Summer Bucket List 2014 - A Day in Paris

Last Wednesday, my mum, sister and I dragged ourselves out of bed incredibly early and headed into London to grab the 7:01 Eurostar to Paris.That time of the morning was incredibly early and it was a little fuzzy but we jumped on the train and 2hrs later we arrived!!!

We started off the day by getting the Metro over to the Louvre, it was incredibly busy so we didn't bother heading in but walking around was great.  We wandered down towards the Musée de l'Orangerie where we saw Water lilies by Monet, this was a phenomenal 

experience to see an amazing piece, it was so peaceful and calm to just sit and contemplate. It

was an incredibly hot day so it was also so nice to sit in the cool for a bit.

After the Musee de L'Orangerie we walked back through the gardens to head for our tour bus. 

Mum has booked the tickets so we could just hop on and off as much as we wanted, but we

decided to stay on for a full lap around the city. We saw the Pont des Arts (Love Lock Bridge), 

Notre Dam, Musee d'Orsay, Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower among 

other things. We sat upstairs in the sun and listened to the guided tour, mum chose the kid 

version!

One thing I really wanted to do was check out Sephora, so we hopped off the bus at Champs-Elysees 

and headed to the store there. I don't know what I expected but I was in beauty heaven. 

We all wandered around picking up bits and trying out the Sephora brand. 

With full baskets we headed to checkout and left clutching our little bags. It was nearly time to head

back to the train station so we hopped back on a different bus and went past

the Moulin Rouge before arriving at Gard de Nor. After a little wait we were back on the Eurostar

and heading back to England. 

Visiting Paris was one thing I've always wanted to do, so to see the main sights in a day was great however

I want to head back for longer next time.

What places should I visit next time? xx

Summer Bucket List '14 - Reading Challenge

On Friday I managed to sit down and finally write up my Bucket List for the summer, one of the key ones I really wanted to do is to get the chance to sit and read. With teaching, blogging and reading blogs, I don't often get the chance to sit and read so I'm taking the opportunity over the summer to read through some of the books which have been ignored on my book shelf as well as having a bit of a clear out of some old books.

I picked 6 books, one for each week of the summer. I know one week has already passed but I've managed to get one book read before the end of last week so I stay on track. Belinda Jones is one of my favourite Chick Lit author, perfect for the summer and Divas Las Vegas has been on the shelf for a while. As well as that, I've also picked the Love Academy to as it’s a true chick lit. Next is a summer romp-com book from Tilly Bagshaw, The Inheritance, a good dose of escapism. Sophie Kinsella Wedding Night is one that I've had on the shelf for weeks and I need to read it. I picked up You're The One that I want by Giovanna Fletcher on a whim. I liked the blurb and am curious to see what she's like as a writer. Finally, no collection would be complete without a Cecelia Ahern in the mix and How to Fall in Love is no exception.

I can't wait to get through this stack of books, it’s been so nice to sit in the sun and read through all the books.  

What books do I need to add to my list? Do you want to see book reviews as a regular thing on here? Xx

This Week - Make Up #9

One week down, its been so nice to not head into school this week, I've chilled out at home with my two boys, been on adventures with my mum and sister and cracked on with more decoration, so blogging has taken a back seat this week. These are actually all the bits I picked to wear this week that's just passed, its been nice to mix it up a bit, plus use up some really old favourites that last well in the heat - is anyone else's faces literally melting?!

This week I've grabbed out some really old products from Benefit. You Rebel and You Rebel lite. You Rebel was the first product I tried from Benefit at the tender age of 15, I looked slightly orange but it started a love affair! When they released You Rebel lite I picked it up to mix with You Rebel to make it more wearable. Sadly Benefit have discontinued the You Rebel line, something I am gutted with but now the hunt for a new tinted moisturiser is on. I've been wearing a mix of the Look Beauty Fresh Cheeks cream blush and Benefits Dallas powder to give a summer glow. Eyes have been a combo of this really old Seventeen Metallics Palette, Laura Mercier Cream Liner in Espresso, Benefit Browzing and Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express Waterproof mascara. Finishing it off with a slick of Bourjois Rouge Edition in 11, a touch of coral.

I love this combo, its a great mix and textures and colours, perfect for the summer.

What bits have you been wearing this week? xx

Summer Holiday Bucket List 2014

I'm a bit late posting this up but have been really busy this week, if you've seen my Instagram & twitter you will know why but more on that another day!

Summer holidays are here again and it's so nice to have time off from work. A lot of people will think that being a teacher I get the full 6 weeks, well I've got to move class rooms and get planning for a new curriculum and a new year groups, this will take some time but I will start on that later in the holidays.

For now, I have a massive list of things I want to do this summer, but I've managed to get it down to a much shorter list, it's only 6 weeks plus I've kinda cheated an added a few things that I've now done!

- Visit Paris
- Finish decorating another room in the house
- Visit Harry Potter Studios
- Go for a walk to take pictures
- Buy a new lens for the camera
- Complete a Pinterest Project
- Have rainbow hair
- Buy a BBQ and use it regularly
- Make a Sumer scrapbook
- Read a book a week.


I'm sure there will be loads more like these at I will do, I'm going to make a real effort to update everything on here or on Instagram so keep any eye out for what I get up to!

What's on your summer holiday bucket list?

Review - Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Eye Cream

Anyone who knows me knows that I am rubbish when it comes to sticking to a routine - I'm good for the first couple of weeks and then I get lazy, I'm always trying to do 100 other things that I then forget the little tasks and miss them, using an eye cream is one of them!

I picked up the Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Eyecream after reading a review in a magazine. It has some fantastic reviews, great ingredients and cute packaging so I had high hopes and it hasn't let me down! 

