What I Got For Christmas '13!!

I thought I would share with you what I got for Christmas as I have loved looking at other peoples but have decided, this will be a wordless post (apart from this little bit of course).
There are some bits missing but that will be because I have ate them!

Sarah x

Boxing Day Bargains!

Hey,

For the first time in a good few years my sister and I hit the Boxing Day sales. We wanted one shop (Boots) and left in plenty of time to get there before it opened! 

This is what I purchased 

Now I love soap and glory shower creams but some times I think they are way to over priced for what they actually are. So the first thing on my list of things I wanted in the Boxing Day sales was one of their shower sets. I picked up You Do The Bath, because it had my favourite shower cream along with a puff which I use all the time, and a body butter to add to my pile of things that I probably should use but don't! For £8 for the 3 things it's a steal! (was £16) 

The other thing I picked up in the sales was a Dove shower gel set! I won't be needing to buy shower gel for the next few months that's for sure! This was £3 which is an amazing deal for 2 full size bottles along with a puff, as they retail at around £2 a bottle outside of this set. (was £6)

The other 2 things were not in the Boxing Day sales but there on offer and will be on offer until the 30th December (so if you interested in them you still have a couple of days). 

The first is the OLAY Regenerist 3 Point Super Cleansing System. I can't remember how I found out about this but it was instant love! As it's a deep cleanser you have to be prepared to not have the best skin for a day or 2 but after that I was fine. This retails at £39.99 but got this from boots for £26.65. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves the concept of these as it's fab for those that have large pore and want to keep them clear. 

My final purchase was the Botanics All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash. Botanics really has caught my eye lately, so really wanted to try one of their products. With my current cleanser nearly empty, I thought it was a good choice to pick one of there cleansers. I went for this one mainly because it smells great but also because I wanted to try a foam wash. I will let you know what I think in another post which will follow in the next month or so. This cleanser was a bargain at £1.98 but is normally £4!  

I hope you got what you wanted in the boxing day sales as I did!

Sarah x

InstaChristmas!

Hey,

Hope you all had a great Christmas! 

Here are a few pictures I collected over the festive period. 

Sarah x

New Year Nails!!

I love Christmas nails but there is nothing quite like having nails that sparkle and look dressy, but are not cheesy Christmassy nails!!

When my Christmas hat nails started to chip I wanted to have some other festive nail design but didn't have the polish colours that I wanted so came up with this....

Every nail is different which is what I like about it


How I did it:

1. Red polish all over the nail (I did two coats)
2. Starting at bottom of the nail use the glitter polish and stop half way up. I made them all different; some are in a 'v' and some go straight across with little bits of glitter out of place. (I put a lot of the brush so I didn't need to do lots of layers). 
3. Finish off with a top coat.

Hope you like 

Sarah x

Update #3

Hey,

It feels like I haven't done a uni update so long, but its only been a few weeks!...time is going so slow this semester!

I broke up on Tuesday which was such a relief, as this semester has been hard; not the work but the atmosphere... its been a testing time!

As much as uni has been hard, I have loved the work! I'm currently writing a critique of a research article which is fun, and I have my second year exams straight after Christmas which I have to write care plans for two illnesses/injuries...Its what I love to learn about so excited to know my topics well.

I'm loving being home and will be utilising my time with my family while I'm here for two and a half weeks

I will update you again when I have something good to share like my placements (ekk exciting!!). 

Sarah x

Botanics Rehydrating Body Butter!

Hey,

I will tell you now, body butters and lotions and really not my thing but this super surprised me!

I thought i would do this post during Christmas '1 more week to go', as i actually received this as part of a gift set last Christmas!

As I don't normally like this sort of thing, it got put to one side. When I was having a bit of a clear out of stuff I no longer wanted/needed, it just came to me with its beautiful scent! I actually have no idea what the scent as it doesn't say (that I could see), and I'm no scent expert but, all I can say is that when I opened it I took a whiff and the first thing that popped into my head was 'oh that's pretty'. 

when I read 'body butter' I was expecting something like you get from The Body Shop, but no! Its just like the Sanctuary Soufflé, as its very thick and goes a long way and looks just like it!  

this retails for £7.49 here. if have tried the Sanctuary Soufflé but want to find something a little cheaper, this would be a great alternative! 

