This Weeks Ups & Downs #7

Evening lovelies, hope your well and had a great weekend - this week has been a rollercoaster!


Up:
School was good this week, busy but uneventful which was nice. Nearly up to date with all my planning and marking which is nice :)


We went to the zoo today! Didn't realised how close Whipsnade zoo is to us, but it was a great day, wandering about. I'll write up a post soon once I've sorted the photos - took over 100 so need to pic and choose! 


Down:


Still battling with the scales but I'm back on Weightwatchers, tracking on my phone. Ive had some nice meals but I need to get better at tracking!


Saturday was a really low day, i don't know why but I woke in a really bad mood, nothin could shake it, the boy even offers to buy me some nail polish and that didn't cheer me up! Thank you those people who tweeted me, I feel much better today!


Still hating my fringe, but learning to style it slowly!!


So that was my week, ups and downs all over the place! Hope this week will be better - how was your week?


Thanks for reading xx

Bye, Bye Bread

Evening get lovelies, hope your week isn't going as bad as mine! Currently sat working my butt off to get next weeks Maths and English plans written :(


So today marks Ash Wednesday and 40 days until Easter, with the start of Lent being today.


I don't consider myself particularly religious but having been brought up in a Sunday School some things have stuck and Lent is something I do every year. This year my challenge is bread.

I love bread, I love it covered in butter, with various fillings, wrapped around a TGI Burger. I love the smell, the taste, the texture. Simply put I adore bread! Sadly it does not love me :'(
Looking at a loaf of bread puts on at least 7lbs on my bum and it likes to make me feel sick every day that I eat it (which is everyday)

So no more bread, if it really is bread that upsets my body then this will make me feel a lot better and its a challenge for me! So far this rules out:
Bread
Pizza
Crackers
Tortilla Wraps
Ryevitas
Anything breaded (chicken nuggets, fish fingers)


I'm sure there's more but I will add them later. This also means I'm going to have to be more creative for lunch at school, this will be fun then!


What about you, are you giving up something for Lent?


Thanks for reading

Shopping my Stash #4

Evening lovelies, a late post from me but I'm snowed under with planning and assesment :( Hate that I can't give my blog my all at the moment but I need to focus on work.


So I shopped my stash on Monday night and here is what I picked!

Face:

• Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation - I am not loving this at the moment, but until pay day I am suffering it .
• 17 Photofinish Primer - Love this, only thing that is making me like the foundation.
• Benefit Bella Bamba - This is a gorgeous blush that makes me look awake and lasts all day at school.
• Benefit Erase Paste - It conceals best at this time of year.

Eyes:

• MUA Eye Primer - Just evens out my eyelids and helps stop the liner from migrating
• Maybelline The Falsies Mascara - LOVE THIS!
• Boots No7 Gel Liner - LOVE THIS AS WELL!

So there you have it, what I'm throwing on in the morning in a half sleeping haze.

What are you using this week?

Thanks for reading xx

Spending Boots Points

Afternoon lovelies, another Monday and another day closer to pay day!


This month has been really hard, on a spending ban and suddenly everyhting that needs paying for has been this month, car insurance, store cards, dentist, hair dressers, everything that could possibly needed to happen has and this has left me with very little money.


So this month I have been thinking about ways to still enjoy a treat without spending anything, step up my Boots Card.


Unless you've been living under a rock, Boots have a great reward system that gives you 4 points for every pound you spend. Superdrug have started a reward scheme as well but I prefer the Boots one as you get more points for your pound! I've managed to collect nearly £40 worth of points, and so have been browsing what I could get for my points!

 Look at all these goodies! 
1) Benefit Hervana Face Powder - £23.50
2) Chanel PERFECTION LUMIÈRE Long-Wear Flawless Fluid Makeup SPF 10 - £36.00
3) Real Techniques Starter Set - £21.99
4) This Work Clean Skin Cleaners - £17.00
5) Dolce & Gabbana The One 30ml - £38.00

These are just some of the things I could get, I think I might treat myself to the brushes when they appear in store as currently you can't spend points on-line.


