Tag: Holiday

HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS EVE BOX

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date December 9, 2019
No Comments on HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS EVE BOX

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Welcome to Blogmas Day 9! Today’s post is all about making the perfect Christmas Eve box for your friends and family!

At Christmas, my family doesn’t seem to have any real traditions (gasp), for a start we’ve never had a roast dinner on Christmas day (louder gasp) which always blows people’s minds. We don’t have a particular festive film that we like to watch every year or a game that we always play, we just sort of go with the flow! However, a few years ago we started doing Christmas Eve boxes! They’re so much fun to make, especially if like me, you enjoy giving people lots of little thoughtful gifts. It’s essentially an early Christmas stocking full of little goodies to keep you busy and cosy over the holidays!

*This post contains affiliate links

THE BOX

First of all, you want to find the perfect box. Ideally you want something that can hold a few goodies but also with a lid so that you can keep everything a surprise! If you want to make your own box, cover an old shoe box in festive wrapping paper and add a personalised message or gift tag to make it extra special. If you’d prefer to buy one that is ready-made and reusable, there’s so many options out there to choose from!

THE PRESENTS

Of course, a Christmas Eve Box isn’t complete without some goodies inside! Here are some of ideas of what you could include as well as links to my favourite bits that I’ve found online and in stores this year:

Cosy Socks, Slippers & Pyjamas – Definitely pop a pair of fluffy socks or slippers into your box, everyone wants to keep their toes toasty at this time of year! It’s also nice to give some cosy pyjamas to keep cosy on those cold Winter evenings!

Hot Chocolate & Tea– This is the perfect gift to give on Christmas Eve! Little else provides as much bliss as a hot beverage in front of a festive film on the night before Christmas. Keep it classic and traditional or mix it up with some quirky flavours!
- Whittard – Christmas Tea
- Twinings – Spiced Chai Tea

Face Masks & Bath Bombs – These are such great gifts for anyone that loves a pampering session at home. Sometimes it’s nice to slow down, particularly at Christmas, and put on a face mask or run a nice hot bath before the chaos begins! Also, if you didn’t know already, Christmas themed sheet masks exist…thank me later.

Candles – Christmas candles are another festive must-have for those that like to wind down and relax. I have a post including some of my favourite festive candles if you need some inspiration!

N xxx

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Tags BLOGMAS, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve Box, Festive, Gift Guide, Gifting, Holiday, Photography, Photos

BEAUTY

MAKEUP REVOLUTION – OPULENCE HIGHLIGHT COMPACT – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date August 24, 2018
No Comments on MAKEUP REVOLUTION – OPULENCE HIGHLIGHT COMPACT – REVIEW

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! I’m all about keeping that summer glow going for as long as possible so today I’m reviewing a particularly shimmery Makeup Revolution product! You may have noticed that I’m a huge fan of their brand and I love to talk about them here on my blog. You may have also noticed that each week they seem to be one step closer to drugstore domination and I’m so here for that. I love that they still follow all of the trends in the beauty community whilst every product affordable, high quality and inclusive of all different skin tones too. It’s refreshing to finally discover a brand that can offer all of those things without charging us a fortune! Are you a fan of Makeup Revolution? What would you like me to review next?

Today I’m reviewing an exciting new product from Makeup Revolution. This is the Highlight Compact in their Opulence series! I chose this particular compact because I tend to suit more warm toned highlighters than the more cool toned ones. I was so excited when I saw these being teased on their social media channels! I’ve been using lots of their highlighters as part of my usual makeup routines so I had high hopes for this one. It retails at £8 and is available to purchase online as well as in a majority of Superdrug stores in the UK.

I think we’re all thinking it. Yep. Move aside Bobbi Brown, a new shimmer brick is in town. I know that they aren’t exactly the same, but the beautiful textures and the variety of shades packed inside a luxury little compact is pretty similar, right? Makeup Revolution describe it as a luxury highlighter compact without the expense so it seems like that’s what they’re getting at. If I can get my hands on something similar without having to break the bank – tell me more!

The packaging itself is gorgeous. The white and gold colour scheme looks so luxurious and expensive too! It definitely looks just as good as some of my high end products. It might be small but it contains four satin highlighter shades, great for anyone wanting to save some space in their makeup collection. You can either wear each shade separately or swirl your brush around the compact to create a glowing combo. I love that there’s a mirror too, which makes it a great product to travel with for on the go use!

So here we have the swatches. The pigmentation is amazing and when applied with a setting spray, they look even better. Depending on what look you’re going for, definitely keep that in mind as a little bit goes a very long way. I’m not sure how I feel about the texture of the highlighters. It’s difficult to put my finger on what it is exactly but she shades felt a bit powdery and chalky when I was swatching them. This could just be because they are so densely packed, so I’d recommend applying them a little bit at a time if you want to avoid any clumping on your cheek bones. That being said, this product is still amazing for the price. I actually use these as eyeshadows too. I’m used to a more powdery consistency when it comes to my eye makeup so I find that these work really well with some matte shades too. I’ve used them to create a halo eye look and I got so many compliments so I’d recommend using the compact as a 2 in 1!

Granted, it’s not the best highlighter that I’ve ever used, which funnily enough is from I Heart Revolution, but it’s still a great product. Despite my being picky about the texture of the shades, I have still been using it and I’ve figured ways around that. I apply the shades in small amounts, sometimes with my finger to make sure I have full control of what is going where. I use the products lightly to begin with and then I can increase the intensity if I wish. I also use the shades as eyeshadows which means I get maximum use out of the compact. The packaging is definitely a winner as it looks so luxury and expensive. This compact is also available as a blusher and an eyeshadow and both are equally as gorgeous! If you look closely at the eyeshadows, you’ll see what I mean by the textures of the highlighting compact. They’re both really similar which I’m assuming means they designed this range with multi-use in mind, or they just used the same formula across the board.

Let me know if you’d be interested in a review of the other two as I’d be more than happy to do that!