Merry Christmas 

Sarah x

Christmas Hat Nails!

One night I was sat thinking, I needed to do something with my bare nails as the day before I had to take my nail polish off for uni! I have to have short nails so doing fancy designs sometimes can be rather tricky which my shaky hands but I thought I would give it a whirl and this is what I came up with!

 Barry M Raspberry - Barry M Amethyst Glitter - Barry M Lychee - Barry M Clear

This nail design was done using all Barry M colours, because for a low budget nail polish I think the length of time you can have it on your nails before chipping is great!

This was really easy to do!

How I did it:

1. Clear polish all over nail
2. Red tips (this doesnt need to be neat)
3. Cream to make the fur effect; i left a gap to make it easy to do the next step (i used a hair grip to do this part)
4.  Red coming down to make the tip of the hat (a hair grip was very useful when doing this part)
5. A dot of cream at the end of the hat
6. Glitter on top the cream
7. Finish with a top coat  

Hope you like

Sarah x

Garnier Pure Active Intensive Scrub!!

Hey,

Today I thought I would do a skin care post and tell you about my skin care holly gruel!

I went through a patch of being really spotty in the cheek area, and being 23 this is not something I wanted, so I went on a hunt for something that would clear them...AND FAST!

Normally when something says 'results from day 1' I think its a load of rubbish but I picked it up to give it a whirl! My goodness I'm so glad I did...it works like magic!

I don't want to say this would work amazing for everyone, because lets remember everyone skin is different but if your spot prone I would without doubt give it a try!

I wouldn't use this on sensitive skin, as it is a very intense scrub and when I really go for it ,I am left with a red face for about 5 minutes.

Until I find something better than this, I will be buying this again and again.

Merry Christmas

Sarah x

Christmas Tag!

Hey,

I've seen a few of these tags floating about, and made sure I put it on my 'blog do to list' so here is my take!

Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or synthetic?

Synthetic! I’ve never actually every had a real one but uni have one and it just looks fat and full of gaps. I wouldn't mind having one once to experience the tree picking process but it’s not something on the top of my Christmas prep list!

You're in a coffee shop, it's December, what do you pick?

Hot Chocolate with lots of cream!

Whats your favourite colour scheme for decorating the tree?

Red and Gold! It’s how it has always been in my house, and even my little tree in my uni flat is the same! To me it’s just traditional Christmas colours

Giving or receiving?

As a student nurse at my uni this time of year is stressful; i love buying people presents but receiving them actually makes me forget my uni work for one day! So this question I can’t really answer because I would pick both equally!

To mince pie or not to?

To mince pie all the way! Homemade ones at that!

What's your traditional sunday lunch?

I HATE SUNDAY ROASTS! So on my plate would be chicken, roast potatoes and lots of stuffing!

What's your favourite Christmas song?

‘I wish it could be Christmas everyday’ is such a classic it just has to be my favourite!

What's your favourite Christmas film?

My favourites are quite old! My mum loves a good Christmas film so I really got into the films that she watched! They don’t only put me in the Christmas spirit but they bring back some lovely christmassy memories! These films are ‘Santa Claus The Movie’ and ‘Santa Who’

Open presents before or after lunch?

After breakfast! Who in their right mind would wait until after lunch!!

What time of the year do you start your Christmas shopping?

Around the end of November! I have to be in the Christmas spirit to want to do it.

Do you have any festive recipes for food or drink you limit solely to the Christmas season to share?

Mince pies is about all! It’s the one thing I can’t eat any other time of the year

What's your Christmas wrapping strategy? Do you have a strategy?

Sellotape! I love watching my family struggling to get into their present! Makes the unwrapping a little more entertaining.

