Browsing Bourjois

Mmm, Bourjois! (whatever that means..)

Christmas has come and gone but the sales are standing by! With 50% off bargains round the corner and sometimes more, I decided to make the most of this precious time of the year and spend a little bit of my time in the one and only Boots. With some Christmas money and the right bargain hunting mind set, I was ready to go.

The number one must get item on my list was a Bourjois blusher. For the past six months I have been stealing my mum's one and getting away with it (please don't see this) and she uses the 33 LILAS D'OR one. Afraid of the unknown, I instantly picked up this one but then the other shades and testers shimmering caught my eye. I tried another shade on, liked it, but then another one took my fancy and I tried that one too. I was torn! I liked these two much more than the one that my mum used, as hers is more shimmery and good for a night out but I wanted something more natural and everyday. Both the shades I had chosen were a peachy colour which according to my auntie, suited my complexion and so doing what every indecisive person does, she put both blushers behind her back, told me to shut my eyes, revealed them, and asked me on instinct which one I preferred. Having done this, I had the one I wanted - 39 ROSE MANDARIN. (I am loving these pretty and perky names!)

The next item on my list was a simple black eyeliner. Proceed to next item! Seeing as the 3 for 2 option was available, I decided to go for another eyeliner. But this time, it wasn't a liquid one I was after - it was a pencil. Gaining inspiration (yet again) from my mum who has green eyes, I picked up a gentle green pencil eyeliner. The other day she had explained to me how she uses it only slightly at her waterline to emphasize her green eyes and pronounce the colour more, and seeing as my eyes are hazel, I decided to try and do the same! The green isn't a harsh or unnatural one, it's soft and casual which I like. If you want to try it, it's the Bourjois Contour Clubbing Waterproof Eyeliner in 53 morning lime. (oo, the name)

Head down to Bourjois and stock up on makeup ASAP for the best at its least!

Chloe. xxx

Walks, Wanders and Wishes

Happy Christmas Everybody! I've got the tree beside my, my wonderful Nikon Camera pressie round my neck, and my family around me. What more could I want. Christmas Day so far has been a joy: having watched the Queen's speech with a dinner to come, I now turn to you!

What have you been up to so far this Christmas? Are you having a quiet day in with your closest relatives or going out and doing Christmas party style? Either way, it's a time to reflect, thank, and prepare for the new year ahead! Here's how I've spent my Christmas.. 

My favourite pressie has got to be my camera! I'm thinking of starting a YouTube channel soon so keep and eye out :) after a lovely winter walk down the long lanes and frosty hills, we've returned back home to the warmth and comfort of festive songs, films, and conversations. It may not be a white Christmas, but who cares? The snow shall join us shortly but for now, let's enjoy the day.. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!

Chloe. xxx 

A Quaint Edge to Your Wrapping Paper

I don't know about you, but I take pride in wrapping my presents nicely. I can't bear wrapping my presents with tacky, rubbish paper and when that does happen I almost don't want to give the present to the receiver! It is hard to find good quality and sweet looking paper without spending a lot, but there are other ways to wrap your presents with a cute and warm Christmas edge.

Something I need to try with my presents is wrapping it with old fashioned brown parcel paper. It doesn't sound great, but it is! You can get super cheap rolls of this from any supermarket shops near you. Wrap your present up with a generous amount of this parcel paper and, get this, simply secure it and tie with string (doing the cross thing with the string looks very traditional!)

Once you have wrapped up all your presents, you should get a lovely pile of classic wrapped gifts. I sure would be happy to receive something that looks as beautifully festive as it! And how classic would it be, to receive one of these through the post. My heart would jump with joy, and the gift would probably stay under the tree harnessed by the fear of tearing the nice looking thing, sorry in advance to those.

Chloe. xxx

Bonjour, Party Season

Alohaaa, celebration season!

The other night I said my goodbyes and 'I love yous' to my dear friends at my bon voyage party! A party it was, for I had such a great time and yes, it was fun speculating at everybody's outfits... top trend ATM is definitely tartan. I wore a tartan top, and my friend wore a pair of tartan trousers. Let's have a look through the doors of the house and into the world of dress, music and dance!

TARTAN TEE - Topshop (only in red)
NECKLACE - bought in Outfit but similar one here at ASOS

(I don't usually 'smile' like that!) I wore this top and necklace with short peg trousers bought at newlook and with black heels from Forever 21.

TARTAN TROUSERS - buy similar at Urban Outfitters

My friend topped her outfit off with a silky velvet black long sleeved top - perfect!

Tartan is still a big hit it seems! And seeing as tartan incorporates stripes, stripes have had a come back too. My other friend wore a stripy dress from ASOS with some funky bright yellow heels. (see last pic). LOVE!

Other outfits included a purple, triangle cut back peplum top with black disco pants, maroon velvet shorts, tights and again - a long sleeved black velvet too!

Stuck on what to wear? Think: VELVET. TARTAN. STRIPES. This should whisk you through Christmas and new year festivity before you can say cheers!

Chloe. xxx

"dancing the night away..."