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

N xxxx

Tags BEAUTY, blog, highlighter, Holiday, Makeup, Makeup Revolution, Photography, Photos, Review, Summer, Superdrug, Trends

LIFE PAPERGANG

PAPERGANG JULY 2018: REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date July 17, 2018
No Comments on PAPERGANG JULY 2018: REVIEW

Hey Guys,

I hope you’re all doing well and you’re not melting in this heat. I hate to be that ungrateful Brit but I just can’t cope when my room feels like a sauna all day. I just want it to rain and cool down a bit, plus the grass currently looks like straw so I reckon it’s hoping for the same! I always include a little bit of info about Papergang and what they’re all about so if you just want to see there review, keep scrolling until you see some photos!

Ohh Deer, a company I have SO much love for, was founded in order to allow illustrators and artists to showcase their work and find people that would be interested in buying their designs. The company sells the most amazing quirky and arty products – I simply can’t get enough. I love the fact that Ohh Deer offers artists the opportunity to get noticed and therefore get something back for all their hard work that otherwise we might not have seen. Some of their clients include Paperchase, ASOS, John Lewis and Oliver Bonas (my all-time favourite shop) and some of their collections have been specifically designed for the Tate Galleries and the Science Museum!

WHAT IS PAPERGANG?

Ohh Deer decided to create a monthly subscription service for stationery addicts, such as myself called, Papergang! Each month you will receive a box filled with brilliant papery goodies and desk accessories. Some examples are notebooks, greeting cards, wrapping paper and art prints. It costs £10.95 and then a £2.95 for shipping which in my opinion, after receiving their boxes, is a great deal. Every box has a different design and theme by a different artist and for every 4 boxes, 1 tree is planted in partnership with the fantastic charity, Tree aid. To find out more about their connection with this charity here.

I am a huge stationery addict and this subscription box is probably my favourite out of the many I am a part of. I always look forward to opening my box every month and using all my new bits and pieces! Most of the products you receive are exclusive the Papergang subscribers for a while before they get sold in Ohh Deer’s shop.

This month’s box was designed by the wonderful John Bond, one of my favourite illustrators. His doodles of dogs are just adorable! I love the colour and design of this box, it’s definitely making me want to go travelling! I particularly love that little elephant. John suggests that he illustrates as a form of therapy, which I think is really interesting. I love that his work is always fun and quirky and I’ve never seen anything like it before.

Follow John –

Insta – @iamjohnbond

Every month we receive a printed calendar as a bonus item and I really love them as they’re perfect for keeping on my desk in a cute little frame! I can’t bring myself to throw them out so by the end of the year I’ll be swimming in them. I particularly like how this one has space for any important dates as I have a few coming up that I’ll need to make a note of!

A5 TRAVEL JOURNAL – £12.95

You know me, I love a notebook so I was more than happy to add to my collection with this gorgeous journal. It’s one of those notebooks that feels expensive if that makes sense. The first page is a gorgeous little map featuring some of John’s cute little illustrations. I like the fact that the elastic on the front is in a different place to usual and I love the compass design too. I’ve never owned a travel journal and since starting university, I’ve been visiting lots of new places in my holidays and I think it’ll be really fun to record those trips in this book!

3 x POSTCARDS – £2.25

Since starting my blog, I’ve really started to appreciate how handy postcards are when it comes to props! I love using them in my flatlays and they work a treat! Obviously, I was thrilled to be sent three more and I can’t wait to use them – keep an eye out for my instagrams as I’m sure they will feature soon!

AEROPLANE PAPERCLIPS – £3.95

These are just adorable. Paperclips are those things that I always say I won’t need until I’m desperately searching the house for some! I just love that these are in the shape of tiny planes, it makes a change from the usual style. Even my dad wanted some when he spotted them on the table. I know these will definitely come in handy when I’m trying to irganise my life during third year!

GIFTWRAP – £1.75

This giftwrap features the same illustrations as the box – which I love! I really like receiving samples of wrapping paper in my Papergang boxes. I don’t just use them for wrapping gifts either! I love using them as backgrounds for my scrapbook pages and as props in my photos. There’s so many uses for these so keep them coming please Papergang!

I really loved this month’s box. I can see myself using all of these products and I don’t have any issues with anything included. I like the fact that travel was the main theme as it’s made me so excited to go on holiday and explore some new places this year, with my travel journal in hand! If anyone is looking for a surprise every month, I cannot recommend Papergang enough. It’s the best thing ever when you’re feeling a bit rubbish and then suddenly one of their beautiful boxes arrives and you have absolutely no idea what will be included. This box values at £20.90 when you add all of the bits and pieces together. Considering each box costs only £10.95 plus £2.95 for delivery, that’s such good value!

I really hope you enjoyed this post and I’ve linked all of my social media down below so go and give me a follow and come and say hi!

N xxxx

If you would like to subscribe, my invite is here!

If you want to know any more about Ohh Deer, click here!

READ LAST MONTH’S REVIEW

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Tags 2018, Art, Design, Holiday, Illustration, July, Lifestyle, PAPERGANG, Photography, Photos, Review, Stationery, Subscription, Travel

BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX JUNE 2018: 5TH BIRTHDAY – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date June 15, 2018
4 Comments on BIRCHBOX JUNE 2018: 5TH BIRTHDAY – REVIEW

This post contains affiliate links

Hey Everyone,

June is flying by and that means another Birchbox review is coming your way! I’m enjoying the freedom from exams now and I feel much more like myself again. I keep catching myself watching TV or lying on the sofa and suddenly panicking, thinking I should be doing revision instead! I get my results in a couple of weeks so I just want time to move a little faster so I can find out and put those horrible exams behind me. Does anyone else feel like the exams aren’t quite over until the results are in? Anyway, below I’ll include some info all about Birchbox, who they are and that they do, so if you just want to see the review – keep scrolling!

Birchbox is a UK beauty subscription service that sends beauty boxes to their subscribers containing 5 goodies every month. You don’t have to worry about lifelong commitments or any contracts, you can cancel anytime with a monthly subscription – no fuss whatsoever! The monthly subscription costs only £10 per month! You can edit your beauty profile on their site in order to ensure you get sent products that are suitable for your skin/hair type and personal preferences. Birchbox is so great for discovering new brands and products. I have been subscribed to Birchbox for over a year now and I look forward to receiving their boxes every month. I’ve gone on to buy lots of the things I’ve received because I have loved them so much. Every box you receive is beautifully packaged, some months are designed and inspired by artists and companies. I use some of the older boxes to store makeup in too as the designs are too pretty to throw away!