Merry Christmas 

Sarah x

The Winter Tag!!

Hey,

What are your favourite things about winter?

I love the cosy nights in! The feeling of being all snug in some cosy pjs with the heat on and just the side lamp to light the room!

What is your favourite winter outfit?

A pair of leggings and an oversized t-shirt wrapped up in my coat with a nice thick scarf, beanie and black gloves (always black gloves).

What is your favourite winter food?

Anything warm! I don't really have a favorite. 

Favourite winter drink?

White hot chocolate.  

What is your dream way to spend a winter’s day?

Snuggled up in the warm with good company. 

How do you like to do your make-up in the winter?

I like to have good coverage, darker neutral eye shadows and plum lipstick

What are you hoping Santa brings you?

I have asked for a new docking station; my old one has the old apple connection and my old iPod is about at the end of it life! Anything else is going to be an exciting surprise. 

What are the first three things that remind you of winter?

1. Dark mornings
2. Christmas lights up in streets
3. Having an exam to prepare for

What is your favourite winter song?

I'm not the biggest music fan but I few Christmas songs playing in the background is so wintery. 

What is your favourite winter memory?

Going to pantos and the church on Christmas eve

What is your favourite winter scent?

I dont ever change my scents depending on the time of year, but at the minute I'm loving Soap and Glory Mist You Madly . 

Finish this sentence… If I could have one wish this Christmas it would be… 

That I get through the next 18 months and come out smiling at the end

Everyone that is wanted to do this...I tag you!

Sarah x

Project Shoebox... with Carol Clarke Blogs!!

Hey,

My sister at Carol Clarke Blogs, came to me with this Project Shoebox idea she came across when reading this post here.

The idea of this project is to collect all unwanted beauty products and send them to the women at the Bromley Women's Refuge. Those that will be there this Christmas will probably have nothing but the clothes on there backs.

Now for beauty bloggers this really can't be that hard to find products they don't want; I'm on a budget and still found it a breeze to find a good bag full! 

(This is the collection of products we pulled together to send)

Not every product is brand new; there is some shampoo there that has about 3 or 4 uses and a mini REN mosturiser which I had tried to love and failed so there is only half left! The way I see it is that having some is better than not having any at all, so they went in there to be loved by someone who will appreciate them. 

Other products that went in there were shower gels, body lotions/butters (we are both useless at using it so it has just been sitting around until this project came along), a leave in conditioner and finally a face wash! 

If you want to take part in this great project then you only have a couple of days left to, so like the Project Shoebox Facebook page here and message them for postage info (postage is free, all you need is a box and unwanted products)! 

I hope those of you that have taken part have enjoyed doing it as much as we did! Carol Clarke Blogs also did a post on this also; if you want see it from her point of view her post is here!

Sarah x 

My Christmas Nail Colours!!

Hey,

As its now the end of the first week of December, I thought I would share with you the four colours I will be reaching for this Christmas! As a student nurse I'm taking full advantage to wear as much nail polish as possible before I go out on placement at the beginning of February!

Barry M Raspberry - Barry M  Lychee - Barry M Amethyst Glitter - Maybelline Colour Show Downtown Red

(These colours are the opposite way around to what is above! I only noticed when I put them on the laptop)

This picture really doesn't give Downtown Red much justice but I think that's because of my lighting (I cant win day or night)! I normally do two layers to make a beautiful deep red!

Raspberry has been a old favourite! Looking at Downtown Red and this beauty together, they look very similar but this one is pink toned so in my eyes they are very different; I love pink nails so this is my Christmas version!

Lychee is lovely when I'm in a rush but want some colour, normally good on a Tuesday night when I've had skills that day and cant cope with bare nails but don't want something to in your face.

I have so much LOVE for the Amethyst Glitter!! love it on my toes and when making a accent nail!


I'm hoping to add to this little winter/Christmas collection as my spring/summer collection is large!

Sarah x 

My Essential Makeup!