What would you spend your points on?


Thanks for reading xx

This Weeks Ups & Downs #7

Evening lovelies, it's very late but we have just got home so thought I would write this quickly.

Ups:

• Half term, a wonderful week off that was much needed. I've caught up with friends, had time with my family an the boys family, slept lots, drove my new car for the first time and generally had a nice week!

• A lot of people don't know but I love cars and for my 17th birthday my parents bought me a classic Mini. This has been restored by my dad and myself over the last 7 years and finally it is on the road, and she is gorgeous!! I can't wait to get her full time!!


Downs:

• Its the end of half term :( back to school for another 6 weeks, feel like I didn't get anything done that I needed to so now feel a little stressed out at the prospect!

• Still Skint, although I have managed to save enough for my camera and have ordered it thanks to lots of eBaying of things. Only a week and a bit until payday.

• Staying the same weight over 6 weeks is really annoying me. I need to get back into some form of exercise routine to get this weight off me!! Think I need to take pictures and put them up around the flat!!! Might even post about it!

So there you have it, my week in all it's glory. Not a bad week but not a good one either, 6 weeks until 2 weeks off!!


How was your week?

Thanks for reading xx

Burts Bees Colour Keeper Shampoo and Conditioner

Afternoon lovelies, hope your enjoying your weekend. I've spent the last couple of days at my parents house and now I'm at my nephews 4th birthday party, we're having a Scooby Doo themed party.


I've had my hair dyed different colours for as long as I can remember, but the biggest problem I have is how dry and damaged it gets, so I try to treat it well whenever possible.


To help, I use a lot of shampoos which are aimed at coloured hair, and I was recently sent a shampoo and conditioner by Burts Bees.

Burts Bees Colour Keeper Green Tea & Fennel Seed Shampoo and Conditioner is a natural shampoo and conditioner which are sulphate free that help to neutralise elements that can damage the hair, as well as improving the vibrancy of coloured hair.


Considering its sulphate free the shampoo does foam up quite well, but I find that I get quite a lot of product build up after a few days and so I need to use a different shampoo to get rid of that. Also the consistency is very thin so I find myself using more then I should.


The smell is quite underwhelming so its not one that will linger over the course of the day which I quite like.

The contitioner is quite thick so it nourishes my hair well, but does take a lot of work to get washed out and its easy to not get it all out.


Overall I do like these, my hair has never been quite so lovely, and it leaves it very glossy which is nice.


You can get Burts Bees products from http://www.burtsbees.co.uk and http://www.feelunique.com where its priced between £8.50 - £9.99.


Have you ever tried any Burts Bees hair care?


Thanks for reading xx

Topshop Cream Blush in Flush

 

Afternoon lovelies, hope your well, the weekend is so close!!

Before I started watching YouTube videos and reading blogs, I never even knew that blushers could come in cream form, and I've always been too scared to try them, fearing I'd look more Pikachu then Posen.

So I've quietly stood back and admired from a far, as I didn't want to spend my money on something I would use once and then never use again. But I finally bit the bullet in January and bought this blush from Topshop for the princely sum of £6! Bargain!

Armed with my trusty Real Techniquea stippling brush, I have used this every day for 2 weeks and I am now a convert.

Flush is a gorgeous bright pink shade which looks quite scary in the pot but a lot less bright when blended into the skin. 

It blends really well into the skin, leaving a gorgeous dewy finish that lasts really well over the course of a hectic day at school. It can be blended in with a brush or your fingers, along the cheeck bones or on the apples of the cheeks for a 'just been out in the snow' glow!

 

As if the product wasnt gorgeous enough, the packaging is really cute and sturdy, with a great sized mirror. Even the box is gorgeous with the white sketch of the packaging on the black box! 

 I feel I need more cream blush in my life now, and once my spending ban is up then I will be stocking up on the other two colours that Topshop do!

Have you tried any of the cream blushes? How about any other products from Topshop! I feel the need for some more virtual hauling!

