Sisterhood of the World, Blogger Award.

First of all I want to say a huge thank you to Ayah and Kimmy, the wonderful writers behind Embrace the Light and secondly, I do hope you'll stop by their blog and say hello!

They Asked Me...

#1 What is something you can't leave the house without?

I know this is really predictable but my mobile! I just love keeping in touch with my friends and family and sharing silly stories and photos with them throughout the day.

#1 Tell us one of your happiest moments?

Cuddling up under the stars with my boyfriend on our first night in Tenerife, which was also our first holiday abroad together.

#3 What's the best play/film you've ever seen?

Me and my boyfriend went to see Wicked at the theatre in London and it was truly spectacular. Everything about it was amazing from the story and songs to the costumes and acting. If you've not seen it, it's a must!

#4 As a kid what did you want to be when you was older?

A beautician/make-up artist. I've always loved being creative and dreamed of doing the makeup for catwalks and films, especially horrors!

#5 What is your favourite style tip?

Don't just wear it because it's in fashion! Make sure it suits you and you feel comfortable in it... confidence is beautiful.

Also stick to a colour scheme! I have such OCD when it comes to colour coordination!

#6 Do you have a favourite pair of shoes?

Yes my black barely there sandals from Next! They're so comfy and you just can't beat a pair of black heels.

#7 What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?

Be yourself and don't worry about what anybody else thinks. As long as you're kind, that's all that matters.

#8 Your favourite food treat?

Ben and Jerry's Spectacular Speculoos Cookie Core, by the tub! Caramel and Cookies? Whats not to love!

#9 Who is your inspiration?

My friends, family and boyfriend who always make me want to be the best version of myself.

#10 What are your hopes for next year?

To win the lottery please?! Oh and to just keep pushing forward in all aspects of my life and see where they take me.

My Questions...

#1 What's your favourite part of blogging and why?

#2 What product is your skin saviour?

#3 Summer holiday vs. Winter holiday?

#4 If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you want with you?

#5 Where do you want to be in 5 years?

#6 How would you describe your style?

#7 What's your best/favourite joke?

#8 What's your favourite trend right now?

#9 What would be your perfect first date?

#10 Which celeb(s) do you look to for style inspiration?

My Nominees...

Thats Beauty Kirstin

Blossoming Day Dreams

A Little Lilly

BKY Stewart

In Winterland

Suitcase and Sandals

The Rules...

Thank the person who nominated you and share a link to their blog, answer their ten questions, write your own ten questions and nominate up to ten people.

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Whilst I'm here I just want to apologise for not blogging a lot lately, it's just I've been making lots of  exciting changes to things at work and that has had me super busy most nights, but hopefully I will be back to blogging as normal very soon!

Thanks for stopping by and keep an eye out for my latest posts.

Pre-Wedding Pampering.

With a special occasion such as this wedding coming up I've been indulging in lots of pampering to get me feeling and looking my best, so I decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to share with you some of my favourite pampering products, both old and new.

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First of all, leading up to any big occasion my skin is my top priority, so I go to extra lengths to prevent breakouts by drinking more water, eating more fruit and veg and getting more sleep but I also like to give my skin that extra bit of T.L.C.

For me, my skins ultimate savior has been the Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash which has seen my number of breakouts reduce and my skin tone improve, a fantastic product for sensitive skin. To provide my face with a deeper cleanse every other day when using my face wash I use this Massaging Face Brush from Avon which leaves my skin looking brighter and firmer. At the start of the week I like to relax with my Mankua Doctor ApiNourish Rejuvenating Face Mask which helps my skin recover from the weekend, I then use it the day of the event as I can relax with it on for half an hour sknowing it is hydrating my skin, not drying it out. Whilst relaxing with my face mask on I wear my Gel Eye Mask which was just £1 from Primark and makes a nice change from tea bags! This eye mask helps to reduce puffiness and the appearance of dark rings.

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When it comes to my body, I can't stand having dry skin, unfortunately we all have those problem areas and for me its my knees and feet caused by working with small children and going to the gym. Over the years I have tried lots of different products to get results that last and I now think I've found them.

