The Liebster Award!

Yay! My small blog has been nominated for a Liebster award :) This made me super happy because I had quite a slow start with my blog and it's only started building up recently. I've been putting in a lot more effort with my posts and it's starting to pay off! Thank you Emma from www.peacelovevintage.com for nominating me :)

So, how this works is I have to answer the questions that Emma has given me, so that you can get to know a bit more about me and my blog. This award is aimed at blogs with under 300 followers and is a really great way of introducing people to new blogs and helping each other get new readers! So let's start!

1. Tell me your biggest inspiration! What inspires you daily and keeps you positive?
This is a tough one! I love looking at sites such as Pintrest daily and make boards of things I want to do - this helps me keep inspired and get lots of ideas, plus always gets me motivated to be trying new things. Another thing that helps me with this is my university course because it's so creative; it's always giving me ideas! I think I'm a pretty positive person anyway as well, but I suppose just being around people that make you happy, keeps you happy :)

2. Recommend one dupe that you love! Makeup, beauty or haircare - just whatever you love most!
Oooh I posted one of my favourite dupes not too long ago here, but it's one of the Revlon lip crayons which is exactly like one of my MAC lipsticks!

3. What is your favourite Winter 2014 trend? Fashion or Otherwise.
My favourite Fashion Trend is definitely Tartan! I love getting out my scarf and trousers every year. On the beauty side I'm always a fan of berry lips!

4. New year is coming up! What is something you would love to do or see in 2015?
I'm hoping that 2015 is going to be a good year for me! I'm taking my first trip to America, something I've always wanted to do, I hoping to pass my driving test in January, and I'd also love to move out of home for the first time! Oh and a new job!

5. Name something you want to achieve in your lifetime. Big or small, what is your dream?
The problem with being a creative person is that your dreams are always changing. At the moment my dream is to move to America and do something with my degree, whether it be a personal stylist, visual merchandiser or otherwise. I'd also love to be a social media manager for a Fashion company!
 
6. Do you prefer to give a gift or receive it?! (Be honest!)
Haha! I have to admit as nice as it is to receive a gift, I think I prefer giving them. I love seeing peoples faces when they see what you've got them. I normally take a lot of time choosing gifts and I love wrapping and gifting everything, so really I just enjoy the whole lot!

7. Would you rather live a year without your phone or your computer/laptop?
Without my computer definitely, I can get pretty much everything on my phone anyway!

8. Are you dreaming of a summer holiday to a beach or a city?
Tough one!As much as I love beaches I can get a bit bored of them after a few days if there's nothing to do except sit and tan, and cities always have lots of things to do. So at the moment, I'd probably go with a city!

9. What inspired you to chose your blog name? Do you still like it now?
When I first started my blog I thought I would only be writing about fashion and nothing else. However when I got more into it, I found that I really love photographing beauty products and writing about them, so I'm not really a huge fan of my blog name any more but it's also not too bad :)

10. What did you think of the 2014 Victoria Secret show?
 I loved it! Super jealous of all the models as usual, and now wishing I was a lot richer to go on a little shopping trip! Haha!

11. If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would you say?
Don't always leave all your work to the last minute! But also, grades aren't everything. If you enjoy what you're doing, then don't feel like you're not as good as everyone else. 

So those are all of the questions! Thank you for nominating me Emma I have enjoyed answering them :D

Lauren x

Subtle ways to be more Christmassy

So, sometimes this time of the year can be a little daunting for those who aren't comfortable to don an out-there ugly Christmas jumper, headband antlers and the like, but that doesn't mean we don't like Christmas! I love Christmas and I have to say I do enjoy wearing the ugly jumpers, but that doesn't mean everyone does. I've seen a lot of 'Christmas Jumper Hauls' recently and thought I would do something for people who aren't quite as in to them! Here's some simple ways to jazz up an ordinary outfit so you feel like part of the Christmas crew! Enjoy! 

1) Wear some Christmassy socks!

It might seem a bit simple, but anything to get in the spirit! Plus it can look super cute like this peaking over the top of some fur trimmed boots. My ones are from Primark and have little trees and a fairisle print on them, and my boots are from New Look.

2) Get a Christmas coloured Jumper!

Just because you don't like jumpers with pugs in Santa costumes and jingle bells floating about everywhere, doesn't mean you have to completely miss out. Here I have just a plain Icy Blue coloured jumper which looks great and quite Christmassy especially when paired with silver jewellery, or if you're feeling a little more daring, I have a Cherry red jumper with white dots, not technically Christmas themed but it's getting there! The blue jumper is from H&M and the Red from TX Maxx :)

3) How about some Christmas Themed earrings?!

