MOTHER'S DAY

 I thought I would take a different approach with this post and focus on what I did at the weekend. If you live within the UK, then I'm sure you'll know that Sunday was Mother's Day; unless of course, you're a house hermit in hibernation. I always tend to buy my Mam* the same thing every year, (CD's, DVD's, Perfume, yadda yadda) as you can tell I'm not very imaginative. However, this year I thought I'd shake things up a little and take her out for a nice meal at Zizzi's in the Metrocentre, followed by a shopping trip. Let me tell you now that my Mam is one fussy lady! I had the daunting task of finding her a jacket after our meal; I can only compare this to finding a needle in a haystack, but truth be told, WE DID IT (gold star to me!) But this post is all about the food, isn't it always about the food? For those of you who haven't been to Zizzi's, I would highly recommend it! Amazing staff, food and atmosphere; mixing modern décor with authentic stone baked pizzas. We opted for the Mother's Day set menu and boy was it good! Shopping afterwards became quite a struggle due to our bellies being so full! The starter was a mixture of antipasti; cured meats, garlic bread and olives galore! The main, or should I say the main show, was the Sofia Rustica pizza. Bigger than my face and loaded with spicy chicken, pepperoni, chillies and sausage, this pizza was one of the best I've ever ate and I've ate a lot! If you do order, keep a pitcher of water handy as things can get a bit hot n' spicy. Finishing off with a Tirimasu; the picture documents my defeat. I simply could not eat another thing! If you are looking for a nice relaxed dinner and portions bigger than an infant child then Zizzi's is the one. And of course, a shopping trip for my Mam would automatically end up in a shopping trip for myself due to poor self control. We both picked up some great pieces and I'll be posting a haul very soon!

So, how did you all spend your Mother's Day or normal Sunday, hope it was a good one?!

*Mam = Mother and Mum just don't cut it with my Mam as she says it makes her sound older than she is. So Mam it is, how very Geordie of me!



MARCH BEAUTY FAVOURITES

It's so hard trying to round down all my beauty picks for the month, but I think I've done the job. This is my pick of the bunch.

Oribe Dry Tezturizing Spray: Oh mamma, this stuff is good! And for its £38 price tag it had to be! Instant tousled texture and big volume, this spray applies just like dry shampoo. Unlike many dry sprays, Oribe have created a wonder product, leaving no residue but 'just styled' beautiful hair. I find that I always use this product on days when my hair is freshly washed just to add a bit of grit to make styling easier.

The Brightside Bubble Bar: Orange, mango, lemon, all the citrus fruits you could think of combined into one bubble bar. Crumble the product into your running bath water and watch the magic happen! So good, I had to repurchase.
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer: I really don't think there is a better drugstore concealer out there! This is my 6th or 7th tube and I just cannot get enough. I've had a lot of late nights recently but this concealer has managed to cancel out any signs of under eye bags.
L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara: Great quality for a great price. If you have straight short eyelashes like myself, then this is the perfect mascara. The wand is designed to reach each individual lash, and with this both volume and definition can be created.
Sleek Au Naturel Palette: An impulse buy on boxing day, it is not until this past month that I have taken a real shine to this palette. For £7.99 it is a bargain! I've found myself reaching for this palette over my much loved Naked one. The colours are pigmented and just beautiful. Ideal for building the perfect smokey eye on a night out, but maybe too intense to wear throughout the day.
Soap and Glory Kick Ass Powder: I was an avid lover of the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder for the longest time but after seeing this powder regularly mentioned on Lily Pebbles blog I just had to try it out for myself. Reduces shine, blurs pores and can be used as an instant retouch throughout the day without weighing down your skin. The powder is translucent, so there is no need to worry about any extra colour being added on top of your foundation. I will never look for another powder now this is in my makeup bag.
MAC Harmony: I tend to wear MAC Harmony as more of a contour than a blush, it has been one of my favourite cheek products this past month. Instantly adding warmth to the skin. I apply the product with a Real Techniques Blush Brush; the tapered edges of the brush fit perfectly into the hollows of my cheeks. I often pair Harmony with Nars Laguna for a more intense bronzed look, but there are often days where I'll wear Harmony by itself.