CLICK HERE TO READ MY MAY BIRCHBOX REVIEW!

*RRPs correspond to full-size items in the Birchbox shop!

You may have noticed, June’s box came in a tin. I’m so used to our cute little drawer-like boxes that this came as a bit of a surprise when I first saw it but I actually quite like it. I’ve already got it displayed on a shelf in my room because it’s just so cute! It reminds me of the biscuit tins I would find in my Grandma’s kitchen if you know what I mean?!

This box is all about Birchbox’s 5th birthday! I love the British tea party vibes, perfect for some summer evening shindig inspiration. As usual there’s a great variety of productsincluded in this box (there’s actually 6 this month). We have some makeup, haircare and even tea bags!

Ella Eden – Compact Eyeshadow “Julia” – £12.99

I am a sucker for a shimmer shadow so I was super excited to receive this! As usual, we were offered a choice between two products and in this case it was between the shades “Faith” or “Julia”. I usually wear something light and shimmery on my lid so I chose the shade “Julia” just because I can see myelf wearing this a lot! It’s so easy to apply and it’s extremely pigmented which means it hardly takes any effort at all. Not only is the colour-pay-off incredible but it’s also really long-lasting and stays put all day. I’ve been applying it with a wet brush and it’s just mindblowingly sparkly as a result. It’s also cruelty-free!

CHECK OUT THE EYESHADOW HERE

Benefit – POREfessional Pearl Primer – £27.50

Right so let’s get it out in the open, I’m not sure about this primer. It’s not that it doesn’t work or that it isn’t a good, product but the price is just far too much for me. I have found drugstore primers do just as well if not better so I just can’t justify spending that much. However, receiving it as a sample was a lovely treat! It’s pretty much the same as the original POREfessional primer, except it contains pink pigment to brighten the skin. I’m all for a dewy look so I’m totally down for this primer however the price is a real put off for me. If you’re looking for a dupe, check out the Natural Collection Hydrating and Radiance Primer (it costs £2.99 plus you get more product so you can’t go wrong really).

CHECK OUT THE POREFESSIONAL PEARL PRIMER HERE

Number 4 – Jour d’automme Smoothing Balm – £24.50

You know that episode of Friends where Monica’s hair goes absolutely nuts due to the heat? Well, that’s usually me in summer so this product was a winner in my eyes before I’d even tried it! This balm targets frizz by restoring softness and by protecting against humidity and heat damage. It’s like my dream hair mask! It works a treat during the warmer and muggy weather – speaking of muggy is anyone else finding Love Island really dull this year?! I’ve been watching the Australian one (traitor I know) and it’s actually really good! Anyway, I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a frizz free summer!

CHECK OUT THE SMOOTHING BALM HERE

Polaar – Velvety Sun Fluid Face & Body – £25

I think I’ve always used the highest factor of suncream possible on holiday because there ain’t no way this girl is gonna burn thank you very much (I also want to take care of my skin). Seeing as this sunscreen is pretty high at 30, I’m definitely willing to give it a shot – probably on the really hot days we have here in the UK (if we ever get any again). It offers high UVA and UVB protection, it fights sunburn and premature ageing as well as being super moisturising for the skin which is exactly what you want when you’re spending a day in the sun. It was definitely a good idea to include this in the June box as I’m sure lots of people are getting ready to go on holiday and will need some sunscreen in their travel bag!

CHECK OUT THE SUN FLUID HERE

Amika – Bombshell Blowout Spray – £14.99

I already absolutely love Amika and their products as they smell freaking AMAZING and the packaging is gorgeous to (plus they actually work of course). This spray works on damp and dry hair and BOOM you’ve got yourself some volume as well as heat protection, which I definitely need! It’s so lightweight and easy to apply that it’s super easy to add it into your usual routine. I won’t even attempt to describe how good this smells but all I can say is that it’s extremely good!

CHECK OUT THE SPRAY HERE

Whittard of Chelsea – Teabags

This month we were treated to these lovely goodies from Whittard of Chelsea! I am a tea drinker through and through and I probably spend hours every week just sitting and sipping so there are perfect for me! The three flavours included are; Earl Grey, Mango & Bergamot and Lemon & Ginger. I’m actually a lover of Earl Grey and I’ve been drinking it since I was little, I just find it helps me relax and it makes me feel all cosy and chilled out. I love fruity teas during summer too so I’m really looking forward to trying these!

CHECK OUT THE TEA HERE

I was really happy with this month’s box and I reckon I’ll be using all of these products within a couple of weeks. I would have liked to see some more skincare in this box but then again we can’t have everything every month so I’m not too fussed. However, I do love that they included another gift in this box and switched things up a little to celebrate! I’ll definitely be keeping the gorgeous little tin and I think I’ll fill it with my polaroids from summer. What do you think of this box? Would you be happy with it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments as usual, I love to hear from you! I’ve linked all my social media below so come and say hi!

N xxxx

CHECK OUT LAST MONTH’S BIRCHBOX REVIEW

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*RRPs correspond to full-size items at birchbox.co.uk/shop

Tags 2018, BEAUTY, BIRCHBOX, blogger, Cosmetics, Hair, Holiday, June, Makeup, Photography, Photos, Review, Skincare, Summer, Tea

LIFE PLACES

VISITING THE CITY OF BATH

Hello! I hope you all had a fab Christmas – I definitely ate my fair share (and more) of Twiglets and pigs in blankets! I also managed to win a game of Pointless with my apparently extensive knowledge on the different types of potato (feel free to clap).

This year, my boyfriend and I decided to give each other city breaks for Christmas! I took him to Edinburgh and he took me to Bath. I wrote a post about our trip to Edinburgh so take a look if ya fancy! I’ve been to Bath before, with my mum and dad when I was younger for a day trip and I remember loving it. It was so lively and full of shops and things to do.

