How To: Messy Bun (Thin Hair)

Earlier in the week I asked on social media if you would like a 'How To' messy bun tutorial and I got a good response, so here it is.

After watching many YouTube videos on how to create a messy bun, I couldn't find one that worked for my hair type. I have very thin, flat hair and not a lot of it. So I decided to try out my own thing to create a messy bun, to make my hair look thicker and fuller.

This hair style works best on day two hair as it has more texture and hold to it.

To create this style you will need the following;

Hair band (doesn't matter what colour as you won't see it)

Bobby pins

Hair spray

A hair brush or comb

STEP ONE

Style your hair into a high pony tail. It's up to you how high you want your pony tail. The higher the pony tail the more of your bun you will see. I like mine so I can just see the top of the pony tail when I look in the mirror. At this stage I like to give my roots some volume, so I pull on sections of hair at the roots to loosen up the pony tail and give it volume. If you prefer a more sleek messy bun then you can skip this step.

STEP TWO

Taking your pony tail and starting at the base, back comb the hair until you are happy with the volume you have created. The more you back comb, the bigger and fuller your messy bun will look. 

STEP THREE

Under roll the ends of your hair up towards the base of your pony tail and pin to secure. It will look like the photos above. Now taking the hair either side of the gap at the front, pull the hair together and pin. This will cover the hair band that you can see and also give you a bun shape. 

STEP FOUR

Keep pulling the hair round and pinning until you are happy with your bun shape. Then to finish off set with hair spray and your done!

This style takes me less than five minutes to create.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and found it very helpful. Let me know of you have a go at creating this look. I would love to see photos.

Until next time

xoxo

Sweet Treats

With Mother's Day just around the corner I thought I would do some of my favourite type of baking. No bake baking. Who ever invented this recipe is just simply brilliant!

I made some No-Bake Crunchie Cake. I've made these before and they are so quick, so easy to make and taste so good!

I'm going to make these again but put my own twist on them and try something new. Instead of adding Crunchies, I'm going to try Chocolate Chip and Nut Cookies with extra mixed nuts. I think these could taste super nice too!

If you would like to have a go at making these No-Bake Crunchie Cakes, you can find the recipe HERE. I'm sure these would make any Mum happy on Mother's Day!

Until next time

xoxo

Competition Winner

If your friends with me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter you might have seen that a couple of weeks ago I posted that I had won a competition! I'm the kind of person that never wins anything and to be honest I don't think I have ever one anything. So when I received an email to say I was the winner of a competition I had entered through Clique magazine and had won a prize from Next I was in shock and over the moon. If i had won toothpaste I probably would have been just as excited, as like I said, I never win.

I thought I would share we you all what I won.

Next Cut Out White, Navy and Brown bag with Gold Detail worth £28. 

It's not a bag I probably would have bought myself and if I had seen it in the shops I probably wouldn't have given it a second look. But I really do love it! It's a prefect size for everyday bits and bobs. It has an adjustable long strap so you can wear it either on the shoulder or over the body. On the inside it has a zipped pocket prefect for your mobile, keys or anything you need to find quickly.

I still can't believe I won this but I'm so happy I did.

Until next time

xoxo

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'Beauty Blossom' March Glossybox

It's that time again! It's Glossybox time! If your unfamiliar with Glossybox it's a monthly beauty subscription box (£10 + p&p) where you receive 5 beauty products tailored to your beauty profile which you fill out when you sign up. It's a great way of discovering beauty brands you may not have heard of. You can also earn Glossydots which can equal a free box! This month I redeemed my Glossydots so this box was free. Bonus!

This month's Glossybox theme is 'Beauty Blossom'. In this month's box there is a real mix of beauty products from makeup to hair care to perfume.

Glossybox always comes well presented in a glossy pale pink box with a magazine and a card to tell you what you have received in your box, how to use it and how much it's worth.

First impressions were good! I was pleased with what I had received in my box.

First product out of my box was 'Mitchell and Peach Body Cream'. RRP £36 for 180ml. The sample I received was 40ml and worth £8. This product dissolves really well into my skin and leaves it feeling very soft but I really don't like the smell of it. It's very natural and earthy and I do prefer fruit scented body creams. 

Next product is the 'Sleek MakeUp Pout Polish' RRP £4.49 for 10g. This product is full size and I received the shade 'Bare Minimum 963'. I don't own anything from the brand Sleek so I was happy this was in my box. It's not a very pigmented shade at all. It's more like a high gloss balm that would be perfect over your favourite lipstick to give it a glossy finish.

