OOTN: George@ASDA

This is an outfit that I wore out for a meal the other day. Both the leggings and top are from George @ Asda and were a complete bargain at £8 and £6 respectively. The leggings have studs down the side of them, they don't really show up on camera well.

My necklace is from ebay and my blazer is a charity shop find. My shamballa is a gift. I am wearing knee high boots, you cant really tell from the photo. They were from the no longer existing company ShoeDazzle. I got them in their final sale for £9.

 I love this outfit and think it looks really smart, great for an evening out.

Gem x

Avon SuperShock Max Mascara Review

I am very fussy when it comes to mascara. I want volume more than length as I have longish eyelashes already. I don't want any clumps and I prefer a more dry formula but with no flakes. Not a lot to ask hey?

I love the packaging of the mascara. Teal is one of my favourite colours so its a winner for me. The wand is nice and chunky which I like in a mascara. I would prefer a more tapered end though as I like to use this to catch the smaller lashes at the corners.

The formula is good. A little on the wet side but dries very quickly and is easy to build up. I am a three coats of mascara type girl, I love volumised lashes. This mascara does clump very slightly, but not much at all.

It thickens my lashes nicely and also adds a slight bit of length. Overall I am pleased with this mascara and would definitely pick it up again if it is on offer in the Avon catalogue.

Gem x

House of Fraser Blogger Challenge

House of Fraser have set a challenge to bloggers. Come up with a key look for next season from www.houseoffraser.co.uk and be in with the chance of winning £200 worth of HoF vouchers. 

There is a huge selection on their website which made choosing an outfit very difficult, but here is my final look: 

Mango Dress | Boots | Gloves | Cardi | Bag 

The pure look, clean lines and no fuss, is set to be big this autumn. I chose this outfit for its chic and simple look. The white Mango dress will compliment any figure, with the grey cardi adding an extra layer for the colder autumn months. 

I think this outfit would look great for a date and it could also be made work appropriate by adding black or grey tights. 

Have you entered the competition? What do you think of my outfit, are you a fan of the simplistic look?

Gem x

MUA Undressed Palette Review and Swatches

I was lucky enough to win this palette through a blog giveaway. I was so pleased to win as I really wanted this palette but hadn't got around to buying it yet.

MUA are an amazing make up brand that offer quality products at affordable prices and I must say that they have exceeded themselves with this palette. All the shades, (bar one but we can let them off for that as all the others are amazing) are highly pigmented, easily blended and gorgeous.

I have been using this palette almost everyday since I got it, even using shade 3 to fill in my brows. It is the perfect neutrals palette and you can create a simple neutral day look to a more sultry smoky eye.

The pigmentation as mentioned is amazing and the shadows blend and stay on all day (with primer). If you haven't got it already, what are you waiting for?

I highly recommend this palette and at £4 its the perfect price too.

Gem x

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3536309/?claim=mr3apehwcgf">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Off To Ibiza: Daisy Butter Newlook Comp

Over at Daisy Butter I spotted this amazing competition in collaboration with Newlook. I love creating and styling outfits so I had to take part. Here was the brief:

"Imagine you are going to Ibiza for a long weekend. Create a post on your blog stating which items from the New Look store you would wear to complete each of the following outfits on your holiday. You have 5 outfits for 5 occasions, so which items would you wear and why? 

Choose from: Travel Style, Poolside, Beach It, Sunset Supper, Beach to Club."

So I imagined I was off to Ibiza and came up with these 5 outfits:

|| Jeggings || T-Shirt || Scarf || Bag || Shoes || Cardi || 

Travel day. You may have an early flight or the weather at home may be miserable, either way its probably going to be cold so its always a good idea to layer. You choose light weight clothing like this cardi, as its not bulky and can be packed away easily. Its also quite cold on the plane and you don't want chilly legs, so you wear jeggings. Only crazy celebrities like VB wear heels on an aeroplane, so flats are the way forward. You chose these grey slipper shoes for ultimate comfort.The bag is big enough to fit all your in-flight essentials and any duty free you may pick up.

|| Sunglasses || Swimsuit || Bracelet || Headband || Wedges ||

A day by the pool. Your staying at a chic hotel and want to look stylish when lounging by the pool. The cat-eye glasses add retro glamour while the cut out swimsuit shows off your curves. The chain bracelet picks up on the chain detail in the swimsuit and they tie in together perfectly. The fishtail headband and the wedges complete the look. 

|| Crop Top || Shorts || Bikini || Bracelet || Sandals ||

A day at the beach and you decide to embody the Ibiza hippie style. The lace crop top and distressed shorts along with the ombre bikini are bang on trend and give off the hippie relaxed vibe. The elephant bracelet adds a little quirky detail to the outfit. 

|| Earrings || Shoes || Dress || Bag || Ring ||

Sunset Supper and cocktails. You choose a white bird print dress to compliment the tan you have acquired after the last two days sunbathing. The feather earring tie in with the bird print and the perspex heeled shoes add a little twist to the feminine feel of the outfit. 

|| Bikini TopBottoms || Skirt || Necklace || Earrings || Shoes ||

Your last day. You decide to make the most of it by going straight from the beach to the club. This gorgeous embellished bikini will look great at either locations. To dress up the outfit you add these amazing accessories and a pair of dazzling wedges. 

