Me time – why it’s essential

This is a slightly different post for me, but one I felt necessary after a recent experience. As you can see my posting has become less regular and occasionally posted just for the sake of it rather than posting something I have really put time into and I am really proud to have on my blog. My blog initially started as a tool to help me get into uni as I applied for a fashion marketing course, however I grew to enjoy it and it became a hobby, something people would possibly class as me time, and evidently something that last blog post date has proven I haven’t dedicated much time to. At first I feared I would lose readers for this but in all honesty I’m ashamed to say now that I grew past the point of caring that much, due to everything I had going on at university proving to be that draining of my emotions. I thought I would cry a lot more in final year, and although I am a pretty strong person I don’t think that was the case for not shedding many tears because when my weekly routine is to be in uni 8-8 to return home to continue with work, I have become almost robot like and not even had much time for my emotions. Initially I hated to use uni as an excuse for not blogging but it has become too overwhelming now as I am at the 4^th and final year stage in my fashion degree. Often I get people saying ‘why are you so stressed isn’t fashion just cutting and sticking’ – possibly the worst thing to say to a sleep deprived final year. And no it is far from it as I am currently at stage of manufacturing my own garment collection having already submitted a dissertation in January. Thankfully, something that shook me into having some me time was an invitation to the Mineral House Spa in Newcastle, at first I thought about declining the invitation for a treatment as I thought I should really wait until I have graduated all submitted al my work and really earned it. My mum, god love her, told me you need a break, I have already earned that. So I allowed myself an hours trip to the spa even though I was allocated 3. I had taken in my phone for the time and picture taking purposes but the for the first half an hour I found myself spending every few minutes looking at my phone telling myself how long I had left rather than appreciating those minutes. I found it really hard to make myself relax. Somewhere I couldn't take my phone was the pool so I had a quick dip and returned to a lounger with a magazine and finally found myself a bit more at ease. However I did not feel fully relaxed and back down to earth until my treatment, a facial, which I am a newbie to so was just expecting one of the beauticians to apply a face mask or something. But this treatment included aspects of a body massage as well. You know how it is in a spa with the ‘waves crashing’ music and the aroma of gorgeous smells, I nearly fell asleep but I pinched myself not to as this was one hour of totally dedicated me time, I was going to be awake for it! So after my hour was up, I felt back down to earth again, even though I knew I had to go back to uni I felt a slight weight of my shoulders. The walk back which meant me passing a slightly rowdy part of Newcastle didn't even phase me. This just goes to show how effective that little portion of me time and relaxation is. I’m not usually one for a cringe conclusion but it needs to be said, if you are in a similarly stressful position to me, for the sake of your wellbeing – do not be so hard on yourself. Finding the time to have a small dose of me time can work wonders, it set my mind straight again – almost a clean slate from the stress that was originally there, it somewhat motivated me, and I had the best sleep in ages. Don’t get me wrong I’m not all care free and spiritual 24/7 now, I’m still human, and have been stressed again since, but thinking back to this experience and telling myself some more me time is around the corner, has kept me going.

So go on, switch of your laptop, after having booked yourself a spa day that is - try the Mineral Spa at the Crown Plaza in Newcastle if you are in the area, I would highly recommend it. Or even just switch of your phone, light a candle, pick up a book or just sit in a comfy spot for an hour and notice the difference.

Ellie

My Hand Picked Christmas Ideas

With a very intense university experience at present, Christmas still seems very far away. However the Christmas shopping is one of my favourite parts of the period and always gets me feeling festive. So as a very welcome uni break to lift spirits for me, and hopefully some affordable inspiration for you, here are some of the things on my wish list if not for myself, but the other girly ones in my life.

