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?

Looking Back & Looking Forward - September/November

Geez I cannot believe that is November! November makes me so miserable its unbelievable, I think I have SAD! This horrible, dark, cold and damp weather makes me want to do nothing except curl up my in PJs. December makes me a lot happier as then its officially the run down to Christmas! Who would believe that I'm getting married in November next year ha!

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This month I've been loving...

Beauty...

Sleek palette in Graphite. I bought this from Leanne Marie's blog sale a while back but have only recently started using it properly. I'm now in love with it! For me this is the ultimate night out palette. I will be putting a post up with swatches and some looks created using it shortly

Fashion...

Dark Green Velvet Turban. I bought this turban from Dainty Roses a couple of weeks ago, I also bought it in red. I love them both. They are perfect for the miserable weather that I described above! If I go to the firework display Saturday night this will be a must! If you haven't seen my giveaway yet you can win one of these, there is also a special link on my giveaway that entitles my readers to buy two for £10.

Food...

Iceland Double Pizza. So naughty but so good. These double pizzas from Iceland are just amazing.

Blog posts...

I need to try and make a rainbow cake after seeing how amazing Gemma's looked!

My friend Ashley has just started a blog. Its really interesting to see another side to him.

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

Sample of The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter. This smells absolutely divine. Unfortunately the sample was really too small to get a real feel for the product.

Babor HSR Lifting Extra Firming Cream from Boudoir Prive. I really loved this. I could feel a difference in my skin when using this. I've never bothered to use a proper night cream before but have now bought some after using this. Unfortunately not this one, at £82 for the full size its a little out of my price range!

ELF HD Powder. I love this product. I actually ordered more last week but haven't received anything yet, must chase them up. My skin is so shiny without using this, its horrific.

Neutrogena Oil-free Moisturiser. This does what it says on the tin. Moisturises the skin without leaving it greasy. I won't be repurchasing though for one simple reason. I hate the packaging. Its too thin so it knocks over easily, and its difficult to get all the product out.

Looking back...

I hit 300 followers! Wow! Thank you all so much!

I've fallen off the diet wagon lately, you may have noticed a lack of posts. I've lost my motivation but must find it somewhere!

I attended the Cardiff Blogger meet which was amazing! I loved seeing some familiar faces and meeting some new people.

Looking forward to...

5.11.11 attending the local fireworks display with Spencer, my sister, her partner and my niece (weather permitting)

18.11.11 a night out in Cardiff to celebrate a close friend's birthday.

19.11.11 another night in Cardiff (not sure I can handle two in a row!) to celebrate a colleagues 30th birthday.

26.11.11 a local night out around Caerleon for a friends hen night. Neon fancy dress. Oh heck!

What are your most memorable moments of October? What are you mostly looking forward to in November?

Looking Back & Looking Forward - September/October

October has landed along with an Indian Summer (that's right, its now October which means its officially an Indian Summer!) I'm loving the last minute summer, except for the dilemma of having no clothes to wear seeings as we haven't had a summer yet!

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This month I've been loving...

Beauty...

Lauren's Way fake tan. I finally got around to using this last night! I bought it ages ago but have been putting off using it to be honest because fake tan scares me! For the first time ever in my fake tanning life I've come out streak free! I have got a few patches where I've missed bits, the lighting in my bedroom is awful so its not very good to see what you're doing! This tan is instant though so I can just top these up today.

Fashion...

Coloured jeans. Not just the jeans that I'm wearing here just coloured jeans in general. I only own this pair so I need to buy a few more pairs. I'm particularly lusting after a maroon pair.

Food...

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Limited Edition Triple Chocolate Mars Bar. These are simply amazing. Enough said.

Blog posts...

Mrs Red post sharing with us how she made some huge changes to her blog. I still haven't got around to trying this out!
Leanne's easy peasy nail design - I'm actually sporting this look right now!
Claire Louise's very impressive nail art - I'm not even going to attempt this one, I could not do it justice.
Emily's sparkly nail design - on my list to do. That list is huge.
The family tree shown on Sammy's Tuesday Treats - I must attempt this myself, it looks amazing!

