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My August Love List!


Hello again!

Today's post is going to be my August Love List. I saw Victoria from In the Frow do this the other day on her channel and I really like the idea, I liked it so much that I thought I would do mine! This is different from your typical Monthly Favourites which normally revolve around beauty products and fashion, this is more about what you've done throughout the month, places you've been etc that you've loved and enjoyed.

So here is my August Love List. I Hope you enjoy!

What I Watched: Favourite Film/Programme:

This hands down has to be The Great British Bake Off! I absolutely love this programme. For the people who either live out-with the United Kingdom or Under a Rock I'll give you a brief run down of how the show works! So it starts out with 12 keen bakers, entering a rather nice tent to pretty much bake for their lives! The judges are Mary Berry - the sweetest little old lady you'll ever meet (not that I have but I'd love to) and The silver back himself - Paul Hollywood! They have 3 challenges a week sending someone home every week until they have a winner!! One of the best parts - Sue and Ruth - they are there to help, send encouragement but along with that they bring beautiful innuendos and such great banter!! I love this programme!! (Watching it as I type and Paul Hollywood is flashing poor contestant Paul his icy stare, if he flashed me that then I'd crumble faster than, well, crumble).


What I Snapped: Favourite Photo:

My favourite photo that I took this month is the one below. It's so simple but it was a really nice part of my month. I had to go into town after my work one day to go get all measured up for my new spectacles (pronounced - spec-tec-a-les with a bit of a speedy gonzeles accent) so as I was waiting for my bus, I phoned my sister Katy just for a general chit chat and she said she would come with me. So we went and got the glasses all sorted and then we thought we'd grab a cheeky cafe Nero. It was nice just hanging out with her and catching up, it was actually her first day of college (she's training to be a hairdresser - about bloody time, she's only been cutting her own hair for about 13 years!). We don't see each other as often as I'd like as we both lead very different lives, I'm normally spending my time with Sam and April and she's either at a motorbike rally or in the pub, but it is nice when we have a little catch up.

Who I Loved: Favourite Person:

I have to say my favourite person this month is my little girl. But in saying that she's not so little anymore! She's turning 3 in October and she keeps reminding me of how big she is, but she just makes me so damn proud! One thing that is really sticking in my mind is one morning April was sitting in our bed chatting away to herself then all of a sudden she was pretending to be doing a make up tutorial. I started handing her brushes and she was saying that they were for her face, it was so cute and so funny. Things like that really just make you remember that you are moulding them into being the grown ups they will be one day. That's a major responsibility, one that I love having!!


What I Wore: Favourite Piece of Clothing:

The thing I have loved wearing this month definitely has to be my white Chuck Taylor 
converse! I literally wear them every day, but I do need a new pair as mine are very dirty and throwing them in the washing machine just isn't doing the trick but I love how I can wear them to the park or on a date night, they're so versatile!

What I Did: How I spent my Free time:


This is either watching videos on Youtube (I am rather obsessed. Like, really obsessed) or writing posts for my blog. Any spare time I have you can find me watching either hauls, or make up tutorials or vlogs. A few people I am obsessed with just now are Jaclyn Hill (she is Queen - also her snapchats are funny as hell), Shaaanxo (Shannon - you should check out her make up collection - WOW! Also she's from New Zealand - her accent is amazing) and Kathleen Lights (she can do make up like crazy). But I just love watching them, looking at new products and how the look like on and just being generally nosy! My blog is also a very important part of my life right now. I have truly dedicated myself to doing it and I am rather proud of the way it's turned out. I have always tinkered with blogs but I've normally gotten bored after a couple of days but this one is sticking - finger's crossed I keep it up!

What I Ate: Favourite Food:

Sunday Roast Chicken Dinners - HANDS DOWN! I love a roast chicken dinner, but I have to have all the trimmings. I'm talking roast potatoes, skirlie (white pudding - consists of oats, lard and onion - sounds disgusting but it's amazing), peas, yorkshire puddings and gravy - lots and lots of gravy!! I just love a Sunday afternoon, chicken in the oven, the best smell ever drifting through the house. It's just everything ... damn, why is it only Thursday?!?



What I Heard: Favourite Song:

My favourite song right now has currently been on repeat in my head. It's Can't Feel My Face but The Weeknd. It's such a catchy tune (oh god, don't I sound like a right old woman?! ... Don't answer that). Every time it comes on the radio in my office at work I belt it out! 

What I Used: Favourite thing that I used:

My favourite thing I have used this month is Snapchat! Now I'm very late jumping on the Snapchat bandwagon but I didn't have a clue what it was or how you worked it until my friend Eilidh told me about it. Now, we are constantly sending each other little clips and photos. I also like how I can follow a couple of my YouTube favourites on there: Jaclyn Hill, Lucy and Lydia. 



