Secret Santa 2015

I really wanted to get this post live during December, but I took an impromptu Week (or two) off from blogging. I took part in a blogger secret santa a few years ago and decided I wanted to do it again this Year, so I signed up to Carissa's Blogger Secret Santa and I was ready to go. I loved choosing and buying gifts and being a 'secret santa' for someone else, hope she loved her gifts just as much as I enjoyed picking them! 

As you can see I received some lovely gifts from my secret santa; including A Makeup Revolution gift set, a pamper kit including some lovely face, hair, feet and eye masks, some festive Yankee Candle votives and the obligatory chocolate coins. I am so grateful for these gifts, everyone knows I love a good candle and a pamper. 

Did you take part in any secret santa gift giving this Christmas? What did you buy, and what did you receive?

Pretty Lovely Bloggers Santa's Grotto Event

I am finally starting to get excited for Christmas, and have done so by watching plenty of Christmas films this afternoon. I have shared a few gift guides on my blog, including stocking filler ideas, quirky cards, my top picks from Boots and some last minute gift ideas. I love Christmas!
Today is another festive themed post; featuring a lovely blogger event I attended recently, which was put together by Pretty Lovely Bloggers. It took place a few Saturdays ago at the Rose Villa Tavern near the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham. It was a Christmas themed event called Santa's Grotto, I was super excited about wearing a Christmas jumper before December and I loved the decorations and the Christmas songs that were playing in the background.

The event was a lot of fun. There were quite a few brands at the event who gave talks and showcased their products, it was great to hear more about a variety of products and talk to the team behind them. Brands that attended the event included: 

 Friction Free Shaving

The Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Co.

Viridian

 Pure Potions

 Lipivir

 DryU

Skin Sincere

Pretty Lovely Bloggers had also arranged a raffle, with money being donated to the charity Mind. There were lots of things to get involved in and plenty of people to talk to. We also received a very generous goody bag with lots of brilliant products, I will be featuring those on my blog in the future too. A big thank you to all brands involved as I really do appreciate it.
I had a lovely time at the event and it was great to talk to bloggers; some I had met before and some I hadn't. I loved the venue and it is somewhere I have never visited before, but I am hoping to go back soon.

Thank you to both Adele and Kirsty for organizing the event. You can really tell how much time, effort and hard work they both put into all of their events and I had a brilliant time.

*Images belong to Clare*

5 Reasons I Love Writing a Blog

When I started my blog in 2011 I never thought I would stick at it for this long so I must enjoy it, right?! There are a lot of reasons I enjoy writing a blog. I wanted to share a few of them with you as I think it is so interesting hearing the different reasons why people write a blog. Please do let me know in the comments the reasons that you began writing your blog and why you enjoy it.

Being able to share your thoughts with others

I have always had a passion for reading and writing since I was a child, but often struggled with finding an outlet to meet this interest of mine. Blogging has combined my interests of reading and writing with my other interests in life, such as beauty. I love having my own little space where I can tap away, sharing my thoughts, to my hearts content. 

There is always someone to talk to

If I am unsure on which lipstick to buy or wanted suggestions on where to eat, I know that by reaching out to readers and other bloggers that there is always someone to chat to. My friends and family don't share my interests, so it is great to be able to connect with others that do. Be it through the comments on blogs, email or social media - the blogging community is always on hand for a chat!

Making friends

I have made quite a few friends that I wouldn't know if it wasn't for this blog. I am so grateful for the friends I have made through blogging; it is so heart-warming to know that because of the blogging community so many friendships have formed.

Documenting your ideas and your life and your interests

I love having the opportunity to write my thoughts down on a blog to be able to look back at Years later. My blog is a little like having my own online diary.

Being able to learn and express myself

If it wasn't for my blog and for reading other blogs, I wouldn't know a lot that I know now! I read a lot more online since I started writing a blog myself and I have learnt so much not just about my interests, but other topics too. I am able to express my thoughts on my blog and communicate with others on their thoughts and learn from them too.