I really enjoyed this competition and I have fallen in love with every outfit I created. Newlook have an amazing range on their website and I loved picking my favourite pieces and turning them into an outfit. My absolute favourites are the travel day and beach to club. They are both so wearable yet so stylish in different ways.

What do you think of my outfits? Have you entered the competition? If you have, leave your link, I would love to take a look at your entry.

Gem x

NOTD: Hello Kitty

Hello! Today I have another NOTD for you. Its a bit of a cute and fun one, not one for everyday, but would look cute for a night out.

I was browsing for nail ideas and came across a few Hello Kitty nail designs and loved them, so decided to give it a go myself. Here's the finished result.

I entered these nails into Makeup Geeks weekly challenge. Usually it is a challenge to create a makeup look inspired by something, such as summer. But this week it was to create nail art. I knew I didn't have a chance at winning for my skill, but Marlena is lovely and also gives a prize to one entry at random and guess what? I won! I am so pleased. The prize was a Sephora manicure set and I am so excited to receive it!

What do you think of my Hello Kitty nails? Do you like fun nail designs or do you like to keep it simple?

Gem x

200 Follower Giveaway

So it was only the other day I was holding my 100 follower giveaway! I am so grateful to everyone who likes my blog enough to click that follow button, especially those who leave lovely comments. So to thank you, I am holding another giveaway, yay!

This time it is to win a MAC lipstick in the colour of your choice (permanent line or viva glam). I will be ordering from Debenhams as I don't have a counter near me, so check here to see if your favourite shade is in stock :).

I have decided to give rafflecopter a go so enter on the form below. The only thing I ask is that you are a follower of this blog via GFC, are based in the UK and are over 18/have your parents permission to enter.

Good luck,

Gem x




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chit Chat Juicy Lipstick: Poundland Bargain

I am a self confessed bargain addict. If something has a reduced label on it, I am like a moth to the flame. I love rummaging around the beauty section of Poundland and have had many great finds like Revlon nail polishes and Stila dry shampoo. 

I have always been somewhat put off from buying from Poundlands own make-up range, Chit Chat. For a start, the name 'Chit Chat' doest exactly scream hight quality. But the other day I decided bite the bullet to give it a go, its a pound after all. I asked myself If brands like MUA and e.l.f can make good quality products for a cheap price then why cant Poundland? 

I started off gently and bought this liquid highlighter and loved it, so went back and bought some more goodies. 

Today I am reviewing Chit Chat Juicy Lipstick in Damson. It is a lipstick in a packaging that is not dissimilar to the Clinique Chubby Sticks. That's where the similarity in these products end though as the Chubby sticks are a balm and this is a lipstick. 

I was expecting a horribly drying, hardly pigmented, frost finish lipstick that didn't last 10 minutes on my lips. But what I got left me pleasantly surprised. Its is a very pigmented lipstick that glides on effortlessly and isn't at all drying. It looks quite moisturising on the lips, and lasts as long as you would expect a reasonably priced lipstick to last. There is also no frostiness in sight, bonus. 

From the packaging, you would expect a more red colour, but the colour is a gorgeous deep pink.  It looks great for an evening look, but also can be worn in the day as a statement pop of colour. 

Overall I love this lipstick and it is a steal at £1. I definitely recommend you try it out, for a pound you cant really go wrong!

Have you tried any of Poundlands own make-up range?

Gem x

VIVO Baked Blush in Peaches and Cream Review and Swatches

I love my VIVO Baked Bronzer, so when I was in Tesco the other day I had to get myself this blush. I have had my eye on it for a while now. It is a gorgeous peachy pink colour with subtle shimmer and looks lovely in the pan and lovely on the skin. 

It is quite pigmented, but not hugely which I think is about right for a blush. It can be built up to the desired amount so you don't end up looking like a clown. It lasts a good five hours before fading slightly. I wear mine with foundation and a primer, so it may not last as long with out these. 