Next is 'Bellapierre Cosmetics Ltd Shimmer Powders' in the shade Beige. RRP £12.99 for 2.35g. This is another full sized product I received in my box. This is a gorgeous, very pigmented shimmer eye shadow. This could be blended out for a day look or layered up for a party look. I'm very pleased with this product. 

'Juicy Couture Malibu Collection'. RRP £47 for 75ml. This is the first time I've ever received a perfume sample in a Glossybox and I'm not disappointed. Both are very different but very fresh and perfect for spring and last a long time which is a big bonus! 

The last product in my box was the 'Dove Hair Therapy Intensive Repair 60 Second Treatment Shot'. RRP £1.49 for 15ml. This is also a full sized product and I was happy to receive this as I have frizzy coloured hair. So any treatment on my hair is very appreciated. I have yet to try this but I'm sure I will like it. 

The value of my Glossybox was over £26.

Glossybox can be very hit and miss. Some months can be fantastic and others really poor. I signed up in November, so this was my sixth box. So far I've had two bad boxes, one awful box and three good boxes. I'm still very on the fence at the moment to whether I continue with this beauty box or subscribe to another one as there seems to some really good ones out there now.

Let me know if you received something different in your Glossybox or if you are subscribed to a different beauty box that you love.

Until next time

xoxo

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Sugar Rush

I love a good bargain that you just can't say no too! I'm also a big lover of Nails Inc polishes and have over 50 in my collection. So when I received an email about a set of 8 Nails Inc polishes for only £20, normally from £11 each, how could I say no?! There were a few different sets to choose from and I went for the 'Sugar Rush' collection which features some gorgeous bang on trend pastels.

Here's what the collection included...

Royal Botanical Gardens - a fresh spring green/blue

Kensington Palace Gardens - beautiful coral

Ebury Square Gardens - soft pale pastel blue

Kensington Square - gorgeous baby pink

Mayfair - lovely nude ivory with a hint of silver shimmer

Hyde Park Corner - dusky lilac

Bury Walk - nude grey with a coral shimmer

Sweets Way - blue, pink and white candy sprinkles 

I'm so happy with all the colours but I do have one problem...which one do I wear first? Hmm... 

Why not take a look at the fantastic range of colours, special effects and textures Nails Inc have to offer HERE

Let me know which is your favourite or if you have you a different nail polish brand that you love.

Until next time

xoxo

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Celebrations

Some of you may or may not know that I am a mum to a gorgeous little boy who has just celebrated his 1st birthday. So last week I was busy getting crafty and messy in preparation for his 1st birthday and birthday party.
I set myself the challenge of decorating the birthday cake. I've never, ever iced a cake in my life but I thought I would give it a go. Am I crazy? Maybe!
The theme of the cake was 'Raa Raa The Noisy Lion' which is a children's programme that my son loves! Okay, and maybe me too.
It took me just over two evenings to do and I was very proud with the out come considering I had never done anything like this before.

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This is the look I was after. It's the scenery from 'Raa Raa The Noisy Lion'.

And here is how the cake turned out. I'm very proud of it! For my first time doing something like this, I don't think it turned out too bad. 

The cake went down a treat and tasted so good too! 

It's been such a fantastic long weekend celebrating my son's birthday and he thoroughly enjoyed him and was very spoilt.

Let me know what you think of the cake (please be kind :) ) and if you have ever taken on a challenge like this.

Until next time 

xoxo

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No Intention

So you know when your busy and have errands to run and no intentions what so ever of buying anything for yourself but still some how end up coming away with more than you planned...well it happened to me. Oops!
Popped into town to do a few things and noticed Boots had a 3 for 2 offer on, so I thought I'd just pop in and have a look. Would have been rude not too, right? My looking turned into buying six items, but at 3 for 2, what's not to love! Then on my way back to the car a dress in a shop window caught my eye. I have an event coming up that I need an outfit for and this looked prefect. Went in, tried it on and fell in love! Fitted perfectly, which is very rare with me and dresses. So I bought it, as I knew it would be a 'dont get it and regret it' situation. I also ended up buying a couple of other none beauty related items.

So, here's what I got on my 'no intentions of buying' trip into town.