Hey,

As you read this post I will be on one of my three trains to my sisters or already there, yay!!

When I was packing my little suitcase I was thinking to myself; my beauty products take up one third of my case!! The only way I could down size was by taking some makeup out as I have like two of everything almost anyway!

so lets see what I narrowed it down too...

I chose the "that gal" primer out of the three I have because its the least used! The problem with having all your makeup in a one big bag is the fact little minis like this one, sink to the bottom and don't come back up until you empty the bag to find something else! when I emptied the bag for this, it was the first thing I put in my mini bag for the pure fact it needs so more love! 

My foundation is the one product I cant be without, so of course it must come along (I did review on this product here). 

The next two things were the Benefit Stay Don't Stray eyeshadow and concealer primer and the Collection Illuminate concealer! The primer sounds like it could be missed out but I use this even when I don't use concealer or eyeshadow. By itself it still has a nice coverage so it was a must! My Collections concealer only gets used under the eyes, but it one of those products that if I don't even need to apply it, I just have to put it on anyway!

Bringing my Sleek blush palette meant I would have a cream or power blush to pick from, so this was a win because who doesn't like to have choice. This palette is the Sweet Cheeks 

I've done a whole post on my everyday face powder, the Seventeen Miracle Matt here! I never apply makeup without putting this on unless I want to be I'm a big shine ball!

The eyeshadow I have picked for this bag of goodies is the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and on Bronze because its easy! There isn't much blending needed which means I could go without my brush if I really wanted too, which I wont but the option is there!

Now as much as I love this mascara, I also don't love it on my bottom lashes, but because my love for it over powers the hate I will take this and just not put it on my bottom lashes; that is better than taking two because this bag only just closes!

OH HELLO LIP COLOURS!! My all time favorite part of my makeup bag. I'm taking three as it does depend on my mood to which one I want to wear and these are three very different ones! My first is Revlons Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain in Darling Cherie then I have Collections Little Mix Lipstick in Perrie and MAC Girl About Town! 

Of course along with this lot, I will be taking my brushes but they don't fit in so will be traveling in there brush carrier you get with Real Techniques brush sets.

I'm hoping I'm not going to miss anything while I'm away for 5 days! 

Sarah x

This Month Iv Been Loving - November 13

Hey,

Here is another favourites post, such a random bunch of goodies!

If I had to pick out of all these for my favourite of favourites it would be my Ipad Mini! I actually haven't had it that much this month as David take it to Dubai with him, and brought it back about a week and half ago, but in that small amount of time I've not put it down! Its crazy how much I use it to look at thing when I'm using my PC to wait a movie! I have a big obsession with reading blogs and this pretty thing is my favourite thing to read them off. 

I got Twilight as an Easter present; yes LAST EASTER!! I cant believe I've only just read it! I'm the worlds slowest reader when it comes to books, but this flew. Cant wait to read the next one which I don't yet have my hands on!  

I brought the Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub when I started to wear lipstick as my lips are always dry, even after the use of good lip balm! It doe the job and even tastes amazing (its easier to lick it off then to wipe it)! The reason I've loved it this month is because the good old Jack Frost is on his way out, and if I thought I had dry lips back in May, that was nothing like they are now! This is a great buy for anyone, even if you don't have dry lips like me it also makes them smooth, bonus!!

This bottle of original source looks pretty full of a month fave but I'm putting it in because of the scent! I have this in handwash too which is what I've been using for weeks and weeks and the scent makes me want to wash and wash my hands again. Its a very sweet vanilla scent, and I'm loving it this time of year!  

I put myself on a spending ban after my birthday, which is why there isn't any makeup in with this lot as all my favourite makeup was in my last favourites post here

Sarah x

Miracle Matte Powder

Hey,

This post is like way overdue!!

I brought this Seventeen Miracle Matte Pressed Powder back in august, after watching a few YouTube videos that this appeared in  and thought why not give it a whirl; it has to be better than my Collections one which I didn't really understand why I was putting it on!