For my birthday I received my first ever Lush set, which included the incredible Rub, Rub, Rub, Shower Scrub. This product is a fantastic exfoliator that leaves skin feeling soft and refreshed, it also smells amazing! I go on to use my Molton Brown Body Wash, which I am currently using in Pink Pepperpod, followed by the Molton Brown Nourishing Body Lotion, which keeps my skin, including my knees, looking and feeling hydrated all day.

For my feet I purchased The Body Shop's Peppermint Soothing Foot Scrub and Intensive Foot Rescue cream.Though the foot scrub has a brilliant cooling and hydrating feel it doesn't seem to do much, however the Foot Rescue Cream is amazing and I noticed results after just two days! I have used this every day this week and my feet feel fantastic. Of course I will not be using it today as moisturising feet before wearing heels is never a good idea unless you want blisters!

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Finally, my favourite part of getting ready for a special occasion is painting my nails. Pretty hands are a must  which is why it is so important to make sure your cuticles are pushed back before you paint your nails, you can do this easily and gently using an Orange Stick. For the wedding I am wearing gold jewellery so to get the perfect nail varnish colour I will be applying Revlon Gold Coin first which has great coverage and sparkle, but is a few shades too light, followed by a coat of No7 Hot To Trot, which is dark but not very thick.


I'm now off to apply my face mask and put my feet up before getting ready for the wedding this afternoon.


Have a lovely bank holiday weekend.

What's In My Bag?

A couple of years ago I used to have a different handbag for almost every outfit and was always misplacing my keys, purse and everything else, but as I've got older I've narrowed it down to two, a black bag and a brown bag. Sorted.

Since blogging I have become a lot more organised and I know where pretty much everything is and now that I have just two bags it's a lot easier to sort out what I need to take with me. Now of course some of these products do change depending on the weather, where I'm going and what I'm doing but here is a look in to the general bits and bobs that you would find in my handbag if you were to sneak a peak.

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The Essentials

So first of all I won't be going anywhere without my keys. Now these are just my house keys and for the purpose of a nice photo I removed my three photo keyrings, my cuddly unicorn and turtle key ring and my work keys. I have so many keyrings as they are all special to me and also because it makes finding my keys much easier.

Second is my purse, of course this is another must as without it I won't be going very far. When it comes to my purses I like them to be bright and have lots of different pockets so I was extremely happy when I was able to buy this Ralph Lauren one for just £30.

Right! I cannot state just how important it is to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially when you're on the go. When I don't drink enough I get headaches and feel yucky which is why I always carry a bottle with me.

Eating regularly is also important and for me I like it to be something healthy and enjoyable which is why I love these nakd bars. I always make sure that I have one to eat in my bag as I get rather peckish when I'm out and if I don't eat I get very grumpy and begin to feel nauseous. 

I've always loved taking photos but since becoming a blogger I find it essential to have some form of camera in my hand at all times and well lets face it, iPhone cameras aren't the best and their storage is a joke which is why I like to take my Samsung digital camera with me wherever I go. It takes lovely photos whilst being small and light enough to go in most my bags. 

Now I never used to keep a hairbrush in my bag but as my hairs got longer it needs brushing that little bit more often especially on windy days so I now make sure I have a one in my bag at all times. This no tangles is my favourite as it gets the knots out quick and easy without damaging your hair.

Garlic, onion, salami.. possibly three of my favourite foods that seem to be in most of the meals I eat which is why I would be lost without my chewing gum. Garlic breath? No thanks!

Finally, after probably far to many years, I decided it was time to keep a pen with me at all times and now I don't know how I ever managed without one. Perhaps I should have listened to my Mum sooner.

My Makeup Bag

Being a girl the contents of my make up bag changes regularly but for me there are some things that are just a must. First is lipstick, an item which I am never without. My current favourite is Mac Cosmo as it goes with everything and keeps my lips looking hydrated all day. However, on some days my lips need that extra bit of moisture which is why I have Vaseline in almost every bag and coat pocket. Cocoa butter is my favourite! 

Next is my Rimmel bronzer and Elizabeth Arden blusher brush. I have used Rimmels bronzer since I have worn makeup and I love it just as much now as I did then. It's the perfect colour for me and I love that it's not to sparkly so it always looks natural making it suitable to be worn on bare skin and on top of foundation.