The hotel, Combe Grove, is a beautiful 18th Century Manor House on a hilltop on the outskirts of Bath, away from the busy city life below. At first we wondered where on earth these tiny winding roads were leading us but then the hotel emerged and we were gobsmacked. It had a slight Downton Abbey feel to it with it’s endless amount of gardens and grand country manor aesthetic. I’ve always loved Georgian architecture, especially when it’s later been transformed into a hotel or a living space, as the history behind it is still there. We were warmly greeted and immediately offered a WiFi code (free of charge – yay!) and shown to our room. My boyfriend had booked a front facing room in the Manor House itself, as they were described to have breath-taking views. When we walked in I was stunned, the bedroom was gorgeous. The window caught my eye in particular – it was absolutely massive! The views from the hotel were incredible, especially the one from our bedroom in the morning!

There’s something special about staying somewhere old and full of character that makes a weekend away so much more enjoyable. We looked forward to getting back in for a nice glass of wine in the bar downstairs, before having a nice relaxing bath and sinking into our lovely luxury sized bed (do excuse how badly placed the throw is, that gap is really bugging me).

Breakfast was incredible. I chose the Homewood Halloumi served on a spinach flatbread with black beans, avocado and a perfect poached egg. It was SO good, I could eat this all day every day. I’ll almost always order anything with avocado involved. There was also a breakfast table with a plate of fresh fruit, granola, yoghurt, toasted breads, croissants and a fabulous array of fruit juices and jams. We also had the loveliest view of the grounds whilst we ate.

Although I did a fair amount of shopping in the sales (many blog posts are to come as a result) however we did get some time to take a look around the historical parts of Bath. The abbey looked so beautiful in the sunshine, even if it has been standing since 1499! I remember visiting the abbey as a little girl with my dad, and we went into listen to a choir rehearsal and as a result got the chance to meet Sir Willard White!

We decided it wouldn’t be a trip to Bath without visiting The Roman Baths. We originally wanted to go in the morning, but there had been a very long queue so we had to keep coming back and eventually there was only a small group in line! We practically sprinted and we were in the building within five minutes! The standard adult ticket would’ve cost us £15.50 each but as we’re students, we only had to pay £13.75 each. We were offered free audioguides (one by Bill Bryson was available?!) but we decided to just read the signs as we went along.

The first view we had of the baths was from the Terrace. There were Victorian statues of Roman Emperors lining the Terrace, dating back to 1894 and were designed for the opening of the Roman Baths in 1897. Below, was the Great Bath and although huge, apparently it makes up less than a quarter of the entire site. It was lovely to be out in the fresh air and also still able to view this fantastic historical site (from above).

Then, we looked at The Sacred Spring, at the very centre of the Roman Baths site. For thousands of years, the naturally hot water (46°C) has been rising there every day! (If you’re wondering why on earth I have applied a weird fuzzy filter over my photos, it’s actually just the steam rising from the water). It was once believed that the ancient gods were responsible for this. Many also believed that this water had healing powers and some would travel for miles and miles just to drink it or bathe here!

Part of the East Baths, this would have been a hot room for people clean up before using the baths (pretty much like modern day spas now) where they could receive massages or sit in saunas.

There were lots of objects recovered from the Baths which we found particularly fascinating. It really brings the place to life when you can see real objects from hundreds of years ago.

My favourite part of our tour was being able to look at the curses. These were messages written on lead or pewter, before being folded up and thrown into the Spring. It was believed that the spirit of the goddess dwelt within the waters and would hear their messages.

There was even a Roman skeleton in one area of the exhibition, including the coffin too. This was definitely another fascinating reminder that all of this really happened and that these people really existed.

Finally, we got to view the Great Bath up close. The bath is 1.6 metres deep with steps leading down to it on all sides. The niches around the bath were for people to sit on to talk or would have held drinks and snacks. You can sort of see in the back right of the photo, a large flat slab of stone, which is known today as the diving stone.

Just before we set off for home, we stopped at a quirky little coffee shop called SOHO coffee. It gave off strong Pret vibes but it had a very different menu. I opted for an avocado caesar baguette and a fruit pot and wait for it… a Rocky Road hot chocolate. This was the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had, generously topped with marshmallows and cream too! I would really recommend stopping by, as it’s a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by whilst recovering from lots of walking and shopping!

I had the best time in Bath, it’s such a beautiful and lively city. It’s brilliant for shopping and also sightseeing which I think makes for the perfect city break. I know I mostly focused on the hotel and The Roman Baths in this post, however the shopping will come later on! I’m saving some things back for other posts to share with you! I would love to know if any of you have visited Bath or if there’s anywhere you would recommend going to stay as we want to go on some more city breaks in 2018!

Also – Happy New Year!

N xxxx

Tags Bath, December, England, History, Holiday, Lifestyle, Photography, Roman Baths, Shopping, Tourism, Travel, Winter

2017 BLOGMAS LIFE

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE

BLOGMAS DAY 24

So, we have reached the end of my first ever Blogmas! I’m so so so glad that I took part as it’s taught me so much about the world of blogging but also about myself. I’ve learned that I actually have a lot more confidence than I thought I had.

I started this blog in September and I didn’t share it with anyone at first – the thought terrified me. I was scared I would be judged or laughed. Writing the post about my brother (it’s here if you want to give it a read) taught me to be true to myself and not to be afraid of being judged by other people. The support that I received in response was so overwhelming. In my first ever blog post, I talked about how blogs and youtube channels have helped me in dark and difficult times in my life and that I was hoping to achieve something similar in my own writing, so I was incredibly moved by how many people said that it had helped them.

This little world that I have created also helps me too. I’ve always loved writing and expressing my opinion and being able to do this whenever I want to, about whatever I choose makes me super happy. I’m so glad so many of you have enjoyed my posts and that it continues to help and entertain all you lovely people out there! Your support honestly means the world to me.

To my girl tribe back at uni, thank you all so much for being avid readers and for even sharing them with your friends and family! Benjamin, you absolute star – thank you so much for putting up with my blogging breakdowns and typing tantrums and for helping me plan my posts and for being so supportive with everything that I do!

I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas a very happy New Year and that you get to spend lots of time with people that you love. Speaking of which I can sense a growing panic in the kitchen as dinner is nearly ready, so I should probably go and assist my parents!

