Recent Purchases!

Happy Wednesday! We are half way through the week and so close to the weekend! I hope you are having a good one. This is my last week at work before I go on holiday and I can’t wait. We are going to Fuerteventura for a week, it was a very last minute trip but it is much needed. Because of this I’ve been on a bit of an ‘un-official’ spending ban just to try and save some money but a few things always seem to sneak through so I thought I would share those few sneaky purchases with you on my blog..

I was out shopping on Sunday with my friend and fellow blogger Katie when she mentioned this new L’Oreal shampoo, the L’Oreal Elvive Dream Lengths Restoring Shampoo. As soon as she mentioned it I knew I had to try it as I have quite long hair and struggle to keep the ends in good condition. Whilst looking at this I also noticed the Dream Lengths Hair Mask. I have never tried a hair mask before but liked the sound of this one as you apply it to the lengths in the shower and then wash it out. By the time this has gone up I will only have used these once but I definitely intend to do a full review when I have used them quite a few times. This range was also on 3 for £10 which is a bargain as the shampoo is £4.99 and the mask is £5.10 so I saved a fiver!! On that same shopping trip I bought my usual concealer, the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in the shade Fair 1 because I love this stuff – you can see a full review here.

As you may or may not know I moved into a new flat in January so I have been buying a few things for the flat and one of my favourite things has got to be my new cushion covers from H&M Home. They are such good quality and so affordable! I went for the Dusky Pink Jacquard Weave, the Old Rose Cotton Canvas and the Old Rose Patterned cushion covers and think they look super pretty on my sofa! The next purchase, which is also for my living room, is my new rug from Ikea. I went for the Adum rug in the Light Brown-Pink colour and although it was only £40 I am so impressed with the quality and with how it looks (it looks different colours in different lights but its basically a dusky pink).

So they are my recent purchases over the last couple of months. What have you been buying recently?

I hope you enjoyed this post! Speak soon.

Rachel xx

Spring Essentials

Seeing as though its nearly Spring I thought I would share some of my ‘Spring Essentials’ with you. I was going to keep it to just beauty but I then thought ‘why not just cover everything’ so thats what I’ve decided to do – I’m going to include beauty, fashion, skincare and then some random essentials which I have decided to put into a handbag category because its basically everything that gets thrown into my handbag. So lets get started..

Beauty Essentials

For me Spring is all about the light makeup to go with the pretty dresses and flowy tops. So I like to keep my eyeshadow nice and light and this Spring I will probably be reaching for my trusty Charlotte Tilbury Golden Goddess eyeshadow palette. You can create so many looks with this palette to go from day to night all while keeping your makeup super light. Once your makeup is all done and outfit sorted (for my fashion essentials please keep reading ;)) you need some perfume and my usual choice would be Chanel Chance but for a while now I have been loving a Zara perfume in the scent Oriental. Its such a subtle perfume but I am obsessed. Its got a slightly floral scent to it but then kind of musky at the same time (if that makes any sense – if not then go give it a smell.)Fashion Essentials

You never know what the weather is going to be like in any season here in the UK but Spring can sometimes get quite chilly even when the sun is out so I always like to have a scarf with me just incase the wind picks up. I have a slight obsession with scarves and have quite a lot but I am loving this light blue one at the moment. These scarves are really good because they are a nice light material that can be kept in your handbag, without taking up too much room, or to just throw on over your outfit.Skincare Essentials

Moisturiser is always a must for me but sometimes you need a little bit extra just to get you through the cold months. My firm faves are definitely the Body Shop Aloe Soothing Day Cream and the Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream. I always talk about these products so if you want to know more feel free to check out this post. Another skincare essentials is a face mask because I don’t know about you but when the seasons change, so does my skin! So to try and help it out a bit I have been using the Liz Earle Deep Cleansing mask. Its absolutely brilliant at getting rid of any blemishes. I actually included it in my last post so feel free to check that out for more information.

Handbag Essentials

I decided to name this category ‘handbag essentials’ because this is basically all the little extras that I need and just throw in my handbag. First up is hand cream, my hands are always so dry when its cold so hand cream is definitely an essential. I always use the Body Shop hand creams because they work and all smell amazing! My favourite at the moment is Vanilla Pumpkin, which may have been an Autumn limited edition scent, but its so amazing they should make it an all year round product. Another things I always like to have with me is a hairbrush because when that wind picks up and you’ve just spent ages on your hair, its not an ideal situation! So a hairbrush is a MUST!I could probably include a few more but then this post would be ridiculously long and no-one would read it so the above are my main Spring Essentials. I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know your Spring Essentials in the comments and we can can chat about how exciting it is that its finally getting slightly warmer and lighter in the mornings/evenings!

Speak soon.

