Looking Back & Looking Forward - November/December

Can you believe that it is the 1st December already! The fat man will be here before we know it! I'm getting ridiculously excited about Christmas considering that I'm 26! Such a big kid me.

This month I've been loving...


Beauty...

Urban Decay Naked Palette. This sneaked in right at the very last minute. I bought it for £25 on buyapowa and fell in love with it as soon as it arrived. As if the magnificent packaging isn't enough this is a very adaptable palette with which you can create plenty of looks and the colours are packed with pigmentation.

Fashion...

Joe Browns Alpine Hooded Cardigan. You can read my post about this cardigan here. I was sent it for review purposes but that isn't why it made it into my favourites. I just really, genuinely do have a lot of love for it.

Food...

Slow Cooked Beef Stew. November saw the arrival of my new slow cooker and lots of yummy stews.

Blog posts:
Lisa made me feel a little more 'normal' with her post entitled Hey, its okay...
I loved reading about Lily's London trip, some of the points had me nodding my head, in particular 4 and 5.
It wouldn't be a monthly summary post without some nail art from Emily! Check out her Movember nails.
While we're on the subject of Emily, she has recently been running a top 10 series, I loved this one of her top 10 past manicures. Seeing them altogether really does confirm just how talented she is.
More nails, I adore Kim's festive candy cane nails and may have to attempt this one myself.
Last but in no ways least - how amazing is Jude's lap tray??

The products that I've used in full this month...

Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser sample from GlossyBox. I've heard some fantastic reviews on this. Unfortunately it didn't work for me. My skin has flared up real bad lately and I'm suffering with terrible acne. I had hoped that this would cure it but sadly it didn't. The acne remains.

AHAVA Deadsea Water Mineral Body Lotion another sample from the same GlossyBox! I used this on my legs. It worked well. I really don't have a lot to say about moisturisers to be honest. It absorbs into the skin quickly and leaves it soft. It has quite a relaxing smell.

Witch Anti Blemish Liquid Concealer. I won this from Sarah's blog a while back. This concealer worked well for me at hiding some of the atrocious spots that I've been suffering with lately. I didn't notice the spots disappearing any quicker than normal though so I'm not sure how good the anti blemish properties are. I doubt that I will re-purchase this as I don't think its quite as good as my Collection 2000 liquid concealer.

Looking back...
November has been a good month for me, I've almost finished my Christmas shopping. Just have one more to buy which I'm waiting for payday for.
I've increased my working hours this month by an hour a day, half hour earlier in the morning and finishing half hour later. It isn't bad at all and the extra money will come in handy.
I've had some good times with friends this month although I do feel as though I haven't seen them as much as I should of.

Looking forward...
4.12.11 I'm hoping to go to Caerleon Craft Fair.
15.12.11 Payday! Hopefully a trip to the cinema to finally go see Breaking Dawn Part 1.
16.12.11 The Bristol Blogger Xmas party! There are still tickets available here.
17.12.11 Spencer and I are going to a friend's evening wedding reception - hello Jodie if you're reading, I can't wait to see you in your dress!
21.12.11 Hopefully going out for a Xmas meal with my friends.
23.12.11 Works Xmas do and the last day of work until 3.1.12!! Our works parties are always fantastic, this year the theme is opera so any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. We're going to The Celtic Manor in Newport, we've had a few parties there and it really is a lovely venue.
24.12.11 Hungover, will hopefully catch up with a few old friends that are home for Christmas.
25.12.11 CHRISTMAS!!!!
31.12.11 NYE! We have no idea what to do for New Years this year. No one seems to be having a house party and we're not having one, we had one last year and don't won't the hassle again. Spencer and I have both said we may be boring and have a chilled one with some food & booze, just the two of us. Or we may go to the local pub.

Busy month ahead! A lot of these plans are subject to change but hopefully they won't.

Have you got much lined up for Christmas? What are you doing for New Years Eve?

FOTD - Office Neutrals

Hi all, I decided its about time I did another FOTD as I haven't done one for ages! My Urban Decay Naked palette recently arrived and I haven't stopped admiring it since! This has become my new go to palette for work - sorry MUA Heaven & Earth, I do still love you, we're just on a break!

I used Rimmel lasting finish foundation in ivory, Rimmel blusher (part of set), ELF HD Powder, MUA black pencil eyeliner (along botton lash only), Eyeko Magic Eyes Mascara, HD Brow Kit and of course the Urban Decay Naked palette.

  I used Virgin all over the eye and Buck in the crease.

What is your go to make-up for a working day? I'm quite boring and tend to reach for the same things everyday. 

Recipe : Peanut Butter Cups

I saw this recipe on Ellieand's blog a while back and had to attempt these beauties for myself! I'm a huge fan of Reese's Peanut Butter cups so the thought of making them in my own home really appealed to me!