Thanks for reading xx

Win with Stella & Dot jewellery!

Afternoon lovelies, hope your all well and looking forward to your weekend. Just a quick post for you, but I wanted to share this exciting competition with you! How would you like to win some free jewellery?

Stella & Dot is a boutique-style jewellery and accessories line, designed in New York, and available exclusively through in-home ‘Trunk Shows’ by Independent Stylists, and online. Featured in major fashion magazines Vogue and Elle and worn by celebs like Katy Perry Stella & Dot jewellery is Style for a Steal. Over half the collection is under £40 and every piece of jewellery comes in gorgeous gift packaging.

Mother's Day is on 18th March and Stella & Dot Stylist Robyn Winrow and Knickers & Nail Polish Blog are bringing you a great way to get your mum a gift she'll love and maybe some free jewellery for yourself!

We're hosting an On-line Trunk Show exclusively for Knickers & Nail Polish Blog readers. That means that one lucky reader will get up to 20% back in free jewellery based on sales. That could be £50, £75 or even over £100 to spend on any piece of jewellery you like!

To enter simply visit www.stelladot.co.uk/robynwinrow and place an order. When at the checkout you'll be asked "Were you invited to a Trunk Show?" select "Knickers & Nail Polish Blog" as the hostess from the drop down menu. You will then be placed in a prize draw to win credits that can be used to get free jewellery! The more orders the bigger the prize!

Want to be entered more than once? Simply share this with friends and invite them to place an order and e-mail Robyn at rewinrow@yahoo.co.uk and give the name of the friend who ordered. The more friends you encourage to order the more times your name will be entered into the draw!

Starts Friday 17th February at 10am. Closes Saturday 10th March at 5pm. The prize amount will be announced once the competition has closed and the winner will be picked and announced on Sunday.

* UK residents only. There is a shipping fee of £5.95 on orders under £40. Orders are normally delivered in 4 days. For more details visit www.stelladot.co.uk/robynwinrow or e-mail rewinrow@yahoo.co.uk

This is a really exciting chance to get some freebies, I have already picked out what I want for my mum!

Head over to the site and check out the gorgeous bits and pieces. 

Let me know if you enter! xx

Guest Blog - Soap & Glory The Breakfast Scrub

Afternoon lovelies, hope your enjoying your week, can't believe its already half way through half term and I have so much to do still! February is all about not spending money for me which is really hard at the moment! So I reached out to a few bloggers about their favourite low cost items, and its Kelsey's turn today!


Hey everyone,

My name is Kelsey; I have a blog called Penelope’s beauty obsessions that is all about beauty and hair products, with reviews, hauls, swatches and more. You can also find me on twitter under @MissPenelope90

Today I’m going to review a soap and glory product for the lovely Sarah for her Frugal February posts.

So here goes:

 The Breakfast Scrub.

Exfoliator with organic cupuacu bio scrubs, bananas, almond and honey extracts. Features a great new maple fragrance.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Scoop out a handful and rub it between your palms, then scrub in circles onto damp skin until you feel smoother.

(From their website)
I brought it for £9.45.

This product smell delicious, it’s got oats, bananas, honey, and maple syrup in here so it smells good enough to eat, and it’s just as good on your skin, leaves your skin so soft and silky, and it’s got big bits of sugar and oats in it so you can differently feel that it is working.

I use it every time I go for a shower and just before I put on fake tan because it gets rid of all the dead skin and softens rough areas like knees and elbows. I’ve read a couple of reviews that say they put it on their face as a Exfoliator but I haven’t tried this yet. It is a huge tub and you don’t need to use a lot, I’ve used this 4 times and barely touched the surface.

I love this; it’s my go to product when I’m in the shower.

Have you tried this product before? Let me know in the comments below

See you soon

xx

Thank you Kelsey for a great post about a great product, definitely low cost but worth it! Pop over to her blog here and share her some love! 


If you want to guest post then please let me know! 


Thanks for reading xx

The No Name Book Club

Evening lovelies, a second post from me tonight, that's because I want to start a book club!!