From left to right
Bra £20 Miss guided
Phone case £21 Asos
Aloe Vera Hand & Body Moisturiser £19 Kiehls
Make up bag £8.99 Etsy 
(if anyone knows where I can get these brushes also, please fill me in!)
Gingerbread Man Necklace with Black Diamonds £180 Bees Fine Jewellery
Winter Belted Camel Coat £65 House Of Fraser
Fluffy Jumper Dress £28 Missguided
Festive Cranberry Face Mask £6.75/75g Lush
Cosy Fur Bobble Hat £19.95 The Fur Bobble Shop
Ice Cream Phone Case Was £12 now £8 Asos
Mink & Rose Gold Watch £70 Olivia Burton
Perfect for stockings socks £8.87 Victoria's Secret
Sweet Silver Loveheart Ring £25 Bees Fine Jewellery
Drinking Fudge Mug Set £10 Not On The High Street
Crackling Woodwick Candle Varied price approx £15 Amazon

Merry shopping
Ell     

Ramside Spa | Mii Makeup Event

If you are North East based and have not yet heard about the Ramside spa opening I suggest you take a glance at this post or go take a trip yourself. The already highly rated golf club and hotel has finally opened its spa doors! As part of this I attended a Mii makeup event held there to entice us all into the spa and allow us to explore their make up brand of choice, Mii. I would say this brand is at a similar market level to Mac, with resembling products and prices. They have a fab range of products to cater for those who like a full face of flawless makeup to a more natural, organic powder foundation look. Some of my personal favourite products are the lip liner and lipstick combo in 'Caress' and 'Sleek', along with thee eye crayon in indigo that creamy texture blends well as an eyeshadow but crayon like applicator means it can act as an under eyeliner also. The indigo quad sky palette which was super soft to the touch and in some of my personal favourite shades for the eyes, browns and mauve. A product I was also pleasantly surprised by was the show stopping lash lover mascara in black*, which doesn't necessarily look like anything spectacular but gives great length and volume in a minimal amount of strokes, for a justifiable £14.50, this is a mascara I would recommend to anyone.
Now, I know many girls will probably gasp in disgrace at what I am about to say, however I have never stepped into a brow salon never mind attempt to put a brow pencil near my face. Thanks to Ramside and Mii, that all changed as I lost my brow bar virginity and was treated to a brow shaping and colouring by one of their lovely brow specialist. Although I have nothing to compare it to, I had a very pleasant first brow experience, the specialists were very conscious of what you wanted and made the effort to make you feel happy and comfortable.

In terms of spa treatments it is at the higher end of the budget however this is reflected in the spa itself, luxury feeling rooms that I felt instantly relaxed in, to point of almost dosing off, friendly staff and quality products used. I cant wait to treat myself to a massage once my bank account is looking a bit more healthy (cry at still being a student)!  

You can purchase Mii at Ramside or online HERE
For direct link click on products mentioned in the post above.

Not some of my best snaps as I was too busy drinking champers and easting canapes (oops) however this will hopefully give you good idea of the event.

   Ell

Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks

When it comes to this product, I am ashamed to admit I have only just got around to sharing it with the world. As mentioned in a previous gift guide post, I had my eye on this Laura Mercier gift set for a while, and was over the moon to receive it as a gift myself. The appropriately named, Caviar Sticks for their luxurious feel and look, come in a range of shades. This particular set provided a selection of colours that create a neutral or more dramatic smoky eye, all  of which  have a pleasant shimmery effect to them. A creamy like textured eye shadow is not something I would usually go for, but with these sticks it is so subtle it does not feel heavy or sticky and refrains from transferring to the eyelid. The stick itself makes it incredibly easy to apply, although I personally like to smudge/blend it in with my little finger to create a more polished look. In terms of ways to wear the shades both, Rose-gold and Moonlight are good base colours and highlighters that I like to use all the way to up to my brow bone and in the inner corner of my eye. Amethyst is a lush one to combine with Rose-gold,  applied to the outer of your eyelid and blended in through the eyelid crease is a lovely look for the day or understated night time. For a more night time appropriate look I  use Moonlight as a base, Amethyst into the crease, then Khaki or Cocoa on the outer of your eyelid (either are appropriate to underline also) and to finish, Rose-gold to highlight the inner corners. Depending on the look you want to go for the shades are very flexible in the way that you can almost get two colours out of one stick (particularly the darker shades) as once blended a more subtle faded tone is created. I have yet been too afraid to use the Copper Caviar stick as I feel it completely disagrees with my skin tone, so if you have any suggestions please do share!