West Midlands Blogger Meet September 2015

Photo belongs to Adele 

Last Saturday I headed into Birmingham to attend the West Midlands Blogger Meet, arranged by the lovely hosts Adele and Kirsty. I was really looking forward to the meet as I knew how much hard work the girls had put into organising it all, but I was a little nervous going alone and not really knowing anyone there. Rest assured - everyone was lovely! The event was held at the Rainbow Pub in Digbeth, Birmingham. It was a great venue and I will definitely be heading there again; I loved the decor and the vibe of the place.
The meet was great! The girls thought of everything.

The brilliant Elizabeth from Rosalilium gave a speech about Pinterest which was really helpful and informative. Lovely blogger Chelsea also gave a talk about bloggers and brands working together and gave us some great tips too.
The girls had organised for some great brand reps to be at the meet up, who were sharing their products and it was really nice to talk to them and really get a feel of the brands and what they do. Brands that were at the event included Early Bird, Get You Seen PR and Skin Sincere.
As well as the brands, there was also a lady at the event representing the charity Coppafeel - a cause which is close to my heart. I would like to talk about it on my blog in the future in some way, so watch this space.
There was also a raffle to raise money for Mind (another amazing charity!) which was great and I was lucky enough to win a prize - a lovely gift set from Nourish. There was also a quiz questionnaire and the classic 'guess how many' in a jar - so lots of fun to get involved with.

We were able to munch on lots of tasty treats and drinks while we were at the event too and we were very well looked after. We were all lucky enough to receive a very generous goody bag too when we left - thank you to all of the brands involved; I am super appreciative and cant wait to start trying all of the lovely items! I am hoping to get some posts up on the blog of the lovely bits we were gifted soon.

A huge thank you to Kirsty and Adele for the fantastic afternoon you organised! It was a lot of fun and I can't wait for the next one!

Themed Afternoon Teas in the UK

Themed afternoon teas in the UK

Hey everyone – Georgina here from Georgina Does. Lovely Zoe Has given me a guest posting spot here on her blog today so I thought I’d talk about something I love – Afternoon teas around the UK. A few I have been to myself, mostly in London but whenever I go on a trip in the UK the first thing I do is search out their best or most exciting afternoon tea.

The Afternoon Tea Tour Bus – London

This one is a little different to the others. You still have all lovely sandwiches and savouries, the scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, lots of delicious cakes and of course your choice of teas. But the difference is, you eat this afternoon tea whilst riding around London on a double decker, red tour bus.

It’s certainly an experience and you get to see all the important parts of London although all the movement of the bus makes pouring some milk into your tea, pretty stressful. Indulging is such rich foods, while gulping everything down to avoid it falling onto the floor could all add to the fun, but if you don’t have a strong stomach you should try to be careful as you might end up with indigestion. Be sure to take some Gaviscon with you, just in case!

Bettys – York

Bettys was founded by Frederick Belmont, a Swiss baker and confectioner who came to England in search of opportunities. He opened the first café in 1919 and since there five more have opened! They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner but are very well known for their afternoon tea which is why they have made this list! It’s a great place for traditional afternoon tea with the usual smoked salmon, egg and cress sandwiches etc followed by a warm scone and some delicious cakes. With each of the six Café having their own shop filled with tasty cakes so you can even take some home with you! Opt for pink champagne to add to the indulgence.

Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea – The Sanderson, London

This is a normal, sit down afternoon tea but again, it is totally different from all the others. Obviously themed around the mad hatter’s afternoon tea from Alice in Wonderland. You are served green and orange bread for your sandwiches. There is a delicious little bottle saying “drink me” and as you sip away you can taste the flavours change. But that’s all I’m giving away! There are lots of surprises to be had! Be sure to have a wander around the Sanderson hotel as well – it’s amazing.

Chocolate Afternoon Tea – Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire

Set out with beautiful views this afternoon tea is served in the Stoke park country club, hotel and spa. Similar to the usual afternoon tea but this one includes a selection of homemade Chocolate Cakes and Pastries as well as chocolate chip scones and Stoke Park's Ultimate Hot Chocolate. It’s a chocolate lovers dream!

Where is your favourite afternoon tea?