Last night got talking to a few people on twitter about starting one as we enjoy reading or want to read a bit more for fun.

So to keep it easy, we will pick a book, read it and then discuss on a post, whether that be me writing a post or someone else writing the post and posting it as guest post then its all cool.

This weeks I've picked two books which I will get read this week are:

 

Me Before you by Jojo Moyes and War Horse by Michael Morpurgo.


I've picked these books as they contrast with each other, but both are written by exceptional authors and so should be interesting reads.


If people want to change the book choice then please let me know, or if you want to put a book forward then please please comment and let me know! 


If you fancy joining us then let me know in the comments below, so far the book club with No Name consists of:


@KnickersanNails (me!)
@Miss_Jenx
@robynwinrow
@pretastyleblog 
@sarahseesall


let me know if your joining in by commenting below, and if you can come up with a name for the group then woohoo!!!


xx

Shopping my Stash #3

Afternoon lovelies, hope your well. This is my third week of shopping my stash and I'm really starting to enjoy it although I really need to dig into my other box and pick out a few different bits.


This weeks products are part of my lazy week as its half term so wont be wearing much as I prefer to let my skin breath when I'm not in work.


So here it is:

Face:

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation - I will review this soon, I'm having a sort of love/hate with it!
Benefit Erase Paste - Love this!
Benefit Coralista Blush - gives a gorgeous flush as though I've been outside for a walk in the cold.


Eyes:

Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes - This is my ultimate lazy go to product, use it on my eyes as well as for filling my eyebrows.

Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara - Its quick and easy to use for creating full eyelashes.

So there we have it, my products for this week! 

Do you use any of these?

Thanks for reading xx

This Weeks Ups & Downs #6

Evening lovelies, hope your well and have had a good weekend. Every teacher across the country at this point can breath a sigh of relief!


Ups:

• It's half term which means a week away from the children but I'll still be in school as I have a list as long as my arm that I need to get done!

• The snow has been great fun this week, the kids have enjoyed it and this has put everyone in a good mood for the week so really it was a good final week at school, plus its the half way point of the year!

• PS I Love You is on, need I say more then 
• Gerard Butler.

• Up to 109 followers on the blog so a massive thank you!

Downs:

• I'm having serious fringe regret, since having it cut it I have had a constant battle with it and really just want it back to how it was. People keep telling me its nice but I HATE it :(

• Having to work even though its half term, seriously the next person that tells me that I have a week off to relax I am going to scream at, I have so much to do before we return so thats my week gone already!

• There's no more snow forecast at the moment so I feel sad, I love snow.

So thats my week in a nutshell, not a bad week but not a great week. I look forward to this week as I'm heading home for a few days to see the Fam, so will need to write some posts for while I'm away!

How was your week?

Thanks for reading xx

Virtual Hauling - Topshop

Afternoon lovelies, hope your well and enjoying your weekends.

It's that half way to pay day point for me and I'm really struggling to not go out and shop and stick everything on my credit card so I have taken to virtual hauling various 

websites and I thought I would show you what I want from Topshop's clothing range at the moment.

1) Tall Speckle Midi Dress - £29.00
2) Tall Unicorn Sweater - £26.00
3) Tall Chiffon Tennis Playsuit - £48.00
4) Tall Black Flippy Hem Dress - £15.00
5) Tall Metallic Pleat Midi Skirt - £36.00
6) Tall Acid Wash Foil Skull Vest - £18.00


All of these are from the Tall range as most things from Topshop barely cover my bum if I get them from the regular part. I already have the Flippy Dress but in what they describe as Oxblood colour!


It's quite fun virtual hauling, I need to get back onto Fantasy Shopper as well, but for now Polyvore is entertaining me!


What do you think?


Thanks for reading xx

DD+ Valentines With Boux Avenue

Evening lovelies, mid week and not long let until the weekend :)

My mind has turned towards Valentines, its not long away and I'm not yet prepared. I need to get some undies, but its a challenge for me as I need proper scaffolding to prevent injuries to myself and others.

