Collective Clothing Haul | Dorothy Perkins & New Look.

For the past months I haven’t done a great deal of clothes shopping I suppose a little here and there. I wanted some classic pieces that would be great staples in my wardrobe. 

As you can see there’s a theme of dusky greys and monochromes. I think each item I have bought can be a base for a number of outfits and I can add colour later with a silk scarf, bold hat, bright shoes etc.

I focused on the fit and making sure I would wear what I had bought. I mainly bought things in Dorothy Perkins. Some may say there for an older generation of shoppers but I love there classic, simple, tailored clothes. 

I find in different shops clothes will fit me differently even in the same size (Do you ever find this?!) because I find sizes vary shop to shop I think it’s essential to try things on.

I went for a slim fit in the grey dress. The cap sleeves and length are very flattering. The detailing on the bust creates curves and I love the ribbon going across. The dusky grey shirt fits me well on the shoulders but has a loose flowing fit. 

I love the pattern on the blazer, it’s so quirky and the fabric is so soft. And the leggings are super functional and are great to pair with skirts and dresses.

Dorothy Perkins Purchases

Grey Loose fit shirt £20

Grey Tunic SALE £10

Flower Pattern Blazer £28.00

New Look Purchases

Black Leggings £7.99

Overall I’m pleased with my shopping. Would you wear anything I've bought? What have you been purchasing lately? Xx

Baking Saturday | Toy Story Cupcake Set

Are you all having a fabulous weekend so far? Today I decided to do some baking and I used a Disney cupcake making set I had in the cupboard. I wanted to test it and do a little review.

I bought the baking set from Poundworld, so for £1 thats pretty good going. I wasn’t sure if the quality would be up to scratch but was pleasantly surprised. 

The recipe was simple to follow and the only extras you needed were a medium egg and a spoonful of butter.  I used two small fresh bantam eggs from our chickens we keep in our garden. This added to the taste of the cupcakes.

The set included the actual mixture, icing sugar, iced toppers and cupcake cases. I decided to modify the recipe by not using the ice toppers (as they looked a bit cheapy!) and instead add a touch of premium cocoa powder to the icing to make it chocolaty.

The finished result was lovely, the taste was really nice and the texture was quite moist. The chocolate icing made them extra delicious.

Have you been tempted to try out the Disney baking set too? Have you done a baking post? Why not link it in the comments bar :-)

Empties December // P2 Things I Would Not Repurchase

Nivea Irrestibly Smooth Body Lotion 75ml £1.29

I received this miniature in a gift set although can be bought in this size at boots. The scent was lovely but the formula didn’t take my breath away, just left a white layer on the skin and took too long to sink in. Will not repurchase.

Dirty Works Body Lotion 100ml (included in gift set)

Nothing special. I found the formula bad quality and like many cheap body lotions it left a white layer on the skin and didn’t sink in too well. Will not repurchase.

Charlie Enchant Body Spray £1.00

I was impressed by the pretty girly packaging but the scent was a bit too flowery for me and uncontemporary. I like other body sprays in the Charlie range but this wasn’t that memorable. Will not repurchase.

Ted Baker London Body Lotion (discontinued collection)

I was determined to use this up because the scent was lovely and the lotion sunk into the skin very well. However the packaging was impractical and uneasy to use. The range from Ted Baker has been discounted so am unable to repurchase. I like the new ranges in Ted Baker though.

James Brown Colour Enhance Conditioner 75ml (included in gift set)

I used this all up but have only been using a small bit at a time in the ends of my hair. The formula didn't really suit my hair type. I like more light weight conditioners and this wasn’t too bad but as I don’t colour my hair at the mo repurchasing isn’t on my list.

Have you tried any of these products? Do you agree/disagree with my comments? X

Graze Boxes | www.graze.com

I’ve been receiving graze boxes once a fortnight for about just under a year now and thought I would let you know a little bit about graze and my thoughts. 

If you haven’t heard of Graze it’s an online company which sends nutritious snack boxes by post. You'll get your first box half price then your next 2 boxes for £3.39 each and your other boxes will cost £3.89 each. If you type in this code: HELENC8QP you will get your 1st, 5th and 10th graze box free.

I think it such a cool concept and there snacks are mostly very healthy. There’s a mixture of fruit, nuts, seeds, a little bit of chocolate and lots more. They also do children’s and breakfast boxes which I haven’t tried.

There are some snacks which are just heaven. I love there fresh cakes and infusion tea combo a well as their scrumptious blueberry swirl, tutti frutti, track & field and there range of flapjacks are lovely.