Since blogging I have started taking much better care of my skin and now I cannot be without a hand lotion and nail file. This particular hand lotion is by Molton Brown, it's a fantastic product and the bottle is just the size for my makeup bag.

Now I don't know about you, but I cannot think of anything worse than smelling which is why I take a miniature perfume with me wherever I go. At the minute I have been using this bottle of Marc Jacobs Daisy as it has such a lovely spring/summer scent.

Last but not least are bobbles and hair grips just because you never know when you're going to need them. I always make sure I have two bobbles and then just a few grips for any unruly pieces of hair.

This makeup bag is the perfect size for my things and was just £8 from next.

If We're Lucky

Living in England sunshine is not guaranteed, not even in summer, but on those days we're lucky enough to have even a minute of sun I will be there with my sunglasses! These ones are by Ralph Lauren and are probably my favourite as I don't think you can beat a tortoise shell frame.

What things do you keep in your bag?

Striped Shirt & Sandals.

Stripes are such a big trend this summer as is the long line shirt, so you can imagine how excited I was to find this shirt in Tesco for just £18. The lightweight material is perfect for summer and I love the light grey stripes on the white, very minimal and chic. This shirt could be worn buttoned up and alone but for this particular outfit I chose to wear it undone layered over a basic black vest top.

Now these type of sandals are ones I had sworn never to wear but when I saw these off white snake skin ones for just £10 in Tesco, I couldn't resist trying them on.What I like about these particular sandals compared to some of the others in this style, is that they sole isn't to chunky, which would look just ridiculous on my size 3 feet. These are so comfy but did take about an hour of getting used to before I could walk fast without them falling off my feet.

I finished off my outfit by teaming the shirt and sandals with my ripped skinny jeans and my black handbag to go with the black vest. I then accessorised with my black Tiffany&Co sunglasses and my silver jewellery which I think goes lovely with the light grey stripes.

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Shirt - Same here, £18

Vest - Same here, £4

Jeans - Same here, £42

Shoes - Same here, £10
Bag - Similar here, £19.99

Sunglasses, Same here, £194

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This outfit was perfect for a sunny but slightly windy day as the shirt provided my with an extra layer keeping that chill off me when the wind blew.

Have you checked out Tesco's clothing recently?

Clinique Bonus Box.

Last month I went to Bicester Village and bought my self a few bits and bobs. One of the things I picked up whilst I was there, that I was really impressed with, was this Clinique Bonus Box for just £15.

This gorgeous little box contains 8 well sized beauty products, some that I have been using on and off and others that I have been using everyday. I'm really impressed with the majority of the products and for the price I think it's a fantastic set so with that said here's a brief review of each one from my absolute favourite to my least favourite.

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Love

1st: Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief, £34 for 50ml

By far my favourite product in the set! This peachy coloured serum goes on brilliantly and leaves you with hydrated and glowing skin all day, great for when you've got a tan and foundation isn't requires. Having said that, it does soak in completely making it a perfect product to use before applying makeup

This 15ml tub is lasting me such a long time so the price tag for 50ml isn't putting me off as much as it usually would have done. 

2nd: All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage, £23 for 15ml

Soothing, cooling, massaging and sensitive on the eyes, I'm loving this product especially the the roller ball application as it's very gentle and you get the perfect amount meaning it doesn't get wasted. This serum is a life saver on those early mornings.

3rd: City Block Anti-Pollution, £18 for 40ml
I applied this to my cheeks and couldn't see a thing, then I applied it to my chin where I had a small pimple and it was immediately less visible. Wear alone or as a primer, this product is lightweight and breathable and my skin felt hydrated all day. I particularly liked wearing it alone on days the sun was out and I didn't want to wear foundation.

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Like

4th: Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+, £17.50 for 50ml

I have used this product for a long time now and the tiny 15ml bottles last absolutely ages so ignore the fact it's almost £18 for a moisturiser. For dry skin it's an amazing product and when used before primer and foundation stops your skin drying out and from  your makeup appearing caked on, however when used on it's own my skin can sometimes feel too sticky and look rather shiny.

5th: Clincial Dark Spot Corrector, £42 for 30ml

Now I don't think I've used this product enough to see results that make me want to spend £42 however I have noticed some slight improvement in the evenness of my skin tone when the product is on. It goes on really nicely and works as a great base for concealer or foundation as it doesn't dry out the skin, instead leaves a healthy glow with a matte finish.