So why do companies feel that scaffolding equals uglyness! Well not any more!! Boux Avenue have a gorgeous range of undies in sizes +DD up to a H! With body bands from 30 up to 40, this a a great size range from a brand not aimed specifically at DD+.


So I went for a snoop and I have picked my favourite pieces.

Lyla Satin Balconette Bra and High-waisted shorts. £24 for the bar and £14.00 for the shorts.


A gorgeous Satin bra and shorts, this is so gorgeous, the lace panel detailing gives a vintage feel, as well as contouring the curves with the shorts, helping to slim out the bits we would prefer to hide.

Black Tori Lace Moulded Plunge Bra and Lace Brief. Bra £22.00 and Brief £10.00


Nothing is sexier then black lace, and this is it! I love that this is simple but I would still feel great in this, even if I wear it for special or everyday.

Red Mix Provocative Lace Unpadded Balconette Bar £26.00


This was the boyfriends pick, black and red, lace, Balconette, all of this makes for a killer cleavage with support, so potentially the perfect bra!


These are really reasonably priced as companies often bump up the price for extra engineering. Some lovely pieces at lovely prices!

So what do you think? Why not pop over and have a look, even if the special person you are buying them for is you! What's more if you spend £40 in one order you will receive a gorgeous shimmer cream worth £15 to add some sparkle to your night! http://www.bouxavenue.com/

Thanks for reading xx

Own the Runway Shares Some Love

Afternoon lovelies, just a quick post for today as I have another one due later! I just wanted to let you know about a competition that is running over on the Own the Runway Facebook page where you have the chance to win your perfect valentines outfit! All you need to do is share the love!!

To enter the competition all you need to do is pop over the Facebook page and like it, share the picture one the Own the Runway page and send them an email to competition@owntherunway.com with your name, address and dress size.

I'd love to win this, as the clothing is amazing, and it would make a nice treat for valentines day. I've sent my e-mail and have my fingers crossed, but would love it if one of my readers won!

Let me know!

Good luck lovelies! xx

Shopping my Stash #2

Evening lovelies, hope Monday finds you well and warm after a very slushy day.


This week is the last week before half term, and it's cold and dark so I think my choices reflect my tiredness an need to sleep!!

Face:

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation - this in not sure on, it's incredibly drying on my skin, and the coverage doesn't last ages but it goes on quick and blends well in the morning, giving me a bit more of an awake look.


Topshop Cream Blush in Flush - this is a very vibrant pink that actually blends nicely leaving more of a rosy glow that lasts on my cheeks, very quick you use!


MAC MSF Natural in Medium Plus- is probably a bit dark for me but I love it over the foundation to stop me looking like death!

Eyes:
Urban Decay Naked Pallette - my current go to for lazy eyes, I'm LOVING how easy it is to throw on in the morning.


Maybelline Falsies Mascara - Full, thick lases = awake looking Sarah so this is a much needed product for me!!!


Perfume:

Lacoste Inspiration - Found this in a bag, totally forgot I had it but I really love it, so will be rocking it this week!!!


So, what do you think of my choices? sorry for poor picture quality, stuck using my phone again and the lighting in my room is really bad!!!


Thanks for reading xx

This Weeks Ups & Down #5

Evening lovelies, hope you've had a good one and are nice and chilled out after a weekend of snow! 


Ups:

• Snow!! I love the snow, I love watching it, playing in it, knowing that its outside makes me very happy, I even don't mind driving in it!

• New hairstyle, I love having my hair cut, but I get bored very quickly and so decided to have my long sweeping fringe cut into a blunt fringe and I like it - what do you think?

• This weekend we went up to Leicester to celebrate Andy's friends engagement. It was nice to be with his friends from Uni and also nice to be away from the flat for a night, makes a difference just getting away for a bit.

• We had a work night out on Friday and it was loads of fun. I don't often drink as I need to drink a lot to get anywhere near drunk so I tend to just have one and then full sugar coke and I'm ready to dance all night! I wore my new dress which I haven't managed to take a picture of but I will try!

