If I Could Write You A Song And Make You Fall In Love

 .1. I went to see Paranormal Activity 2 yesterday and if i'm honest it's definitely not my kind of film. I found some bits of it funny even though they were meant to be scary and the ending wasn't very good. I know everyone is different when it comes to films as some people loved it but I don't think scary films are for me. The best thing about going was the free garlic pizza bread I got from Frankie & Benny's - so tasty!

.2. I've become obsessed with Come Dine With Me this week and i've watched every episode. I don't know how it can be so addictive to watch; I suppose it's because I love cooking programmes and the added bit of drama that Come Dine With Me has makes it even better!

.3. I bought this month's Cosmopolitan magazine because I needed some change for the cinema and I wanted the free nail polish but i've actually really enjoyed reading it even if it's similar to Glamour. I'm hoping I won't become obsessed with buying magazines like I was when I was younger (I used to buy Shout, Bliss and Sugar everytime they came out!), I won't have much money left soon as they aren't cheap!

.4. ♥ A few to follow: Nicola, Imogen, Nichola, Holly and Rachel

.5. ♫ I'm currently listening to Mike Posner - Cooler Than Me, The Wanted - For The First Time (their amazing cover in the Radio 1 Live Lounge!) and JLS - Love You More. I also bought The Wanted's album this week and I love it! There are quite a few really good songs on it - Golden sounds a lot like Take That :)

I'm going to crack open the chocolate buttons and watch X Factor now, I still can't believe a trick or treater has already been sick down our steps! I hope everyone else is getting nicer kids than me ;)

Happy Halloween to all my lovely followers! :)

Halloween Inspired NOTD

I wanted to do my nails a bit differently for Halloween and obviously the new Barry M Instant Nail Effects polish is perfect for that! When I dressed as a pirate I wore Barry M's Block Orange with the Instant Nail Effects polish over the top which looked really good. I think the polish looks better the more you practise with it as it's important you use quite a thick layer otherwise it looks a bit grey and doesn't crack well.

For this design I used the MissGuided Polish in MissCellaneous (that came free with this month's Cosmopolitan Magazine) as a base and then covered half of my nail in Barry M's Block Orange (301). I then covered the tips with Instant Nail Effects. I'm not sure whether I like this design or not but it looks ok for Halloween. I really like the effect that the new Barry M polish gives but I don't think i'd use it a lot when it's not Halloween. I also found that because it dries so quickly the rim of the bottle ended up gloopy and messy and I seemed to use a lot of the polish so if I use it regularly i'll probably end up having to repurchase it.

I've Been Deeply Cleansed

Like a lot of other bloggers i'm a big fan of the Liz Earle range. I've been lucky enough to try quite a few of their skincare products and I though i'd share another one of my favourites with you.

I was sent the Deep Cleansing Mask™ Starter Kit to try out a few weeks ago and i've tried in lots of ways to see how it works best for me. 

I used it as advised on the tube by applying a generous layer over freshly washed skin for 5-10 minutes and then wiping it off with a warm damp sponge. The mask is a good consistency; it is thin enough to smooth over your skin without dripping everywhere and once applied it sets in a few minutes. It looked a bit like I had mud all over my face which made me smile! After removing it I noticed a big difference in my skin straight away. It was more matte and there were no oily areas. I did find that the dryer areas of my skin became slightly dryer through using this product but it did make my skin feel a lot cleaner and look much more radiant.

I now use this product once or twice a week on the oilier areas of my skin such as my nose and chin and avoid dryer areas. I think this product is suitable for anyone with oily/combination skin but it's definitely a must have for anyone who has oily skin. It isn't suitable for anyone with sensitive skin which is understandable as it is quite strong which is why you have to avoid your eyes and lips when applying it.

I sometimes use this mask when i'm having a soak in the bath and the steam helps to release the impurities in my skin and make the mask even more effective. If you have oily skin i'd really recommend trying this mask and I can assure that you won't be disappointed.

The starter pack contains a 75ml tube and two sponges and retails at £12.50 from the Liz Earle Website.

Usually I'm Always Late, Tonight I'm Gonna Be On Time

.1. I haven't blogged much this week; I wanted to blog on Thursday/Friday but i've been really busy and tired so I just haven't had the chance. I'll have lots of time this week to take photos and plan posts so there will hopefully be lots to read soon (including the obligatory Barry M Instant Nail Effects post) ;)

.2. I'm so happy i've got this week off as i'll finally get the chance to relax. I have lots of work I need to do but i'm hoping to get it finished at the start of the week so I can have some time to myself :) I hate wasting days away and looking back and realising I did nothing so i'm going to try and plan something for every day, i'll let you know how it goes in next weeks post.

.3. ♥ A few to follow: Eve, Monika, Sarah, Clare and Sam

.4. ♫ I'm currently listening to The Wanted - Replace Your Heart, Pixie Lott & Jason Derulo - Coming Home and Rihanna - Only Girl In The World.