Rachel xx

Favourite High Street Store

So we all love shopping right? Yes of course we do, who doesn’t love spending money you don’t have on stuff you don’t really need?! Because we all love it I thought I would write about my current favourite store with you and share some of the things that I have found on their website and really want to purchase.. some of which I may have bought just before I started writing this, which means there may also be a haul sometime soon too 🙂

So my favourite high street store at the moment is H&M. Its affordable, the clothes are super nice, good quality and the home section is absolutely stunning! What I like about H&M is although they have some more questionable items of clothing (but which clothes store doesn’t), most of their clothes are actually really nice and they have a lot that I would actually wear. I am really loving the ‘basics’ section at the moment, especially for long sleeved work tops. The homeware section is amazing and I want to buy absolutely everything. I recently got my cushion covers from H&M and I am so happy with them. If you want to see which ones I got just head over to my Quick Catch Up post as I shared a picture of them there.

Now onto my H&M wishlist..

Striped Dress – I really like this dress! Its from the basics collection but it looks such good quality and would be good for work or a casual event.

Embroidered Blouse – This is super pretty and again would be good for lots of different occasions. I am really into shirts so I had to include this on my list.

Petit Fit Skinny Jeans – I have just ordered these jeans as I am currently on the hunt for a new pair and thought these looked really good as well as being super affordable.

Long-sleeved Jersey Top – These tops are just the best. I wear them for work, for casual events and to chill around the house. They look great tucked in or out and I want it in every colour!!

Knitted Wool-blend Cardigan – Cardigans are definitely something that I need more of, especially super cosy ones like this. I think this looks really soft and I’m now gutted that I didn’t add it to my order.

Knitted Cotton-blend Blanket – I love blankets and always have one wrapped around me when chilling on the sofa. This one looks really cosy as well and isn’t too expensive.

Candle Tray – This kind of homeware piece is really in at the moment and I really like them. I would probably use this to put my perfumes on.. it would also be good for blog/Instagram pictures.

Striped Cotton Rug – I am obsessed with rugs at the moment and really want a long rug for my hallway. This one would be perfect – now to convince my partner to let me buy it ;).

I hope you enjoyed this post. What is your favourite store at the moment?

Speak soon.

Rachel xx

Still Me by JoJo Moyes | Review

Okay so whatever you are currently reading, stop (read this blog post) and then read Still Me by JoJo Moyes! If you haven’t heard of this book series then where have you been!! This is the third one in the series and I absolutely loved it!! I have done reviews of the the first two books here – Me Before You and After You so I wont say much about those other than they are also brilliant.

So like I said Still Me is the third book in this series but this time the main character Lou Clark moves to New York for a job working for a rich family as an assistant/companion for the wife of a successful business man. If you have read the other two then you know Lou Clark doesn’t have a quiet life so a lot happens whilst she is living in New York for a year. I don’t want to say too much otherwise I will ruin it but this book definitely had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! I didn’t want it to end but at the same time I just wanted to finish it so that I could find out what happened.

Blurb

Lou Clark knows too many things . . .She knows how many miles lie between her new home in New York and her new boyfriend Sam in London. She knows her employer is a good man and she knows his wife is keeping a secret from him.

What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to meet someone who’s going to turn her whole life upside down.

Because Josh will remind her so much of a man she used to know that it’ll hurt. Lou won’t know what to do next, but she knows that whatever she chooses is going to change everything.

Now if that doesn’t make you want to read this then I don’t know what will, especially if you already know the full story. I am usually quite slow at reading because I only really have time on my lunch breaks at work and sometimes just before going to bed, but I read this book so fast I was actually gutted when I finished it because I NEED to know what happens next!! I really hope that there is a fourth book coming out very, very soon and would definitely recommend this book if you’ve read the other two. If you haven’t then I recommend those as well.

Let me know if you have read these books and what you think about them? I hope you enjoyed this mini review. As usual please feel free to leave any book recommendations in the comments.

Speak soon.

Rachel xx

 

Face Mask Favourites

I do love a good pamper and what pamper evening is complete without a face mask.. This is why I am sharing some of my favourite face masks with you. Don’t forget to share your faves in the comments too – I always like to try new products.

• L’Oreal Paris Pure Clay Glow Face Mask – This mask is a good all rounder and one I tend to use when my skin is looking okay but just needs a little pick me up. The main benefits of this face mask are to brighten and exfoliate which is definitely does do.
• Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask – I absolutely love Liz Earle products as you can always trust that they do what it claims. This is the most recent face mask I have tried and its one that I like to use when my skin needs a good sort out. It really helps clear up my skin and gives me that fresh, clean feeling afterwards. Its almost like you can feel it working on the skin which I like and definitely need every now and then.
• Lush Mask of Magnaminty – I have used this for quite a few years now as it was recommended to me to help get rid of spots. Its not as intense as the Liz Earle mask but it still does the trick. It also smells really good!

