March Favourites

Favourites of the month: March

Chilli Pepper Blusher Pot (No name)

Lovely light pink rose with lilac undertones

Soap and Glory's Hand Food - do I need to say any more?!

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Powder Blush and Highlighter in 014 Winter Glow

You may have seen this in my January favourites, but I have fell back in love with it!

MUA Heaven and Earth Pallette

Had this a while, but use it pretty much every day!

Sorry guys, as you may or may not know I am currently undergoing a shopping ban (I'm about two weeks in), so I haven't been able to purchase any new bits. I've also been very busy working, studying, lecture attending, fitting everything else in etc. etc.! I've rediscovered and rekindled my love for these four products. Hope you are all well! 

Comment or tweet @zoelianne_x I will always get back to you

Lots of love :) Zoe xx

Versatile Blogger Award

Thank You!

A big thank you to the very lovely lady at thefashionarmoire.blogspot.co.uk who awared me the Versatile Blogger Award. I've never been given an award before in the blogging world - so a big thank you! Do be sure to check out her lovely blog :)

 

Pictures provided by We Heart It

The rules:

- Thank the person that nominated you with a link back

- Tell 7 things about you

- Pass this on to 9 newly discovered blogs and let them know they received the award

7 Things About Me:

I'm addicted to anything cute and if I see anything with Minnie Mouse on it.. I have to buy it

I can't ride a bike :(

I drink a ridiculous amount of coffee every day

I don't sleep until past 4AM and have been diagnosed mild insomnia

I love to find new blogs - I'm addicted to a good read!

I haven't seen my natural hair colour in about 8 years - I hate it!

I don't have any pets except for little fishies in the pond in my garden

9 Blogs I Give The Award To:

Jess at Make Up With Jess

Elizabeth at Butterfly Boo

Mali at Mali's Blog
Mantenso  at Fashion Fades...
Jasmine  at La Bella Vita
Rachel  at Rachel's Nice Things
Danielle at Tinks Tales
Laura at Laurzrah
Flutter and Sparkle

Please check all these very amazing blogs out! I have only recently discovered these - some are new bloggers, some have been blogging for a few years - All are very inspirational and very good reads!

Comment or tweet @zoelianne_x

Zoe xxxx

Review: Gosh Eye-shadow in Evergreen

Hi guys, just a quick review on a GOSH Quattro eye shadow in Q 32 Evergreen

It has four gorgeous shadows; a white and a shimmery off white, and an emerald green and a dark green/tealy grey. 

The good: 

Pretty colours which suit a green/blue eye colour like mine

The off white and the green shadows are very pigmented and stay on all day

Shadow blends out really nicely

The price is reasonable at £8.49

The not so good: 

The white is not very pigmented

Packaging isn't the best

Brush supplied is not the best

Would I repurchase: 

Maybe - but probably in more wearable colours as I haven't tended to use these greens as they are very pigmented and I am not confident enough to pull off a dark green eyes look.

Also, if you check out Superdrug's website here, currently they have reduced another of their Quattro Eyeshadow Pallettes Driftwood (lovely neutral browns) for only £4!! That is a saving of £4.49! Very good for the price!

Hope you enjoyed this post!

What are your favourite GOSH cosmetics?

Comment or tweet @zoelianne_x 

Lots of Love xxxxxx

Shopping Ban Update: Week 2!

Hi guys,
So this was my second week into the shopping ban. And all was going well - until I slept in and almost missed a deadline. I had to get a taxi to University (which takes about 2 hours to get to via public transport) which kinda annoyed me cause that was quite a chunk of money I could've gone without spending. But never mind, assignment was handed in on time.