Vivo cosmetics are available exclusively in Tesco stores or online at http://www.vivocosmetics.co.uk/ and the Baked Blushes cost £4, which is a bargain if you ask me. 

Have you tried any products from the Vivo range?

Gem x

Gradient glitter tipped nails NOTD

I'm not usually a fan of glitter nails, but I think these are a great way of wearing glitter without it being too full on.

I painted my nails with a peachy nude base coat and allowed it to dry completely. Then I put a layer of silver glitter polish half way down my nail and let it dry. Then I put another layer of glitter on that but stopped about two thirds of the way down to create the gradient effect. I put a few more layers on the nail tip and voilà, gradient glitter tips. 

Gem x

Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo Collection

When these products were released there was a slight hype surrounding them and I couldn't wait to go out and buy them. I am glad to say that for me, they lived up to that hype.

I have three of these now and I love them all. If you don't  know they are gel/cream eyeshadows which claim to last 24 hours. I have never worn them for that long but I have worn them a good 12 hours and they lasted really well with no creasing or fading.

 I have reviewed On and On bronze in more detail here. Taupe I found to have a slightly thicker consistency which made it a little tougher to apply than On and On Bronze. It is also the only matte of the bunch. Eternal Silver was the same consistency an On and On Bronze and applied like a dream.

They are such good products and a steal at £4.99. I plan on getting the remaining colours for my collection soon.

What do you think of these, did they live up to the hype for you?

Gem x

Simple Daisy Nail Art

I found this really simple nail art tutorial on the lovely Holly Arabella Blog. Link to direct blog post here.
It is really simple to do and the end result is lovely.

I originally wanted my ring finger nails to have the daisy on, but they didn't work out too well so I did them on the middle nail instead. I also found doing my left hand difficult (left handed) my hands were very unsteady but with a little patients it turned out well in the end.

I used Nails inc Bluebell for the base coat, Boots 17 white polish for the petals and Collection 2000 Orange Punch for the centre of the flower, but it would look great using any colours you want.

For the daisy, you have to wait until the base colour is completely dry. Then paint an L shape in the white colour. Wait for that to dry then paint a diagonal line in the middle. Then wait for that to dry and paint the dot for the centre. It does take a bit of time waiting for the polishes to dry but it is worth it for the end result.

Have you come across any good nail art tutorials recently?

Gem x

OOTD: Apricot Dipped Hem Dress

I bought this dress when I was in Westfield London. I love the colour, jade and turquoise are my favourite. Its a dipped hem midi which I love and it was in the sale in store and on Apricots Website for £20. Bargain.

It comes with a belt but I had to buy another as the sales assistant left a security tag on the original, and I didn't notice until I was back over the Severn Bridge! I got the belt along with a tan coloured one in a pack from Tesco, and they were only £2.50 which I think is great.

The necklace was another bargain from Ebay. It was only £3.69 including postage and came the next day.

I wore my trusty black court shoes from Newlook which I have had for a while now, but they are still available on their website for £19.99.

My bracelet was from Matalan. It cost 80p, there was a big jewellery sale on at the time I bought it.

As you can tell, I rarely pay full price for clothing. I love sales and eBay and charity shops.

Gem x

July Favourites

1. Impulse Love Puzzle review here - A fruity-floral fragrance perfect for summer. I find Impulse so handy as you can just pop it in your handbag and top up as the day goes along.

2. Garnier Miracle Skin Perfecter Oil Free review here - I have been wearing this almost every day in place of foundation. I love the matte finish and the fact that it has skin loving properties. 

3. St Tropez Everyday Body Moisturiser - A freebie from the July issue of Elle magazine, I really like this gradual tanner. I have been using to to keep my tan topped up as there is not much chance of doing it naturally with the weather we have had recently. The results are a natural looking streak-free tan which takes about three applications to build up. 

4. Orly Mini Ancient Jade - I have been loving this colour and wore it during the burst of sunny weather we had recently. Its perfect for summer. 

5. Benefit That Gal Primer - If I have been wearing foundation at all, I wear it with this. It really helps to brighten up my complexion and gives a smooth base for me to apply my make up.

What have you been loving this month? 

Gem x

Impulse Love Puzzle: The Perfect Summer Fragrance

A couple of weeks ago I was offered the chance to try the new limited edition fragrance by Impulse.


I love Impulse, I have been using it since I was a teenager and always have a can or two on the go. They are so handy to just pop in your handbag instead of carrying an expensive bottle of perume around, and you can top up your fragrance as the day goes on. 


Love Puzzle is a limited edition fragrance and has been developed by the world-famous 'nose' of Dior and Calvin Klein, Anne Gottlieb.