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

Rimmel 25 Hour Foundation. I loved this when I first bought it, you can read my review here. It is a  good foundation. It lasted absolutely ages and I just get bored of using the same foundation for so long, I'm trying to be good and not start other products until I've finished the one I'm using, I think I started to resent this foundation because I wanted to try others but couldn't until it was finished!

The Body Shop Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue. This may be good for people who don't have feet as bad as mine. It certainly didn't rescue my feet but my feet are as tough as a crocodile so it would take a lot to rescue them. My quest for the miracle product still continues.

Looking back...
I've had a good month. There have been a few problems within my group of friends which has riled a few people including me. I'm not letting it get to me.
I've met more bloggers this month - yay! I absolutely love meeting bloggers! They are all so nice.
I've been doing well with my Weight Watchers considering how badly I stick to the diet! My weekly weigh in this week left me 1/2lb away from loosing half a stone. I had a sneaky weigh in this morning and have hit half a stone :)

Looking forward to...
1.10.10 (tonight) Swansea with my ladies :) All our boyfriends are away in Butlins on a stag do. We decided to go away ourselves! We're catching the train to Swansea and staying over night. Cannot wait!
8.10.10 Cadbury World. Spencer and I bought this through Groupon. We are staying in the Park Inn on the Saturday night and then going to Cadbury World on the Sunday. The Sunday is our engagement anniversary (2 years) so we thought it would be nice to do it that weekend.
12.10.10 The Cardiff blogger meet.
28.10.10 not necessarily anything to look forward to but I thought I'd put this in. I've been in my job for 9 years this day! That makes me feel so old!
29.10.10 its my cousin's 30th Birthday so I've been told to keep this Saturday free. We're probably just going out local, I think she wants to do fancy dress. I may finally get to dress up as a geek, been wanting to do that for so long! I think we're going to surprise her by asking the pub to bring out a cake and putting balloons & banners up if they'll let us.

I didn't realise how exciting my month ahead was until I typed this up! Have you got anything exciting planned?

Looking Back & Looking forward - August/September

I can't believe that it is that time already, September - where has the time gone? Back to sharing the bus to work with sweaty students, oh joy! (I'm not stereotyping all students as being sweaty, just the students around here, most of them don't wash. FACT).

This month I've been loving...

Beauty...

ELF Matte Lip Colour in Tea Rose I absolutely love this product and still can't believe it was only £3.50! It has become my 'go to' lip product. You can read my full review on it here.


Fashion...

My Peacocks bargain brogues. I got these in the Peacocks sale for £8 and have hardly taken them off! I was never one for brogues when they first came out, the fact that the only person I know who owns a pair is my mother was slightly off putting! I saw these and fell in love, my feelings towards brogues have changed.


Food...

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Lemon Moran & Crème Brule. I'm a huge fan of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, if I ever have one in any month they are pretty much guaranteed to end up here! These are my two favourite flavours. I've started Weight Watchers since buying these so won't be having many more, even though if I do get desperate I do have my extra weekly allowance :)


Blogs posts...
Laura's floral nails, I must copy these soon!
Sofia's very healthy week in food, I need to take advice from this!
Jordyn's tips on what not to do when drinking, wish I'd seen this several years ago!
Gemma's photography tips.
Rebecca shows us how to centre the pages tab in blogger, mine now look lovely and neat - thank you!
Jemma's handy tutorial on how to protect your images from right clicking


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

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft shampoo & Conditioner samples. I always order these free samples but never end up using them. I have decided that I must start using them all up! I really liked these, I got two washes from these and my hair felt lovely both times. I may have to buy the full size when my current shampoo & conditioners run out.

