Real Techniques

After all of the hype and good reviews surrounding Real Techniques brushes I finally decided to give them a go.  I started my collection perhaps a month and a half ago when I spotted the powder brush at a super cheap price in Asda.  I toyed with the notion of grabbing a blush brush too and after trying the powder brush for the first time I really wish I had!

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Blueberry

I've been a fan of Barry M nail polishes for a good few years.  I think for the price they are quite good quality and probably my favourite when it comes to drugstore brands.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

In the past I've avoided foundations, mostly because in my teens and early twenties I generally had pretty good skin.  In the last year or so however I've felt it more necessary to even out my skin tone.  I have never wanted to put a heavy base on my face as I didn't want to be able to feel it on my skin all day.

Creme Egg Brownies

Easter is around a month away and all of those tempting chocolate eggs are already on the shelves.  I remember as a kid making those chocolate cornflake 'nest' cakes was always part and parcel of the Easter holidays.  These Creme Egg Brownies are a richer, more indulgent treat but still quick and easy to make.

Avon True Colour Eyeshadow Duo

I don't often wear eyeshadow anymore.  Most of the time I'm just too lazy, unless I'm going out for the night.  When I do feel like applying it these days I tend to go for neutral colours that are quick to slap on and easy to blend.

Seventeen Lip Crayons

Barry M Vanilla

Nude nails seem to be all the rage at the moment so I decided to hop right onto the bandwagon with this Barry M polish from their matte collection which was released last year.  Vanilla is a gorgeous work appropriate colour which is unlike anything in my polish stash.  It's a very pretty grey toned beige with a hint of lilac.  I don't often wear nudes on my nails however it makes a nice change on occasions and makes me feel feminine and sophisticated.

Banana and Oat Loaf Cake

I love bananas and usually have one for breakfast but as soon as they start to go brown I just can't even touch them.  It would be such a waste just to throw them away so once they are brown all over I mash them up and bake them into a cake.  It's the perfect accompaniment for a mid-morning cup of tea.

Beauty Blogger Tag

Time for a good old tag.  I love reading these on other blogs, partially because I'm nosey but also because it is a great way to get to know other bloggers.  I've seen this one everywhere in the past so I thought I'd give this one a go.  Hope you enjoy!

1. Name a beauty routine you barely do.

I used to set aside one evening a week to pamper myself with a face mask and a luxurious body scrub.  I haven't done this in such a long time and I think I need to get this back into my routine.  It always helps me to feel relaxed and forget about anything that might be troubling me and of course makes my skin feel amazing.

2. Is washing your brushes something that you regularly do?

Um no.  I don't do it nearly as much as I should.

3. How long do you last with chipped nail varnish?

I can't stand chipped polish so I try to take it off sooner rather than later.  I'd say max 2 days.

4. How often do you put off buying/replacing a beauty item or nail polish, even if you need it? 

If it's something I really need I tend to pick up another one as I'm getting low so I don't run out.  For everything less essential I just grab one the next time I'm in Boots or wherever.

5. What is your worst beauty habit? 

Picking at spots.  Totally gross and a beauty no-no.  I bet we've all had those "if I just give it a gentle squeeze it will look so much better" but in reality it makes them look a million times worse!

6. Name something non-beauty related that you tend to put off all the time.

Ironing.  I don't know why but I just can't stand it!  It must be the most boring household chore ever.

7. When going out somewhere do you leave getting ready until the last-minute or not? 

Depends where I'm going really.  I'm a bit of a last minute larry which means I'm forever running late.

8. Can you commit to spending bans?

To put it simply... no!  I'm terrible at saving money unless I need it for a holiday or something big.

9. How organised is your make up and nail polish collection?

At the moment not very.  I moved at the end of November and I still haven't got around to sorting it out.  I just bought myself a dressing table however so I finally have somewhere to put it all.

10. What is the longest time you have gone without writing a blog post?

A good few months last year.  But I was having a blast travelling around Australia for a year so it's a pretty good excuse.

Leave me a comment if you have done this tag on your blog as I'd love to read your answers.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Solution

I've seen countless blog reviews raving about this micellar solution which is the reason why I bought it.  My hopes were that it would be a purse friendly substitute for Taaj Micellar Water.  I'm kind of on the fence about this but lets start with the things about this that I like.

What's On My Face #5

It's been a while since I posted a What's On My Face and my everyday make up has changed a little since my last post so I thought it would be a good time to revisit this feature.

Maybelline The Eraser Eye Concealer

I'm unfortunate enough to suffer from having huge black bags under my eyes which I hate as I always think I look haggard.  As a result I've been hunting for a magical solution to mask my tired eyes.  I stumbled across a few reviews of Maybelline's The Eraser Eye Concealer and it sounded very promising so on my next trip to boots I grabbed one to try out.

Ciate Island Hopping

Last week I painted my nails for the first time in months.  As usual I sat for about 10 minutes browsing through my polish stash before this little beauty caught my eye.  Orange isn't usually a colour that I would go all boggle eyed over but this one is a gorgeous shimmery polish that I had yet to try.  Maybe it was me wishing for summer to arrive early as this is a serious summer holiday polish.  I can imagine the orange and gold colours dancing beautifully in the warm sunlight.

Jabula South African Restaurant

When it comes to food I love to try different and unusual things.  Whilst looking for somewhere to go for lunch to celebrate my birthday I heard about an African restaurant that served up all kinds of unusual meats.  Perfect!  Si and I visited Jabula on a Sunday afternoon for lunch and were seated straight away.  It's not a huge place but it has a really nice vibe to it.  The tables were dressed with animal print table cloths and there were plenty of African style decorations around the place.

Elegant Touch Envy Nail Wraps Deckchair Pastels

I've tried a few different brands of nail wraps before and I like the idea of them.  They're quick and easy to apply (once you get the hang of the method) and you can have instant, no hassle mess free nail art, which is especially great for those of us who aren't particularly artistically talented.  I spied a whole bunch of various nail wraps on sale for £1 in Boots a few weeks back and literally grabbed one of each design to try out!