Make Yourself Youthful is a thick, super moisturising eye cream that is super hydrating. You don't need a great deal of product each time.

I noticed almost next day how quickly this had an impact on my skin. It appeared to be more hydrated, those pesky lines were lessoned and my eye area looks 10 times better! So much better that I've actually stuck to using this for nearly 2months now.

So, if you're in the market for a new eye cream, I cannot rave about this enough, plus its on offer in Boots at the moment! Head over to Boots to pick this up for £14.

Have you tried this? Any other products from Soap & Glory I need to try?  xx

Boohoo Size 14-16 Summer Sale

Woohoo Sale shopping! This week I've kinda been a bit obsessed, I seem to look at every email and every tweet and I have no idea why! But I've found quite a lot that I need  want, I'm hoping by wishlisting I can avoid spending any more money until later in the month.

Boohoo have a really good sale at the moment, with up to 60% off a lot of their items which are perfect for summer. I've chosen to do all 14-16 items as it can be harder to find stuff when you're bigger, I'm still building up a bank of size 14/16 fashion bloggers so if you have any then let me know!

All of the items are bits that I would wear all summer and into Autumn. I love the sheer mesh skirt, teamed with a white top and the denim bomber jacket. The skirt would be perfect for work as well as  drinks with chunky sandals. I adore the mint shift from the 16-24 range, it also comes in lavender and cream. Finally I need a kimono in my life, something like this that can be thrown on to most outfits!

Those are just some of my picks, I could sit and look through the site all day but I would be very poor!

What do you think of my picks? Can you recommend any size 14/16 fashion bloggers? xx

Weekend Offers - Boots

Morning lovelies

As its the first weekend after my payday I think I will probably be heading into town to hit up the shops, even if its only for a wander about, I know I will end up in Boots at some point so I thought I would share some of their offers with you!

Summer is the time I try out new perfumes to put on my Duty Free list but as I'm not going away I might have to take up this offer - I've almost run out of my favourite Ghost so it might have to be popped in the basket!

Woohoo 3 for 2 on Skin Care, time to stock up on my essentials, another bottle of Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean and a couple more bottles of my favourite micellar water. I might also look to picking up some other bits, I'm still in search of a good secondary cleanser and any other bits you think I should try!

Finally, its time to stock up! I've already gone through a couple of bottles this summer so I need to grab another couple - my go to are the SPF 30 from Boots Soltan range and the SPF20 from the Nivea Protect & Bronze range in spray format - if only I'd stuck to these yesterday then I might not be quite so red now!

Let me know if you take up any of these offers and if they are helpful to you! What skincare bits do I need? xx

Review - Benefit Hoola

Benefit Hoola - £23.50

I'm writing this after spending that past 3 days outside in some of the hottest sun we've had this year so really I am in no need of this (read very sunburnt!) but I felt it was about time to give some air-time to one of my favourite products that makes its first appearance around the time we first start shedding layers.

Benefit Hoola is one of the most well-known products from Benefit - it’s the best-selling bronzer in the UK at the moment, it’s easy to see why really. Completely matte, Hoola is perfect for contouring the face, running under cheek bones, down the sides of the nose and around the temples. As well as this it can be used to add a touch of colour to the skin, starting out with a light colour in the spring to a more all over glow in the summer without the disco ball effect. Finally, if push comes to shove, it makes a nice neutral eye shadow, great for adding definition to the eye - it couldn't be more versatile!

The colour in Hoola is perfect for a range of skin tones, I'm not the most tanned of people but I can get away with this without looking all orange or dirty, it’s the right side of 'I've been in the sun' rather than 'I haven't washed for a week'. I use the Real Techniques Duo-Fibre brush as it picks up the right amount of product and gives a soft finish - the perfect combo!

The boxed powders from Benefit are priced at £23.50, a price some might find a bit steep but this box I've had for nearly 3 years - it does get cleaned when I put it away come winter, but I've only recently hit pan on it and it has a long way to go until it really runs out so they are well worth the investment!

Now I shall go and bath my face in after sun, stupid sports day, and work out how I'm going to cover this up, any tips???!! What do you think of Hoola? One of your favourites or do you prefer a different one? Xx

Time to reflect

Sitting here, I don't really know what to write, just thinking about all the things we are yet to achieve in our lives, the things we have to look forward to in the future, making plans, going on adventures, trying new things.

Then going through all the little things in everyday life that stress you out, people at work, the washing up, breaking a nail, what ever it is, those things can change your whole day and make it on such a downward spiral.

It's only when something bad happens that you realise that the little things are insignificant and that those plans may not always come true if you don't work for them, we can't live for the future, we have to focus on the here and now and enjoy what we have as it can all be over so suddenly, before we're ready.

Sorry this is a short post.

xxx

Asos Sale Picks

So the world has gone a bit sale crazy, but now that it’s been pay day I do not need an excuse to hit up the sales - I may or may not have made two orders for bits and pieces.

I could have spent hours trawling through the site, picking my favourite bits and putting them in my basket for later but I managed to narrow it down to these picks which are currently winging their way to me now!

I'm loving the slightly grunge trend of the summer - I am very much a 90s child when it comes to clothing. Skater dresses with ankle socks and slouchy trousers with band tees - I love it! All of these fit with how I'm currently dressing, the dress will be great with socks and little ankle boots or fisherman sandals would style both sets of trousers with the same plain top as in the pictures. The bomber is perfect for summer for throwing on over the dresses and jeans I'm wearing. Finally new Nikes, these will be my second pair, I adore my other pair, so comfy and I could wear them with jeans all the time!

So there are my picks from the Asos sale, it was hard enough getting it down to these 5, I could shop much more!

Have you picked up any bits from the sale? Let me know! Xx