Intu Spring/Summer Fashion Event

Last Week I headed to the Intu Shopping Centre, Merry Hill, for a sneak peak at the Spring/Summer collections which are hitting our fashion stores now. It was a blogger and press event, where we were able to see some previews of what will be featuring the fashion shows at the Merry Hill Shopping Centre this Weekend coming. We were treated to refreshments and were able to see the gorgeous models walk down the catwalk in style in some stunning clothes which are available at reasonable prices - and you can pick them up in the high street stores, too, which of-course is amazing - who doesn't want to look gorgeous for a fraction of a designer price?!

Fashion stylist Lola Royle presented the show, explaining why she put the outfits together and gave us plenty of info on what is on trend this Season. We were able to have a sneak peak of some of the latest fashion trends and were able to see some of the beautiful collections that the high street stores have to offer this Spring/Summer 2015. 

The stores which were involved in the fashion show were New Look, Diffusion, Phase Eight, Warehouse, Topshop, Oasis and River Island. I am loving the clashing of colours and patterns that were involved in the fashion show. My favourite pieces were definitely from New Look and Phase Eight - I will definitely be visiting both of those stores next Weekend when I am doing some shopping in the centre. 

Lola Royle told us that the clashing of different prints and patterns is very on trend this upcoming Season, and we saw a lot of brights, jungle inspired and also 70's inspired outfits. She also told us that fringing in our accessories is going to be pretty popular too. I am keen to pop over to the shops this Weekend to pick up a few statement pieces ready for this Spring/Summer.

If you are local to the West Midlands/Birmingham area, why not head down to Merry Hill Shopping Centre this Weekend to pick yourself a bargain or watch some amazing catwalk fashion shows? 

You can get involved on Twitter by using the hashtag #IntuColours

• You can catch the live catwalk shows on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March on the Lower Mall at Merry Hill Centre. Shows start from 11AM.
• There will be exclusive offers available on the 28th and 29th only, with over 35 fashion and beauty offers up for grabs, from brands such as Dorothy Perkins and Diffusion. You can find out more information on the website. 

Favourite Blogs To Read #5

She Might Be Loved - link

Georgina's blog quickly became a firm favourite of mine and I have been reading consistently for Months now. I absolutely adore her fashion posts, she always looks gorgeous - and I love her red hair! She recently became the face of brand Scarlett & Jo; which is super amazing and so great to see other bloggers doing so well, she definitely deserves it!

Confessions Of A Small Town Girl - link

I love to have a read of Charlottes blog - it is full of beauty, fashion and lifestyle posts . I love the way Charlotte writes very down-to-earth, and her posts are really relate-able. Check her blog out of you haven't already!

Sweet Electric - link 

=Zoe writes a fantastic blog, I particularly like to read her tips and tricks and helpful blogging posts, as well as her beauty reviews. I definitely get a lot of inspiration from Zoe's blog. I just love her photography and hope one Day I could take photo's half as good as hers.

Favourite Blogs To Read #4

Today is my fourth installment of my Fave Blogs To Read; where I share with you a few of my favourite blogs and tell you a little bit about why I love them. I am all for sharing the love and I would love for you to check out these blogs because I am sure you will love them just as much as I do.

Em Grace- link

I love catching up with Emily's blog, she has beautiful pictures, and her blog is full of gorgeous outfit posts and lots of beauty. 

Pennies For A Pound- link

I am all about the bargains; literally, I am a crazy bargain hunter, so any blog that talks about good deals and getting better value for your money has my heart. I love Naomi's blog and urge you all to have a read.

Pocockins -link

I love having a read of Sophie's blog, she has plenty of variety in her posts and I particularly like her lifestyle posts. I have met Sophie in person and shes a really lovely girl.

I hope you found some new blogs to read! If you have any recommendations of any blogs you love, feel free to leave the links in the comments as I am always looking for new reads.

You can read my previous Fave Blogs To Read posts here.

Favourite Blogs To Read #3

In the past few Months I have shared a few of my favourite blogs to read, and have decided to continue writing these posts every so often to share with you some fantastic blogs I have found.