 I didn't have enough ingredients to make 12 so I just made 6, I will list the correct ingredients to make 12.

You will need:

40g Icing Sugar

125g Peanut Butter

25g Butter

Cupcake cases

400g Chocolate (you can use whichever you prefer, I used dark)

 Add the Peanut Butter and normal Butter to a microwaveable bowl, microwave for 10 - 20 seconds until melted. Mix together well.

Gradually sift the icing sugar into the mixture.

Melt your chocolate and then add a thin layer to each cupcake case, making sure that the bottom is completely covered. (note that you will need to save some melted chocolate for the top of the cups.)

 Add a dollop of the Peanut Butter mixture to each cupcake case.

 Cover the Peanut Butter mixture with the remainder of the melted chocolate.

Place your baking tray in the fridge for at least three hours or until set, and enjoy :)

Joe Browns Alpine Hooded Cardigan

I've recently been accepted onto the Best British Bloggers programme. As part of this they offered me the chance to pick a product from Joe Browns to review. I jumped at the chance as my favourite purse is from Joe Browns, I've had it about five years now and it is still going strong.

Joe Browns have an amazing selection of chunky knits, I was quite torn for choice! I eventually settled on the Alpine Hooded Cardigan in fuchsia and brown.

The cardigan arrived super quickly, I emailed Katie with my choice on the Wednesday evening and it arrived on the Friday. Very impressive.

Jeans & top, Primark. Shoes, Peacocks. Necklace, Flutterface.

I wore it shopping on Saturday and it was perfect for this cold weather. The sleeves are lovely and long (I've tucked them up here) which means you can snuggle up in it. My only qualm is that it fits perfectly, I like my cardigans to be over sized so really should have sized up. My fault not theirs.

This cardigan, along with some other beauties, is currently on sale for £33.71 and can be purchased here, standard delivery within the UK costs £4, to view other rates click here.


They also have a very simliar version of this cardigan available in blue with a fur trimmed hood. Isn't it gorgeous?

Joe Browns £33.71

*Please note that although I was sent this cardigan for review purposes all opinions are 100% honest and my own*

Week in Photos #38

This week has been...

DELICIOUS

Steak & Stilton with new potatoes and a herb dressing.

SLOW

We've made two stews this week using our new slow cooker. I love it. It is so nice coming home from work to a stew.

TASTY

My favourite meal of the week.

UPDATED

 I finally got around to putting the wall art up in the bedroom, it was so easy to do and it looks lovely. Can't stop singing Snow Patrol when I go to bed now though!

FISHY

 I'm not a big fish person but I really enjoyed this, Cous Cous with Mackerel and Leeks.

 GIFTED

 I received this mixture along with a set of instructions this week. This is Herman, a German friendship cake! I will update you with the progress as I go along.

NEON

 We got our neon on last night for a friends hen do.

NAUGHTY

I had this yummy breakfast bap yesterday to set me up for the drinking session ahead. Its all grilled so not as bad as it looks....

JAMMIE

Jammie Wagon Wheels FTW!

HUNGOVER

Today's hangover cure. As always my eyes were a lot bigger than my belly and I left half of it. The cats enjoyed it though. I pan friend the bacon in olive oil with leeks, it was amazing!

CHRISTMASY

Our town do a Christmas Cavalcade every year which is basically a carnival and the switching on of the lights. I went with my sister and my niece, my cousin and her daughter were also there. The kids love it, and I'll be honest it does bring out the kid in me!
Apologies for the rubbish phone photos!

I also saw the most amazing Christmas jumper last night!

What have you been up to this week?

Week in Post #20

I haven't done one of these posts for ages, I've been trying to behave myself and not buy anything! It all went a bit wrong this week though...

My November Boudoir Prive box, you can read the full review here.

My November GlossyBox, you can read the full review here.

Cheap Smells sent me some products to review. I will be doing a post about cheap smells as well as reviewing all of these products individually.

Some washing up liquid to review for Tesco Home Panels.

Escentual are trying to get a Welsh blogging community going, they contacted me asking if I'd be interested to which I replied yes :) They kindly sent me this voucher for a complimentary Clarins Tri Active Body Treatment at their central pharmacy in Cardiff.

Eeeeekkkkk!! I've got the UD Naked palette! I used buyapowa for the first time and got this for £25. I'm in love!

My ELF order finally arrived. I ordered it on the 19th November and received it yesterday (26th) very unlike their normal speedy service. I was quite annoyed as I did place this order a while back and thought it had gone through, but it didn't.

I applied to be part of Best British Bloggers a while back. They contacted me this week to let me know that my application had been successful and that I could pick a product to review from Joe Browns. I picked this amazing cardigan (which is now on sale FYI). I emailed Kate with my choice on Wednesday evening and received it Friday, impressive!

What goodies have you been receiving lately? Did you give into the buyapowa UD temptation?