The fragrance is very nice and apt for summer. It is fruity and floral and is quite unique. I am a fan of fruity scents so this is a winner for me.  


Impulse Love Puzzle is available in stores now and available until the end of summer. 


Do you like Impulse? What is your favourite summer fragrance?


Gem x 

Bargain Body Lotion: The Beauty Parlour Soften It Up

If you read my blog you will know by now that I love a bargain. I really enjoy browsing Poundland and other discount stores and usually always come out with something. I came across this body lotion in Home Bargains for 99p and couldn't resist.

I like the packaging, although it could be seen as leaning slightly on the tacky side of things. I think that they may have 'taken some inspiration' from Soap and Glory with the design. They have also taken inspiration from Soap and Glory with the scent. It is very similar to the Original Pink scent that Soap and Glory use in most of their products, but not as strong. This is great for me as I do find the Soap and Glory smell to be a bit overpowering at times but maybe not for people who like a strong smelling body lotion. 


The lotion itself is OK, I think the best part about it is the smell and the pump design of the bottle which makes it so easy to use. It doesn't sink into the skin straight away so requires some work in order for it to be absorbed. Once it does though it leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth, just like any good body lotion should. 


Overall, this is a good body lotion with a nice, pleasant smell. It is great for people like me who are on a budget and don't want to spend £10+ on more expensive lotions, and are fans of the Soap and Glory scent. 


Have you found any bargains recently?




My giveaway will be ending in two days time so enter now here!!


Gem x

Staying Fashionable On A Budget: Top 10 Websites (Fashion Vouchers Competition)

Staying fashionable can be very expensive. I don't consider myself to be at all fashionable, but I like to try. I love fashion and keeping up with the latest trends.

Over the years I have tried and tested many ways to save money on fashion. I went from being a poor Uni student straight into being a poor mother with all my money going on my financial drains lovely children.

 So I thought it would be great to share with you my favourite websites which help me stay fashionable on a budget. Perhaps they can help you too because seriously, who doesn't love a bargain?


1. eBay:

I love eBay. Its great for buying clothing and accessories Second hand. I have purchased many second hand dresses from eBay. Its also great that you are protected not only by eBay but by PayPal also, so you can buy with confidence.

eBay is also great for buying new clothing. There are some great sellers on eBay with great fashion shops, some of my personal favourites are:

• GadgetcKing - Sells all sorts of things but on the fashion side, some lovely accessories at great prices including these fairisle printed leggings, £4.99 and this collar necklace (which I have bought myself, its great) £3.69. 
• Funky Diva - Sells on trend fashion pieces for a fraction of the price. The prices are great but the postage cost is £1.99, so this seller is best if you want a few pieces from them as they combine postage. 

eBay is also great for buying craft pieces like rhinestones and studs to customise your clothes. A great way of revamping old clothing. 

2. FashionVouchers.Com:

I never purchase anything off the net before checking for a discount code, and I suggest you do the same. This site is a great one stop shop for discount codes relating to fashion and more. I love the layout of the website, it is so easy to find the code you are looking for and is such an easy site to use.

3. Facebook:

Facebook? I hear you ask. Well, let me explain. There are two ways I use Facebook for saving money on fashion.

• Facebook selling and swapping groups - There are a lot of selling and swapping groups on Facebook, just type 'Selling' or 'Swap' into the search bar and they will pop up. Many are local which is great as you can save on postage buying or swapping locally. 
• Brands Fan Pages - These brand pages frequently have promotional offers and discounts for their Facebook fans. They also offer VIP sale shopping, where you can shop the sale items before anyone else. A good example of a brand that does this is Newlook. You just need to like the page to get these offers. 

4. Money Saving Expert: 

This website is a wealth of information for money saving tips on everything from fashion to flights. It has saved me a small fortune over the years and I really recommend you check it out. 

They have a whole section of the website dedicated to Beauty and Fashion, where they list the latest discount codes and sales going on. They often let you know a couple of days before hand if a sale is going to be on so you can be first in line or be on the website ready to get a bargain. 

They also have a great forum where you can discuss voucher codes and sales. Members often post about great fashion bargains they have found. It also has a great section on eBay tips for buyers and sellers to help you get the best price possible.

5. Top Cash Back:

A cash back website where you can earn money back from shopping online. They pay you a certain percentage of the total amount you spend when you click through them to go to the website you are going to buy from.

I bought a dress of AX Paris the other day through top cashback and got 8% cash back and found a voucher code for free delivery. In total I saved about £5!


6. Blogs

Ok, blogs arent necesarily one website but they are great for finding a bargain when it comes to fashion. If there is a sale on, guarenteed a blogger will have blogged a haul post about it!