6th: Long Last Lipstick, In Water Melon, £17.50

This lipstick goes on nicely, is very true to colour and does last a long time however after a while I did notice it started to dry out my lips due to the matte finish which in this colour can appear quite visible, not a colour I would usually pick for myself.

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Dislike

7th: Rinse Off Foaming Cleanser, £17 100ml

I'm afraid to say I didn't really enjoy using this product, though it did foam up nicely and remove my makeup it had a very strong soap smell which I am not keen on and also left my face feeling like it had a coating on it, very much like bars of soap do.

8th: Even Better Make-up SPF 15, £24.50

I found this product to be a bit too dry on my skin which is surprising as my skin is rather oily. The coverage isn't fantastic and it didn't spread very well so I ended up with powdery patches. For the price I am quite dissapointed.

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To end on a positive, I have really liked using most of the products in this set and have definitely got my self a few new beauty favourites. For just £15 this is a great set for yourself or to buy as a gift. I hope you enjoyed reading my reviews and have found them helpful, if you have a difference in opinion I would love to hear.


What are your favourite Clinique products?

My Silver Jewellery Collection.

Okay so I know my blog is about affordability and some of these pieces are slightly pricey but I wanted to share them with you anyway as to me, spending money on jewellery isn't a big deal and is something I rather enjoy doing. Jewellery doesn't go out of style, you don't outgrow it, it doesn't become worn down and it can immediately make a high street outfit look high end. Accessories are key to any outfit.

I own both silver and gold jewellery and some two tone but my silver collection is by far my favourite as I can wear so many of them together without ending up looking like Mr. T! 

First of all we have my rings, all of these a from Pandora except for the flower one which was from a lovely little store in Turkey. The one I wear the most is the silver band with the diamond set in gold, which was a present for my 21st. This delicate and elegant ring goes with so much which is why I probably where it the most. The other two I wear a lot, and always team together is the heart band and birthstone ring, luckily for me my birthstone is diamond so it goes with whatever colour I wear. My leaf and flower ring tend to get worn if I'm wearing something floral or I just fancy something prettier. Finally is the large stone ring which tends to only get worn if I am wearing a LBD.

Flower Band Similar // Heart Band // Diamond Ring // Leaves // Birth Stone // Large Stone Similar

Next we have my earrings. The leaf pair look so pretty when my hair is curly or with a nice up do, these were from a little store at Barton Marina called Brauz and I think they're going to be perfect for my holiday. The studs are from Pandora and are my birthstone just like my ring. I probably wear these the most as they can be worn with anything. My Vivienne Westwood earrings are quite a bit bigger than what I'm used to but look really nice with a fancy hair do and dress. Last are these little heart earrings by Helena Rudkin which I picked up from a store in Matlock, I really like these but can only wear them when my hair is up unfortunately as otherwise my hair gets a little bit tangled around them .

Leaf Earrings Similar // Pandora // Vivienne Westwood // Helena Rudkin

I'm not the biggest fan of necklaces unless it's a statement one to dress up an outfit but these three are so adorable and go great with just a basic vest or cami. My Vivienne Westwood necklace is quite large and tends to look better with darker colours due to the shade of silver that it is. The other two were a set from Etsy and are both extremely delicate meaning they are perfect in summer and wearing with lighter colours. The bar  is engraved with the date me and my partner started going out and the discs have our initials on. These can be worn individually or together which is sort of means you get three styles of necklace for the price of one.

Vivienne Westwood // Etsy

Last but not least is my arm candy! I cannot stand going out without a watch or bracelet on and these are definitely my favourite pieces of jewellery that I own along with the ring I got for my 21st. I love the white and silver together on this Marc Jacobs watch, it's so simple yet chic and due how flat the face it is, looks very delicate even with the large face. These three bracelets go together perfectly but I like how each one is different. The Pandora is a bangle, the Thomas Sabo is links (with my star sign aries on it) and the Tiffany one is a ball chain.

Watch // Pandora // Thomas Sabo // Tiffany&co

Accessories can make or break an outfit and I think they are crucial to adding a personal touch to your style. I hope you liked this post and would love to hear what you think.

What's your key accessory?