.5. After 3 weeks i've decided my favourites for this year's X Factor are One Direction, Matt and Aiden. I'd like to see Wagner leave tonight as I just can't work out how he got through to the final 12 - he's not what i'd call talented!

.6. I went out on Thursday night dressed as a pirate for a Halloween party and had an amazing night! I didn't manage to get many photos so I thought i'd put the one above on here for now and then share any others I find on Facebook with you later. I used ELF's Liquid Eyeliner and was so surprised by how well it lasted on the night - definitely a bargain for £1.50!

Pretty Profiteroles

I know this blog is mainly about beauty but I always like to include a few other posts to make it a bit more interesting and food ones are definitely another favourite to write. I know everyone really enjoys reading cupcake posts and it's been a while since I wrote one so I thought i'd share these tasty profiteroles i've made recently.
A little while back, I invited you all to fill in my survey for my food coursework which is the main reason why I made them. I had an amazing response and used your ideas for dinner party desserts to come up with things to make, and my favourite has to be these profiteroles. I might share some other desserts i've made when i've finished my coursework in a few weeks if anyone is interested?

It's quite difficult to explain the recipe properly through writing so I found this video by Gordon Ramsey which explains it really well. You can see the full recipe with all the ingredients here.

Some People Want It All But I Don't Want Nothing At All

.1. Me and three friends are dressing up as pirates for a Halloween party we're going to and i've almost got everything sorted for my outfit. It has ended up costing quite a bit to get everything I need and i'm still in search of a cheap waistcoat to complete my outfit! I'm going to try and take some photos so I can show you what i'm wearing although i'm not sure how i'm doing my makeup yet.

.2. This week I started reading Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. I don't get much time to read now i'm back at 6th form as I usually end up doing work and then being too tired, but i've been making an effort to read more recently and i'm loving this book! I forgot how much I enjoy Sophie Kinsella's books - I just wish she'd write more!

.3. On Friday night I had a Lush bath and used a very interesting combination of both Twilight and Mrs Whippy. I had them both in one bag so they'd ended up a bit crushed so I just threw them in together and it smelled amazing! I know it's a bit of a waste of money to use more than one at once but it's worth it as a special treat!

.4. ♥ A few to follow: Ayden, Lucy, Ellen, Christina and Sophie

.5. ♫ I'm currently listening to Pixie Lott - Broken Arrow, If I Ain't Got You - Alicia Keys (Maroon 5 Cover), Michael Bublé - Hollywood and Example - Two Lives.

Ciaté, Essie and Rimmel

I made an ASOS order last week as they had some gorgeous nail polishes in the sale which I had to have!

As soon as they arrived I tried them all out as I haven't bought any new polishes in quite a while and I couldn't decide on just one to wear! Here's what I ordered...

ASOS Paint by Ciaté in Paris: This is probably my favourite new polish even though it looks like quite a normal pink colour. It applies really well and is a really nice colour for Autumn.

Essie in Pink Parka: this is a matte neon pink which is really bright! Even though I have lots of other polishes I don't have any neon shades so this goes great in my collection. I didn't realise it was matte until I tried it but I like the effect it gives.

Rimmel 60 Seconds in Coral Crush: This colour is quite unique; i'd say it's more of an orange than a coral and it has tiny bits of glitter in it which make it slightly shimmery which is really pretty. Surprisingly this is the first Rimmel shade i've ever bought and i'll definitely be buying a few more as I love the shape of the brush.

ASOS Paint by Ciaté in Cheryl: Out of all the shades I got i'm not a huge fan of this one; it looks like a rusty brown colour so it's not really a colour i'd wear much. I think it might look brighter with a base coat so i'll be trying that soon too.

These polishes cost me £6 in total which is a bargain; I haven't done many NOTDs recently so expect some featuring the polishes above :)

Hope you're all having a good week! x

The Happiest Shower Cream?

This is a review of the products in the Nivea Happy Time range. I reviewed the Nivea Happy Time Body Lotion about a year ago and i've decided to improve my review and also review the Happy Time Shower Cream which I bought recently.
The Happy Time range has a scent of orange flower so it's really fruity which is something I love. If you're not a fan of the smell of oranges or don't like fruity products then this range probably isn't for you.

I got the shower cream in Boots a couple of weeks ago for about 90p on offer and I love it! I've already tried the Happy Time Body Lotion which smells amazing and this is just as good! Aside from the fact it was a bargain it is really moisturising and the scent lingers for a long time. It's definitely something i'll repurchase as it's affordable and is a really lovely product to use. I've tried so many other shower gels and it's definitely up there with some of my favourites such as Original Source.