I have a very oily T-Zone which I get very frustrated with because I get a really shiny nose and forehead which really isn't a great look!

This product is available for £3.99, really is miracle on my skin! It gets applied in the morning and I’m nowhere near as oily as I would be without it by night; the only shine I get is very natural looking which I love!

I would recommend this to anyone with a troubling T-Zone! I have used a few drugstore brands and I find this the best.

Sarah x

Update #2

Hey,  

When I first did an update, my thoughts were to do it as a uni update post! When I thought of doing this second update I wanted to talk about other things as well as uni, so for the reason these updates posts are going to be ramble about life! I mainly wanted to do this post because I wanted to let you know why there is posts missing when I said there would be one! The reason for this is because I had a post ready to put up but because of the internet problems in my uni accommodation; I just didn't find the time to come to the library and upload it and then just thought maybe I should just take that Monday post out! I know I didn't finish my face mask series (and I will still put them up amongst other posts) but I just struggled to find the time around uni studies! So I have decided to cut down to 2 days a week which at the minute are Wednesdays and Fridays but I'm sure these days will change around placement time and exams!

Since my last uni update not a lot has changed as I'm still waiting to do my presentation, but I have got my mitts on the article I have to critique so its time to get my nose in it to get it all on paper before Christmas as I don’t need to worry about it over Christmas as my exam is straight after the festive season!

Can you believe there is 5 weeks until Christmas and I've not even started shopping!! My goodness I'm pushing my luck this year!! Last year Christmas shopping was done a week or two before I went home but I can see we rushing the streets on Christmas eve this year!!

Sarah x

Little Love Potions!!

This lovely bunch of minis from benefit was part of my birthday haul but I thought I’d give it its own little post after using them for a few weeks.

When I first brought this the main things that caught my eye were the POREfessional primer and BADgal lash mascara! I wanted to try the primer for some time so was excited to try. If I'm truly honest I still don’t know what to make of it because i have really big pores and this just makes them look cloggy and I'm not a fan of the feel; I will continue to use in the hope it’s just my eyesight!

BADgal lash is amazing; that’s all I really need to say! The brush is just my kind of brush and makes the lashes open up the eye! I was a little worried about this as it’s not waterproof and with my eyes non-waterproof just gives me black eyes (this does after a while) but I've noticed on the Benefit website that they do a waterproof version; it has a different brush but I'm willing to give it ago.

“that gal” face primer is a brightening primer, and my favourite out the two! It has a creamy consistency with a good wear time. I think this primer is great for those that don’t like silicone consistencies as it’s just like putting a face cream on.

Im currently loving Stay Don’t Stray, as it’s like putting concealer on before you actually do! For someone with dark undereyes like myself this is perfect at making the under eye blend into the face as it has such a good colour pigmentation!

You may have seen posie tint in my favourites post for last month! This is the perfect cheek tint! It is also a lip tint but I won’t be multitasking this product because of hygiene reason!

High beam is a highlighter that I had heard of before I purchased this set but never thought of getting it on its own, as I had never used a highlighter before! Oh my, now I can see why my sister said good things about it! It’s so easy to apply and even easier to blend out. The highlight effect that it leaves is a very natural shine; perfect for these cold months!

What’s up! Is the other highlighter and my goodness they are so different! I feel like this highlighter is best to highlight the nose, I think this because it’s on a stick and doesn't stretch very far so it’s great at blending out in the cheek!

Hoola bronzer was the bronzer everyone was going on about when I first started to watch YouTube. So for that reason I was excited to see it in the set! Disappointed with myself though as it’s the one product I've not used yet but very excited to when the time is right! 

My final mini was the Hoola lipgloss! I'm not a lipgloss person and would never go to the drugstore and buy a lipgloss but I love this! The one thing I don’t like the most about lipglosses is the fight your hair has when you go outside and get hit by wind! This isn't sticky in the slightest on my lips and it’s actually a lovely nude colour which I would never pick out for myself if I had the choice; so I'm glad this was in the set as it has taken me out of my comfort zone!