Como Shambhala Invigorate Lotion. I received this in my first ever GlossyBox back in May. I originally didn't bother with it as I didn't like the smell at all, I then decided to dig it back out and use it on my legs before going to bed. The smell fades away before the time I wake up in the morning. This is a very good moisturiser, I have extremely dry skin on my legs and it has certainly improved since using it.

Looking back...

August has been a really good month for me. I feel that I have had life changing experiences (deep!). By this I mean the two blogger meets that I attended. Even though I am a confident, outgoing person when with my friends I am shy and awkward around new people. I don't do anything on my own. My partner jokes about the fact that I hate going into shops on my own. August saw me travelling to London on my own! So out of character for me and I really am pleased with myself.

I also attended a Weight Watchers meeting at the end of the month, even though I won't be attending the weekly meetings (bad cashflow situation.) I will be carrying the diet out from home, I have all the books and my little calculator and am determined to do it this time!

Looking forward to...

2.9.11 my auntie's 50th birthday party - I love a good family get together so this should be fun!

3.9.11 a friend and some of her friends are coming down to visit from St. Austell, we are going shopping locally in the day and then into Cardiff for drinks in the evening :)

Looking Back & Looking forward - July/August

How are you all in this horrible sticky warm weather? I'm melting. If it was sunny I wouldn't be complaining, this is just horrible though, its like we need a massive thunderstorm to clear the air, not nice!

This month I've been loving...

Beauty...

This is a very late contender, I only received it one day last week, but I fell in love instantly! I'm sure you've already seen everyone raving about this palette and the hype is right! Its a must have! Review to follow.

Fashion...

I bought this watch from ASOS ages ago with the Groupon that came out, I've just not gotten around to getting the links taken out. I love this watch, it is so pretty and looks quite expensive, despite the fact that it turns my wrist green (!) when its hot it is a fave!

Food...

This has to be Spencer's yummy BBQ steak :) He coats it in some sort of olive oil and garlic marinade and then BBQs it to perfection :)

Blogs...

Zoe's consisting posting of amazing eye looks
Katie's amazing DIY wedding invites
Florrie's floral collaboration (including me!)
Rachael-Marie's paint splatter nails

Blog discoveries...

I'm dedicating this section to my friends that have started blogging this month :)

Claire is currently taking part in the 30 day challenge.
Laura has opened up with a cracking post on her DIY ring storage, I do hope that there is more to come!

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

I haven't used a lot this month, just this little bottle of XEN tan that I received in my GlossyBox. I'm not going to review this as I am a fake tan newbie. It did go patchy and streaky, but that was probably my fault!

Looking forward to...

5.8.11 drinks at my friend's house
A couple of days off work next week
12.8.11 Bristol Blogger meet
19.8.11 A friend's Engagement party
20.8.11 London Blogger meet
25-28.8.11 a trip to Wokingham to visit the future bro-in-law

I'm also trying to fit a meal with the girls in somewhere!

So much to look forward to!! I hope that you all have an amazing month ahead :)

Looking Back & Looking forward - June/July

Hi all, how are you today? I had my appraisal today, I think hope it went okay! I hate annual appraisals, always get so nervous, but hey, shouldn't really moan I'm just thankful that I have a job after all.

This is going to be the format of my new monthly post, showing you a few favourites from the month and telling you what I'm mostly looking forward to in the next month. I hope you like it.

Beauty...

I've been using this a lot this month. It has a lovely colour to it and it has SPF protection, which is essential to me in this weather as my lips always dry out in the sun. The smell isn't great, it smells like cheap lip balm, it isn't cheap. The colour and the product are so nice that for me these overrule the smell factor.

Fashion...

My favourite fashion find of this month has to be this Primark bag - I love it! It is so easy to wear as it goes with everything and I think it looks fab. The quality isn't very good at all, I haven't had the bag for very long at all and the inside is already coming apart a bit! I can ignore the quality though because the bag is gorgeous!

Food...

I tried these for the first time on my recent London trip, they knocked all over competitors to the side! They are sooooo good!

Blog posts...