Blogs are also great for finding a second hand fashion bargain, with many bloggers selling their second hand clothes in blog sales.


7. Chiara Fashion:

A great website which sells fashionable clothes at bargain prices. I find them to be cheaper than boohoo.com, but the clothes and accessories they sell are very similar.

They almost always have a sale on with lots of bargains to be had.

a few of my favourite items at the moment are these Palazzo Pants for £11.99 and this gorgeous body con dress which is in the sale for a bargain £7.95.


8. OMG Fashion:

Another great fashion website with great prices.They also have free delivery on all orders at the moment for even more savings.

a few of my favourite pieces from this website are this cut out top body con dress £9.99 and these nude red soled shoes, very Louboutin-esque.


9. Amazon:

The online shopping Juggernaut, Amazon sell almost everything you can imagine, even clothing and accessories. They have a whole department dedicated to fashion and have over 600,000 pieces for sale.

They have all the big brand names and regularly have sales on. At Christmas time I managed to get a pair of EMU boots for £75 RRP  £195. They are currently selling for £98 still with a considerable amount off the recommended retail price.


10. Girl Meets Dress:

There are some occasions where only a designer dress will do. So what do you do when you cant afford designer prices? Look no further than Girl Meets Dress. Here you can 'borrow' a designer dress for a fixed price. Prices start from £29 for two nights, with the more expensive dresses costing more to rent.

I am in love with this Marc Jacobs dress and would love to wear this on a special night out. I can imagine the compliments you would get and you could pretty much guarantee that nobody else will be in the same dress. This particular dress costs £59 to rent out for 2 nights and is only available in a size 10. Just be careful not to spill your drink. (Although they do offer an insurance service which costs £7 to cover a zip split, minor tears and drink spillages that come out with dry cleaning).


My Top Tips for Fashion Shopping online

• ALWAYS  check for voucher codes before making any online purchase. www.fashionvouchers.com is a great resource when shopping for fashion.
• ALWAYS go check a cash back website to see whether there is any cash back available on your purchases.
• If you have something in particular in mind or have seen something on a particular website, check eBay first. You may find the exact same dress you wanted from Top Shop for a fraction of the price, or you may find something very very similar. 

There are so many ways you can be a money saving fashionista online. I hope this article has been of some help to you, happy shopping.

Gem x

.

Weigh loss update

I thought I would write a little update as I haven't been posting any for the past couple of weeks.

Basically I have fallen off the wagon a bit and have now gained 4lbs. I seem to have lost a bit of faith in the slimming world plan as I am not seeing the results I want. I know this is partly my fault as some weeks I have not been 100%, but on the weeks that I have I still am only either loosing 1lb or staying the same. Then I get disheartened and go on a binge and put on. So I'm just going round in circles and not getting anywhere.

I have decided to give the plan a break. I am seriously considering joining weight watchers as the plan seems more strict and portion controlled and this is what I need as I am a complete over eater. The group is on Tuesday, so I will update then.

Gem x

Real Techniques Eye Starter Set Review

I love Real Techniques brushes. I own the Core Collection and the Stippling Brush and they are a staple in my make-up bag and I couldn't be without them now. So as it was my birthday I decided to get the Eye Starter Set as a little present to myself. I have been using these for four weeks now, so they have had a good test run.


In the set you get five brushes presented in a brush holder. I really like the brush holder, I use it to keep all my Real Technique brushes together its so handy. 


The brushes you get are:

• Base Shadow Brush:  I use it for all over lid colour. Its a nice size and really soft. Its great to pack on colour on the lid and actually does this better than my beloved Too Faced brush. 
• Deluxe crease brush: Again another big brush. I personally use this to blend shadows, not to apply colour to the crease as I find it too big. I use my Too Faced crease brush to apply colour to the crease and then this brush to blend.
• Accent Brush: This is very similar to my NYX Smudge brush. It can be used for "precision detailing, spotlighting, highlighting, and smudging." I use it for all of the uses described and find it a great little brush.
• Pixel- Point Eyeliner Brush: I like this brush for using a powder eye shadow as an eyeliner. I wouldn't use it for gel liner as I already have a brush that I use for that, (the one that came with Maybelline Gel Eyeliner). 
• Brow Brush: This brush is nice and soft and great for applying powder to the eyebrows. It does seem a little big but I find it still does the job well. 

Overall I love these brushes. They are great quality, wash easily and are a good price. They are also 100% cruelty free. You can buy Real Techniques Brushes at Boots, and this set retails at £21.99.

Do you own any Real Techniques brushes?

Gem x