The only slight downside I would give this product is that it is quite difficult to remove. Although this is a major bonus when wearing it as you are guaranteed it will last the day, I have found that rubbing my eyes with a makeup wipe for a good few minutes can become a little irritated. To avoid irritation I would recommend removing the majority with a wipe then using a kind to skin cleanser with a dampened cotton wool pad to gently remove the rest.
Unfortunately this particular set was limited edition so is no longer available in the shops at the limited price but they are all still available individually at Laura Mercier stocking stores for approximately £22 each.

Also if someone could recommend a really good gradual tan that would be great as this post made me realise how ridiculously pale my arm is!

Have you used any shades of the Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks?

How do you wear them?

I would love to hear from you!

   Ellie

A Year In Pictures

Hello! If it's still acceptable to say it then, Happy New Year! I hope you all had some lovely time off and didn't have too many work burdens like me to deal with over the festive period, hence my absence in posting, it seems only right to make 'time manage better' my no.1 resolution.
At the start of this year I took some time to reflect on 2014 by putting together a year in pictures, something I recommend everyone should do. I went from initiating with 6 pictures which soon grew to 12, and I could have had so much more! Looking through all my captures of the past year made me realise I'd had a way more productive year than I thought, which put me in a perfect mind set for 2015, something that we could all benefit from don't you think?  If you're thinking 2014 was not your year, well this could also work in your favour being be a useful tool to help bring out all the highlights. On the other hand if you are simply in need of a fresh start, do what I did last January and get a new haircut, take a trip, pick up a hobby. Or, do something I did this January and give your blog a new do, and if you don't have one why not start one?! As you can see it is a fab way to document things like this.

From right to left; My first internship of the year at a fashion suppliers, my new year do when my hair got the chop, a lovely trip to Amsterdam with my boyfriend, moving to London and starting my internship at womenswear designer studios, According to Ellie's first giveaway, learning Italian and discovering new restaurants in London, mine and my boyfriends birthday spent at the Waldorf Hotel, just in time for the races I taught myself how to make fascinators, working at London fashion week with designer Zoe Jordan, fashion illustrations of the collection I helped work on during my internship, my favourite OOTD taken in the beautiful Florence, and a Christmas jumper i made for the designers I interned at that was auctioned of for charity.


What are your 2014 highlights and new years resolutions?
I would love to see your photo montages, post your links below!

Ciao for now!

Ell

   

Lush Review: Ro's Argan Skin Conditioner

Hello all! So according to my last post I have not blogged in nearly a month, where did that time go?! Hopefully I can be forgiven by providing the following review for you all...

 After receiving one of lush's lushest Rosie packages as a gift a couple of months back, I finally got around to testing the first of its contents. Living in a student house it's not often that I have the luxury of a long, hot, relaxing bath so I guess I was savoring the moment to open this gift box until I could really appreciate it at home. I am not a religious buyer of lush products, she says shamefully as they are so ethical, but I guess have been too comfortable with using my normal bathing and beauty products that I haven't taken the plunge, so I was very excited to receive this gift! I was most eager to use the Argan body/skin conditioner as I have used argan products before of my hair and LOVED them. And as I occasionally suffer form pimply arms I was hoping this product would help soften my skin as effectively as Argan products had done for my hair!  As described on the pot, you apply and rinse the product the same way as you would on your hair. However, the word rinse is used fairly lightly as I did find some of the product remaining on my skin the first time I used it so I would recommend paying more attention to the rinsing process if you were to use this product yourself, in order to achieve the best results. I have been using Ro's argan body conditioner for about a week now and I have found that as well as leaving a lovely almondy scent after use, my skin is noticeably softer and my pimples less apparent,  so I am confident with continuous use this product will continue to please.

Fighting animal testing, Hooray for Lush!

This product alone retails at £16.50 for a 225g tub (please note the one in my images is 45g) which may seem a little pricey but worth it for all the natural goodness that is jam packed into it! Or you can purchase it as part of the updated version of the Rosie gift box for a reasonable £21.25 just in time for Christmas.

I also plan to use up the other lovely goodies in this box soon so keep an eye out if you would like to see another review!

Have you used this body conditioner before?

what Lush products are you loving?

Love,

Ellie

September Wish List

With the arrival of September it's out with the shorts, vest's and flip flops and in with the autumnal shades, long sleeves and boots. Fortunately, this means an entire new range of clothing is being launched into stores, excuse for a shopping spree, I think so! The nights are still light and the return of the limited editions Costa coffees is not far away, Honeycomb Hot chocolate I'm ready for you! However optimism aside for a moment, I am still a student so my shopping spree is on standby and wishing is all I can do at the moment. 