The shower cream retails at £1.89 and you can buy it from Boots here.
The Happy Time Body Lotion smells exactly the same as the shower cream and is even more moisturising. It soaks in really quickly and leaves your skin feeling soft but not greasy. The scent lingers for quite a few hours and if I apply it at night I can usually still smell it in the morning. The packaging does claim that it lasts 24hours; I wouldn't say it lasts that long but compared to other body lotions i've tried it lasts quite a long time.
The body lotion retails at £3.49 and you can buy it from Boots here.
I thought i'd also mention that you can buy these products together in a Christmas giftset for £8 which also contains a shower cap. Obviously this is more expensive than buying them separately but it is on 3 for 2 which would make it a bit cheaper and it will probably be packaged nicely. You can find it at Boots here.

You Can Never Say Never

.1. I've been a bit busy for the past couple of weeks with my birthday, driving test (which I failed haha) etc and I haven't had the time or motivation to blog. I haven't got many plans for the rest of the month so hopefully i'll be able to blog a bit more :) You might have noticed that i've changed my header again, I like it although it took me ages as i'm new to photoshop so let me know what you think!

.2. I gave blood on Friday for the third time. It's one of the most satisfying things i've ever done and knowing I could have saved a life for doing something so simple and effortless is great. If you want to find out more about my experiences I wrote a post about it here.

.3. I love that the Lush Christmas Range is out; i've already got a very long wishlist with Sugar Plum Fairy, a Gingerbread House and Maple Taffy being at the top! I'll probably only end up buying a few things as I have so much Lush stuff I haven't used including some from last Christmas! I can see myself being swayed by the sale like last year though!

.4. I had a better experience with H&M Online yesterday as my order arrived after 4 days which is a lot better than the 8 it took last time. I think it does depend on how busy they are and what you're ordering as if it's something popular then they don't always have it in stock. Hopefully the time it takes for them to deliver will continue to get better or they might consider offering cheaper options. Incase you were wondering I ordered this dress and this bracelet (in black and white) which were both in the sale.

.5. ♫ I'm currently listening to Maroon 5 - Stutter, Alex Gaudino - I'm In Love and The Fray - Never Say Never

.6. Blogs i'm loving this week: Viva Tramp, Kelly, Laura, Rebecca, Lily, Stylefrost & Kate     

H&M Online

I wanted to do this post to share my experience with H&M online recently as it's a fairly new shop and I know some people might not have used it yet. I made my first order about a month ago and I made another one yesterday. I was quite excited as my local H&M is always cluttered and I can never find anything I like. The website is quite easy to use and you can see the clothes as part of a look and also individually which is good and gives you a better idea of if something will suit you. The majority of things are in stock in all sizes which is good as my local H&M doesn't often have things in every size. When you sign up you don't have a password; you are given a PIN number which you can change. This is a bit different but I don't mind if it's just for this site. 

I ordered 2 dresses and a bracelet with my first order. Paying was really easy and simple and was similar to most other online shops. The one thing which I really don't like is that it cost me £3.90 for delivery and it said estimated 1 week. Not only that but you don't get a proper delivery date so you have no idea when it will come. There is a link to the courier's site but it said 'awaiting shipment details' and never changed. My package took just over a week to arrive which was a bit disappointing as with other similar sites it arrives in about 3 days for that price. 

It would be really good if there were more option for delivery similar to ASOS such as Next Day and Super Saver as you can't really get anything quickly from H&M. 

I ended up keeping one of the dresses and taking the other one back. I decided to take it to my local H&M as it's a lot easier than trusting Royal Mail to return it. There were no problems with taking it back and I got a H&M giftcard for the amount as they don't put the money back on your debit card. I ended up buying a skirt with it at the same time anyway so it was fairly straightforward. 

Overall shopping with H&M online was good and I will probably make a few more orders but it would be nice if shipping was faster and cheaper and you could track your package properly.

I hope this was useful to anyone thinking of using H&M Online, let me know of your experiences :)

It's Just A Feeling

.1. I know i'm a bit late with this but I tried my first Green Monster on Monday and I have to say i'm addicted. I'm not a fan of eating banana or spinach but put them in a smoothie and they're amazing! Not only is it really good for you but it's so creamy and filling and stops me snacking on unhealthy crap. Try it and I promise you it tastes amazing!

.2. This week I said goodbye to my Nokia 5200. After 3 years I thought it was time to get a new phone so I finally decided to get the Samsung S5560. So far I love it, especially the 5 megapixel camera and the fact it has the internet ;)

.3. I've had 4 hours of driving lessons this week and I finally feel confident about driving. I have my test next week and although I feel ready for it i'm not sure if i'll pass as i'm going to be one of the first people to do the new test. I''ll let you all know how it goes anyway :)

.4. My favourite post this week was this one by Fee from Makeup Savvy. I found it so useful and i've learnt lots about my camera so hopefully i'll be able to take better pictures. It's a must read for anyone who wants to take good photos on their blog without investing in a really expensive camera.

.5. I'm currently listening to Just A Feeling by Maroon 5, Last Friday Night by Katy Perry and Marry You by Bruno Mars.