Lots and lots of love N xxxx

Tags BLOGMAS, Blogmas2017, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, December, Family, Friends, Holiday, Lifestyle, Support

2017 BLOGMAS LIFE PAPERGANG

PAPERGANG NOVEMBER 2017: ALLISON BLACK REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date December 14, 2017
22 Comments on PAPERGANG NOVEMBER 2017: ALLISON BLACK REVIEW

BLOGMAS DAY 14

WHO CREATED PAPERGANG?

WHAT IS PAPERGANG?

Ohh Deer decided to create a monthly subscription service for stationery addicts, such as myself called, Papergang! Each month you will receive a box filled with brilliant papery goodies and desk accessories. Some examples are notebooks, greeting cards, wrapping paper and art prints. It costs £10.95 and then a £2.95 for shipping which in my opinion, after receiving their boxes, is a great deal. Every box has a different design and theme by a different artist and for every 4 boxes, 1 tree is planted in partnership with the fantastic charity, Tree aid. To find out more about their connection with this charity here.

I am a huge stationary addict and this subscription box is probably my favourite out of the many I am a part of. I always look forward to opening my box every month and using all my new bits and pieces! Most of the products you receive are exclusive the Papergang subscribers for a while before they get sold in Ohh Deer’s shop.

This month’s box is all about the amazing charity of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and it was illustrated by Allison Black. (Insta – @AllisonBlackIllustration). The packaging is so colourful and fun I absolutely love it.

So let’s take a look at the first product!

Six Christmas Cards – £10

This month we were treated to SIX Christmas cards, all pet related. The card designs are so fun and unique, perfect for sending to family and friends who are animal lovers! The card with the grumpy looking cat is perfect for a friend I have, whose cat frequently gets caught in all of the fairy lights at Christmas! There’s also something adorable about a bulldog in a Christmas sweater, I love this design! However, my favourite has to be the Daschund card which I will be sending to my nan as she has a little sausage dog and I reckon this will make her smile. There’s also an offer on – buy 2 cards and get the 3rd one free.

Notebook – £7.95

I was most impressed when I spotted this ‘perfect bound’ A5 notebook. It’s thick too, with lined pages which I actually prefer to plane pages as I find it’s easier to make notes and keep everything organised and neat. Nice quality notebooks like this are usually quite expensive as well!

2 x Gift Wrap – £3.50

I often find that buying sheets of wrapping paper can be expensive. In this month’s box, we received not one but TWO sheets of gift wrap and given the other items that we received as well, this box works out at incredibly good value. Each sheet is printed onto 100% recycled paper and is 50cm x 70cm.

Gift Tags – £0.95

I love making presents look like I spent lots of time on them as I am quite a perfectionist with giftwrapping. I’ve started to love using ribbon and bows and so I was super excited to see three gift tags in this month’s box. Each label is 9.5cm x 4.5cm and some candy cane style (red and white) string was included to attach them with.

Once again, Papergang has really impressed me. These products are, as usual, of the highest quality. The illustrations on each product are super fun and creative, I will definitely be buying some more of Allison Black’s work! I love this month’s theme as I think Christmas is a great time for giving and helping out others – even if they have bark

If you’d like to buy this month’s box click here!

If you would like to subscribe, my invite is here!

If you want to know any more about Ohh Deer as a company, click here!

N xxxx

Tags Art, Artist, BLOGMAS, Christmas, December, Design, Holiday, Illustration, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Ohhdeer, PAPERGANG, Photography, Review, Stationery, Subscriptionbox

2017 BEAUTY BLOGMAS

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS MODERN RENAISSANCE PALETTE REVIEW & SWATCHES

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date December 12, 2017
38 Comments on ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS MODERN RENAISSANCE PALETTE REVIEW & SWATCHES

BLOGMAS DAY 12

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Today I’m reviewing one of the true gems in my collection, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette. It’s actually one of my favourite palettes, as I mentioned in my review of its sister Subculture! I’ve included photos and swatches so that you can get an idea of the quality of the shadows – please excuse any wonky lines, arms don’t tend to make the perfect base! Keep scrolling to hear my thoughts…

The palette is an essential in my collection. It contains 14 beautiful warm neutrals and berry tones which add a stunning pop of colour. It’s mostly a matte palette, with 11 matte shades and 3 metallic shades. It also comes with a soft dual-ended blending brush which actually does a fab job. I’m not usually a fan of brushes that come with palettes as I like to use my own, however, I’ve ended up using the brush pretty much every day!

Tempera – A light nude matte with peachy tones – I use this for highlighting underneath my brows and in the inner corners of my eyes! It’s not a shimmery kind of highlight but it’s a clean shade that definitely brightens up any area that it’s applied to. I always use it as a base too. It’s silky soft and easy to blend.

Golden Ochre – A matte and a muted beige/yellow colour with olive tones – It’s the colour of the perfect (my idea of perfect) cup of tea! It’s the perfect shade for a simple and natural makeup look but it also works out to be a great transition shade if you’re packing some colour in there too.

Vermeer – Iridescent champagne shimmer – Such a lovely light shade to put on the inner corner of the lid as it’s a shimmery rose-quartz. It’s got slightly warm/peachy undertones to it too so it’s nice to build up, on the lid. The iridescent sheen of it catches the light which makes it gorgeous for nights out.

Buon Fresco – A matte lilac/mauve – I flipping love this shade. It’s so pretty on the eye and it’s perfect to pair with some pinks and reds! It works so well with the other shades in the palette.

Antique Bronze – A shimmery brown with rusty red undertones – This is such a gorgeous colour, perfect for festive makeup looks and even in Autumn actually. I tend to wear darker makeup at that time of year (lots of browns, bronzes and coppers)

Love Letter – A raspberry pink matte – This makes the best pink smokey eye ever and I use it so much! It’s a perfect berry tone for the winter months too. It’s slightly dusty but with a few swatches it’s buildable!

Cyprus Umber – A dark coffee brown matte – I use this almost every day to add some drama to the outer corner of my lid, I love it! It’s so pigmented too.

