A Little Shopping Never Did Anyone Any Harm...

So the lovely Holly (read; bad influence) came up to London yesterday, so we could check out a press day, lounge around eating burgers and succumb to a Starbucks or two (more on those things later). Now of course, when coming all this way, it would be rude not to do a little shopping! I managed to pick up a few bits I've been after for ages, so no complaints, and I was much more restrained than Holly...

I finally picked up the most recent issue of Hunger. By far my favourite magazine! Not exactly handbag friendly though...

Firstly, I've been after some above knuckle rings for ages, but I'm too poor for the pretty ones from The Bohemian Collective, and I'm lazy and didn't want to order any online, so I was waiting for them to come back in stock in River Island! I picked these up in small and large so I could wear them on many a finger, and at £2 for two, they're a real bargain! I also picked up a cute thumb ring for two pounds, and these adorable little swallow earrings, for a bargain £1.50.

My friend Melisa had a gorgeous notebook at uni today, that the stationary addict that I am instantly fell in love with. When perusing Funky Pigeon in Liverpool Street Station I found it! Not wanting to be a copy cat, I went for this one instead, which I feel is a little more me! 

Whilst still being in morning for Let The Good Times Roll (how dare you Lush, there are just no words), I have been reluctant to buy anything from Lush in protest. However, needs must and I swear by Lush cleansers, so I picked up this one for around a fiver. I have high hopes, but I'll get back to you on it!

Also, how pretty is this nail file from The Vintage Cosmetic Company? I love it!

Are you proud? NO MAKEUP! I think I deserve a prize. Maybe some new Bobbi Brown foundation...

Maybelline Colour Show Polka Dots

 From left to right, Maybelline Colour Show Polka Dots in Shooting Stars, Maybelline Colour Show Polka Dots in Shooting Stars on H&M Blue My Mind, H&M Blue My Mind

From left to right, Maybelline Colour Show Polka Dots in Speckled Pink, Maybelline Colour Show Polka Dots in Speckled Pink on Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Dragon Fruit, Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Dragon Fruit

The high street has been going mad for nail art in the last year, and the latest trend they've swooped in on was inspired by the Illamasqua speckled nail paints. Now I'm not one for expensive high-end polishes, so these new Maybelline releases were right up my street. Retailing at a mere £2.99 each they are made up of different sized black and white matte speckles, suspended in polish. Whilst the polish is quite sheer, you can wear these on their own, or you can layer them on a similar base colour to really make them pop. I love these, I've been wearing them just on one accent nail, and on every finger, they're a super easy way to make your nails look a little more interesting!

What do you think of the speckled nail look?

Ripe For Love

 Due to my somewhat erratic, and definitely unnecessary spending habits, I'm on something of a spending ban, although this one's triggered by a lack of funds rather than a desire to develop self restraint. Because of that, I didn't even bother looking at the new MAC collections that hit us in the last week, knowing it would just be torture. But whilst showing a visiting friend round Harrods, I couldn't help but stop and have a little look. Whilst a lot of the collection was already sold out, the bits that were sold out weren't anything that particularly tickled my fancy. What did catch my eye however, was this blush, from the Temperature Rising collection, and after watching me gaze at it lustfully, the aforementioned friend decided to pick it up for me, as a little treat. What a sweetie.

Anecdotes aside, I've been looking at MAC's Peaches blush for a while, umming and ahhing over whether to buy it or not, and this is kind of a Peaches on steriods blush, with the bonus of being a limited edition. It's not quite as orangey, if I was naming it I would have called it 'Dirty Peaches' since that's exactly what it reminds me of. It's a bit darker, a bit more natural looking.

I love the packaging of this collection, very simple, just like standard MAC packaging but a gorgeous burnt bronze colour (the inside of the box is a deep royal purple which if I had my way, I would make everything in my life that colour).

It's a Satin finish, so expect a buttery, soft consistency (the other blush from this collection is a Frost finish, and rather scary looking might I add). As with all MAC products, the pigmentation and quality is excellent. I just love the colour, it gives me a real natural glow.

 Have you been tempted by anything in MAC's new collection?

The Weekly Round Up #12

What I wore, my new leggings! Who says students can't drink Champagne? TK Maxx finds, inc. Dr Bronners, Eco Tools & Nip and Fab! Face masks I won in Montagne Jeuness' Twitter competition!

They see me haulin'... Finally got my hands on this! I love Hyde Park so much! A really good burger! Read more about it here.

Iron Man 3 Time with the boyf! I love that you can find places like this just a few minutes from Oxford Street! Finally, a Jaye sized Capri-Sun! I love the architecture in Harrods!

It's been an uneventful week over here, filled with work and boring stuff. However, I've been loving this gorgeous weather we've been having, even had my legs out a bit! To be honest, I just want to get uni over and done with so I can kick back and relax a bit! I feel like I'm on edge!

There hasn't really been a product from the beauty rotation that I've been loving in particular this week, although I did use up  a Vichy Aqua Thermal Riche moisturiser sample, and I really liked it! It's a super hydrating 48 hour moisturiser, and it definitely did my skin some good at the beginning of the week!

The makeup has been pretty low key this week, but I have been using my Archie's Girls Pearlmatte Face Powder in Flatter Me a fair bit again. It's (funnily enough) a really flattering colour on my cheeks, very natural look! 

This week on the blog I'm going to be talking about some new Maybelline Polishes, the new MAC Temperature Rising collection, my MAC lipstick collection, and hopefully I'll be doing a little whats in my handbag too.

Have a good week guys!  

What's In Her Handbag? The Concert Edition

I don't know about you, but when I'm headed for a gig, I want to take as little as possible, to avoid losing/breaking/having things stolen, but there are some thing's you just can't live without. I caught up with my good friend Melisa this week, and after we had lunch, she headed off to the O2 to see Beyonce. Intrigued at what she had bought with her, since she had to pack for a day out, as well as bearing in mind she would be crammed into the standing area of the O2, I asked if I could have a little peak into her mini bag.

The first thing I noticed, was that no matter what the occasion, or where she is headed, Melisa will never compromise on style. Where I would be carting round a four pound Primark number on gig day, she was sporting a mini Michael Kors. Inside was her purse, albeit a smaller one than the usual bulky Prada one she uses, again I probably would have used a cheap and crappy one, that's if I took one at all (I tend to just slide a bit of cash into my phone case). But like I said, she's not one to compromise on style, so of course the purse was Mulberry. Her headphones too, a necessary evil when travelling on the tube, and a phone charger, to combat the iPhone 4's notoriously unreliable battery life. She also had a pot of Vaseline, which I saw being put on her lips, as well as on her arms, to sort out dry skin, after being in the sun too long. And lastly? A new MAC lipstick, that she just couldn't stop herself from buying while we were together. Well, maybe I might have had a little influence on that one...