Emily's amazing Tiger Nails
Zoe's simple way of cheating chipped nails
A sneak peak into Cath Kidston's home

Blog discovery....

Sofia's Journal

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

Looking forward to....

16.7.11 Girls night out - We're having a girlie night out, which may actually be more of an all dayer, not yet sure. We're going to Caerleon for drinks so hopefully we'll have nice weather as Caerleon is very good for beer garden drinking sessions.

23.7.11 Ponty's Big Weekend - me and three of my friends are going to Ponty's Big Weekend this year, its just a gig in a park in Pontypridd. Its mainly aimed at teenagers but its cheap and (hopefully) cheerful. The Wanted are headling so it should be a good day out.

And, of course, some sunshine! *a girl can wish*

I hope that you've all had an amazing June and have an even better July! Keep smiling :)

Monthly Summary May

Hi girls (and guys?), firstly ITS THE WEEKEND!!! Yay! Secondly ITS SUNNY!! Double yay! I thought I would show you a few of the things that I have been appreciating over the past month.

The Body Shop Tea Tree range - I've been using these for a while now, this is actually the first time I've used a toner (tut tut), now I'm not sure if its the whole range combined or the fact that I'm now cleansing, toning and moisturising but something is really working for my skin! I am very spot prone and they have cleared up loads since using these products. As I type this I have three huge spots on my face but these are the first in a while, I have just changed my pill so are uncontrollable hormonal spots unfortunately! 

Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturiser - This moisturiser soaks straight into my skin which is ideal for me. With other moisturisers that I have used I feel as though they leave my skin quite greasy, I have very greasy skin so this is not good! With this one it absorbs straight in and leaves my skin matte. It hasn't prevented my skin getting greasy throughout the day, but it works well. The only downside for me is the packaging, it is so thin that if you knock it it falls over! Really annoying!

All for Eve Lipstick by Daniel Sandler - I received this in my May Glossy Box (you can see the swatches on that post) and I love it! I've never been one for lipstick, always glosses, but have recently started experimenting with lipsticks. I would never have dreamt of wearing a lipstick quite as bold as this (bright red!) but I actually love it on, granted I do pat it off a bit with a tissue as I'm not that brave!

Alterna Hair Caviar - Another product from the May Glossy Box that I am loving! This smells amazing! A few quick squirts of this product in my hair leaves my hair feeling so soft and bouncy, as for the anti-aging effects that is something that I really can't comment on but I do know that it really does give my hair that extra little bounce that it needs.

Marc Jabocs Daisy Eau So Fresh - Spencer bought me this perfume for my birthday, its so cute. It came in a set with a refill bottle. The fragrance is perfect for the summer, as the name would make you believe. The bottle is adorable.

 Titanic - I watched Titanic for the first time in ages last weekend, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I remember watching it in the local cinema when it first came out, I was probably about 14, we spent the entire film having a sweet fight with some boys from school! It is quite different watching it as an hormonal 26 year old, lets just say, there were tears and there was a lot of abuse hurled at Channel 4 due to the inappropriate adverts!

Iceland (the shop not the country!) - these £2 pizzas, no need to say any more, just look at the picture!

Isle of Wight - Spencer and I went for a couple of days at the beginning of the month, it was the first time I had ever been, it is such a beautiful, peaceful place. I can't wait to go again!

The girls - I love each and everyone of my friends, they are such an amazing bunch and we have so many giggles together!

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Cardiff - they have opened up a new Krispy Kreme coffee shop in Cardiff, about time we were able to purchase these babies in Wales! Emma and I made a trip to Cardiff especially to visit, it was her first KK and she was very impressed!

Looking forward.... this month I'm going to Cardiff for one of the girls birthdays, which I'm very excited for! I'm also taking a trip to London with the 'fella to see Glee at the O2! Really, really can't wait for that one! Hopefully there is a lot more sunshine to come this month too.

Have a good weekend all, nearly time for the BGT results! I really hope that Michael gets through, we watched his audition so it would be lovely to see him make the final!