Raw Sienna – An amber matte with golden undertones – I love using this in the crease for more natural eye looks.

Burnt Orange – A deep orange matte – Slightly more of a rich orange shade than Raw Sienna. I tend to use this if I need to warm up my makeup looks – it’s great for Autumn in that sense!

Primavera – Shimmery gold dust with a metallic finish – This is my favourite shade in the whole palette, it is PERFECT for putting in the middle of the lid for a spotlight look or for an inner corner highlight. It’s nicely pigmented and is even more intense when used with setting spray. You could probably use it as a highlighter too, it’s fabulous!

Red Ochre – A burnt, rusty red matte – I love using this for festive looks to add a pop of red to my eye looks. Colourpop offer a fab dupe for this shade called Popular Demand. I’ve found it takes a bit of building up though so maybe apply it a couple of times to make it slightly less sheer!

Venetian Red – A warm red with a matte finish – Again, fabulous for festive makeup looks. Everyone needs some red shadows in their life!

Warm Taupe – A matte grey with purple undertones– I’m not getting the warmth from this shade that I expected! I’m also not using it all that much as it just doesn’t look that great on me. It’s still lovely and pigmented though!

Realgar – A reddy-brown matte – A rusty red matte shade with subtle warm undertones, really pigmented yet so buttery and easy to blend out. It has subtle warm undertones too.

I would definitely recommend this palette to those that love using warm tones and enjoys creating more neutral looks but aren’t afraid to use a pop of colour every now and again. For a palette that features mostly matte shadows, they all apply fantastically and are buttery and easy to blend. I have yet to experience any issues with blending out any of the shades. No shades have become patchy either, which to me suggests that every shade was created with very high quality in mind. It’s one of the most pigmented palettes I own, you merely have to tap the shadows lightly and you’ll have picked up plenty. In my opinion, it’s worth every penny as the shadows are of such high quality and there’s a fantastic variety of shades included in the palette. It’s a really versatile palette as it can be used for daytime and nighttime looks If you’re more adventurous with shadows.

I hope you enjoyed my review of this palette and found it helpful if you were trying to make your mind up about it! Below, you’ll find links to my reviews of the other palettes in the collection and I’ve also liked my social media below so come and say hi, I’d love to hear from you!

Read my review of the Subculture palette

Read my review of the Prism palette

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N xxxx

Tags Anastasia Beverly Hills, BEAUTY, December, eyeshadow, Eyeshadow Palette Review, Holiday, Makeup, Modern Renaissance, Photography, Photos, Product Review, Review

2017 BLOGMAS LIFE PLACES

CHRISTMAS IN EDINBURGH

BLOGMAS DAY 11

I took my boyfriend to Edinburgh for the weekend, for a combined birthday and Christmas present. For the first time ever, I chose to look at Air BnBs instead of hotels. I was surprised at how many results came up! I ended up choosing a beautiful apartment in one of Edinburgh’s Georgian crescents, in Stockbridge. The apartment was based on the ground floor (YAY – no stairs to crawl up after a long day) with a bedroom, bathroom and a living space with a built-in kitchen. Everything was so beautifully put together, it seemed like a lot of thought went into the apartment decor, it felt so luxurious. Despite the high ceilings, we were able to keep cosy with the fireplace in the living room. They even left us some prosecco, whisky, and gin along with tea, coffee, and milk which was so generous! There was also a little hamper in the bathroom full of skincare bits and toiletries, another lovely touch!

We were a 10-15 minute walk away from the city centre which was perfect for getting back home with lots of shopping bags when it was freezing cold outside! The area was very peaceful and quiet which was perfect to come back to after a long day spent amongst the heaving crowds in the city. On our walk, we had to cross a bridge that had such a pretty view of the river beneath it.

On the way into town, there was a gorgeous little Patisserie that caught my eye, called Patisserie Florentin. Pop in if you ever get the chance, the interior design is super quirky and cosy, a really lovely place to stop by. They do the BEST smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels (ask for it with avocado too!)

On George Street, there were a few stalls were selling handmade gifts and confectionary. There were beautiful festive designs projected onto buildings. It was so colourful and vibrant. We thought these were the only festivities to be expected from Edinburgh but we were so wrong…

We carried on exploring and happened to stumble upon the biggest Christmas market either of us has ever seen. It was so big there were even multiple levels of it! There were hundreds of little stalls selling gifts, in the traditional Santa’s grotto-type wooden huts. You can see Edinburgh castle lit up in the background!

There seemed to be lots of stalls dotted around, selling lanterns and candles which were all handmade and unique. They would make brilliant gifts for family and friends over the Christmas holidays. The tealight holders in the photo below looked fantastic. They had unique designs carved onto the outside of the holders so that when a candle was placed inside, the design would be projected onto the space around it!

The lanterns also looked incredible when it was dark outside, they were all clustered together and looked so effective! Again, these were all handmade and ready to give as gifts!

These origami-style star lights were so beautiful to look at. They were selling all kinds of patterns and sizes and different shapes, there was something for everyone! I would’ve loved this kind of thing as a kid!

My favourite stall to look at was the hand-carved wooden candle holders (bottom left- as you can see I was trying to find an excuse to stay here all night). There were miniature woodland scenes carved into some and moons and stars in others. I had never seen anything like this before!

There were the usual Christmas market stalls selling hundreds of kitsch decorations, which made it feel that little bit more festive. There were tiny bearded Santas and tartan covered reindeer, if you can imagine it, it’s probably sold somewhere in the depths of the market!

Of course, there was plenty to eat and drink. There were stalls selling German hotdogs and other delicacies, chocolate covered marshmallows (you’ll understand why my love for these is so strong if you click here) There were huge colourful mountains of different flavours of fudge, Belgian hot chocolate with your choice of syrup, crepes with all kinds of toppings available…the list is endless. There was also a bar built for the occasion, similar to the one I described in my post about Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland, it was full of antique mirrors and candles and was so relaxing and warm to walk into away from the bustling crowds outside in the cold.

There was also a HUGE Big Wheel and some teacup rides, a helter skelter, flying chairs and a gentle rollercoaster for the little ones! The lights and music from all of the rides made it feel so much more festive and lively regardless of some of the terrified screams from a rather menacing looking star flyer (bottom left).