Volume Up!

"I can't be bothered to dry my hair, I'll just let it dry naturally over night..."

Wrong decision. Understandable however, if you have curlissimo hair (like my sister) but if you don't, so many good things come out of using those extra 15 minutes to dry your hair. Here's what:

1. The volume notch will most certainly be turned up if you do. Especially if you flip your head upside down! I know, from experience, that this works! It lifts your roots naturally (the natural angle at which the dryer hits your hair)  so go on and do it!

2. Natural hair is often half wavy and half straight, and a bit bumpy in random places come the unanticipated morning. There's an easy way to avoid this - and you know how ;)

3. I don't know about you, but I find sleeping with wet hair extremely uncomfortable! It is proven that it isn't very good for you. The wet and cold can give you a stiff and achey neck and a horrible cold. 

4. Following my 'Tuesday's Tips and Treats' post - regarding many other well, tips and treats - by blow drying your hair you can also achieve super straight, and lasting hair - which is a lot less damaging than straightening it!

So this was just another little tip for you to pocket!

Chloe. xxx

I Hate Bobby Pins

It's as simple as that. I hate bobby pins. Even when I use about 4 in the same spot, one way or another they will bend or stretch or fall out during the day: doing not what they're supposed to, which is grip your hair and pin it in place!

Sometimes in the morning I fancy putting my hair in a purposely messy bun, or maybe a ponytail. But me, being one of those people with frustratingly annoying flicky bits of hair that you tuck round your ears, and then they pop up again, NEED pins for these hairstyles - otherwise I look like I have hair growing out my ears! It is frequently a wish of mine to have hair like some people who can pull out thin straight strands which frame their face. Although this need for pins comes with some inevitable facts:

Half the time I cannot find any bobby pins to even use. You buy a quite expensive pack of pins from Boots but somehow they end up going missing. You put some in your pockets, in fact, most in your pockets. Some end up on the floor in crevices, driving my mum crazy, and some, just seem to lose themselves!

I simply refuse to be one of those ranting bloggers who has nothing good to say, that isn't what I would like to be so fear not! This post has a point. I have found a solution to this bobby pin problem of mine, and the answer lies on the numerous shelves containing little trinkets belonging to none other than Accessorize itself.

If I could find a link to them I would, but they don't seem to be on the website so I will just have to provide a photo and a description of these magic-working wonders. For my birthday, my friend bought me some thick (verryy thick) hair slides and despite being patterned, they were quite ideal. They secured those annoying tufts of hair around my ears with only one pin needed (shock horror!) and pinned everything in place that I wanted to be pinned in place. Braided hair crown, you say? Why, these slides assure you of a neat and tucked hairstyle all day long! My friend bought me a miracle, and one I can't get enough of now!

Yes, they don't eliminate the fact that they can still get lost but who cares: they work! :) I finished the pack I received for my birthday after about three weeks but whilst in London the other day, I couldn't help but take a sneaky peak in Accessorize again and pick some more of these slides up. So, get rid of your everyday bobby pins and 'bob' yourself down to Accessorize for these convenient slides which basically do the job. You won't be disappointed! 

Chloe. xxx

A Hunter Wellies Tale: Muddy Ever After

Today's discussion topic: are Hunter wellies worth the buy? 

Sure they're quite expensive and being something I'd always wanted, I was sceptical whether they would live up to their reputation as being an every girl's must have as summer becomes autumn and sun becomes rain.

Since it was my birthday a few weeks ago, I decided I would try a pair of these wellies as the only pair I had were pink and purple polka dot. Nothing wrong with that, you may think, but they had holes in. Writing this, I realise another question may come into play: if so, what colour? I had told my mum I wanted them in red, seeing all the Pinterest posts of girls in their quirky plum wellington boots and umbrellas in the rain whilst on an old English street and frankly, I wanted that to be me!

And so the big day arrives, I open the package, and there are my Hunter wellies. I was so happy I didn't even think about the fact they were navy - I was just grateful I had got them! As the day proceeded, I slowly remembered how I had liked them in red and wondered whether I could return them for a pair of coloured ones, to which Mum had no problem with but replied...

"I think navy is more practical and goes with anything. After all, you don't want to be walking down the road where someone says 'hello!' and [mimics someone saying hello then noticing the intensely luminous red wellies] then looks straight down at your feet."

And that's where a mother's instinct comes in handy - there's nothing like a first hand fashion guru who's been there and done that to know what's right and what isn't. After a few days of pondering I tried them on, and when they fit perfectly I didn't want to take them off. The comfort, warmth and look of the wellies was too much to give up now! Deciding navy was for the best, and being slightly impatient, too, I kept them. I think I slowly fell in love with them - though not to the point where I slept in them. (That's another story, involving converse shoes...) Wellies in bed is not a common sight!

So, given the snug but comfortable fit, the stylish and practical look, the warmth and insulation they provide, I would give my Hunter wellies a 5/5 - and I haven't even splashed in a puddle with them yet!

Are Hunter wellies worth the buy? Yes they are!

Chloe. xxx