Once I have washed the face mask off I like to slather my face in a thick moisturiser and for a while now I have been using the Body Shop Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream. It helps keep my skin moisturised over night and gets rid of dry skin which I suffer from around this time of the year. Now the face mask is done and my skin is much more hydrated its time to either read my book or watch some Friends (so obsessed with friends at the moment!)

Don’t forget to let me know some of your face mask favourites and let me know if you have tried any of the above.

Speak soon..

Rachel xx

Quick Catch Up..

As you may have noticed there have been no posts on my blog since September last year – yes I am a rubbish human being. I guess the reason is, quite simply, because I just lost all motivation and every time I sat down to write I would ‘get side-tracked’ and start doing everything else but blogging. I was also trying to find a new flat as our tenancy was coming to an end so I was spending all my time online trying to find the perfect flat.. which we managed to do as you will see in a sec. However, I feel like my motivation is slowly coming back hense this post. I thought I’d do a little catch up and share a few pictures of my new flat because I am slightly in love with it.

This is my living room and its by far my favourite room. Its so cosy on a night when all my fairy lights are on, I just love chilling in here and find it so relaxing! I especially love my new rug from Ikea and cushion covers from H&M Home. What are your favourite home decor shops/websites at the moment?

I hope you enjoyed this mini catch up. Please do send me links to your blogs as I have been away for a while I need to have a catch up on everything that I have missed.

Speak soon..

Rachel xx

BirchBox x Oliver Bonas – September

‘Work Hard, Play Hard & Be Kind’ that is the quote that’s on the front of the September Birchbox and I love it! This months box is a collaboration with Oliver Bonas which is definitely one of my all time favourite shops, mainly for their home decor pieces! As soon as I found out that they were collaborating with Oliver Bonas I was instantly excited and knew it would be a good one! One thing I like about Birchbox is some months you can choose the design of your box and this month you got two choices so I went for this one. I think its super fun, bright and the print is perfect for this collaboration. When you get into the box the products are also super bright and I’m really looking forward to trying these out. As usual there are 5 products two of which are full size and the rest sample size.

• Manna Kadar 3 in 1 Blush, Highlight, Eyeshadow (Full Size) – This is super pretty and I have already used it as an eyeshadow. This is one of the full size products and its in the shade Fantasy.
• Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle – I’m never usually bothered about hair products, I don’t know why but they just never excite me. However, when I realised that this is a leave in conditioner I was quite intrigued. I haven’t tried it yet but one thing I can say is that it smells so nice!
• Dr PawPaw Original Clear Balm (Full Size) – This is another multi-use product and can be used for the lips, skin, cuticles and beauty finishing. First impressions of this are, it feels like velvet when on the skin so thats a plus from me. I still need to try it properly though but I feel like this will be a good product to have now that its getting into the Autumn/Winter seasons.
• Arrow Boost Colour Enhancing Lip Balm – The packaging on this is super fun, I love it! I’ve never tried a product like this before as when you apply it, it changes colour to suit your skin tone which is really interesting. It also smells really fresh.
• Polaar IcyMagic Instant Eye Contour Energiser – I think this is my favourite product in this months box. I love skin care, especially when its eye related because I am always on the hunt for new eye creams etc. This is a cooling eye roll on to soothe tired eyes, which is my eyes all the time!! Hopefully this can work its magic and sort out my eyes!!

So thats everything in the September Birchbox. I did also ‘upgrade’ my box for a little extra cost and got an Oliver Bonas candle but completely forgot to include it in the photos.. silly me! They also included some super cute stickers and a 15% off code to use on the OB website so I will definitely be using that!! If you received this Birchbox let me know which product you were most excited about. See you soon!

Rachel x

The Perfect Nail Combination!

Painting my nails is one of those tasks that when I think about it I find it such a chore but then when I actually start I find it very therapeutic. I was painting my nails recently and discovered a super pretty combo using the Ciate Paint Pot in the shade Ice Frappe and a Kiko Glitter Metals Polish in the shade 002. I like this combo so much that I have decided to do this for my holiday rather than getting them done in a salon. Plus I’m saving money this way – bonus!I always apply a clear base coat before painting my nails and I just use one from Barry M then I go ahead and put the colour on. I actually got the Ciate nail polish in a magazine and it is probably one of my favourite nail polishes that I own. So after the clear basecoat I apply two coats of Ice Frappe. Once that has dried I put on a thin coat of the Kiko Glitter Metals on my ring finger and it just finishes it off nicely. Depending what colour you apply the Kiko polish over it can look different each time but this has got to be my favourite so far. Once they have all dried I then apply a topcoat which is the same Barry M clear polish as it’s a topcoat and a basecoat.I absolutely love this combination and will definitely be wearing it for a long time! With the base and topcoat it usually lasts about a week before it starts to chip but I am pretty happy with that. Usually my nail polish only lasts about 1 or 2 days which is so annoying because who’s got time to be re-doing your nails every other day… not me!I hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know your favourite nail polish’s at the moment, I feel I need to have a clear out and buy some nice new fresh colours! So any recommendations are welcome.

