Cosmopolitan by Calvin Klein

I love Cosmopolitans and I also love lipsticks....

So when I saw this pink/red shade on Fragrance Direct for just £1.99, I just couldn't resist.

It has a slight satin finish which I'm not really used to but I loved the finish created with this. Rich in pigment, you know this lipstick is of some quality (hello, it's CK) and the slight shimmer finish is perfect for summer.

If you haven't heard of Fragrance Direct before then let me tell you, it's the holy grail for make up. I only discovered it a few weeks ago and I'm so impressed. Designer and branded cosmetics for a smidgen of the price you would pay elsewhere. And their delivery is pretty swift too so I got to enjoy my beauty buys even faster. 

You'll have to let me know if you try them out.

Tea With The Queen

Oooo I've done it again!

I've fallen in love with yet another Butter London beauty product!!

Tea With The Queen is a nude lip gloss that looks great for both daytime and evening wear. 
From the new Starkers collection, this is the mid tone lip gloss from the range and works really well to highlight the beauty of mid hue (or self tanned) skin tones. Available from HQhair

I really love this lipgloss, well at least I love the concept of it. I never usually wear lipglosses *hair stuck to lips* and I really want be converted to this one. It looks gorgeous on, like really gorgeous. Just I need to keep reapplying it :(

Please tell me I'm not the only person who struggles with lipglosses??

Skinny Pancakes

I have a treat for you..

But it's a guilt free one :)

Skinny pancakes... tasty, filling and ohh sooo skinny

These Slimming World beauties are so easy to make to. Take a low fat yogurt flavor of your choice and a packet of Oat So Simple porridge oats and mix together. Leave for 2-3 hours.

Mix 2 large eggs in a bowl with a tablespoon of sweetener. Add the oat/yogurt and mix.

For the best results with this it's best to just make little pancakes. Using a tablespoon of mixture per mini pancake (this recipe makes around 10 mini pancakes).

Fry using Fry Light for a few minutes on each side.

Serve how you like. 

You could add blueberries

or bananas with some golden syrup

These are also gorgeous with chocolate Philadelphia and strawberries 

Only 6 syns for the whole lot :) 

Lasagna Cupcakes

For most of my foodie posts I gain inspiration from a little place called Pinterest.

Here I've discovered a multitude of recipe ideas and today I want to share with you one that I've tried out and think is amazing.

Lasagna Cupcakes

And they are more delicious than they sound, if you can believe that's possible

So for these you will need

1 onion
1/2 a pack of Quorn Mince 
Passata
1 garlic clove
Crushed chilli
Oregano
Dried Coriander
12 sheets of lasagna 
White sauce 
Mozzarella cheese


To start you'll need to soften your lasagna sheets so place them in a pan with boiled water. You won't need to heat these, just leave them to soak.

Whilst they are softening, you can make your mince. Frying off your onion and garlic first followed by your Quorn mince then adding in the passata. For your seasoning I would go with a sprinkling of oregano, a good dose of coriander and crushed chilli to taste. Adding salt and pepper too. Cook for roughly 10-15 minutes.

When the mince is nearly finished cooking, take your now soft lasagna sheets and tear them in half length ways. In your muffin tray make a cross shape with your sheets. This should make roughly 5 to 6 cupckes. With anything left over, use to fill any gaps.

Then add a good spoonful of mince into the muffin trays topping them with white sauce then adding a layer of lasagna sheet again. If you have deeper trays then repeat but mine were quite shallow so I added another layer of white sauce and topped with a good helping of mozzarella. 

Cook for 15 minutes. 

Voila!! How amazing do these look! 

I couldn't resist, I had to have one straight away. Sooooo good!

Hope you enjoy making them :)

Friday Favourites #2

So this week I've been day dreaming...

A beach...
The ocean...
Sand in my toes...

And a Pina Colada (for hydrating purposes)

So here is my summer inspired Friday favourites offering to you

 

1. Mint Scallop Bikini Top from Topshop

2. Mint Scallop Bikini Bottoms from Topshop

3. Ahoy There Ring from Accessorize

4. Jane Leather Effect Satchel from Boohoo

5. Grafea Sandy Leather Sandals in Tan from Allsole

6. Retro Contrast Plastic Sunglasses from Accessorize

7. Essie Brights Trio from Lookfantastic

Hope you liked it. :)

xx

 

April Glossybox

I'm always far too excited when my Glossybox arrives! But this time I was even more excited because I'd already read a few reviews on the box and what was inside was worth the anticipation. 

How gorgeous is the packaging this month btw!

So this box was a collaboration between Pearl Lowe and Glossybox.Bringing together the natural beauty of florals with a slight gothic edge.

In my Glossybox I got...

Snap Happy nail polish from Essie (swoon) 
If you haven't seen my recent review on this nail polish then you won't know how much I love my new Essie nail polish. Bright red for a classic finish, this nail polish provides you with a high gloss and shine finish that looks ever so manicured to perfection.
 

So Elixir Purpleby Yves Rocher
Not to my usual taste but this perfume is in no doubt beautiful. Quite a mature scent, I could see myself using this for an evening do. With Balmy, Tuberose, Warm Spice, Vanilla and White Floral notes throughout for a well leveled perfume.

Nip+Fab Mango Smoothie Body Skin Fix Body Butter
Love Nip+Fab. Love body Butters. So this is perfect for me, I got the Mango Smoothie one which smells delicious! Goes on beautifully and absorbs quickly. I've been wanting one of these for ages now and I think the one I will buy will be the Coconut Latte one. Yum.