There's hundreds of different styles of Christmas themed earrings available, and you can get them cheap from a lot of places around Christmas time! I got mine from Claire's last year but I'm pretty sure they do something similar in store this year. I got some small stud Christmas trees and Penguins! They're a nice subtle nod to add just a touch of Christmas to your outfit.

4) It might seem cliché, but a tartan scarf does the trick!

Sometimes you just need to add a bit of colour to your outfit to make you feel more festive. Firstly, you might need a scarf anyway for practical reasons, and also, tartan never goes out of style and is always a staple every winter. If you want to feel Christmassy, try a bit of Tartan! Whether it be the scarf, a skirt or a shirt all of the above would be good! I've put mine with a crisp white shirt to make it really stand out. This one's from Urban Outiftters :)

So there are just a few ideas to start getting you feeling festive! I hope you enjoyed and let me know if you have any other ideas! 

Lauren x

The Christmas Tag!

Hey guys! I came across this tag today and couldn't not join in! So here are my answers and feel free to do them yourself, I'm not going to tag anyone specific! :)

Photo:http://uk.pinterest.com/pin/465630048948117487/

1. What is your favourite Christmas movie?
Ohh this is a hard one for me - I absolutely love Christmas movies! I really love The Polar Express and have done for quite a few years, but my classic favourite is probably Jingle all the Way :)

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?
Always always Christmas Morning! I've never opened a present on Christmas Eve, I don't understand it myself! I would feel strange opening them early.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?
I have a funny one that I just about remember but my family never fail to remind me of it every year! One year when I was really young, I couldn't get to sleep on Christmas Eve and I was crying so much, mum asked me what the matter was and I started sobbing ' I can't get to sleep so Santa isn't going to come and I'll have no presents!' And wouldn't stop crying for ages!

4. Favourite Festive food?
Definitely pigs in blankets! I think most of my Christmas dinner is always made up of them! Also my Gran makes us all this amazing tub of cookies every Christmas which I absolutely love *drool*

5. Favourite Christmas Gift?
One year when I was little mum and dad gave me and my sister an envelope and inside was a silver bit of card that had 'YOU'RE GOING TO SEE BUSTED!!' written on it! I was so so happy! haha, other than that, one year I got a camera that I really loved and didn't stop using for ages!

6. Favourite Christmas scent?
I love any 'Christmas Spiced' scented candles, however I also love the smell of a big ham joint cooking on Christmas morning that my dad does every year and it's my favourite!

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?
Normally we just sit around, eat a lot and we will normally watch The Snowman (and now The Snowman and the Snowdog, too!) however the last few years I have had to work Christmas Eve, this year I don't and I'm super excited about it!

8. What tops your tree?
We don't have anything on the top of our tree! The tree is just a bit too tall to hold anything, but when I was little we used to have a big white and gold angel, and we also had a gold star at one point!

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?
I don't think I ever asked for anything too wild! I probably asked for a pet at one point as most kids do, but other than that I can't really think of anything.

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?
Probably just seeing all my family! This year will be a little different for me but I still love getting a delicious fancy dinner and everyone sitting around, I like seeing peoples faces as you give them their present, and just watching a few Christmas films and playing all the classic board games!

BODY SHOP GLAZED APPLE RANGE

I've always been intrigued by the Body Shops' Christmas ranges. Normally I only notice the gingerbread scented products which to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of; even though the smell is nice it just seems weird having a shower and then smelling of ginger! But anyway this year they seem to have a much bigger range of Christmas products available. I particularly loved the Glazed Apple scent so I thought I would pick up a couple of products seems as they were buy one get one half price! I chose the shower gel and the lip balm, both priced at £4 so nice and affordable too!

The scent itself is nice and fresh so it makes a great shower gel, however it also has some sweet and spiced undertones as well so it is christmassy! As for the lip balm it is nice and moisturising, it really helped when I had a bit of a chapped lip and it tastes really nice too! Overall I would say that this is a great range, and I may be tempted back to get some of the other things they had on offer! Have you tried any of the range? :)

Lauren x

London Time

Hey guys! Recently me and Jack headed up to London for a few days for his 21st birthday. There's something really special about London for me. There's always something new to see or do, and it's ridiculously busy all the time, but that feels like a good thing. People always have something to do or somewhere to go and there is so much energy everywhere.