Make Up Savvy - link
I am sure you have all heard of Fee's blog. A definite must read if you love your beauty. I love Fee's finds, she always shares great deals on her blog.

Sophie Rose Hearts - link

Sophie's blog is another favourite of mine. Her photography is fantastic and I can only wish I could write in such a flare as great as hers.

Miss Budget Beauty - link
I started watching Khila's videos before I began reading her blog. I love how honest she is in her writing and her videos, I always trust her judgement on products.

Couture Girl - link
Kayleigh's blog is another I really admire. Her photography is stunning. I love reading her posts, I wish I was as creative as she is with the variety of beauty she writes about.

I would definitely recommend having a read of these blogs!

Favourite Blogs To Read #2

Hi everyone. I wrote a post a few Months ago sharing with you a few of my favourite blogs to read and I loved the response I got from writing it - it is great to share the love! Today I am back with some more of my favourite reads, be sure to check out their blogs if you haven't already. 

Midnight Violets - link

I have mentioned before I really love Hannah's blog. I love her product reviews as she always gives a lot of detail and summarises the product in full, as well as always including a lot of pictures of the products being worn. 

Raspberry Kiss - link

Shannons blog is one I have followed for quite some time now. I love her layout, her writing style, her photography - it is probably one of my most visited blogs. She blogs really frequently so there is always something new to read! Her posts consist of all things beauty and lifestyle. Definitely one to check out!

Lola and Behold - link

I really like Laura's blog as its so down-to-earth and honest. Her photography is brilliant and I love her writing style.

A Thrifty Mrs - link
I have also been following the lovely Thirifty's blog for such a long time now. I think hers was one of the first I began to read. I love her money saving tips and DIY's. I would love to be more hands on at home and I really do love a bargain so her blog is always a great read.

My Favourite Blogs To Read

Before I began writing my own blog, I was an avid reader of a lot other peoples blogs. Today I thought I would compile a little list of my all time favourite blog reads. Maybe you will find some new reading here! Please feel free to share your favourite blog reads in the comments so we can share the love!


Laura's All Made Up

I have been reading Laura's Blog for absolutely ages now, and it is still a firm favourite of mine. Her reviews are honest and her photography is so pretty. I love the way she writes; her blog layout is absolutely adorable and she loves a good beauty bargain (like me!) so i always find her blog posts relatable. Her blog is a really good read so if you fancy a nosey, here is the link!
Lauras All Made Up


Victorias Vintage

I am a big fan of Victoria's blog. I love her creative content and her absolutely gorgeous layout and imagery. She blogs all about fashion, beauty, lifestyle, bargain hunting, comping, up-cycling, and baking - her posts always inspire me. Here is her lovely blog link!
Victoria's Vintage

The Love Of All Things Beauty

I have mentioned Clare several times on my blog previously. As well as being a super - lovely friend of mine, she is a fantastic blogger and I love reading her blog. Reading Clare's blog is like having a chat with a friend - her writing style is really friendly and she blogs about a lot of beauty - if you are a big fan of lipsticks click on her link because she loves a good lippie!
The Love of All Things Beauty

Lucyy Writes

Lucy's blog is another I have been reading for quite some time now - she writes real and honest blog posts - a personal favourite is her blog posts about contraception and the implant. It is refreshing to see blog posts which are factual, honest, inspiring and helpful addressing topics like this, which I don't feel are spoke about very much in real life. As well as blogging beauty, fashion, home-ware and lifestyle too, her blog is a good one - and if you love Lush, Lucy's blog is the place to go!
Lucyy Writes

Away With The Fairies

Hannah's blog is gorgeous. She has beautiful photography and the prettiest layout. She blogs fashion, beauty and lifestyle. I love her pastel outfits, she always looks amazing and I only wish i could pull off the gorgeous outfits she wears!
Away With The Fairies

Favourite Blogs To Read #2

Last Month I shared two of my favourite blog reads, and a lot of people liked the post. I think it is a great way of finding new blogs to read, so I think I will continue doing these types of blog posts in the future. I have picked two of my favourite reads of the minute which you can see below. I definitely recommend you having a nosey!