Dress from Select £14. Its one of those dresses that looks a lot nicer on, than it does on the hanger!

Rimmel Colour Rush 'Not An Illusion' £5.99

Rimmel Stay Matte 'Ivory' £5.99

Soap & Glory 'Foam Call' £6.50

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable 'Honey' £7.99

Bourjois Paris Color Boost 'Orange Punch' £7.99

L'Oreal Paris Glam Shine 'Sin For Peach' £6.99

ELLE Magazine £4. Plus two freebies including Percy & Reed 'Wonder Balm' worth an amazing £18!!

Thai Chilli Rice Crackers and Tasted Corn Snacks. I fell in love with these when I received them in my Graze box. So tasty!

Do you ever have days where you have no intentions of buying or is it just me?

Until next time

xoxo

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March Wishlist

With every month and every turn of a magazine page there's a new beauty product. So I thought I would share with you some new product's that have made it onto my radar and now my wishlist for March. I've thrown in a couple of 'oldies' that have been around for a while too, that I just haven't got round to trying yet.

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Starting from top left to bottom right.

• Benefits 'Gimmie Brow' 
• Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Bath and Body Shower Foam
• Yankee Candle Car Jar
• TRESemme Salon Smooth Serum
• Astrid & Miyu 'My Daisy Bracelet'
• L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner
• Nails Inc Limited Edition Richmond Gardens Floral
• Revlon Colour Burst Lip Matte
• Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

Leave a comment below if you have any exciting new products your dying to try.


Until next time
xoxo



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Astrid & Miyu's March Secret Box

As March is upon us already, not only does it mean spring is just around the corner, it also mean its time for the 'March Secret Box' by Astrid & Miyu. If you haven't heard of Astrid & Miyu and their secret box where have you been? Don't worry, by the end of this post you will know, love and what Astrid & Miyu in your life!
The 'Secret Box' is a quarterly subscription service priced at £39 which includes free p+p (if you hate paying postage charges like I do, then this is a big added bonus) where you will receive hand picked jewellery by the team that's worth at least double what you pay! Suited to your tastes, what you like and what is currently on trend. After signing up to the 'Secret Box' you simply have to fill in a short but detailed questionnaire about what you like and what you don't like. Then you can sit back, relax and let Astrid & Miyu do the hard work for you and wait for your 'Secret Box' to arrive at the beginning of the following months March, June, September and December.

I was very excited when my door bell rang and the post lady handed me my 'Secret Box'. I was like a kid at Christmas and had to open it straight away! So, here's what I got...

This was the first pouch i opened and I could not have been happier! I've had my eye on this stunning wish bone necklace for a little while now, so to have it in my 'Secret Box' was fantastic! It looks beautiful on as its on a slightly longer chain, so you can style it how you like. Whether you choose to wear it longer or shorter, its up to you!

This was the second piece I got. Its something that I probably would have bypassed on their website and not given a second look at when browsing but this is truly a beautiful piece, that just catches the light perfectly. I have already worn this piece to an event and it finished my outfit off beautifully. I'm so glad this was in my 'Secret Box'.

This was the third and finally piece of jewellery in my 'Secret Box'. I was so happy to receive this lucky horse shoe as I need all the luck I can get. Let's just say I'm not the luckiest person out there! After trying this on a was a little disappointed, as its on a shorter chain and didn't sit right on me as a necklace. So I came up with the idea that it might look nicer as a bracelet, and I was right! Wrapped around twice on my wrist, it sits beautifully and catches the light perfectly, as it hangs slightly.

Also in my 'Secret Box' was some added beauty bonuses and some funky tattoo art words. As I signed up with I did, I also received a £5 gift card to spend on Astrid & Miyu. 

This was my first ever 'Secret Box' and I'm so happy with what I got. I would highly recommend this subscription service. The total value of my box was £87!

Now the big question is...what piece do I pick to spend my gift card on?

If you want to find out more about Astrid & Miyu Secret Box click HERE or simply just want to browse their stunning range then click HERE

Until next time 

xoxo

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My February Beauty Favourites (Part 2)

So yesterday i posted the first five of my February beauty favourites and as promised here are the last but no means least, five beauty favourites of February. I hope you enjoyed my last blog post and I hope you will enjoy this one too.