But anyway, it was nice to just chill out for a few days with Jack and not worry about work or Uni. We went to Winter Wonderland which is always so cute and festive! In Southampton we have a teeny tiny Christmas Market but nothing compares to Hyde Parks! Then went to see the Woman In Black at the fortune theatre which is such an amazing performance. With just two actors I'm always so amazed at how they can put on an such a good show for that length of time, not relying on sets or songs, just pure performance. Amazing!
We also had a really great time at Ice Bar London. It's basically a whole bar made of Ice! You get given a time slot, and when you arrive, you are given a cape and gloves before you are let in to the bar! we were given a glass made of ice and got to choose a cocktail (super yummy!) and then just soak up the atmosphere (and take lots of pictures of course!)

So that's been me for the past few days! What have you been up to? 

Lauren x

MAC Hue Dupe!

Hey guys! Today I was sorting through my make-up bag, and as I reached the bottom, I found one of my old Revlon Colour burst lip crayons. I thought I would give it a go because I hadn't used it in ages, and when I put it on, I noticed that it has a striking resemblance to the Mac Lipstick in 'Hue' which I had purchased not too long ago. Obviously costing about half the price, I thought I would swatch them next to each other and they look pretty much exactly the same. They are both a nice warm pink tone with a nice silky finish. Being a balm, the Revlon crayon gave slightly less coverage, however because the Mac lipstick is a Glaze and not Matt or anything, they were near enough identical. The only difference I would say is that the Colour burst is ever so slightly more shimmery, but hardly noticeable. Their staying power is about the same too, if anything the Revlon Crayon is slightly better. Perfect if you're looking for a cheap dupe!

Top - Revlon Colour burst in number 105, Bottom - Mac Lipstick in Hue.

As you can see next to each other they look exactly the same! Do you have any other Mac dupes?

Lauren x

WINTER OUTFITS

Hey guys! So I'm not sure about where you live but it is starting to get pretty cold now where I am and I'm having to start thinking about coats, ahh! Anyway I thought I would put together a couple of outfit ideas for those colder days we are sure to be seeing a lot more of soon!

This first outfit is all about the coat! Big, boyfriend style coats are on trend again this Winter and they are great because there is a version to suit everyone! I particularly liked this style because of the collar which gives it some structure, also the colour grey will go with pretty much any outfit you want to wear underneath! I know you can get these coats in ranges of colours but I always find myself sticking to more neutral tones so that I can wear whatever I want with it. I also paired it with some brogues and a satchel which follow with the androgynous tone. Throw in some wrist candy in the form of this Olivia Burton watch (or any for that matter) and you're ready to go! 

Next I thought I would try incorporating the polo neck into an outfit. I always find this one hard to pull off because my face is quite round and so they can end up looking a disaster if they are tight instead of baggy. However I thought this style brought the polo neck up to date. It's nothing too high/tight around the neck, the jumper itself isn't too baggy so are you aren't going to become drowned in it, and also the nice long sleeves will keep you cosy. I put it with some black jeans which are ripped at the knee, also very popular at the moment, and some zipped boots. To bring a small pop of colour I added in some red lipstick, and you could also have a light/coloured handbag. I can picture this outfit with curled hair, too!

So that's just a couple of ideas that I've had recently for my winter wardrobe! Do you have any staple items?

Lauren x

Halloween and Bonfire Night!

Hey guys! So I thought I'd do a round up of my Halloween and Bonfire Night activities in one post instead of having lots of separate ones!
Halloween is a pretty big deal in my families household, we like decorations, costumes and pretty much any excuse for a party. We had such a fun night and even though probably a few too many alcoholic beverages were had by everyone, we partied on till 4am and (I) slept through most of the next day.

Bonfire Night was a completely different change of pace, but a nice one. I had a few friends over who were free and we sat around my small fire pit, made smores and drank hot chocolates. This was my first ever time having smores and wow, they were delicious! I will definitely be making this a tradition. We heard some fireworks but didn't actually see a show, but it was still so much fun! :)

So that's been it for the past week or so! How have you spent your Halloween and Bonfire Nights?

Lauren x

EASY HALLOWEEN MAKE-UP WITH 3 PRODUCTS!

Hey guys! Today I have my first make-up DIY look for Halloween. I created this half sugar skull look using only 3 products (with an optional fourth) so it can be easy and effective to do on a budget, too!

The products I used were; Illamasqua Skin Base in White to create the base. Just dab it all over with a big brush and build it up as much as you want. This product is quite expensive so I would suggest getting some white face paint if you're on a budget which will have the same effect! Next, I used a simple gel eye liner and thin pointed brush to do most of the work. If you're not comfortable with gel liner you can switch and use a felt eye liner pen! Draw a line down the centre of your face, colour in your nose, draw a line outwards from your mouth and circle your eye, then add petals. I filled in the petals with black too so it really doesn't matter how neat the line is! I also added a few other curly lines and patterns on my forehead and cheeks. Finally, I took a lip crayon in a berry colour (Mines from Ted Baker) and coloured in the circle! Really not as hard as it looks!
For an extra optional touch I got some gold leaf and added it to little areas around my face including my chin and cheekbone. You can pick up several sheets of gold leaf for pretty cheap on eBay! Finally, I added a big flower crown also in a berry colour.