OOTN - FALL OUT BOY EDITION

Please be gentle with me, this is my first ever outfit post and I'm hoping the results are worthwhile showing on my blog! Editing is not my strong point and I'm hoping my next outfit post will be of better quality. Last night was a pretty big deal, my younger self would be ecstatic if she knew I was about to go and see Fall Out Boy for the second time in less than a year. They really did not disappoint, AH-MAZING. Patrick Stump sure has a strong set of lungs and I couldn't help but try to belt out every note along with him. The whole of the Metro Radio Arena was buzzing with energy and they put on such a good show. I kept my outfit fairly casual, adding my comfiest heeled boots to dress it up. The recent weather has made me want to whack all my summer colours out, hence the very bright top! My jeans are a washed out pair of Leigh jeans that I slit across the knees. Love a bit of DIY! Let's hope this weather continues as I can't wait to wear more orange and yellow tones, even if it does wash out my un-tanned skin.

Jacket - Miss Selfridge (old)
Top- TOPSHOP
Jeans - TOPSHOP (DIY)
Boots - Office
Bag - Primark

 

 



THE FACE MASK

Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask £22

Bad face days, the days when your skin looks clogged up, dirty and oily. We all get them and quite frankly, they're a pain in the backside. Introducing Origins Clear Improvement mask, the aid to congested skin. A clay based mask with added charcoal and white China clay; the Origins mask claims to "absorb environmental pollutants" and "dissolve impurities." Whenever I feel a bad breakout coming on, this is my product of choice! Before applying, I always make sure to open the pores on my face with a warm cloth, this allows the product to really work it's way into the skin. The mask is thick and applies evenly over the face. Once dry, remove the residue with warm water. I always find my skin to be a lot smoother, soft and cleaner after using the mask without feeling too tight. There are alternatively cheaper clay masks on the market, but I find that this Origins mask just benefits my skin more than any other mask I've tried.

INSTAGRAM #1

chocolate pizza in bed with the other half, a treat at the ravensworth arms, happy birthday dad, night out selfie, amazing cheesecake made by my brother, finding vintage arcade games, DIY jeans, ultimate man crush, bargain buy.

WHAT'S IN MY HANDBAG?

What's in my bag? I'll show you!

My TOPSHOP Morino Holdall bag has been my go to bag for many months now. Ideal for travelling to university and taking out shopping. The bag can be worn with it's shoulder strap or carried using the handles.

I'm never without my iPhone 4s or Kindle Fire. My Kindle is in a cheap pleather carry case I found from eBay; which set me back a measly £4.99! I always make sure to have both phone and Kindle fully charged before leaving the house if I'm taking public transport to University.

I'm not one for lugging my entire makeup collection around with me. I'll always make sure to set my makeup before I go out the house to avoid touch ups. However, one touch up that cannot be avoided; lipstick. I carry MAC Myth around with me on a daily basis. This is my go to nude colour, although I do find it can look a little caked on. Try dabbing the lipstick onto your lips with a finger to build colour.  I also make sure to have my Blistex conditioning lip balm with me to combat those dry lips!

I'm obsessed with big hair, and I will happily hold up my hand to say I never stop rearranging or touching my own. I'll use the tangle teezer to sort out any stray hairs and Samy Fat Hair Amplifying Hairspray to keep them in place. It is without a doubt, hands down, jump in the air and shout about it; the best hairspray I have ever used! Keep an eye out at Superdrug as they often have offers on.

Lastly, my extra bits. Now the weather is getting brighter I can start wearing my sunglasses again! I indulged in some Ray ban Aviators last year and have been waiting eagerly for another chance to get them out. And not to forget! My purse, where I keep my driver's license, bank and loyalty cards, a million receipts and loose change.

What do you carry in your bag?

A LITTLE INTRODUCTION...

Finally, I'm blogging! It's taken a lot of time and courage to put myself out here on the internet but now I have, I hope it's going to be the start of something enjoyable.

I'm currently juggling my time between university; 2nd year studying English Literature, and my job working for a well known high street store. Over the last year or two I've found myself more and more immersed in the world of fashion and beauty. I blame my job and student loan equally for my need to buy the latest products and trial the latest trends. So I thought to myself, why not take my love for fashion and beauty and apply it to something productive? Henceforth this blog! I'm just getting started so expect slow things at first, but as time progresses I hope to be able to contribute to this blog multiple times a week. And of course, the blog will be all things fashion and beauty related!

Feel free to follow me on all links provided.