So that was my August Love List, what's yours?

'Till Next Time ...



Sources: google.com

Inspirational Quotes I love!

Hello Again,

I thought I would just do a completely different post today from my others but I guess this is the Etc in 'Blogs Vlogs Etc'. These are some quotes that really speak to me the most for different situations that life throws at you! Take when you're feeling a little down or things just seem to not be going the way you planned or when you're trying your best to get things that need doing done but things just keep distracting you (happens with me all the time, procrastination you little bitch). I find reading really positive messages/quotes makes me happier!

Sometimes you feel like you don't fit in, I personally felt like this for my entire school time, I was the kid everyone picked on and called names, blah blah blah, I think back to it now and I ask myself why didn't I stand up for myself or why did I care so much but I can't change the past. But it did really get to me back then, I just wish I had the mind set I do now back then, don't let people who don't matter to you make you feel rubbish or not worthy! You are your own person and if other people don't like you because you are different then screw them - your differences make you the person you are - and I think that's pretty damn good!

A little thing that my sister says, 'You be you, as everyone else is taken', or something along those lines, but I really like that. Don't try and be someone else, be the best you that you can be!

"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pigs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them, because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do." Steve Jobs - Sam (my fiancé's favourite quote).

This one though, is the best of the best, it's my daughter's favourite saying, 'Best Day Ever!'

So here are a few others, just keep these little quotes at the back of your mind and hopefully, if a time like the ones I described up there springs up, you'll be able to come out the other end better off!

P.S. I honestly hope that you can find some happiness in these quotes because they have helped me along the way. Everyone deserves to be happy! #beeyou (my friend Eilidh's favourite saying).


Let me know your favourite quotes and what they mean to you!

'Till next time ...



Sources: Google.com











My Top 5 Most Wanted!!

Hello Again,

Todays post is going to be all about my top 5 wanted make up products. As I am a mum who is on a very strict budget I can't splurge as much as I'd like. But one day I will (hopefully anyway) own these products. I will talk through why I like them and where you can get them. I am mainly obsessed with these products because of the YouTubers that I watch, I like watching people use them and review them as I feel I have a better understanding of the product when I go to buy it. I personally think all of these products are beautiful so take a look.

Number 5: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.

I have watched many a make up tutorial using this but the one that stands out for me is one done by Victoria from Inthefrow. As she applied it, her skin went almost instantaneously dewy. This is a look I so desperately try to achieve but no matter what product I use I just can't get the effect! This though - ticks that box. This is honestly the look that I want on my wedding day as it makes you look like you are glowing from within and what bride doesn't want to look like that on their big day?! In Aberdeen you can get this in either Debenhams or John Lewis, but you can also get it from various places online but from Debenhams it is £36.50.


Number 4: Colour Pop 4 piece eyeshadow set - 'Where the light is', by Kathleen Lights.

This is Kathleen Lights's own foursome (4 separate eyeshadows - get your minds out of the gutter) which she made through the cosmetics brand ColourPop. Unfortunately this is not a brand that is sold in the UK - But I am majorly contemplating doing an order and getting it shipped over (little excited sequel). The colours in this are truly beautiful, I've watched Kathleen's make up tutorial where she did a burnt gold look over and over again with these and I about fell off my chair. This is definitely a foursome that you could do a full out bronze smokey eye or just an every day eye! They look super super pigmented so I really hope I can get my hands on this. I also love how she's called one of them Cornelious - as the colour reminded her of her dog and that's his name - so cute! I wonder if anyone I know is going to the states anytime soon... It is $20 and you can get it from the ColourPop website.


Number 3: Urban Decay Naked Palette 3.

Now at the time of writing this the new Naked 4 Palette - which is actually called the smokey palette - has just been released. It's practically sold out everywhere but I'm not really that fussed about it as I hardly ever do a smokey eye and if I do it tends to be golds and browns (see, I need the Kathleen Lights foursome in my life). But I actually don't own any of the Urban Decay Palettes, I used to have the NYC box which lit up and had the most beautiful colours in it but it got very old and grubby so it's long gone. But the one that catches my eye the most is the Naked 3 Palette. It has 12 eyeshadows and I love that mainly all the colours have that pinky gold hue! I am rose gold obsessed so this is perfect for me! I also really like the look of the packaging as it looks really sturdy, I know a lot of people prefer the packing on the first naked palette but I think this one looks so sleek and stunning! This is actually going to have to be bought on payday because I just can't go any longer without this in my life!!! You can get it online or again in Aberdeen you can get it in Debenhams or John Lewis and it is £38.00.