Pretty Petticoats - link

I have followed Rachel's blog for a while now, and it is one which I always read when I see a new post on my feed. She blogs all things beauty and fashion; a personal favourite read is her blog post on her Glittery Jeffery Campbells. 

Hannah Hepton - link

I have been enjoying reading Hannah's blog recently. A great read is her review of the John Frieda Full Repair Range . She seems such a lovely person from reading her blog and I am looking forward to reading more from her in the future!

Let me know in the comments your favourite reads so far this Month?!

Guest Post: Andrea's Twist On Skin Care

Hi everyone, today I have another great guest post from the lovely Andrea, who writes the blog No More Twist. Andrea is a fashion designer that creates beautiful clothing and does it all herself. She also has a Youtube Channel where she shares all her tips and tricks on being a fashion designer. Do check her out as her blog is interesting and a great read, and shes super lovely, too! 


Ohhh cleansing with oils....as weird as that may sound, it feels so right on my skin. I have oily/combination skin with a problematic chin area. (Curse being female for this!!) Oil cleansing has been the most beautiful way to treat my skin with some respect and gentility, finally! 

Images courtesy of:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/traditionalcraftsUK?ref=l2-shopheader-name

I discovered this method through hours of Youtube trawling and was dumbfounded! At first I thought no way man! That's just zit city. I was clearly wrong. 

Using oil as a cleanser does not cause spots or acne, would you believe. Those skin ailments are usually down to bad diet, hormones and bacteria. When you cleanse with commercial face products all those nasty soaps, chemicals and preservatives actually strip your skin from its natural happy face oils. Therefore your face goes into overdrive, panics and produces an obscene amount of sebum causing your over oily skin. "Oil dissolves oil." By cleansing your skin with lovely natural oils your face doesn't freak out and over produce, it feels it simply has no need to. It will help gently remove the dirty oil and replace it with good, nourishing, healing oil which you can tailor to your skin type. 

I use a beautiful smelling oil which I got from a lovely lady at Traditional Crafts, she is on Etsy, find her here:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/traditionalcraftsUK?ref=l2-shopheader-name

She has so much information written under each of her products, so you can really tailor you oil choice to your skin type. As I have Combination skin I use the Geranium and Grapefruit All Natural Cleansing Oil alongside her Beauty Sleep Serum. I also use a little Olive oil on reusable cleansing pads just to get rid of the majority of my eye make-up, you can use the cleansing oil, I just don't want to waste it because I wear so much eyeliner! 

Images courtesy of:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/traditionalcraftsUK?ref=l2-shopheader-name

How beautiful is that packaging too! Traditional Crafts had my items out to me in no time and her shipping prices are really great. She makes everything herself and they smell amazing, all the cleansing oils are 100% natural and are handmade to order! I cannot describe to you how good these products smell! Just soooo very good!!! 

Anyway, how do you do it?

Simple really, I like to do mine at the end of the day, you don't need to oil cleanse too much, once a day should be fine. I get myself a nice hand hot jug of water with a lovely flannel in it. If I have stubborn eye make-up on then I will take a reusable cleansing pad with a little Olive oil on and gently wipe away as much of my eye make-up as possible.

After this, I take a small amount, like 10p sized, of my Geranium and Grapefruit cleansing oil into the palm of my hands and warm between my palms then gently massage into my face and neck in upwards motions. Do that for as long as you feel necessary, I find a minute or so is fine.

Leave it to sit there and be all natural and lovely for about 30 seconds then take your hot steamy flannel and place it over your face and let it cool. Then gently wipe away any excess oil. The steaming helps open the pores and draw out any impurities your make-up may have left behind. I then let my skin air dry for a little bit, before either patting a little bit more of the Geranium oil as a moisturiser or moving on to the Beauty Sleep Serum. This I spend a little bit of time working in, it will be absorbed overnight and you will be left with baby soft skin in the morning. I enjoy having dewy well-balanced soft skin now! 

Thanks Zoe for letting me post on your lovely site! I assume that if you like beauty, you may also like fashion! If that sounds appealing you can come see my work on my blog at:

http://andreabonnell.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks for reading guys, I hope you enjoyed it! 