What are you going as for Halloween?

Lauren x

TED BAKER MAKE-UP GIFT SET

Hey guys! Sorry it's been a while, everything has been getting on top of me at the moment but I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. When I picked up this gift set in Boots, I just knew I had to write about it because I honestly think it has been my best buy this month! This whole kit only costs £19 up until Thursday and as you can imagine being Ted Baker the quality of everything inside is amazing and you get so much for your money! I know it's supposed to be a gift set but I just couldn't resist getting one for myself.. oops!

As you can see you get plenty inside, including 2 face illuminators in 'pearly pink' and 'golden glow', a beautiful blush/highlight compact, a kabuki brush, 2 nail varnishes, a berry coloured lip crayon, a red lipstick, a pair of eyelash curlers, 2 eye shadow crayons in a grey and gold, a mascara and finally a eye liner felt pen. Not only is that a hell of a lot of products but also the packaging on everything is beautiful in rose gold detail, especially the compact and the lipstick. Definitely worth £19 if you ask me!

Lauren x

HELLO

Hey guys! Today I've got a bit of a random review of a new mouthwash I have been using recently. One thing you should know about me is that I'm a sucker for packaging, so when I see anything pretty looking I almost always pick it up. These bottles being no exception, I thought I would give them a try. They aren't the cheapest around at £5.99 a bottle, however I managed to get them on offer so they were 2 for £8. The thing that really drew me in is that the pink bottle is a pink grapefruit flavoured mouthwash, how amazing! I've been trying it out for a couple of days and it's amazing how much it actually tastes! You'd think a really fruity taste would be horrible after brushing your teeth, but it really works. The other bottle is just an original mint flavour. They had another flavour available which was a mojito mint, but I just couldn't bring myself to try it! I thought these were good because they are naturally friendly, meaning they don't have an alcohol, dyes or artificial sweeteners, and also none of their products are tested on animals which is always a big plus! :) If you're interested the offer for 2 for £8 is currently being held in Boots!

Lauren x

Plain and Simple

Hey guys! It's finally October! We are in to my favourite 3 months of the year which I am so excited about. My first week back at University is over and I'm happy that we're getting straight back in to it. I've already got a brief set and found out I will be working with a company on live projects this year which is very exciting, and also I have already done a make-up look and shoot! Heck of a first week! Anyway, today I'm wearing a super simple outfit but I thought I would share it with you!

As you can see I've just gone pretty simple today! I got this top in Jack Wills yesterday because at the moment they have 25% off for students! Paired it with my black skinny jeans and my Nike Roshe Runs. Also, I'm wearing this bright purple beanie which is actually supposed to be Lumpy Space Princess (those who like Adventure Time will understand) which is actually so cute, I love it!

Lauren x

MAKE-UP REVOLUTION HAUL

Hey guys! Recently I went in to Superdrug and found the Make-up Revolution stand. I've never noticed it in my store before so I was pretty excited when I saw it! There were so many beautiful palettes and all at amazingly affordable prices, in the end I settled for 2, and also a separate highlighter. I am so happy with all of it!

  

Vivid Baked Highlighter in Golden Lights - £3. I loved baked eye shadows so I thought I would give a highlighter a try! It's such a nice colour pay off and you only need the smallest amount to really brighten up your cheekbones and brow bone! It has a really nice gold shimmer and catches the light so well!

Flawless Eye Shadow Palette 'Eyes Like Angels' - £8. When I first saw this palette I must of looked like a right weirdo because I think I just smiled to myself in the shop for about a minute! I picked it up instantly. 32 eye shadows for £8?! It looks really professional and all the shadows have names however I wont name them all because we'll be here for ages! There's a few matte shades and the rest are shimmery, there's some light and some dark so it's a perfect all rounder really! I love it!

Ultra Cover and Conceal Palette in Light - £6. This palette was actually more of a buy for my university make-up kit as it has 8 different shades of concealer, however I can see myself using it a fair bit too. The concealers are creamy and pigmented so it looks like they are going to give a good coverage! I can't wait to try it out properly!

So that's it! However if these products are as good as they look I can see myself being back very soon! Have you got any recommendations from Make-up Revolution?

Lauren x