But honestly, composing this wish list post has actually got me rather excited for the upcoming season, and do I dare say the C word? Okay maybe it's a tad early to be thinking about Christmas just yet (oops I said it). For now, see what bit and bobs I'm loving for this season.

1. All hail the new palettes from the 'A Novel Romance' collection at Mac. My personal favourite, 'A passionate quest' is a premade made palette of the most gorgeous autumnal shades of pinks and purples, with a hint of navy and slight shimmery pigments, to die for! £30.
2. Also from Mac and the 'A Novel Romance' collection, are these lush lipsticks. Available in a few shades but I have my heart set on 'Myself', a gorgeous nude beige for a more a natural look and 'Hearts a flame' a statement purpley red that is perfect for the season. Both £15.50.
3. I am loving a cropped knit and shirt look at the mo, find this grey knit in New Look for a mere £14.99 and this silk shirt from Zara, £39.99.
4. You can never go wrong with a pair of super skinny dark wash jeans to team with your autumn knits, River Island, £45.
5. The most gorgeous pair of boots that will unfortunately remain on my wish list for a long time yet, Kurt Geiger, £90.
6. I have seen these everywhere in the shops recently but I have found no other other duster coat quite like this one, this will be hanging in my wardrobe one day, Zara, £79.99
7. Practical, and a statement accessory, this large faced bracelet watch can be found in River Island, £28.
8.Would it be autumn without a tan tote bag? Of course not. I have my eyes on this one from Zara, priced at a purse friendly £29.99.

What's on your autumn wish lists?

Until next time,

Ellie

Jimmy Choo Flash Perfume & Body Lotion Review

Thanks be to my boyfriend and his wonderful taste, I was very happy to receive for my birthday the most recent Jimmy Choo Scent, Flash. Although scents can be tricky to describe I think this perfume is a good example of one that can be bought without having smelt it first. Reason being, this perfume has the perfect balance of sweetness and muskiness so is likely to appeal to many. Flash Eau Du Parfum contains essence of tangerine and strawberry,  giving it its freshness and sweetness, however its notes of exotic flowers and woods reveal a glorious muskiness. This perfume comes in a luxurious little bottle and is a spray. It is quite a powerful scent therefore is long lasting, I find just two squirts is enough, one to the neck and one the wrists, delicately rubbing onto the other wrist to not crush the scent. Along with the perfume I also got the perfumed body lotion to match which smells equally as divine. Its light by creamy texture absorbs into the skin after several minutes, leaving your skin to feel silky smooth, dewy and smelly fab. Be careful of wearing the two together, you can if you want to, however as I like my perfume to be subtle and more personal I find it a bit overpowering wearing it all once, like I would leave a trail behind me! The great thing about scented body lotions though is that you can wear them alone, not having to spend the extra on a perfume, I just find it a little bit more luxurious owning a bottle of perfume itself.
Overall I think this a gorgeous scent, each of its notes combined release a powerful smell that if I had to describe in three words I would say it's, Sophisticated, seductive and sweet. So if you're one for changing up your scent and would like to try something new I think this is nice one that will appeal to many a nose, so I recommend you give it a go. This product retails between £35 - £61 alone, depending on the perfume bottle size, around £35-40 on the gift set with a 100ml bottle of body lotion the same size as mine. You cannot miss it on the shelves for its super sparkly packaging, hence the title, Flash. You can also buy the body lotion alone in a 200ml bottle for around £20-£24 depending on where you get it.

Have you tried this scent before?
What perfumes are you currently loving?

See you soon.