Downs:

•  Being on a spending ban is really hard as suddenly I need to payout for a lot, hair cut, dentist, 2 nights out, petrol, so I really am now living on very little but thankfully all the bills are paid so just need to find some money for valentines day and my nephews birthday!

• No snow day tomorrow, still have to go to school which means I can't go out and play in the snow again :(

How was your week?

Thanks for reading xx

Next Valentines Day: The Perfect Gift Selector

Evening lovelies, hope your well, finally the weekend, only one more week until half term! Currently getting ready to go out with work but thought I would throw together a post quickly.

weheartit

I hate the way every year Valentines Day seems to sneak up on me. I plan to be organised and then its the day before, I have no present and no outfit! 




I then proceed to panic and sink into a pink coated fog that means I pick up the first thing I can find, ending up with something that resembles what I would buy for my Nan's birthday, rushing about in a very unsexy way!


Thankfully Next has to come the rescue with a great little gift/outfit selector to help chose something for you.


I had a go, answering a couple of questions and ended up being shown this gorgeous skirt:

There are other options but I fell in love with this skirt but as I'm on a spending ban this will have to wait until next month, unless a certain someone is reading (hint hint ;D ) Plus you get the opportunity to win one of 50 bottles of Just Pink Eau de Toilette for Women! 


You can have a go on this, by heading over the the Next Facebook page, or by having a go on my blog! You will need a Facebook account to enter the competition but its great fun! You never know, you could win the perfume, even your perfect outfit!


I'd love to find out what your selector gave you, leave it in a comment below!


Thanks for reading xx

TAG: Bad Beauty Habits - What are yours?

Afternoon lovelies, Thursday already :)


I've never done a tag post before but talking to Lucy from Lucywrites (check out her blog, so cute!) about doing them at the weekend got me thinking and so I decided I might as well give them a go.


I picked this one up from Blair Fowler's Youtube (juicystar07)where she discussed her Bad Beauty Habits and it got me wondering what mine would be!

• Sleeping with my makeup on - I don't always do this but sometimes I forget and just think it will be ok but at somepoint this will come back and bite me hard and my skin will look awful.
• Exercising with a face of makeup - I exercise in the evening and so often get home from work and forget to take it off, it would be so easy to run a face wipe over my face but I'm lazy :S
• Picking at my lips and spots - I have a really bad habit of not being able to leave spots and dry bits on my lips alone, especially when I'm stressed out

I probably have more but these are the big ones that I often do and always feel guilty about! I'm trying to change these but its hard when they are habit!

What are your bad beauty habits? If you do this tag then send me your link in the comments or on Twitter (@KnickersanNails)

Thanks for reading xx

Frugal February - A challenge!

Afternoon lovelies, hope your well and enjoying your day.


As you know, I'm on a mission to save up for a camera. This is not the only thing that I am saving up for, my boyfriend and I are saving up for a deposit for our own place but this is hard when we have to pay out so much for rent!


So this month I am determined to live as frugally as possible. This means no spending on anything that isnt totally necessary. No beauty products, no clothes, no magazines, nothing that I can survive without buying.


I'm not going to use my credit card all month, and I have to try and leave my debit cards at home and make sure I set a budget, take that cash out and live off that. I'm trying to make my piggy bank happy for once! 

weheartit

Over the month I will put up posts on low cost beauty products that I love, ways of saving money as well as having some guest posts from other bloggers.


I'm hoping all the spare cash I have at the end of the month can go towards either the camera, reducing my credit and store cards and putting more towards the deposit. 


I will not be buying anything new from the 1st until the 29th (damn leap year  making it an extra day!) so no new products, no rebuying anything, no new clothes or shoes until next payday. I need to learn to use up things I have before buying new and I have soo much stuff! 


Anyone else want to join in on this wonderful challenge? Let me know in the comments, and if your interested in Guest Posting then please let me know!


Thanks for reading xx