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

I'd never come across Burt's Bees brand before until it arrived in my 'Latest In Beauty box' last month. I have lip balms coming out of my ears, I have that many. But this one stood out to me as its all natural and made from bees wax which I've never used before as a lip balm. This lip balm is lovely. I apply it before bed and wake up the next day with soft, moist lips. My favourite part about it, is when you apply it to your lips, it glides on leaving a cold, fresh, tingling feeling behind and smells of peppermint too.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

I needed a new concealer that gave me better coverage than the one i was currently using. I did a bit a research to see what other bloggers were recommending and to my surprise it was this product and I can really see why. Not only is it very affordable but the coverage it gives is brilliant. Whether its for dark circles or blemishes it really does cover them up without looking caked on. This I will no doubt be purchasing over and over again.

Rituals Foaming Shower Gel Sensation 

I'd heard of this brand before but had never got round to trying it until end of January this year. I love using foam shower gels as I always find it leaves my skin a lot softer and this one didn't disappoint. Even though this was the 'Organic Rice Milk & Cherry Blossom' scent one, it didn't have much of a smell to it at all which was a bit disappointing but I did love it for the fact it was very nourishing.

e.l.f Mineral Eye Liner

Another e.l.f product has made it into my February favourites. Like the other e.l.f product that I blogged about, this one is also cheap (about £3.50 but I purchased it when e.l.f were having a 50% off sale, so a bargain at £1.75) so I didn't hold out much hope for this product and expected that by the end of the day it would be half way down my face. But to my surprise it stayed put and not only that, it also stayed put on my water line too for nearly eight hours! It glides on easily and has great pigment. This really is a brilliant eye liner.

L'Oreal Triple Active Anti-shine Moisturiser

I've been using this product for a good four months now as I needed a new moisturiser as my face was starting to feel tight even though I have a very oily t-zone, but I needed one that didn't make my skin more oily and also didn't leave my skin feeling sticky like some have in the past. This really is a fantasic product for me as it does every thing I need a moisturiser to do. It has really helped with my oliy t-zone and leaves my face looking more matt for longer. Love this product!

That's all of my February beauty favourites. Leave a comment below and share with me your beauty favourites that you love!

Until next time

xoxo

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My February Beauty Favourites (Part 1)

I thought I would share with you and do my first ever monthly favourites as we have left February and moved into March already! Where did February go? Anyone else think that month went extremely quick?

I have managed to narrow it down to 10 products I loved in February. I'm going to do this blog in two parts otherwise this would be a very long blog post. So here are the first five of my February favourites...

HD Brows (Foxy)

I've never been one for filling in my brows until I tried this product. It took a little practice to get them looking natural like I was blessed with full brows (I wish) but this is now one of my 'desert island' must haves! 

e.l.f Zit Zapper

If you haven't heard of e.l.f (eyes, lips, face) they are a super cheap American cosmetics company that you can only buy online in the UK at the moment. I'd heard and read get things about this product and at only £1.95 I thought it was worth a try. I was very surprised to see that it actually works. It reduced the size and redness of my breakouts. This is defiantly something I will be repurchasing over and over again.

L'Oreal Miss Manga Mega Volume

I have been using Benefits 'They're Real' mascara for sometime now and I didn't think I would find a product that would match or even beat it, until this arrived in my 'Latest In Beauty box' and now I love it! Its my go to mascara. It lengthens and volumises my lashes without clumps, leaving them with mega miss manga volume.

Nails Inc Polish (Sheraton Street)

I'm a massive fan of Nails Inc polishes and have over 40 in my collection. When I saw this new colour I just had to buy it. It's a gorgeous slate blue colour with high shine. Perfect for spring.

The Body Shop Body Butter

I love using body butters in the winter to really give my skin that extra moisture its craving for. A couple of Christmases ago I received the giant lolly pop stick from The Body Shop containing five body butters and this is one I hadn't used yet. I'm not a big fan of the orange scent but this has totally changed my mind on that. It smell amazing! It makes my skin so soft and the scent last on my skin for nearly the whole day.

Well that was my first five of my ten favourites of February. I hope you have enjoyed them. Look out for the last five coming soon. Leave me a comment below and tell me what your beauty favourites of February were and if any of them were mine too :)

Until next time

xoxo

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New Home (kinda)

Hello, so I've had a bit of a change and have moved my blog to its new home which from now on shall be here. Hope you like the changes as much as I do. Look out for my new blog post hopefully going up later today. Check out my twitter for updates on that. I'm excited for you guys to see it.

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Until next time
xoxo