Ell

The Ultimate Nail Polish Remover

If you have not yet heard of this product then it is my pleasure to introduce to you the the ultimate, hassle free, no mess nail polish remover from Bourjois that has become an essential in my make up bag. This handy little nail polish remover pot is filled with foam that you literally just dip your nail into and twist to remove all polish. I must admit when first saw the packaging and read '1 second removal' I had my doubts but it really does get rid of the polish in seconds! All of the product is soaked into the foam so it very easy and clean to use, and nothing goes to waste, I always get a bit carried away and seem to drown the cotton wool pad in nail polish, oops! It is slightly more awkward with toes I found I had tip the pot slightly which cause some of the product to drip but for finger nails it is a must have, perfect for when your in a rush to remove and nasty chipped nails! For a nail polish remover this product also smells quite nice, although nail polish removers will always have a bit of a pungent smell due to the chemicals however I noticed this product has a subtle vanilla scent and shortly spotted on the packaging that it is enriched with nourishing almond oil, red fruit and vanilla.  I can safely say this will be my go to nail polish removing product from now on. Retailing at £4.99  a tad more than the standard nail polish removing product but in my opinion a worthwhile purchase, this product is available direct from the Bourjois website, but I have also spotted it in Boots and I am sure you can find it in other drug stores or retailers that have a Bourjois stand.

Please note my giveaway has now ended but thank you to all those who entered and congrats to the winner, I can't wait to do the next one!

Ellie

What's in my handbag?

I am a strong believer that a girl could rule the world with the contents of her hand bag, we always seem to be prepared for anything! To say how much I love reading these posts by other blogs, I had not yet done one myself, until now! This trusty M&S holdall has stuck with me through thick and thin for the last few months, I like to invest in a good quality handbag that will last, and this gorgeous genuine leather holdall has been a very worthwile purchase, even more so that I got on sale too! As for the contents you will find...
My Paperchase diary, this is the first year I have bought a proper diary as it was a new years resolution of mine to keep one, and as it takes up a large majority of my handbag, I am motivated to do so! It also looks pretty in my handbag, Paperchase prints never fail to please!
Next, Fifty shades freed, my current read whilst I am waiting for the first Harry Potter book to come back in stock at the library, damn you whoever has it overdue! I always like to have something to read and keep me entertained on my commute to and from work.
 You will also find my very personal set of keys, each key ring a souvenir of some sort, plus one key for my London home and one for my Yorkshire home. On the topic of London, since moving here a tube map has had a permanent place in my handbag which has been a lifesaver on the underground!
With the weather being so nice recently my sunglasses have actually had some time away from sitting at the bottom of my handbag under my brolly, which despite the sunny weather is still an essential as I'm sorry, but I just do not have faith in the British weather! Both of these are Primark bargains from this year.
Accompanied by my forever tangled  headphones is my Iphone 4S, which may I say has the coolest watermelon caseever, as long as it lives, this case will never be removed, except to take this photo, this was another worthwhile Paperchase purchase!
You'll also see my River Island purse, for years I have been buying my purses from RI as they are such a great size and fit in all the stuff that I like to hord, mainly receipts!  They always have such a gorgeous choice of purse styles too.
One of my favourite components of my bag is my little handbag buddy, my best friend bought me this when I was having a down day once and she said to keep it in my handbag and whenever I'm having a down day it will cheer me up. I have since bought one for my mum and I recommend everyone should get one of these for their best friend. Mine is a duck, he's called Mr. Quackalot, and looks pretty happy sitting pride of place in my handbag.
And of course, what bloggers handbag doesn't contain a few beauty bits, for example, my miniature Tresseme brush, handy for any unexpected bad hair days, along with many kirby grips that I did not even know I had in there till I emptied my bag to do this post, ha! My perfume at the moment, Diamonds by Armani is another permy item in my hand bag, a few sprays of this a fresh sweet, yet sexy summery scent! I also make room for my seventeen stay time concealer, a liquid stick concealer that provides great coverage just in case of any emergencies! You will also come across a trusty stick of Nivea pearly shine lip balm, a must have in all my handbags to keep those lips fully moisturised throughout the day. I also have a handy pair of Boots essential wipes, you never when they will come in handy and they are good product to keep your face and hands feeling refreshed. Finally, a pot of The Body Shop moisturiser also has a spot in my holdall, which I double up as a hand cream on a daily basis as it leaves your hands feeling super soft, and we all know how yum a Body Shop product smells!

 I hope you liked taking a look at what's in my handbag, I cant quite believe I manage to fit all that in there, like I said, when it comes to a girls handbag, we are prepared for anything! If you have recently written a 'What's in my bag post?' I would love to see yours, leave your links below!

And don't forget to enter my giveaway below! There are just a few days left so make sure you get your entry in!

Ellie