Rachel xx

What’s in my Holiday Makeup Bag & Skin Care!

On Friday I will be on my way to Tenerife and I am so flippin’ excited to get some sun and just relax for a whole week! So I thought I would let you know what makeup I will be taking with me. I find packing in general hard because I always feel like I’ve missed something off my list clothes wise and then adding makeup to that situation just makes things harder, especially because I don’t want to be taking my whole makeup collection. So I always find these posts super helpful. I thought I would split it into two sections, skincare and makeup because skin care is just as important!

SkincareI’ll start with skincare as its super important that the skin is always hydrated and protected from the sun because who wants to age early?! Not me!

• Nivea Tinted Moisturising Day Cream – On the days where I’m not wearing makeup this is what I will be using as it has SPF 15 in and because its tinted it will even out my skin tone and make me feel a little more like myself!
• The Body Shop Aloe Vera Day Moisturiser – I love this stuff and have used it everyday for the last couple of years. Its super lightweight so perfect for underneath makeup.
• NYX Studio Perfect Primer – This is my new favourite primer and will probably use this with and without makeup on top as it really helps blur out my pores.
• The Body Shop Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream – This is a thicker consistency and really keeps my skin hydrated on a night.
• Doux Me Pure Spring Water Spray – I received this in one of my Birchboxes and have only just started using it but I feel like it will be perfect on holiday for some extra hydration on a morning and throughout the day. You can also use it on your body which will be nice and refreshing.
• Vichy Normaderm Face Wash – This is another product that I have used for years and love so this will definitely be coming with me! Once I have used it, it makes my skin feel so clean and refreshed.

Makeup

• Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation – This is the only foundation I use at the moment but I will only be wearing it on a night as I will hopefully be makeup free for most of the holiday!
• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – Concealer is a must for me as I have dark circles so this will be used during the day of I’m going out anywhere and also on a night along with foundation.
• Laura Mercier Translucent Powder – Why would I take any other powder?! I absolutely love this stuff!!
• TopShop Glow Stick – I really like this for a subtle glow through out the day so I could use this with or without a full face of makeup just for an extra glow.
• Zoeva Naturally Yours Eyeshadow Palette – Think I will probably take just the one palette as this has all the shades in that I will need and they are so easy and quick to apply.
• L’Oreal Super Slim Eyeliner & Doucce Punk Volumizer Mascara – Can’t go anywhere without these two!!
• Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette – I’m taking this because it’s got everything I need in one place, plus I am loving using this at the moment.
• Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil – This is the only eyebrow product I’ve found that is light enough for me.

I feel like that is quite a lot to take on holiday but I like to be prepared and I still wear makeup on holiday in an evening so it’s not too bad. What’s the one product that you can’t go anywhere without? Let me know in the comments 🙂

Rachel xx

Uncommon Goods – Gift Guide

Buying gifts for people can be a struggle sometimes especially when trying to think of something different or unique. I also have quite a big family so birthdays seem to be coming round every month, sometimes multiple times a month for me! So when Uncommon Goods contacted me I had a look at their website and just loved the whole idea behind it. They have so many unusual gifts for everyone ranging from cute, unique jewellery to amazing home decor pieces. So to help anyone struggling with finding a unique birthday present for a family member or friend I thought I would do a gift guide showing you some of my favourite things from their website. They have different sections on their website depending on who you are buying for which makes it super easy to use.

I’ll start off with gifts for all the lovely women in your life. There were so many things to choose from but I finally decided on the Birthstone Wishing Ball which is basically somewhere to record any wishes/dreams you have for that year and you can pop them in here and then after the year is up have a read and see how many came true. These are handmade as well so everyone will be completely unique.Now for all the gifts/gadgets for men. This is one that I find the hardest because they never seem to be bothered or know what they want. Pretty much all the men in my life love gadgets so I thought this gift was a perfect one for the gadget lovers/big kids. Its called Makey Makey and basically its a circuit board that allows you to turn anything into a working keyboard.. how cool is that!?Finally, this is just all the gifts that would suit anyone which is good if you aren’t looking for something in particular. I came across these which are similar to the Wishing Balls but its a Wine Bottle Stopper and I just think its so pretty! I can already think of quite a few family members who would love this!!So that is my birthday gift guide using the Uncommon Goods website. I hope this helps you in someway and gives you some fun unique gift ideas. See you soon!

Rachel xx

This post was sponsored by Uncommon Goods.