Number 2: Beauty Blender

I really want this in my collection as my Real Techniques Complexion sponge is my best friend! But I know that this is the original sponge and apparently is so much better - I have to say I am doubtful and my trusty real techniques sponge does wonderful things. So this is purely to be nosey and if it does work better then I'd be over the moon! Typical woman - always nosey and wanting to know everything! I've found that I can get this on BeautyBay.com for £16.00 which I think is quite expensive for a sponge but as I haven't used it I'm not going to cast judgement on it for now just because of the price.



Number 1: Hourglass Ambient Lighting power, in the shade Luminous Light.

This is my most wanted make up product!!! I have seen so many people use this in tutorials especially Jaclyn Hill - I am literally obsessed with her! She is a qualified Make Up artist but I don't just love her because of that, she is just so real and down to earth - plus she makes me bloody laugh!! Where was I, Oh yes in all of Jaclyn's videos where she has used this or spoken about it she has always said that it's the perfect highlight for brides. So I was literally sold right there - it is expensive for a highlight but it's BEAUTIFUL! I am highlight obsessed so I just need this in my life. You can buy this online on John Lewis's website but unfortunately not in the shade luminous light! I will find it and when I do, I will probably hum and hey until giving in a buying it! But you can find different shades at John Lewis for £38.00


So that is my Top 5 Most Wanted Products. What are yours?

'Till next time ...



Sources: google.com



My Top 5 Budget Beauty Buys!

Hello Again!

Today's post is going to be some of my favourite Make Up Products - That are so affordable!! As I mentioned in my previous post, I am a Mum so I don't have a lot of money that I can splash out on Make Up, so when I find a bargain I want to share it and tell everyone and their dog! So here are a couple of mine.

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Sticks

You may or may not know this, but I am not a fan of lip sticks, glosses, stains etc. But these little beauties I can make an exception! Let's start with packaging. They are super super dinkie - perfect to throw in your handbag or even a little clutch for a night out. I also like how on the packaging its a mix between matte and shiny plastic - but that is definitely the only matte part. Just like their name - they are super glossy! Even a light application makes your lips look wet! I chose Nudist and Technicoral. Technical is a really pinky coral - something I don't normally go for but I thought to push myself and give it a try, and low and behold I love it! Nudist is definitely one of those 'your lips but better' colours, so it's perfect for everyday! They're so moisturising and leave your lips feeling fantastic so I am totally going to get more shades on pay day from Boots especially seeing as they're only £3.50.



Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eye shadows

I saw Lydia (from my favourite twin YouTubers Lucy and Lydia) using this in one of their videos and I loved how much colour she got from just a little bit so I thought I would try it out. They do claim to last 24 hours so I wore a swatch on the back of my hand for at least 5 hours maybe and it was still looking good!! I like my golds and browns so I chose Eternal Gold and On and On Bronze - they are a super Metallic creamy eyeshadow which you can use as a base and then add on top or just wear this on its own. The 2 colours actually work perfectly together with Eternal Gold on the entire lid then work On and on Bronze into the crease - voila - a great metallic smokey eye! I bought these in Boots and they were 2 for £10!!



Garnier Intense Care, for body, hands and face

I have really bad dry and sensitive skin on my hands, so I will honestly try any and every cream that has the promise of Intense Moisturising effects. I just so happened to stumble upon this little guy in Poundland!! That's right, Poundland!! I am very chuffed with this cream as so far, it is keeping my hands very soft also it's a nice handy sized pot so you can pop it in your bag and take it with you wherever you go! Don't have anything else to say on this, it does exactly what it says on the tub! (Just going to be that guy, this was £1 from poundland, just encase, you know, you didn't know).



Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Palette

I am a massive fan of all Make Up Revolution products so when I saw this I knew I would love it! It's  the Golden Sugar Ultra Blush Palette. There are 8 different shades and they are BEAUTIFUL!! 5 of them are marbled blushes, 1 of them is a shimmery white highlight with gold marbling (perfect for highlighting under your eyebrow) - come on - stunning and the other 2 colours are matte golden/browns which I use for Bronzer and Contour. These palettes are amazing, the colours are very pigmented and they are only £6 in Superdrug. It's such good value for money - you get so much product, such great colour and great pay off! I love Make Up Revolution. Definitely give their blush palettes a try!




Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

Sooo many people rave about this concealer so I had to give it a try. First things first (I'm a realist - couldn't help myself - sorry) I really like how the applicator is like a lip gloss, you can just apply it straight to your face (Ok that's not the most hygienic way - but it's quick and easy). I would say this is light to medium coverage which is good when you've got a few problem areas but don't want a full face of make up. It also is very illuminating so I apply this under my eyes and it's like 'bags be gone'. You can pick this up in most places but right now you can get it from Superdrug for £4.49 - Bargain!! (Also if you like this you should definitely try out the Wake me Up Foundation - I have only started using it the past week - but I'm liking it so far).



So that's just a few of my Budget Beauty buys, have you found any bargains that you want to share?

'Till next time ...




My Very First Glossy Box!

Hello again!

Todays post is going to be all about my very first Glossy Box! What's a Glossy box I hear you ask, through the internet - well everyone - Glossy Box is a monthly, 3 monthly, 6 monthly or yearly subscription to a little goodie box with 5 beauty products in it. My subscription is monthly so I am £10 plus postage and packaging - which is an absolute bargain seeing as this months box is actually worth £58!! See - Bargain. Some of the products are miniatures but some are full size and this month there is 4 full products! I have subscribed to another service like this and I was going to do an unboxing video on my YouTube channel but that one hasn't arrived yet and I just couldn't help myself. So I thought instead I will do a blog post on it - and here we are! I am also going to use all 5 products throughout the month then I will review at the end of the month.


Before I get into showing you the products and telling you all about them can I just say how beautifully presented the box is! The packaging is gorgeous, so elegant! I felt like a child at Christmas opening up a present! I also love the fact that they have included a card that explains what each product is for and how much the full size costs.




So the first product that I picked up was the SASS Intimate purifying Cleanser. They have said that its a gentle formula that ensures you stay shower-fresh all day. Sounds good already! On the tube it says to use two pumps and then to rinse with water. I am looking forward to using this as I am trying to build up good skincare products - also it smells very fresh! This is a miniature product and the full size is worth £7.


The next thing that I picked up is the MeMeMe Lipglide in Playful Peach - love the name!
It's got a beautiful coral hue and its matte - which I prefer! It's a lip crayon and it easy to apply and is very hydrating. Now if I saw this in a shop I would definitely swatch it but it's not a colour I would buy - purely just because I'm not brave enough to wear such a bright colour but now that I have it I will try it out. This is a full size product and it costs £6.95. There is a swatch of it below.



I then picked up the Naobay Calming Face Toner. The packing of this is lovely - I really like the wooden lid. Very simple yet effective. The Social and Digital Manager of Glossy Box has said that this is a citrus-scented liquid toner from the Spanish Brand Naobay that ticks four requirements, removing traces of makeup while also cleansing, calming and hydrating the skin. Sounds good! It is also 99.13% natural - two thumbs up from me! This is also full size and it is worth £10.65 - almost the entire cost of my monthly subscription.


Next up is the Emite Artist Colour Powder Blush. They have said that in May they asked the subscribers Blush or Brush. So here it is - the winner. It is in the shade 108 and it is quite a dark colour for me - I am like a milk bottle though - But the team at Glossy Box have branded it a 'blunzer' a blush/bronzer hybrid! I am still going to give it a try though - it does blend really well onto the back of my hand so fingers crossed it blends well on my face! This is a full size and is worth £ 20.59 - just, wow! You can see the colour in the picture below along with the MeMeMe lipglide.



Lash but not least (see what I did there, lash last, no ok) is the Manna Kadar Lash Primer. This is the product that has me interested the most as I've never used a Lash Primer - so I'm very excited to use this! It is meant to nourish your lashes as well as make them voluminous. So I will be putting this on before I apply my mascara to enhance the final look! In my review of all the products I will include a photo of my eyes if I find it to have made a difference. This is again a full size product and it's worth £14.55.


I most definitely think that the monthly subscription is worth it - it is also cheaper for the other month options so I would recommend to check that out. I already can't wait for my September box! I'm going to sign off here and try of few if not all of these out!

'Till next time ...


A little Family Day!

Hello Again,

Now this post is not going to be beauty related as I had a 'day off'. Instead this is going to be a post about Family Time! We have actually had some good weather of late so we thought we'd take full advantage. April loves spending time outdoors, from looking for snails (she's fascinated) to going on a walk to the park, she's game. So we put on some shades and went to the park! April will be 3 in October, I honestly don't know where the time has gone! She's so independent and she's sprouted like crazy, my little girl isn't so little anymore! Walking along the farm road on the way to the park she marched off, showing me the way - shouting, 'Come on Mummy, it's this way'. I'm so proud of the little girl that she is -  she doesn't just light up a room - she lights up my entire world!