We dedicated one day to exploring the streets closer to the castle. There were quirky little gift shops and bars but to my delight, there was an entire shop dedicated to Harry Potter merchandise. I was in Hogwarts heaven… apologies if Harry Potter isn’t for you, however in the words of JK Rowling “I don’t think everyone should believe in magic, but I’m not sure I would trust anyone who doesn’t”.

We were going to go on a tour of the castle, however, it cost £17 just to go inside, so we stuck to just admiring it from the outside. By the time we got there it was already dark, however, it was so beautifully lit up that it was still just as amazing to take it all in when stood in front of it. The view from on top of the hill was stunning, the lights from the city lit the way for miles. I’m usually not one for scenic views, but this was breathtaking (photos don’t do it justice)

If you get the chance, go to Edinburgh in December, as the whole city is so festive and lively. There’s something for everyone! I would suggest wrapping up VERY warm as it is absolutely freezing there! I’m sure it’s still just as beautiful to visit during the summer, however, we will definitely be returning to the Christmas market. Let me know if any of you have visited, or are hoping to visit Edinburgh before Christmas, I would love to hear what you got up to and what you thought about it!

N xxxx

Tags Christmas, December, Edinburgh, Harry Potter, Holiday, Lifestyle, Market, Photography, Presents, Scotland, Shopping, Travel

2017 BLOGMAS LIFE LIFESTYLE REVIEWS

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CANDLES

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date December 5, 2017
34 Comments on FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CANDLES

BLOGMAS DAY 5

You guys seemed to really love my Autumnal candles post, as it proved to be my most viewed! I thought I would follow up with a Winter candles post as this is my favourite time of year to stock up on candles and have cosy days in with flat smelling as festive as Whoville.

I have already shared my love for DW Home candles and I’m afraid there is only more love to come! I am also including a candle by Sand + Fog, a company that claims to be inspired by “the California coast” who also sell beautifully scented candles around this time of year. Their online shop is still in the making, however, I am able to buy their candles from Homesense or TK Maxx.

This first candle, Christmas Morning has got to be my favourite candle that they’ve produced so far (which is saying something). It smells of sweet roasted coffee with hints of vanilla. It’s such an incredible smell, it’s perfect for a cosy day in! It’s honestly good enough to eat! The packaging is also gorgeous, which makes it nice to have on display at home.

Tobacco Noir is a candle I actually bought for my boyfriend but seems to have found its way into the living room with the others. DW Home seem to sell this candle all year round. The candle gives off the most amazing combination of smells; vanilla musk and subtle tobacco and topped with tonka beans which adds a scent similar to Woodruff. The Sand and Fog candle is also amazing and smells of white cranberry. I love berry scented candles for Christmas as they’re so festive and warming for Winter!

The sparkling champagne candle is incredible! There seem to be candles everywhere with prosecco or champagne in them for Christmas and I am very happy to comply with this trend! It smells so tangy and sweet, it’s perfect for freshening up the room after some cooking or even before you have friends over for drinks. The packaging is so beautiful and sparkly! I definitely will have to find a use for this pot once the candle has disappeared, it’s too pretty to throw away.

Snow Day is a beautifully fresh scent, with rich hints of peppermint and spearmint. There’s definitely some Winter berries in there too which makes it another festive must have for your candle collection.

Peppermint Snow smells like heaven. It has fresh undertones of Eucalyptus and spearmint too which reminds me of candy canes! I love the packaging for this candle too, it looks so adorable, in a kitsch sort of way, which I’m all for. White Christmas is another super minty and fresh candle. It’s so sparkly and pretty to look at, I love lighting this candle when I have people come over as it always catches their eye and makes the flat smell so delicious!

I can’t believe it’s already Day Five of Blogmas?! I hope you guys enjoyed this post, let me know if you did in the comments as there’s plenty more of where this came from! I’ll be back tomorrow with another post for Blogmas Day 6!

N xxxx

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Tags blogger, BLOGMAS, Candles, Christmas, December, Decorations, Favourites, Festive, Haul, Holiday, Homesense, Interior Decor, Lifestyle, Photography, Photos, Shopping

2017 BLOGMAS LIFE PLACES

CHRISTMAS IN NOTTINGHAM

BLOGMAS DAY 4

I mentioned in my Halloween post that Nottingham embraces the festivities like there’s no tomorrow. There’s a Winter Wonderland Christmas market every year and I absolutely love it. The market is typically made up of lots of little wooden huts (Santa’s grotto-esque) which sell all kinds of goodies.There’s definitely something for everyone. This year it’s even bigger and better.

So they only went and built the ‘sur-la-piste’ bar, which is basically a double-decked (GASP) French ski lodge, which is super cosy and lively if you fancy a drink with some friends or even just somewhere warm to run to when you become a bit too chilly. The bar plays Christmas music all day and then switches to an electric violinist on Friday and Saturday evenings! For the beer lovers amongst you, the bar is the first in Nottingham to serve unpasteurised beer (no added chemicals – pure lager) from oldest distillery in Europe! You can grab yourself some mulled wine and kick back and watch the world go by or embarrass everyone you know whilst dancing to an exotic cover of Sam Smith, the choice is yours!

There are interesting foods and gifts to be found all over the place, including a tea shop this year that sells amazing flavours of, (at the risk of blowing your minds) teas – including a “Sweet Vanilla Shortbread”, “Ginger Cranberry” and “Sweet Rosehip Cinnamon”. These are all available to buy here as well. This year there are lots of traders selling award-winning Chutneys, Cheeses and Chocolates which make great stocking fillers! There are fabulous gift stalls filled with handmade jewellery and Christmas decorations and even Lego themed artwork and so much more. There’s nothing quite like giving someone you love something special and handpicked by you with them in mind, of which there is plenty to choose from! There’s also a beautiful stall selling relaxation themed products with lots of mood lights and candles (see below).

In terms of food, there’s a lot to show you. I previously spoke about my beloved chocolate covered marshmallows and here they are once again! They have so many flavours, including Toblerone, Cappucino and Rum & Raisin! You even can grab a box of twelve for ten pounds and give them as a gift, I am obsessed with these!