I think the product is great. I love the fact you can pick and choose snacks you love, like or dislike. This helps with what is sent to you.

Receiving the box in the post is a real treat and I always look forward to it too. I take in enjoyment that what I am eating is fairly good for me on the whole with little calories. It’s certainly changed my views on what food items are good for snacking.

Overall I would thoroughly recommend graze boxes. There great if you want to eat healthier without losing a sweet tooth too much.

Just as a reminder my code is HELENC8QP for the offer.

Have you tried Graze boxes? What do you think of them? x

Prada Candy Perfume 30ml £39.50

I first received a sample size edition of this perfume and from then on I was completely hooked. The scent is gorgeous and beautiful and although the price is pretty steep I went ahead and bought the 30ml bottle. After all it’s Prada! And the first thing from the brand I had ever owned. 

I would describe the scent as warm, spicy with hints of musk and caramel. The description on the boots website says an explosion of femininity, a unique signature scent.

The packaging is sophisticated and wonderful. The glass bottle is transparent to expose the caramel coloured liquid. The top is pink and black with gold type. I love to place it on my dressing table with its elegant and slightly vintage feel.

The 30ml is a slightly different design to the bigger bottles as the spritz function isn’t placed in the same place which confused me at first. With the 30ml theres a simple cap to pull off where the bigger bottles you simply press the black top and it comes out. 

I found this out originally by typing into Google how to open Prada Candy 30ml and a YouTube video came up. I’ve linked this video here incase you are interested.

I wore this perfume lots just before Christmas for its spicy aroma. I love how perfumes are connected with memories so now the scent makes me feel a little festive. 

I would say that the scent is quite versatile though and could be worn into spring/summer. The perfume has lots of staying power without being overpowering. Its lovely for day or night. Overall I’m extremely pleased with the perfume. 

Also at the time there was an offer on boots with Prada Candy. I received a Prada Candy makeup bag absolutely free. It’s gorgeous and a great size to put makeup in.

Have you tried this perfume? Whats your signature scent? xx

How To Keep Organised In 2014

I decided to share a little lifestyle post for you all and try something a little different on my blog. Sorry this post didn’t go up sooner but hope you enjoy my tips on how to make 2014 more organised....

1.) I recommend WhSmiths A4 planner/diaries for writing everything down daily. Personally I find having everything in one place helps me keep organised. I write to do lists, peoples info and anything other you can imagine in these things. I’ve been using the same planner design for three years running. Click here to buy on WHSmiths online.

2.) Having a calendar can be really handy too for making note of important dates and events. I find the ones with a line for each day works best for me.

3.) I also keep a separate notebook for major projects where notes won’t fit into my ordinary planner. For example when I’m working to a client brief or planning an important event.

4.) Keeping your workspace clean and clear can be super important to keep your thoughts organised and less stressful.

5.) If you work from home or have your own office it can be fun to shop for cute storage and things to keep your personal space pretty and ordered. I find B&M have some lovely stuff in there homeware section. Also try Wilkinsons, WhSmiths and Next.

6.) Sometimes it’s important to be organised while you’re on the go. Maybe you are travelling on the train or are out; having a mini planner can be good or if you are a techie a iphone or ipad can be super useful. You can get some good deals on places like Amazon or Argos.

7.) Stay connected on the go can be super important. Having peoples phone numbers and details on hand may be essential. 

8.) Make lists. I am a huge list maker. Its so rewarding to tick things off a list and you can go back to lists to make sure theres nothing that you’ve missed that needs to be done.

9.) Have fun with organising whether it’s joining social networking sites, decorating/customising notebooks etc.

10.) Make a goal to make your life more organised. Then maybe you could set mini goals making sure they are realistic and achievable.

Hope I’ve helped in some way; please feel free to add your own ideas in the comments below :-)

Lots of love,

Helen X

No7 Beautiful Skin Day and Night Cream

I was first introduced to these skincare items as samples in a Christmas gift set. Review of the gift set items here. Although I’ve done a quick review on items in the gift set blog post I wanted to do a more thorough breakdown of the moisturisers. 

The Beautiful skin day and night cream works wonders and leaves my skin soft, smooth and vibrant. Having quite sensitive skin the hypo-allergenic cream is a lifesaver. I use the normal/dry formula and this seems to work extremely well for me. I’ve never had breakouts while using it and it sinks into the skin very quickly.

