My Favourite CHEAP Beauty Products

2009-07-26T05:41:00.000-07:00

In these credit crunch times i am always on the look out for some cheap items to add to my beauty routine. Here are some of my favourite items that i feel work just as well as more expensive brands.....

1. Schwarzkopf Touch of Silver Shampoo
If you have highlighted blonder hair you will know her hard it is to prevent it from going brassy between appointments, this is my saviour! It basically is a scary purple looking shampoo which you lather up and leave on for five minutes. The only downside is it can be quite drying so make sure you use plenty of conditioner afterwards! I use this product around twice a week and find that works for me. I've only been able to find it in Lloyds Pharmacy and a local supermarket called Roys so have a look ! This costs around £1.99 per bottle so is a great bargain compared to over purple shampoos on the market!

2. Bastiste Dry Shampoo
Great for mornings when you are in a rush! I prefer this in the original version as i'm not a fan of the synthetic scent of the other two which seem to linger through the day!£2.00 from most chemists.

3. Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover
I love this stuff! It feels gentle around your eyes and doesn't sting like some other brands *cough* MAC *cough*. Best of all it removes all my make up leaving no panda eyes in the morning! £2.99 from Boots, but is often buy one get one half price.

These are definitely my top three, what bargain beauty products do you love?

Elle x

Quick EOTD

2009-07-22T13:18:00.000-07:00

Hope that you all had a good day! I'm glad it is Wednesday as it means the weekend is nearly here (well closer than before...). Here is a quick picture of the eye make up i wore today, it is not the best picture as i was in a rush before work!

What I Used:

UD PP ( as always)

MAC Eyeshadow Mancatcher (all over lid)

MAC Eyeshaow Nylon (inner corners and highlight)

MAC Satin Taupe (outer corners +crease)

MAC Penultimate Liner

Benefit Bad Gal Mascara

I'm looking for a new mascara at the moment, as mine is nearly out. What are your favourites? I need some recommendations!

Elle x

Wishlist : )

2009-07-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

Hope everybody had a good weekend! The weather in the UK was grotty all weekend : (

This is what i am lusting after at the moment-

Steal
St Moriz False Tan- I have yet to try this out yet, despite all the raves, mainly because i haven't located it anywhere where i live. I will probably just buy it on ebay when some of my auction end. I would love it be as good as my beloved St Tropez. *fingers crossed*

Splurge
Dior Bronze Harmonie de Blush- Coral Riviera 002
This looks really pretty as i love coral and and i love bronze, i'm hoping this could be my HG bronzer/blush in one . If you have tried this let me know what you think!

Save

MIU MIU - Nappa Charm Tote Black

I know it is not beauty related but this is top of my wishlist. I saw this beauty in TK Maxx about a month ago, went home to get my card and *bam* it was gone in the space of an hour : (. I should of put it on hold but i will live and learn. So to the lady that purchased this bag from TK Maxx, Norwich if for some odd reason you are reading this .... I hope you are enjoying this lovely bag and if you ever decide you would like to give it up let me know : ) I am going to save hard for this beauty.

My question is - What is on your wishlist at the moment, under these headings?

Elle x

Neutral FOTD

2009-07-18T05:58:00.000-07:00

Products Used-

FACE

Chanel Mat Lumiere- Clair

L'oreal Face Secrets Primer
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural- Light Medium

MAC Mineralize Blush- Moon River

EYES

Urban Decay Primer Potion- Sin

MAC Sugarshot Eyeshadow- Highlight

MAC Patina Eyeshadow- All over

MAC Concrete Eyeshadow - Crease

MAC Penultimate Liner

Benfit Bad Gal Mascara

LIPS

YSL Rouge Volupte 1 Nude Beige

I am loving this lipstick at the moment, it is creamy and thick plus the packaging is adorable!

Elle x

My addiction to MSF's

2009-07-18T02:09:00.000-07:00

So apart from the new Colour Craft MSF's i have owned every other one made by MAC at some point... I told you i was addicted. There was something deeply satisfying about trying to 'catch 'em all' with Pleasureflush being the Charazard of the pack. I got that same warm feeling when Pleasureflush dropped on the doorstep as i did as a child when i ripped open that pack of Pokemon cards in Roys to discover the orange shiny Charazard card. This time it was pink beige shimmery powder. My obsessive personality doesn't go away, just changes tact. So here is my collection as of today.........

Group Photo : )

From left to right

Back row: Lightscapade, Porcelain Pink, Glissade, Shimpagne, Light Flush, Petticoat, Stereo Rose
Middle row: Soft and Gentle, Global Glow, Cheeky Bronze, So Ceylon, Shooting Star, Warmed
First row: Refined, Perfect Topping, Redhead, Blonde, Smooth Merge

My favourites have to be Stereo Rose and Lightscapade, this two in my opinion are unique. Stereo Rose gives a beautiful coral-gold glow and Lightscapde a candle lit glow. Both worth hunting down in my eyes

However not all of them have managed to remain.