Here’s some more for those of you with a sweet tooth there’s plenty more available! The sweet stalls are probably my favourite as they’re so vibrant and colourful, it’s hard not to stop and stare to take it all in! There’s so much variety! The mini pancakes (below) were AMAZING and opting for a topping of strawberries and Nutella might have been the best choice I’ve made. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much fudge in my life either, there are all kinds of flavours, from Skittles to Salted Caramel. It’s worth checking out, even if it’s just for a photo of the mountains of sugary goodness! There are Crepes, Pick ‘n’ Mix, Candy Floss, Toffee Apples, Giant Chocolate Muffins…the list goes on.

Your choices for savoury food are also endless. There are stalls selling delicious traditional British Hot Dogs, Honey Roast Ham served with juicy pineapple, Corn on the Cob, German fried potatoes, Homemade Olives, Stews…and that’s only a fraction of whats available!There are stands dedicated to covering your delicacies in all kinds of sauces, offering a wide range of toppings and side dishes. For those that have not mastered the art of walking and eating simultaneously (me), seated dining is available inside the bar area where lots more foods and drinks are served.

For the children (or those still in touch with their inner child – me again) There are lots of stalls with fairground games where you can win yourself a giant elf or there’s the Helter Skelter that kids can zoom down whilst one of the three bars remains festive and jolly below. Possibly the most popular and certainly the biggest attraction at the market is the ice skating rink, where you can glide around a giant and beautifully lit tree to festive tunes with your friends and family. Although I’m practically like Bambi on ice, it was worth it for the amount we laughed!

The choices are endless and it’s such a special experience, the perfect way to get into the festive spirit and do some Christmas shopping! I would highly recommend checking the Nottingham Winter Wonderland out, especially for those looking for a city break before Christmas. Don’t miss out!

N xxxx

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Tags BLOGMAS, Christmas, December, Family, Festive, Holiday, Lifestyle, Market, Nottingham

LIFE PLACES

ITALY, OH HOW I MISS YOU

During the summer, I went on holiday with my parents for the first time in YEARS. We went to a beautiful spa town in Italy, called Abano Terme, close to Padua. It was such a relaxing holiday and the heat wasn’t too overwhelming for a majority of the time we stayed there, meaning we could to a bit of ‘touristing’. I thought this would be a nice way to reflect on it and have it all written down somewhere rather than relying on memories staggered around my head.

The hotel we stayed at was incredibly beautiful and although some may argue, a tad dated, I found the traditional decor so charming. The bedrooms had chandeliers and old white wooden wardrobes which I instantly fell in love with. There were also incredible spa facilities and a large pool area, connecting the indoors, outdoors and spa. The pools were warm! This was because they contained thermal water which was sooooo relaxing and surprisingly refreshing given the heat. I spent most of my days in the lounging area, sprawled out on a sun-bed with a book (The Girls- Emma Cline).

One thing that this holiday influenced massively was my diet, as there was such a huge variety to eat here. We ate SO MUCH but it was all fairly healthy stuff, disguised by bright colours and decorative arrangements. The hotel provided a ‘serve yourself’ salad/starter bar which had beautifully prepared fresh vegetables and seafood every day. I had never really been a huge fan of eating cold seafood and arguably have stuck by the “fish are friends, not food” that finding Nemo taught me. However, if I catch a whiff of grilled and lightly seasoned squid, ya girl abandons all childhood Pixar related belief systems and is ready to go IN.

Within a few days of being away, I noticed that my skin had cleared up so much and my tiny little food baby (usually a permanent attachment to my body) had disappeared entirely. I was only really eating salads and fish which meant I wasn’t even eating half as much of the carbs that I usually do back at home or university. The sunlight also usually clears my skin up to (Vitamin D is incred), so as well as feeling super relaxed I was starting to feel so much more confident in my own skin (no pun intended).

That being said, I did spoil myself every few days with a pasta dish. I mean come on, it’s Italy, the home of pasta and pizza (90% of my usual diet). How can you turn down a tomatoey cheesy bowl of pasta?!

Most evenings, we walked into Abano Terme. It has to be said, it isn’t exactly a nightclub or shopping hotspot however it was quirky and different from what I was used to which is what tempted me to return every night. There were a lot of statues of fountains dotted through the streets, making lovely places to stop for a coffee or watch the people go by.

Towards the end of our holiday we got the train to Venice (they were double-decker trains too- mindblown). We realised we couldn’t justify failing to go there given how close it was to our hotel. I can’t even begin to explain how beautiful Venice is so I hope my photos do it justice. I’ve not had the chance to travel much, as my parents had to care for my brother (he was severely disabled) when I was younger, so going away for long periods of time was an extremely rare treat. This completely took my breath away, I have never felt so lucky or grateful to see such a beautiful place. We found a small church off of one of the winding streets (far left below) inside people were lighting candles and it was extremely peaceful. The ceiling was incredibly high up and there were paintings and images of angels and religious figures carved everywhere. It truly was magnificent.

We spent the end of the trip in Piazza San Marc (St Mark’s Square) (above images 2-4) which arguably, is the beating heart of Venice. Despite its vast size, there were also intimate areas where musicians played and restaurants served brightly coloured gelato. There were so many groups of tourists taken aback by the beauty of the square and for once their flashing cameras and stop-start style of walking didn’t bother me because this place NEEDS to be seen.

We crossed lots of tiny bridges and walked along the canal through many streets with stalls and shops selling Murano glass and the normal tourist trap goods. It was amazing to think that this was an everyday scene for some the locals. (Below photos)

Saying goodbye to this beautifully scenic and incredibly relaxing place, was harder than I thought it would be. However, I was so grateful to have been able to go there at all and I hope to return at some point in the near future, perhaps with my boyfriend.

Let me know if any of you have visited Abano or Venice, I would love to hear about your experiences! Also given this is my first blog post, I would also appreciate any feedback that you have to offer (good or bad)

N xxxx

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Tags Family, Holiday, Inspiration, Italy, Lifestyle, Photography, Spa, Student, Travel, Venice