If your interested in this set the link is on my birthday post!

Sarah x 

15 Facts About Me!!

Hey Guys,

I thought I would give you a little random post as although I post 2-3 times a week, you don't really know me! So I thought 'hey, why not tell them 15 things about me' so here goes;

1. As much as I like summer, I’m a winter baby through and through
2. Completely obsessed with anything and everything Disney
3. I would never chose to have a hot drink, as I can’t drink them hot and I’m far to inpatient to wait for it to cool down!
4. Thanks to my computer geek of a boyfriend, I’ve turned into quite the gamer myself when I’m at home. while I’m at uni it’s a big fat no because no work would ever get done
5. I have a unhealthy obsession with pasta and would pick it to eat in every meal if I could
6. I can’t walk out the door without a lipstick in reach
7. I have both series of Call The Midwife on DVD and will watch them weekly, sad I know
8. I only ever have one foundation at one time and it’s the only makeup item I’m not very adventurous with
9. I’ve had my cat since I was 9 but he will not bother with me unless David is about, I’ve always said my cat is gay; is this possible?!
10. I grew up as a tomboy; with my hair scraped back!!
11. I LOVE pjs; I think I have more sets of pjs than I do any other type of clothing
12. I have very crazy, thick wavy hair which is clearly a curse from a past life
13. I bruise like a peach. I only need to be poked and I have a bruise there for days
14. Iv hated anything to do knees ever since I dislocated my knee back in 2010
15. I can’t go to get an injection on my own; even though I have given other people them I have a phobia of them going into me

Hope you find some of them interesting 

Sarah x

Random Wish List #1

1. Grey Leather-Look Panel Slouch Knit Tunic - I’m a leggings type of person! Big tops, jumps and cardies are my fave. I hate cardies and jumpers after a year, as they go all fluffy after they get washed so much, so I’m on the hunt for new knit wear and this jumper has caught my eye!


2. Womens Schuh Coco Fleece Ank Boots - I love this style of shoe for winter as I’m not a boot person (apart from my uggs). I love wearing dresses with black tights but dolly shoes and winter is not fun; no one likes cold feet, right?! As much as I like this shoe; I don’t like the £40 price tag when I have seen them in Primark for £8 minus the fleece  I will only be wearing them 4 months of the year, £8 sounds great to me!


3. Dotted Mickey Mouse Beanie - Now to a Disney lover, like myself; this is a must have!! i have enough hats for winter but one more wont matter! 


4. Berry Reindeer Christmas Table Decoration - Now I'm away at uni, decorating my room at Christmas is important to make me feel more at home! My new flat has two windows which I plan to put my little tree in one, but wont have anything to put in my other! I seen this is the shop and thought it was a great size and for £4 you cant go wrong; perfect to make my second window to look seasonal!

Sarah x

How I Organise My Uni Folders!!!

I got the idea to do this post from a uni friend who asked how I did it, but I never got around to show her, and I know she likes to stalk my blog ‘Laura you stalker’.

I feel as if it’s important to keep my nursing information at easy reach; so this means keeping the information I put in my folders organised so I can go straight to what I want at that particular moment!

To do this I divide my folders up using colour divides to make it look a pretty and then put labels on the front of them (shown in the picture below)! The year before I didn't put the labels on and I had to read the page after the divider to find out what lesson it was; so this eliminates that! 

To then keep the information within the divider organised I number the pages. These numbers are the numbers of the week we are on! I find this a helpful because if I can’t remember what week something is we have a week planner that is printable so that because a bit like my contents page!

Organising your folders is a very personal thing, I know no one who does it the same as me and my best friend ‘oh, hey Nicole’ does it a way that frustrates the hell out of me but works perfect for her! So it’s all about finding what works for you.

It’s easy to find something that works for you; start easy (just the dividers in my case), then as the weeks go on add things (like the numbers, labels)!

Hope this helps!

Sarah x