Sunsense: Daily Face SPF Invisible Tint Finish
I've never really been a fan on tinted moisturisers but this one I can see myself using. Today I used this as my base for my foundation and it's amazing. I might have to invest, Glossybox what have you done to my bank account...I don't think I can live without this now :(

Sleek Blush in Suede 
Lastly is the Sleek Blush, I have been meaning to buy something from Sleekmakeup.com for a while now and I think this little beauty may have convinced me to have a sneaky pay day purchase from there. I got this blush in Suede which was perfect timing really as I had just had a tanning sesh and need a blusher that didn't make my cheeks look like candy. A gorgeous ruby, bronze shade that applies beautifully. Consider my old blush replaced. Sorry. 

If you want to get in on the action, check out the Glossybox website to sign up for a measly £10 a month to get this beauty filled box.

Snap Happy

 This month in my Glossybox I was lucky enough to receive a full size bottle of an Essie nail polish! Not only that, but it was in a colour that I had been lusting after for a while now!


The weather is getting warmer (slightly) and I'm moving away from my usual pale nudes and creams and wanting something that reflects my anticipated mood for summer.

So here it is...Snap Happy is a gorgeous siren red nail polish and with just two coats I was left with a super shiny, super glossy rich red set of nails. Essie has never disappointed me before and this one is no exception. I'm in love.

What do you think?

Friday Favourites #1

So I've decided that I need to make my blog a little less sporadic...I'm a girl and I need routine!!

So every Friday I'm going to collate all of my favourite things that I've found from the world of beauty & fashion and lust after them in just one place - here!

So here is my first go.. hope you like it :)

1. Topshop Bardot Tunic - £20
2. Lookfantastic Essie Go Ginza Nail Polish - £9.95 (3 for 2 atm!)
3. Zatchels Lilac & White Polka Dot Satchel - £101 If anyone can find me a cheaper alternative I'll love you forever
4. River Island Gold Tone Chunky Curb Chain Necklace - £12
5. butter LONDON Lippy Tea With The Queen - £14
6. Keds Champion Oxford Pumps in Lavender - £35

I'm getting in the mood for spring and this week I've fallen head over heels for lilac and lavender shades. It all started with the Zatchel Polka Dot Satchel... then it led onto the dress... then the shoes.

Someone stop me now!

Update - FOUND ONE!!! 

Spot Print Satchel from Topshop for just £34
 

Carousel Cupcakes

So if you haven't seen it already, I wrote about the festivities surrounding Elliot's 21st and within this was the brief mention of a company called Carousel Cupcakes. 

What an amazing company to stumble upon before a birthday!

They create all kinds of cupcakes and even make them to order so you can get exactly what you want. Brilliant.

I ordered some Pug Puppy Cupcakes for Elliot as he is slightly (overly) obsessed with having a pug. 

How cute!!

They tasted amazing too! 

Delivery was so informative too, giving me messages of when it would arrive etc. 

I can't recommend Carousel Cupcakes enough! Incredible find and I hope that the next occasion you have coming up you think of them to literally 'put the icing on the cake'. 

Elliot's 21st Birthday Weekend

Sooo Elliot turned 21 this week!

How exciting! Time to catch my train :)

Couldn't wait to greet Elliot at the station! With presents in hand after a 3 hour journey I arrived and gave Elliot THE biggest birthday hug. 

Once we'd eaten and said hello to his house mates, we headed to his room for some present opening. I think everyone will agree with me here that after weeks of planning gift buying the moment they open their presents is a heavily scrutinized activity. Unfortunately for Elliot that meant his every move and facial expression was being watched by my beady eyes. Apologies for that.  

I also planned ahead and had some Pug Puppy Cupcakes from Carousel Cupcakes ordered to his door. 

How amazing do they look!!!  (and they tasted pretty awesome too)

After being slobs for the entire day, it was time to get ready to go out. Using my trusty Urban Decay Ammo palette with Katy Perry lashes and some super easy curls with my straighteners I was ready to go. Throwback dress on from my 20th birthday (which I still love) with my new Studded Lita boots from Boohoo and maroon suede clutch from Topshop that goes with everything.

Elliot chooses some pretty amazing restaurants and this was no exception. Portofino's hosts an Italian cuisine which means that, for the 14 of us dining, there was a lot of choice. 

With wine to share and good company around there wasn't a dull moment. I even felt my cheeks beginning to hurt from smiling and laughing so much.

For those of you who have read my blog before will know that I am an expert with crispy potato skins. I saw them on the menu and saw nothing else after that. 

Elliot opted for Pate with a fruit coulee to start and Luke had the most garlic filled mushrooms I have ever seen. 

For mains there was a real smorgasbord of variety going on around the table. 

Ben's pizza made me slightly jealous, what is it about pizza and me...

 Photo time :)

Rhona (the cutie) arranged for a cake to be brought to the table for Elliot. Whilst Luke made sure everyone got into the swing of things with bottles of Prosecco around the table.

Have you ever had that feeling that someone is taking a photo of you whilst you're pulling your best moves to The Motto by Drake?

At this point I think it's pretty easy to say that we were all feeling rather jolly and so proceeds the embarrassing dancing and shameless swigging back of the trebles.

All in all it was an amazing weekend. I hope Elliot enjoyed it as much as I did because he deserves it. 

Happy Birthday Gorgeous