On our way home from the park we didn't want to go indoors, we really did want to take advantage of the sun so Sam made a little phone call to his sister Meghan and after a quick camera battery charge, we were in the car on the way to Stonehaven for a cheeky chipper and an Ice-Cream.  Now Stonehaven honestly has one of the best Ice-Cream shops Ever! Aunty Betty's, their Ice-Cream is amazing! So many different flavours and now typing this I'm kicking myself for not taking a photo of all of them but to be fair it's always jam packed (but it does give me an excuse to go back soon to get a photo - like I really need an excuse to go there!) I went for a generous 3 scoop tub - with all the toppings!! My mouth is literally watering as I type! Spearmint, Bubblegum and Easy tiger - which is Chocolatey Honeycomb - that's right - Chocolatey Honeycomb!! 


They also sell the most gorgeous Ice-Cream Cakes! Anything from Wedding cakes, to pirate boats, to lad cakes - a 2 tiered Ice-Cream cake with a Lad's Magazine sticking out of the top with a beer on the side. Brilliant! But this one did catch my eye, it's called The Tutu Cake - perfect for little girls it's even topped off with a crown! April was more interested in the Pirate one which I suppose is good seeing as I'm already planning her mermaid Pirate 3rd Birthday Party!


I love days like this when we just all get to spend time together. Sam and I both work full-time but our days off are different so we don't get to spend a lot of time just the three of us - but when we do it's lovely! 

'Till next time ...


My Review on my Favourite Real Technique Brushes.

Hello Again, I told you I'd be back! (Sorry this is late - next week my posts will be Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, promise).

Todays post is going to be my personal review on some of the Real Techniques brushes. The brushes I am going to be featuring are by all accords my favourite go to brushes. This consists on The Core Collection Set Brushes and the 301 Flat Contour Brush from their beautiful Bold metals Collection (literally obsessed with these brushes).


These are actually the very first make up brushes I have ever owned. I have always been the girl who applies all her base make up with her fingers then used the little applicator that comes with the eyeshadow. These brushes have literally changed my life - I now know about contouring because of these brushes, that there is a certain brush for your eyeshadow base along with a different one for your crease (my mind literally exploded a little bit).

But anyway I am going to start with the Core Collection Set as that was what I purchased first. In this set you get 4 brushes, the Detailer Brush, The Contour Brush, The Buffing Brush and the Pointed Foundation Brush along with a little handy travel case. My favourite brush out of the set is hands down the Buffing Brush. This is a brush that the angels made, I apply my MAC Mineralise Foundation with it and it gives such an air brushed effect - who doesn't want to look airbrushed?? I don't have a bad word to say about it!!



The next brush I'm going to be talking about is the Pointed Foundation Brush - now I do not use this to apply foundation. I much prefer a bigger brush as I feel it covers more surface area than a little brush - but this brush is amazing for applying concealer - especially on the chin area and under the eyes. I just dip it into my MAC prolongwear concealer and dab it onto my little problem areas. It helps apply it perfectly!



Next up is the Detailer brush - now this brush is meant for concealer touch ups but I actually use it for those pernickety eyeshadow details, either applying a line of eyeshadow along my lash line or for colour in the tear duct area. The size of this brush is perfect for exactly that.


The last brush (but certainly not the least) in the Core Collection is the contour brush - this is probably the brush I have used the most. It does exactly what is says on the brush. It has been shaped to fit into your cheekbones perfectly. It holds a lot of product and its super soft as are all of the Core Collection Brushes. Another thing I use this brush for is for Concealer Touch Up - if any eyeshadow powder has fallen while being applied this is super for gently sweeping away any excess.




Phew, lets take a breath - I can't help myself - these brushes are damn amazing!

The last brush I am going to mention is hands down my favourite brush that I own. The 301 Flat Contour Brush from the Bold metals Collection. Lets just take a minute to appreciate how beautiful this brush is! From the colour to the shape to the length! B-E-A-UTIFUL. The handle on the brush is actually in a diamond shape which is so nice to hold! The brush itself is completely flat - perfect for applying your bronzer in your temples along with obviously your cheek bones. I love the entire Bold Metals collection and one day I will own the entire collection - don't tell Sam!


I will recommend these brushes to everyone and anyone until I don't like them anymore - which I can probably say 99% won't happen!! So thank you to Real Techniques - keep doing amazing things - which all in all makes people like me happy!!


I have said perfect way too much in this post but if you have used any Real Techniques brush then you will understand. Also want to say thank you again to my good friend Eilidh who bought me the 301 brush for my birthday - she knows me so well!!

'Till next time ...