Guest Post: Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara

Hi everyone, today I have another guest post from a fantastic and lovely blogger, Amy. I really enjoy reading her blog, you can check it out here. I'll hand it over to Amy!

Hi guys!

First of all, many thanks to Zoe for letting me do a guest post for her lovely blog. :)

I thought that after checking out her product directory, it would be pretty fitting to talk a Soap and Glory product, since it seems she's a fan, and so am I!

I'll be reviewing the infamous Thick & Fast Mascara, which is both loved and hated in the world of beauty enthusiasts.

　

Anyway, here's what I reckon....

Packaging

In typical Soap & Glory style, the packaging is girly and pretty. What more is there really to say?

Price

This retails for £10, which isn't the cheapest you can get for "drugstore" makeup, but also not the most expensive by any means. I think it's pretty reasonable.

What I reckon....

This, for me, is totally hit and miss!

The formula is a nice jet black, but the brush is HUGE, which is usually fantastic, but can be a bit of a pain for dealing with teeny little lashes.

For me, it did live up to its claims of being volumising (and doing it fast, for that matter), but I do have a problem with my lashes clumping together a little, which sometimes happens when I add more than one coat, which is a shame, although I can usually fix this by giving it a thorough combing through with a spooly brush.

As for lasting power, I'd say this is pretty great! I don't have any problems when it comes to flaking and smudging, and my lashes seem to still look lovely and thick by the end of the day!

　

All in all...

I think this is a reasonably priced mascara with impressive results. Saying that, I wish Soap & Glory would perhaps downsize the brush to grab my teeny tiny lashes and save me from those irritating smudges on my eyelid.

Overall, a thumbs up, Soap & Glory!

Thank you for the fantastic review, Amy! Do check out her blog its a great read!

Have you tried this mascara too? What are your thoughts?

My Favourite Lipstick!

I wrote a guest post sharing my very favourite lipstick for my blogging friend Clare's blog, A little Lipstick Blog.

Check it out here!

Favourite Blogs To Read #1

Top 2 Blogs Of The Month

I am sure I am not alone when I say I spend such a lot of my time reading blogs. There is nothing better when you come across a fantastic read, I love discovering new blogs to read and thought I would start sharing some of my new favourite finds with you!

Born To Buy - link.

One of my favourite blog discoveries of the Month so far is Sophie's blog, Born To Buy. She has been blogging since 2011 and is from Australia. She blogs all things beauty; she has written a fantastic post on the Nyx Butter Glosses and is a blog I look forward to reading more from in the future!

Rosie Alexandra - link.

I love Rosies blog. Her layout is gorgeous (as is she) and her blog is a fab read. I adore her writing style, a favourite post of mine is her review of Lush's Catastrophe Cosmetics Face Mask. I would definitely recommend you having a read!

Let me know in the comments your favourite blogs to read this Month?! 

Meet My Blogger Buddy Clare!

Hi everyone! Sorry I  have been away from the blogging scene a little while, my little laptop has decided it doesn't want to to work for me anymore so I haven't really had chance to do anything blog related until I came onto the home computer today. I have missed blogging!

Anyway, today I am writing about something I am thankful for thanks to blogging!

I am really grateful that through blogging I have made some great friends, and one in particular... a certain young lady named Clare.

I remember the first time I came across Clares blog, she left a comment on one of my posts saying something along the lines of she was interested in finding bloggers in the West Midlands.  From then on me and Clare would speak quite often on Twitter, and eventually swapped numbers and now we talk almost every day.

I met her for the first time in January at a Birmingham Blogger Meet Up. It was like we were old friends! Since then we have met up a few times and even went to The Big Reunion concert together which was a great night.

Although I dont see Clare a lot I speak to her much more than I do than my friends from School, College and work. It is great to have a close friend like Clare as she is really down to earth and so lovely, its nice to have someone that adores beauty and blogging as much as I do!

Photo from Sarah

If you haven't already i think you should head over to Clares blog as it is fantastic, tell her I sent you :)

What is your favourite part of blogging?

Have you met lots of friends through your blog?

xxx