The ones that fled the nest and why........

Northern Lights- Chunky glitter, unflattering muddy tone. Just plain horrid imo.

Gold Spill- Chunky glitter, borring colour nothing spectacular, had to go! Flashtronic collection MSFs did not cut it for me, MAC what were you thinking!

Naked You- NASTY SILVER CHUNKY GLITTER. That is all i have to say.

Pleasureflush- I bought this when i was desperate to have every single MSF but i always felt guilty about the money i spent on it ..ekk, so i decided to sell it on. It was pretty a pinky beige subtle shimmer which gave a nice glow but to be honest it is not all that. For the money it goes for now i would want it to make me look like a supermodel.... and sadly it didn't acheive that!

Metal Rock- Another one which was purchased in my desperate search to catch them all! This deep bronze goodness was far far far too dark for my pasty skin, i don't know what i was thinking at the time! Thankfully i passed it on to someone with a much more suited skin tone.

Brunette- Same story far too dark for pale me. It had a lovely texture so if you are naturally darker i would recomend finding this!

Elle x

I can resist anything but temptation......

2009-07-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

I had said to myself that there would be no Colour Craft for me but as usual I got caught in the hype *sigh*. At lunchtime i headed off to MAC to deposit my empties but the card came out as well.....

THE DAMAGE

Cheeky Bronze MSF
Myth Lipstick
Smooth Merge MSF
Up the Amp Lipstick
Way to Love Lipstick

I really wanted Colour Craft lipstick but is was sold out already! I will probably try and hunt this down online as it looks really pretty!

So far i a have to say i am happy with Smooth Merge, the middle raspberry colour is unique and not as metallic as Petticoat MSF as far as i can see. Cheeky Bronze on the other hand I'm slightly less impressed with, i think i have buyer's remorse! Although it is pretty the texture seems slightly flaky, not that rich smooth pigment we have been seeing from MAC as of late. I'll try it out and see how i get on and report back!

I have yet to try the lipsticks, Up the Amp is scaring me now i have it in daylight! But we shall see........

Elle x

Weekend Haulin'

2009-07-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

I decided to head in to town Saturday to have a look around. I didn't have anything i want especially- just wanted to see what caught my eye!

I stopped at MAC and had a look at Colour Craft but to be honest i'd seen it all before in way or another. Daft Pink and Smooth Merge looked really pretty but even them that i could walk away from. TBH it is probably that i just have to many MSFs and a subtle variation on the shade of shimmer just can't been justified (and i can justify most purchases!).

If you are new to MAC though i would recommend checking them out as the ones i swatched were not glitter bombs like some of the mineralized products have been in the past and like i said Daft Pink and Smooth Merge were pretty!

In the end i ended up buying some jelly gladiator sandals from New Look which will be great for the beach- and they were a bargain at £8!

This morning as it was a nice morning, once it had stopped raining, i decided to have a wander round the local car boot and i am so glad i did!

Admittedly,there was a lot of trash, but i found these two treasures!

Francois Nars- Make Up Your Mind

I have wanted this book for so long but couldn't justify the £25 for so when i saw this i could't belive it! I picked it up from the mere sum of £3!

This is just a beautiful book to look at and makes a good coffee table book. It comprises of before and afters with acetate sheets showing the colour placement and products. I can't wait to try some of these looks!

Also i picked up these beautiful taupe leather Topshop boots- complete with labels showing the price at £100 for £5! I can't wait to wear these in the autumn with jeans.

Hope you all had a good weekend and bought some nice things!

Elle x

Makeover

2009-07-12T09:14:00.000-07:00

I love doing looks on other people, my own face becomes boring day after day!
I done this look on my sister the other night and is is how it turned out!

Products used-

Face
Chanel Mat Lumerie- Clair
MAC Lustre Drops Pink Rebel (mixed with foundation)
MAC Mineralize Natural Light Medium
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish- Stereo Rose (blush)
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Lightscapade (highlight)
Nars Laguna Bronzer

Eyes
Urban Decay Get Baked Eyeshadow Palette
Half Baked over lid
Twice Baked in crease
MAC Vanilla Pigment as a highlight
Urban Decay 24/7 Liner Bourbon
Cheryl Cole Lashes
Diorshow Mascara Black

Lips
MAC Costa Chic Lipstick
Victoria Secret Beauty Rush Gloss

Elle x

First Post

2009-07-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

First off a little bit about me......
I'm a 19 year old beauty addict and have been for about 5 years now, therefore my beauty stash will last longer than i will!

I love both high and low end brands but my heart mainly belongs to MAC

I am always in such of that perfect nude lipstick ...... sigh

and the *perfect* foundation

I love reading beauty blogs

I'm aiming for this blog to be a mix of reviews, hauls and FOTDs

Happy reading!

Elle x