I am still struggling with the leaving/arriving at work situation - especially as the stores on the way out of the shopping centre are BHS, Accessorize, The Body Shop and Lush. VERY difficult. I had a nosey in Claires Accessories at the start of the week, and I was surprised at all of the lovely jewellery and make-up. To be honest I hadn't visited Claire's in about 6 years, as a teenager I swapped my love for the store to Monsoon's Accessorize. To my suprise, they stocked products that would appeal to a woman of any age. AND the point of this story/ramble initially was to tell you about the pretty amazing sale they had on in store. I was so so tempted... but I behaved. So be proud of me.

A lovely blogger Kezzie gave me a brilliant idea to implement during my shopping ban - to put a pound into a box every time I craved or had the urge to buy something! Then after the challenge is over you have a nice little savings box to spend on something nice! I've also been listing the things I've been lusting after this week, some will be listed below. At the end of the challenge, I'll look at the list and maybe choose one or to things from the list.. and continue to save up! I think its brilliant... although, already after only a few days doing this the money box is feeling quite heavy already...

Do check out her blog, its brilliant and shes such a pretty and lovely girl.

This week has been spent (majority) at work, in lectures, and doing a bit of studying. I also went to see Charlie Simpson at a gig on Saturday after work - he never fails to amaze me. My third time seeing him solo and he is so, so talented. If you haven't heard of him, he is a UK artist that used to be in a pop band called Busted, and is front-man of rock/alternative band Fightstar (Whom I also love). He sings beautifully, and if you like musicians such as City and Colour and Bon Ivor, I would definitely recommend you take a listen. My lovely boyfriend even treated me to a Charlie Simpson shopping bag from the Merch stand, bless him. (Picture will soon follow!)

My money this week was spent on said taxi fare (sad face), public transport, my fiances birthday presents, card and wrapping paper, a Mcdonalds (naughty) and drinks for work. Not really saved any money this week, but I still haven't actually brought anything for myself, which is something to be proud of I think.

This week I've been lusting after:
EVERYTHING from Boots as most things are mix and match 3 for 2 :(
Eylure Katy Perry Lashes - Cool Kitty - Oh Honey  both £5.95
No 7 Vital Brightening Eye Pallette £13
Real Techniques Starter Set £21.99
Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Tint £6.99
L'Oreal Color Riche Made for Me Intense Lipstick - Limited Edition Cheryl Cole £8.16
Jimmy Choo EDP 40ml £39
Maxfactor Colour Effect Flipstick in Bloomy Pink £6.49-£8.49

So as you can see I have a pretty heavy money box already!


By they way, I am also thinking of doing a weekly feature on my blog of weekly or fortnightly photos, would that be any interest to any of you? Let me know! 

How have all you been this week?

Any tips or advice you could give me?

As always, comment or tweet me @zoelianne_x I will always get back to you.
:-)

xxxxx

Review: The Body Shop Moringa Body Butter

Now, I know a lot of The Body Shop fans will be shouting at their laptops "Where have you been?!", but only recently have I rekindled my love with The Body Shop. A few weeks previous to my spending ban, I picked up one of The Body Shops famous body butters; in Moringa. 

It states:

"With Moringa seed oil to moisturise. Normal/dry skin"

The texture is like any other body butter, and is so, so moisturising after application. It smells delicious and good enough to eat, which may I add, lingers few a good few hours after.

The Body Shop have always promoted their no animals tested products, which should be highly commended. 

Now,The Body Shop does have a slightly heavy price tag for a 200ml tub; but it is definitely worth saving those pennies up for. It is £5 for 50ml, and £12.50 for 200ml. I opt for the 50ml tubs as it is not too expensive then, and its a smaller amount for something new to try which you may not want to purchase as a 200ml tub. 

This is the first Moringa purchase I have made, but after a little wonder around The Body Shop the other day, the Moringa soap, body scrub and foaming bath are the top of my wish list.

I would definitely recommend this body butter to anyone that loves flowery, girly scents and the feeling of being pampered and deliciously moisturised. 

Tip: Currently on-line, The Body Shop have a sale on a few of their 200ml Body butters. These include: Almond, Brazil Nut, Wild Cherry, Blueberry, Papaya and Passion-fruit.

