Queen of hearts nails

Hello strawberry cupcakes, how are you all today?? I can't believe it's Thursday already, really where do the weeks go?? Not that I'm complaining, after this week it will only be 6 weeks until the Christmas holidays, seriously cannot wait!!

Today's post is a nail of the day post, one that I created during half term with some new nail bits and pieces. My mum came to visit me and bought with her a little nail kit that she received in Boots when she bought an eye pencil from 17. (Don't mums always bring little bits and pieces with them when they visit?? I always receive a range of products, varying from beauty products, to washing up liquid, packets of crisps/chocolate and tins for my tin cupboard! Love it!) Anyways, this particular kit was of much interest to me, as I have really got into nail art recently, and the colours looked particularly pretty.

Cute little bag that the products came in... I don't know about anyone else but  I'm a sucker for glossy, girly packaging!!

The kit consisted of 2 full size nail polishes, one in a coral pink colour and one in a classic red. It also included a leopard print nail file (handy size for your bag) and some heart nail stickers, some in pink and some larger with leopard print.

Finished result! I painted my nails with a Maybelline base coat, and then added two coats of the red colour. I used a pair of mini tweezers from my Benefit brow kit to apply the little hearts to all of my nails bar the middle one, which had one of the larger hearts. I also added a large heart alongside the little one on the thumb. The stickers were surprisingly easy to use and adhered really well, I made sure they were super secure with a 2 layers of top coat painted over. 

What do you think?? I really liked the look and thought it looked quite different and eye-catching. It lasted 3 days without any chipping, so a pretty good result too. And let's not forget it is a free product, so I think this is even more impressive!

Hope you are all well, roll on Friday...XOXO

Viva la Vivo: Beauty Haul

Hello cotton candies, how are you all today? Sunday has flown by but the extra hour in bed this morning was much appreciated! I am back to work tomorrow but I feel quite ready for it, as much as I enjoy half term, I do miss my job and the kids I teach when I am away! And now I am returning, I feel like I am on the proper countdown to my birthday and Christmas, and all the fun things I have coming up soon! : )

Today was a nice relaxing day for me, I had a lie in and then got ready for something that I was quite excited about... after some intense research with my bezzie yesterday, I finally found a list of stockists for the new Vivo make up range and knew where to head to get my fix! As blogged about previously, I have been dying to try this new range of cosmetics after reading some excellent reviews from other bloggers, and in magazines. I had already tried my two local Tesco's but had no luck, so imagine my delight when I found a list of Tesco's nationwide that stock the range! There were only four in Kent, and the nearest to me was Dover, so I convinced hubby to come with me (pretending we needed some essential items for the upcoming week) and set off on the 30 minute car journey. I purchased a few items, and have tried them out already, very pleased to say they are all as fab as has been previously claimed...

Baked shimmer palette in chocolate box, £6: I was immediately drawn to the aesthetics of this product, I love the swirly eyeshadows and blush, I think they look a bit like planets! I love the baked mineralised texture of the shadows, and the rich shades. The fact that a colour complimentary blusher is included is an added bonus.

The range of colours in the palette: I went for chocolate metallic shades as I get most wear out of these, I love the metallic silver and gold undertones and the high pigmentation is excellent.

Lipstick in Spiced Cinnamon, £1.99: The colour and creamy texture of this lipstick are perfect for everyday wear, I love the metallic case too as it looks ultra glam. This lipstick feels moisturising and comfortable to wear and lasts a good while, particularly impressive for the price!

Baked mineralised blush in Cinnamon glow, £3: A gorgeous shade and texture, giving a beautiful glow to the skin.  The gold undertones highlight and shimmer but not in an overpowering way, meaning this blusher is excellent for everyday wear. This product really reminds me of a MAC mineralised blusher I have, but for a fraction of the price.

Ultimate base concealer kit £6: I absolutely love this product, and it is a real stand-out item for me. The kit consists of 2 blendable concealers that allow you to create the perfect shade for your skin, a pressed powder to set the concealer, an illuminator pen to add luminosity and glow to the cheekbone and brow bone and a brush. The coverage of the concealers is excellent, and the creamy texture makes them super easy to blend. The illuminator pen is a gorgeous shade that reminds me of my MAC strobe cream, and the handy pen formula is brilliant when you're on the run. Love it all!

Well that's everything I got today dolls, I can't believe I only spent £16.99 and got 4 amazing products for that price! I have always been a bit of a beauty snob in the past, only purchasing high end brands and names, but I am happy to say that the emergence of new brands such as Vivo has changed my mind about cut price beauty products! I will continue to mix such pieces in with my tried and trusted brands to create different looks and styles. I completely recommend Vivo and if you happen to spy it in your local Tesco, I would definitely recommend investing in a few bits and pieces. Brightens up the weekly shop a treat! ; ) XOXO

Sleek and MUA beauty haul

Hey dolls how are you all? Hope you are all well, I am good if a little tired today. I have had to work harder than usual this week as I lost time after school Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday due to meetings and parents evening, so my usual timetable for marking and planning had to be abandoned for the week in favour of a re-jigged version. This makes me panic a bit (I do not like to deviate from my usual routine!) but I have made it work with careful planning and some extra hours this evening. I drove home at 6.15 and arrived home at 7, which was a nice time to drive, quiet, plus the sky was just beautiful, masses of clouds tinged with red scudding through the sky and the sun began to set. Lush : ) Upon arrival home, I was instantly hit by the smell of chicken pie in the oven and the whistle of the kettle in the background. Hubby had also purchased my favourite crisps and dip as a pre-dinner snack so I am a happy girl to say the least!


Today's post is an extension from my last post (see here) and the new beauty products I purchased at the weekend. First up the Sleek blush in 'Suede'. As I said before, I really like this shade because it is a nice warm peachy tone that lights up the face beautifully. I have been wearing this product all week now and have been extremely impressed with the longevity of the product. It is still clear to see at the end of the day, and rivals my much more expensive blushers in terms of quality and pigment. The palette is really big too so it will last for a long time, and the mirror in the lid is an added bonus. It does not come with a brush but who uses those stupid tiny little brushes some blushers come with anyway? My Ruby and Millie blusher brush gives a much better result.

'Suede' shade at the end of a long day. I really like the natural peachy tone.

The second product I tried was the MUA nail polish. It is a milky brown shade which I like because it looks smart and professional, and a bit different to my usual pinky and red colours. In terms of quality, the polish is easy to apply and the brush is just the right size to get a neat result. Two coats are perfect for even coverage and it dries quite quickly. I used a base coat and a top coat and the polish lasted 2 days without any chips. So for me, that was only downside, I like polishes to last around 4 days without chipping. Having said that, considering the polish only cost £1 and was good in all other respects I can forgive it. I will probably buy more from the range and keep them for nights out when it doesn't matter too much how long the polish is going to last.

Love this shade

That's everything for today, I am so excited that its Friday tomorrow, my best friend will be back from Turkey so I will be able to do some proper shopping at last on Saturday (as much as I love hubby, he's just not a good shopping partner!) xoxo