In addition the day cream includes spf 15 and with experience of using this my skin has been protected from the sun even during the summer months when it was very sunny.

The moisturiser is light, luxurious and easy to apply. After using both the day and night cream for months I’ve noticed a real improvement in my skin. A little goes a long way, the scent is pleasant and the glass packaging makes it extra special to use.

It’s quite simply the best moisturiser range I’ve ever used. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone. No7 is a very reliable brand which I will probably always go back too. Recently I’ve been experimenting with other skincare bits including the melting gel cleanser and gentle toner. Also the No7 face wipes are incredible too.

The day cream retails at £12.50 and the night cream £13.50 and can be bought at boots stores. I think the price is particularly reasonable for what you get and compared to other high-end skincare items it’s a bit of a bargain.

Have you tried any of the No7 Products? What skincare items do you love? Xx

After Christmas Sale Shopping & Primark Haul

Hey All :-)

Hope you are all well chicks. Today’s post is dedicated all things sale. It’s collective of a couple of online and shopping trips.

I found some of the best sale items on FeelUnique.com, Boots and Debenhams. Other than these shops are maybe a couple of others including Miss Selfridge I wasn’t that impressed by that much of the sales in all honesty.

While I was out for my two friends we had a good nosey in the New Look sale. We went the Monday after Christmas so I assume if we had gone earlier there may have been more in. 

However I spotted a beautiful pair of their jeans in a Hindu/western kind of style with lots of embellishments on. I love them and the photos don’t give them justice at all. They also look better on, I bought size 12.

Debenhams had some lovely stuff too but things sold quite fast. This afternoon I received a striped tunic in a size 10 from Debenhams and fitted nicely so decided to keep it. It wasn’t reduced all that much but the quality is excellent.

Lastly I wanted to let you know I bought my first Origins products in the Boots sale. I haven’t tried them properly yet but they smell divine. I bought an Aromatherapy Associates bell which I’ve been using too. Reviews coming up shortly. I’m excited to give you my feedback on some of my first high end beauty product buys! :-) 

How were the sales for you?

Lots of love,

Helen Xx

New Look

Embellised Jeans £16.00 (reduced from £26)
Green bag with gold detailing £15.99

Debenhams.com

Mantaray navy striped button trim tunic £28 (reduced from £35)

Primark

Cosy socks in blue two pack £2.00
Suedette stud jean belt £2.50
Snake jean belt £2.00
30pk coloured elastic hair hands £1.00
Cotton rich tights in grey £2.00
Cotton rich tights in black £2.00

Feel Unique.com

Aromatherapy Associates Little Bell 7.5ml £8.00 (reduced)

Boots.com

Origins Grapefuit Duo Set £14 (reduced from £22)
Origins Drink Up 7ml (Free with origins purchase)
Extracts 4 Pack Body Wash Collection £6.00 (reduced from £12)

Soap & Glory Whipped Clean Shower Butter 250ml £8.00

I was pleasantly surprised by how well this product worked. It works as a two in one body butter and shower gel. A little goes along way and is great value for money. I found the scent to be extremely pleasant with a scent of pistachio, almond and sweet vanilla. 

The soft shower butter can be worked into the skin while showering. It leaves skin completely soft and is luxurious and beautiful to use. I did find sometimes the gel was a bit slippery but if you’re careful once on the skin it’s easy to use.

I’m a loyal Soap & Glory fan so will always repurchase from the brand. I may repurchase this particular item at some point after I get to work at using all my Christmas present body stuff 
:-)

I would love to hear from you if you have tried this product or if you would like to try it and have enjoyed this little review! Click here to view this item on the boots website.

Love Helen
XxXx

Christmas Presents Haul 2013! :D Xx

Hi there lovelies!

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and sending best wishes for 2014. I love looking at Christmas present hauls on blogs and YouTube for gift inspiration and having a little nosy. 

I always find new ideas and love sharing tips along the way. I hope you enjoy my 2013 Christmas haul, please feel free to comment below with a link to yours.

My favourite gifts include my FIRST Mac lipstick, my dad picked out the colour ‘Plumful’. I loved the pyjamas and slippers my mum gave me too. I will be doing more in depth reviews on some of the products I received :)

My Christmas was lovely; I love the build up to the actual day. I went to see the coke cola van in our local city and went to some lovely Christmas markets. I spent lots of time with family and friends which made my Christmas extra special. 

Lots of love,

Helen XxXx

How was your Christmas? What was your favourite present you received? Did we get similar things?