They usually sell at £12.50, but these are reduced down to £5 - the price of a 50ml tub. Amazing saving!

Hope you enjoyed this post!

What are your favourite Body Shop products?

Comment or tweet @zoelianne_x 

xxxxxxx

Battle of the 'pump up' mascaras

Battle of the pump up mascaras!

Color Trend V Miss Sporty

Color Trend (Avon) Pump Up The Volume in Black £4.50 

Please note: The name of this mascara has recently been changed to 'plump out' but the mascara is virtually the same

The good: The price, nice as a base mascara, sepearates lashes well

The not so good: brush is small, product seems quite watery, doesn't lengthen eyelashes , if worn all day product needs reapplying as does not last. 

Does it pump your lashes up: Not really :-( still a good basic mascara, but does not lengthen or thicken eyelashes

The grade: 6/10

Miss Sporty Pump Up Booster

£3.99

The good: Price, big thick brush, separates and lengthens lashes, long lasting and lasts all day

The not so good: Product can become a little clumpy if applied too much

Does it pump your eyelashes up: Yes, definitely! Eyelashes are thick, long and wide!

The grade: 9/10

That is it for today folks! Hope you found this useful!

What are your favourite drugstore mascaras?

Comment or tweet me @zoelianne_x

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Shopping Ban Challenge - Week 1

Updates on my thoughts on my 1st week attempting the 100 day shopping ban challenge!

Okay, so firstly, I must say, this has been harder to do than I thought, and I am only 6 days in. 94 days to go, not that I'm counting or anything.

My first day actually proved difficult - knowing that I couldn't purchase any impluse buys meant that I wanted to buy things all the more. I work part-time in a fashion clothing store, and with this being located slap bang in the middle of  a very popular (and mega busy) shopping centre near the Birmingham area, it was quite difficult to leave and not visit any other shops as I left.

I have worked four days this week which meant as I left work I lusted in every shop window I passed - even shops i'd never shop in, just 'cause I was shopping-hungry.

I even decided that this week, I would go (sort of) cold turkey. I didn't buy food or drink this week! The only food I brought was a packet of chewits (child at heart) as I needed to break into my notes for change for the bus fare. I made do with home-made lunches for work and University; which I actually enjoyed spending the time making them. I knew if I went into the shops i'd cave in and buy unneeded junk - so I cut shopping off completely.

The only things my money went on this week was on public transport (only for Uni as its two hours away, I walked to and from work everyday!) my mums Mother's Day presents and card, said chewits, and a driving lesson. I'm actually quite proud.

I taunted myself last night having a nosey on the Superdrug website, so much I'd love to purchase simply for the buzz.

I also had a good sort out of my wardrobe this week, and i've got rid of A LOT! Two huge overflowing piles on clothes I don't wear or no longer fit. I think I will give some to charity and sell the rest on ebay.

My 'empties' after attempting to use up half used and last dregs from products lurking in my bathroom/bedroom cluttering up and wasting space, included:

• 1 pack of baby wipes (which had been in my drawer since October last year, yes really, there were only about 5/70 wipes left!).
• 4 half used body sprays.
• The last dregs of Primark's 'Rock Spirit' Perfume which had been in the bottom of my bag for a loooong time.

Picture from We Heart It

I'm finding it quite hard to keep myself sane though! If you have any suggestions please do let me know, I would very much appreciate it. I'm very lucky that my mum brought me some little bits this week (lots of socks and teddybear shaped handbag pomanders if you were wondering) and my lovely boyfriend took me out for dinner twice, and also a cheeky trip to Mcdonalds midweek.
What have you all been spending your hard-earned on this week? Jealous!

Anyone got any good tips on other ways to save money and keep myself entertained?

Comment or tweet at @zoelianne_x

Lots of love, Zoe :-) xx